Kensuke Tanabe

Kensuke Tanabe
田邊 賢輔
Tanabe at E3 2013
Born (1963-01-26) January 26, 1963 (age 61)
Alma materOsaka University of Arts
Occupation(s)Video game producer, designer
Years active1986–present
EmployerNintendo
Notable workSuper Mario
The Legend of Zelda
Metroid Prime
Chibi-Robo!
TitleManager at Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 3 (2004–2015)
Manager at Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 6 (2015–2019)
Senior Officer at Nintendo EPD (2019–present)

Kensuke Tanabe (田邊 賢輔, Tanabe Kensuke, born January 26, 1963)[2] is a Japanese video game producer and designer working for Nintendo, where he currently is Senior Officer at Nintendo EPD.

After he had graduated from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he decided to enter the video game industry, and joined Nintendo in April 1986.[1][3]

At first, Tanabe was part of the Entertainment Analysis and Development division.[4] He directed the platform games Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, and worked on the scripts for the action-adventures The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.[3][4] In 2003, Tanabe moved to the Software Planning and Development division, where he became the manager of Production Group No. 3.[1][4] Since then, he has become a producer, and has managed and overseen the development of externally developed first party Nintendo video games, such as Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country, Paper Mario, Chibi-Robo and other series.[3]

  1. ^ a b c "Biographical Information: Kensuke Tanabe" (PDF). Nintendo of America, Inc. June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2011.
  2. ^ 「ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島」開発スタッフ名鑑. Nintendo Official Guide Book – The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (in Japanese). Shogakukan Inc. July 1993. p. 120. ISBN 4-09-102448-3.
  3. ^ a b c クリエイターズファイル 第101回. Gpara.com (in Japanese). February 10, 2003. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "E3 2004: Metroid Prime 2 Interview". IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. May 12, 2004. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.