Keita Takahashi
| Keita Takahashi | |
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Keita Takahashi holding the Prince character from Katamari Damacy, at GDCE, London, in 2005
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| Born | 1975 Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū |
| Occupation | Game designer |
| Spouse(s) | Asuka Sakai |
Keita Takahashi (高橋 慶太 Takahashi Keita?, born 1975) is a game director, his most notable titles being Katamari Damacy and its sequel, We Love Katamari. The original Katamari game was a surprise hit and was praised for its quirkiness, originality, and charm. Takahashi is married to Asuka Sakai.
Katamari[edit]
Takahashi has stated in numerous interviews that he had no desire for Katamari to be touted as innovative or creative – he simply set out to bring the concept of simple, silly fun back into video gaming.
Takahashi has named the following sources as inspiration for his Katamari games:
- Tarō Okamoto (painter, sculptor)
- Tadao Ando (architect)
- Itō Jakuchū (painter)
- Yoshitatsu Yanagihara (sculptor)
- Pablo Picasso (painter)
- Joan Miró (painter)
- Friedensreich Hundertwasser (architect, painter)
- Zdeněk Miler (picture book author)
- Virginia Lee Burton (picture book author)
- Raymond Savignac (graphic designer)
- Mitsumasa Yasuno (picture book author)
- John Irving (author)
- Tomo Itsukida (illustrator)
- Quruli (a Japanese band)
- Playmobil (toys)
- Little Shop of Horrors (movie)
- Japanese cityscape atmosphere
- Culture of Japan
Post-Katamari[edit]
In an interview,[1] Takahashi announced that he hopes to eventually move on from video games, with an ambition of designing a playground for children. On Wednesday 28 October 2009, Nottingham City Council announced during the Gamecity festival that Keita Takahashi is spending a month in the city working on designs for the play area at Woodthorpe Grange.[2] In 2012, Takahashi revealed to an audience that the Nottingham project had been indefinitely postponed, due to budget concerns.[3] He and his wife, the composer Asuka Sakai, formed the company uvula in October 2010 to support his freelance game design career, as well as his playground designs.[4]
In July 2011, it was announced that he was joining Tiny Speck's Vancouver team, working on Glitch.[5]
Published works[edit]
- Katamari Damacy – Director, Designer
- We Love Katamari – Director, Designer
- Noby Noby Boy – Director, Designer
- Glitch – Designer
- Tenya Wanya Teens – Director, Designer
- Wattam – announced in 2014[6]
References[edit]
- Nakamura, Eric (2009). "Noby Boy." Giant Robot Magazine issue 63.
- ^ Hermida, Alfred (2005-11-10). "Technology | Katamari creator dreams of playgrounds". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ^ "Video games guru to design play area". This is Nottingham.
- ^ "Staying Playful with Keita Takahashi".
- ^ Gilbert, Ben (2010-10-03). "Katamari Damacy director and wife reveal new company". Joystiq. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Working With Your Heroes: Welcome Keita Takahashi". 2011-07-08.
- ^ Tach, Dave (December 6, 2014). "Wattam debuts with a green cube mayor from Katamari Damacy's creator". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keita Takahashi. |
- uvula's official website
- Interview with Keita Takahashi on Gamasutra.com
- Interview with Keita Takahashi on 1up.com
- Keita Takahashi at the Internet Movie Database
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