Over the years, Nintendo has given players many of the most iconic and revolutionary games for the entire medium. This also extends to their soundtracks, such as the tranquil, cozy music of their town simulator, Animal Crossing. However, one of the game’s more prolific composers, Yasuaki Iwata, recently confirmed he left the company.
Fortunately, he also ended his update on a positive note regarding his future as a musician. Here is a breakdown of Yasuaki Iwata’s departure and what it means for the Animal Crossing franchise.
Animal Crossing Composer Leaves
According to Video Game Chronicle, Animal Crossing’s co-composer Yasuaki Iwata said he departed from Nintendo a while ago. He tweeted that he left the company in July of last year, meaning this has quietly been in effect for a while now. Given his many contributions to Nintendo’s impressive library, this will disappoint many fans who enjoyed his work. Furthermore, he also expressed his gratitude towards his coworkers and the fans who listened to his music.
Fortunately, fans have not heard the last of Iwata’s work. He tweeted, “I’ve been working on new projects since my departure, and I hope to have the opportunity to share some of these with you in the near future.” Given that he only just announced this, it’s unknown when he will compose for a project again or when his work during the past year will be unveiled. At least, it’s reassuring to know that he landed on his feet.
His Impressive Discography
Yasuaki Iwata is a veteran composer for Nintendo who has made music for their titles since Super Mario 3D World. His most significant endeavor was for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game’s uplifting soundtrack likely helped many through the stressful era it was released under. He has worked on other soundtracks, such as the envigorating race music of Mario Kart 8 and the bombastic score of Nintendo’s original fighting game Arms.
Perhaps his most iconic work was on Nintendo’s classic, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, alongside Manaka Kataoka and Hajime Wakai. Many consider the game to be the best of the franchise for its mastery of the open-world genre and gorgeous art direction. One tool that helped elevate the game was its soundtrack, which perfectly captured its Ghibli-inspired atmosphere. Furthermore, he wrote the songs for Kass, the traveling Rito accordion player who collects ancient songs.
Nintendo’s Music
Beyond his work, Nintendo has graced gaming with some of the greatest soundtracks of the art form. From the days of Koji Kondo’s original Mario theme song to the orchestra of Skyward Sword, the company’s works are marvels for the ears. The leitmotifs for games like Smash and Pokemon are likely recognizable worldwide. Gaming, as a medium, has also given rise to many other iconic modern composers, such as Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy) and Shoji Meguro (Shin Megami Tensei).
Creating a video game, with its dozens of combined disciplines, creates special challenges. In many ways, video game music differs from other genres. Composers had to work with limited tools to convey their soundtracks, starting with the NES and SNES chiptune music. Furthermore, many had to consider how their soundtracks would come across to a player exploring at their discretion rather than a passive audience. While composing is a difficult art, gaming deserves special credit.
Conclusion
Yasuaki Iwata earned his title as one of Nintendo’s best composers. He worked on several of their most iconic titles, such as Breath of the Wild and New Horizons, to help capture the developers’ vision. Even after leaving Nintendo, fans won’t have to wait long before they hear his work again.
In an era where so many talented and devoted creators are suddenly laid off due to corporate corruption, it’s refreshing to see a story of a crew member leaving on good terms. Hopefully, he will receive the support he needs during his new career.
