Star Fox designer wants in on Star Fox movie
The character designer behind Fox McCloud and Captain Falcon has spoken in an interview about Shigeru Miyamoto, his new comic book, and a Star Fox movie.
20th Jul 2023 17:40
Nintendo | Takaya Imamura via Facebook
Star Fox designer wants in on Star Fox movie
The character designer behind Fox McCloud and Captain Falcon has spoken in an interview about Shigeru Miyamoto, his new comic book, and a Star Fox movie.
20th Jul 2023 17:40
Nintendo | Takaya Imamura via Facebook
There are a few members of the team at Nintendo that are indispensable to the forward motion of their games. Developers, designers. and creators all dedicate their working days to creating giant projects from Pikmin to Mario. Without their work, the games we play wouldn't be the same.
Takaya Imamura is one of these people, dedicating his life to a 30-year career at Nintendo as the artist and designer who helped create Fox McCloud and Captain Falcon. And now, in an interview after his non-retired retirement, he's revealed there's more for him to do yet.
Nintendo's retired OG artist is still working
Retirement means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but to Imamura, it hasn't meant a slowing schedule. Speaking in an illuminating interview with VGC, he has revealed what he's been up to since moving on from the company.
"When I finally retired, a French game researcher reached out to ask about my plans, and I said I had started creating a manga," he says. "I finished it within a year, and he really wanted to help me publish it in France. Things moved very smoothly after that.
"At the same time, I was teaching at the International Professional University of Technology in Osaka. I secretly created Omega 6 during my break time in the research room! University teachers have their own research room, so nobody will find that out."
His work was often defined by direction from his boss - and many would argue that few bosses could be more fascinating than Shigeru Miyamoto himself. Imamura seems to agree.
"Within the company, [Miyamoto is] still seen as very kind. He's only strict with the team he's working with. He has to be strict to make the games turn out so well. Even though I and other people think about games a lot, he's on another level. He thinks about games more than any other person at the company."
Imamura wants in on a Star Fox movie
As rumours continue to swirl about the next step for Nintendo Pictures after the monstrous success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, there is still a lot to pick apart when it comes to who's going to step up to the plate as Nintendo's new cinematic mascot.
While we don't know if there will be a Star Fox movie, it looks like Imamura would be thrilled to allow for Fox or Captain Falcon to make the jump. "Of course!" says Imamura of his interest in bringing characters he designed to the big screen.
"There are many fans who would like to see Star Fox and F-Zero films. If they make a film about them, I would love to be part of it." Imamura has led one hell of a life contributing to some of Nintendo's best titles - and it looks like he's not slowing down with Omega 6 in the works.
Some people just don't retire, and though he probably deserves a break, the industry is better with Imamura in it.
About The Author
Joseph Kime
Joseph Kime is the Senior Trending News Journalist for GGRecon from Devon, UK. Before graduating from MarJon University with a degree in Journalism, he started writing music reviews for his own website before writing for the likes of FANDOM, Zavvi and The Digital Fix. He is host of the Big Screen Book Club podcast, and author of Building A Universe, a book that chronicles the history of superhero movies. His favourite games include DOOM (2016), Celeste and Pokemon Emerald.
