Koji Kondo
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| Koji Kondo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | August 13, 1961 (age 64) Nagoya, Aichi, Japan[1] |
| Super Mario–related roles | Composer, sound |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Employer | Nintendo |
| Musical career | |
| Genre | Pop,[2] electronic,[2] classical,[2] jazz,[3] Latin[3] |
| Instrument | Piano |
Koji Kondo (近藤 浩治, born August 13, 1961) is a Japanese music composer, pianist, and music director who is among the most prominent composers of music for Nintendo and the video game industry as a whole. As a close friend of Shigeru Miyamoto, most of the games he has composed for are Miyamoto's creations. He is most famous for his works on the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series. The "Ground BGM" of Super Mario Bros., composed by Kondo, is one of the most recognizable themes in the video game industry, remained in the Billboard ringtone charts for 125 weeks, and has been performed in concerts by live orchestras.[4] Other particular compositions of Kondo's include the "Underground BGM" and "Underwater BGM" of Super Mario Bros. and the "Ground BGM" of Super Mario World. Kondo was also involved in the music for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, scored by Brian Tyler,[5] and was a audio supervisor on Super Nintendo World.
Kondo also voiced the sound effects of the Sound Off? badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.[6]
Works composed[edit]
- Golf, 1984
- Super Mario Bros., 1985
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, 1986
- Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, 1987
- Super Mario Bros. 2, 1988
- Super Mario Bros. 3, 1988
- Super Mario World, 1990
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, 1995
- Super Mario 64, 1996
- Super Mario Sunshine (with Shinobu Nagata), 2002
- New Super Mario Bros. (with Asuka Hayazaki and Hajime Wakai), 2006
- Super Mario Galaxy (with Mahito Yokota), 2007
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (with Mahito Yokota and Ryo Nagamatsu), 2010
- Super Mario 3D World (with Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, and Yasuaki Iwata), 2013[7]
- Super Mario Maker (with Naoto Kubo and Asuka Hayazaki), 2015
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (with Shiho Fujii, Atsuko Asahi, Ryo Nagamatsu, Yasuaki Iwata, Asuka Hayazaki, Toru Minegishi, and Kazumi Totaka), 2017
- Super Mario Odyssey (with Naoto Kubo and Shiho Fujii), 2017
- Super Mario Maker 2 (with Atsuko Asahi, Toru Minegishi, and Sayako Doi), 2019[8]
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (with Shiho Fujii, Sayako Doi, and Chisaki Shimazu), 2023[9]
Song credits[edit]
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
- Delfino Plaza — Composition/arrangement[10]
- Bianco Hills — Composition/arrangement[10]
- Secret Course — Composition/arrangement[10]
- Ricco Harbor — Composition/arrangement[10]
- Gelato Beach — Composition/arrangement[10]
- Staff Roll — Composition/arrangement[10]
Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.1: Healing Music[edit]
- Piranha Plant's Lullaby — Composition/arrangement, cello
Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music[edit]
- Room of Oni — Composition/arrangement, organ
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
- Main Theme — Composition/arrangement[11]
- Competitive BGM 1 — Composition/arrangement[12]
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
- Egg Planet — Composition/arrangement[13]
- Rosalina in the Observatory 1 — Composition/arrangement[13]
- Rosalina in the Observatory 2 — Composition/arrangement[13]
- Rosalina in the Observatory 3 — Composition/arrangement[13]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
- Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.) — Composition/arrangement
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
- Yoshi Star Galaxy — Composition/arrangement[14]
- Starship Mario 1 — Composition/arrangement[14]
- Starship Mario 2 — Composition/arrangement[14]
- Starship Mario 3 — Composition/arrangement[14]
- Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla — Composition/arrangement[14]
Super Mario 3D World[edit]
- Chain-Link Charge — Composition/arrangement[15]
- Sunshine Seaside — Composition/arrangement[15]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
- Super Mario Bros. Medley — Composition/arrangement
Super Mario Maker[edit]
- Underground Theme - Edit Mode (Super Mario Bros.) - Composition/arrangement[16]
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
- Wooded Kingdom: Steam Gardens* — Composition/arrangement[17]
- Wooded Kingdom: Steam Gardens: Sherm Zone — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Torkdrift Battle — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Klepto Appearance — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Cappy was Kidnapped! — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Lost Kingdom: Forgotten Isle* — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Bowser's Kingdom: Bowser's Castle* — Composition/arrangement[19]
- Bowser's Kingdom: Bowser's Castle: Main Courtyard — Composition/arrangement[19]
- RoboBrood Battle — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Crazy Cap — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Athletic Stage 1 — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Projection Room: Overground — Composition/arrangement[18]
- Projection Room: Underground — Composition/arrangement[18]
*Also includes 8bit version
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
- King Bowser - Super Mario Bros. 3 — Composition/arrangement[20]
Gallery[edit]
An image of Koji Kondo
Group photo at the Super Mario 30 Festival event
References[edit]
- ^ Koji Kondo. Kyoto Report. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c Koji Kondo - Songs, Events and Music Stats. Viberate. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
- ^ a b 2003. Koji Kondo x Shogo Sakai – Composer Interview. Nintendo Dream. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/sep/13/games-gameculture
- ^ Nintendo of America (October 6, 2022). The Super Mario Bros. Movie Direct. YouTube. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Bailey, D. (March 29, 2024). After 39 years, Nintendo's legendary composer put his voice in Super Mario Bros Wonder when his idea for a "live-action" Mario with "human proportions" was rejected. GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 29, 2024. (Archived March 29, 2024, 10:49:47 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ http://www.destructoid.com/super-mario-3d-world-composers-talks-cats-dogs-and-more-264473.phtml
- ^ Nintendo. (May 15, 2019). Super Mario Maker 2 Direct 5.15.2019. YouTube. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Nintendo. (Oct 18, 2023). Ask the Developer Vol. 11, Super Mario Bros. Wonder—Part 1. Nintendo. Retrieved Oct 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f SUPER MARIO SOUND COLLECTION. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ SUPER MARIO HISTORY 1985-2010 Sound Track CD. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ SUPER MARIO Series for Guitar - SUPER BEST. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ a b c d SUPER MARIO GALAXY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK Platinum Version. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2 ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ a b SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK. VGMdb. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ A Music Trivia Tour with Nintendo's Koji Kondo IGN. Retrieved August 9, 2020
- ^ Nintendo Dream Vol. 285 Super Mario Odyssey Developers Interview Part 1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Super Mario Odyssey Original Soundtrack booklet's song credits
- ^ a b Nintendo Dream Vol. 286 Super Mario Odyssey Developers Interview Part 2
- ^ Music | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Official Site
