Nintendo Legend Takashi Tezuka Retires After 40 Years Shaping Mario, Zelda, and Yoshi

In a PDF on Personnel Changes quietly attached to Nintendo's latest fiscal report, the retirement of one of its most prestigious directors, Takashi Tezuka, was announced. Takashi Tezuka is best known for his involvement in the Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Yoshi, and Pikmin series at Nintendo. He was assistant director on the original Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, then went on to direct Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, as well as A Link To The Past and Link's Awakening. His last design credits were Yoshi's Island and Super Mario 64, but since then he's remained involved as a producer or supervisor for major Nintendo releases, including the Mario Maker games and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Outside of game design and development, Tezuka also collaborated with Illumination for The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, considered ...