Eiji Aonuma, the beloved producer of the Zelda series, has been awarded the prestigious rank by the French government. Learn more about his career, other honored gaming personalities, and other awarded French gaming pioneers.
French Government Honors Eiji Aonuma
Awarded Title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters
The beloved Zelda series creator, Eiji Aonuma, has been awarded the esteemed rank of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul-Malak, in appreciation of his tremendous achievements in the gaming industry. This recognition is a worthy tribute to Aonuma's lasting legacy and highlights his significant influence on the gaming industry.
A Storied Career in Gaming
Eiji Aonuma, now 60, began his creative adventure with The Legend of Zelda in the late 1990s. His remarkable career began with crucial roles as co-director of ground-breaking games such as Ocarina of Time
(1998) and Majora's Mask
(2000). Because of his creative leadership, Aonuma directed The Wind Waker
in 2002. From 2007 onward, he played a crucial role as the series' producer.
Breath of the Wild: A Game-Changer
The Legend of Zelda franchise reached new heights in 2017 with the release of Breath of the Wild,
a game that has sold an astounding 30 million copies worldwide. This fascinating journey, which followed the exploits of the gallant knight Link and the resolute Princess Zelda, enthralled fans worldwide, solidifying the series' place as a gaming legend.
Tears of the Kingdom: A Sequel Triumph
Building on the popularity of Breath of the Wild,
the widely anticipated follow-up, Tears of the Kingdom,
debuted in May 2023 and sold an incredible 18 million copies in less than six months. The game had a blockbuster premiere in France, with 500,000 copies flying off the shelves in a single weekend. Since then, Nintendo France has announced that, still not including digital downloads, the million-copy mark has been surpassed, attesting to the game's tremendous success.
A Legacy of Recognition
Gaming Luminaries Honored
Eiji Aonuma is the latest in a long line of notable video game personalities to receive honors from the French government. Famous people like Michel Ancel (Rayman), Peter Molyneux (Populous), and Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario) are on the exclusive list. In addition, prominent figures in the field were honored in 2019 with the esteemed insignia of Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters, including Julie Chalmette, the General Manager of Bethesda France, Rebecka Coutaz, the Vice President of Dice, and former Director of Ubisoft Annecy studio and co-founder of The Game Bakers studio, Audrey Leprince, who was awarded the prize in 2022.
French Gaming Pioneers: A Tradition of Accolades
France has a rich tradition of celebrating its pioneers in the gaming industry. In 2018, Muriel Trams, a trailblazing figure known for titles like Méwilo
and Freedom...,
was awarded the prestigious Légion d'honneur. In 2021, Jehanne Rousseau, founder and director of the French studio Spiders, received the distinguished medal of the National Order of Merit, further underscoring the nation's commitment to honoring outstanding achievements in the gaming world.
Sources:
Image of the Order of the Arts and Letters
Le Figaro Article About Eiji Aonuma's Appointment to the Order of Arts and Letters
