Junichi Masuda | |
|---|---|
| 増田 順一 | |
.jpg) Masuda in 2011 | |
| Born | (1968-01-12)January 12, 1968 (age 58) |
| Alma mater | Japan Electronics College |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Employers |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Video game music |
| Instruments | Piano,trombone |
Musical artist | |
Junichi Masuda (増田 順一,Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanesevideo game composer,director,designer,producer, singer,programmer andtrombonist, best known for his work in thePokémon franchise. He was a member ofGame Freak where he was an employee and executive at the company since 1989 afterSatoshi Tajiri andKen Sugimori founded it, starting as a music composer.[1][2] In 2022, Masuda was appointed to be Chief Creative Fellow atThe Pokémon Company.
With the development of newPokémon games, Masuda took new roles in future projects. He began to produce and direct games, starting withPokémon Ruby andSapphire, and became responsible for approving new character models. His style seeks to keep games accessible while still adding increasing levels of complexity. His work sticks to older mainstays of the series, including a focus onhandheld game consoles and2D graphics. His music draws inspiration from the work of celebrated modern composers likeDmitri Shostakovich, though he used theSuper Mario series as a model of good video game composition.
Masuda was born on January 12, 1968, inYokohama,Kanagawa Prefecture,Japan.[3] As a child, his family often vacationed inKyūshū, where he spent his time catching fish and insects. Masuda was inspired by his time there to base thePokémon series'sHoenn Region after it.[4] In high school, Masuda played thetrombone; he soon discovered classical music, and was drawn in by works likeIgor Stravinsky'sThe Rite of Spring andShostakovich'sSymphony No. 5.[5]
Masuda attended the Japan Electronics College, atechnical school inShinjuku, Tokyo, where he studiedcomputer graphics and theC programming language using aDEC Professional.[6][7] His daughter Kiri was born in September 2002; he named a character inPokémon Ruby andSapphire after her.[8]
Masuda has worked atGame Freak since the company's inception in 1989,[9][10] and has been involved in nearly every title that Game Freak has produced.[10] Masuda was one of the original developers of thePokémon series, beginning withPokémon Red andGreen.[11] He was first hired to composevideo game music, where his first game at Game Freak wasMendel Palace, a 1989 puzzle game for theNintendo Entertainment System.[12] AfterMendel Palace, he worked onYoshi, the company's first collaboration withNintendo.[12]
When the company first began releasingPokémon titles, Masuda worked mainly as the composer, though he did minor programming work as well, and later began directing and producing them.[12] His work on the first games included writing the program to play audio in the games, music, and sound effects.[13] Masuda has been directly involved in the naming and design ofmany Pokémon. He has stated that one of the hardest aspects of design is making sure that a Pokémon's name and attributes will appeal to a global audience.[11] SincePokémon Ruby andSapphire, Masuda has been one of the main employees who approve or reject designs for new Pokémon.[14] He served as a member of the Game Freakboard of directors.[15]
On September 28, 2018, Masuda revealed that during the early years of developingPokémon games, "game data was nearly lost in a computer crash". Masuda described it as "the most nerve-racking moment in development", saying "We were developing the game on these Unix computer stations called the SunSPARCstation 1. We're developing, and they're these Unix boxes, and they crashed quite a bit."[16]
On November 1, 2018, Masuda stated thatPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee! would likely be his final time serving as director for the main series Pokémon games. The development torch to was passed toShigeru Ohmori, who had previously assume lead director ofPokémon Sun andMoon.[17] However afterwards, he served as a director forPokémon Brilliant Diamond andShining Pearl, developed byILCA.
Masuda produced the Japanese ending themes "Pokémon Shiritori" and "Batsugun Type" forPokémon Journeys with Japanese electronic groupPasocom Music Club.[18]
On June 1, 2022, Masuda left Game Freak toThe Pokémon Company, acting as Chief Creative Fellow.[19]
Masuda approaches each of his games with the mindset that a beginner should be able to easily play it.[20] In view of this, his games begin in an easily approachable and accessible style, with more layers of complexity being introduced as the player progresses through the game.[12] He believes thathandheld systems provide an opportunity for social interaction that cannot be found onnon-handheld console systems.[20] He has stated that the continued use of2D computer graphics has been integral to Pokémon's success.[21]
Most of his ideas draw inspiration from simply observing real life and visualizing how he would design or draw outside objects.[13] As a rule, he does not use previous characters as inspirations for new ones, instead creating each new one from independent sources.[13]
Masuda's musical style draws from a number of sources, particularlyclassical music and the works ofIgor Stravinsky andDmitri Shostakovich.[14] His favorite musical genre istechno, and he has looked to the music of theSuper Mario series as an example ofvideo game music that works well.[14]
| Year | Game title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Mendel Palace | Music, sound effects |
| 1991 | Yoshi | |
| 1992 | Magical★Taruruto-kun | |
| 1993 | Mario & Wario | Programmer, music, sound effects |
| 1994 | Pulseman | |
| 1996 | Pokémon Red,Green andBlue | |
| Bazaru de Gozaru no Game de Gozaru | Programmer | |
| 1997 | Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha | Programmer, music, sound effects |
| 1998 | Pokémon Yellow | |
| 1999 | Click Medic | Director, game design, programmer |
| Pokémon Gold andSilver | Sub director, game design, music, sound effects | |
| Pokémon Stadium | Advisor | |
| 2000 | Pokémon Crystal | Director, game design, scenario, music, sound effects |
| 2002 | Pokémon Ruby andSapphire | Director, game design, battle music, plot scenario |
| 2003 | Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire | Director, planner |
| 2004 | Pokémon FireRed andLeafGreen | Director, game design, music |
| Pokémon Emerald | World director, game design, battle music, plot scenario | |
| 2005 | Drill Dozer | Producer, additional tuning |
| 2006 | Pokémon Ranger | Game design advisor |
| Pokémon Diamond andPearl | Director, battle music, plot scenario | |
| 2008 | Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia | Game design advisor |
| Pokémon Platinum | Producer, battle music, plot scenario | |
| 2009 | Pokémon Rumble | Game design advisor |
| Pokémon HeartGold andSoulSilver | Producer, music | |
| 2010 | Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs | Game design advisor |
| Pokémon Black andWhite | Director, producer, battle music, world & plot | |
| 2011 | Pokémon Rumble Blast | Game design advisor |
| Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure | ||
| 2012 | Pokémon Black 2 andWhite 2 | Producer, world & plot |
| HarmoKnight | General producer | |
| 2013 | Pokémon Rumble U | Game design advisor |
| Pocket Card Jockey | General producer | |
| Pokémon X andY | Director, producer, battle music, world & plot | |
| 2014 | Pokémon Battle Trozei | Game design advisor |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby andAlpha Sapphire | Producer | |
| 2015 | Tembo the Badass Elephant | General producer |
| Pokémon Rumble World | Game design advisor | |
| Pokémon Picross | ||
| 2016 | Detective Pikachu | |
| Pokémon Go | Music, game design assistance | |
| Pokémon Sun andMoon | Producer, battle music | |
| 2017 | Giga Wrecker | General producer |
| Pokémon Ultra Sun andUltra Moon | Producer, battle music | |
| 2018 | Pokémon Quest | General producer |
| Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee! | Director, general producer, original music, concept | |
| 2019 | Little Town Hero | General producer |
| Pokémon Sword andShield | Producer | |
| 2021 | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond andShining Pearl | Director, battle music, concept and plot |
| 2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Supervisor |
| Pokémon Scarlet andViolet | Supervisor, music |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
