Zelda Producer Aonuma Reflects on Career and Inspirations
Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma discusses his recruitment to the series after creating a Zelda-like game and his admiration for Resident Evil 4 during Twilight Princess development.
Coverage across 2 outlets
Miyamoto recruited Aonuma to Zelda team after he developed Zelda-like game Marvelous for SNES
In a 2005 interview, The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that Shigeru Miyamoto recruited him to the Zelda team after seeing his SNES game Marvelous, which incorporated Zelda-like elements. Aonuma joined the franchise and was responsible for dungeon design in subsequent titles.
Aonuma was stunned by Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 when developing Zelda Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma revealed in a resurfaced 2005 interview that he was stunned by Capcom's Resident Evil 4 while developing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Aonuma expressed admiration for Resident Evil 4's direction and gameplay, stating he learned a lot from it.
Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma was so impressed with Resident Evil 4 that he thought "I should have done it myself"
The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that he was highly impressed by Resident Evil 4 during the development of Twilight Princess, even feeling he should have created it himself. Aonuma discussed his transition to producer and how he learned from Resident Evil 4's direction, while also noting that the Resident Evil team might have been inspired by Zelda.
Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma became part of the series because Miyamoto saw him making his own SNES game in the wake of A Link to the Past: "I really wanted to incorporate some essence of Zelda into it"
The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that his directorial debut, Marvelous: Another Treasure Island, which was inspired by A Link to the Past, led to Shigeru Miyamoto recruiting him for the Zelda series. Aonuma has since been a pivotal figure in the franchise, directing Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Wind Waker.
Eiji Aonuma tried to "graduate" from Zelda after Wind Waker, but Shigeru Miyamoto assigned him to Twilight Princess anyway and he figured he "should give up escaping" his "fate"
Eiji Aonuma revealed that he initially wanted to "graduate" from The Legend of Zelda series after directing three titles, including The Wind Waker. However, Shigeru Miyamoto assigned him to Twilight Princess, leading Aonuma to accept his "fate" as a Zelda game director. Aonuma noted that even his earlier game, Marvelous, shared essences with Zelda.
