Yoko Shimomura, known for composing many iconic video game music scores, will be honored with a BAFTA Fellowship.
Her musical works include the Kingdom Hearts series, Final Fantasy XV and Xenoblade Chronicles.
The Fellowship, arts charity’s highest honour, will be presented at the 21st BAFTA Games Awards on April 8, streaming live on Twitch and YouTube from 11 a.m. Pacific time.
Shimomura is a Japanese composer and pianist. She will be recognized for her contribution to the games industry. The BAFTA Fellowship recognises those who have made an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television and is the arts charity’s most prestigious honour.
Credited as the composer of countless era-defining video game soundtracks enjoyed by millions of players worldwide, including the Kingdom Hearts series, Final Fantasy XV, Mario & Luigi, Xenoblade Chronicles, Streets of Rage, the Mana series, Super Mario RPG, Live A Live, Radiant Historia, Parasite Eve, Breather of Fire and Street Fighter II, the impact of Shimomura’s work will be felt for generations to come.
Yoko Shimomura said, in a statement, “I am absolutely delighted to receive such an amazing and prestigious award as this, although, honestly speaking, I still cannot quite believe it. I am who I am today thanks to all the people who have supported me, allowing me to continue being involved with the music that I love and discovering the medium of games where that music can flourish.”
She added, “I am deeply grateful to everyone in the games industry, to those who ask me to write my music and to all those who listen to it. I would like for them, and for everyone who has been a part of my life, to join with me in celebrating this award. Thank you so much.”
Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said in a statement, “It is a real privilege to honour Yoko Shimomura with the BAFTA Fellowship this year. A pioneer of video game music, pianist and composer, Yoko has created unforgettable soundtracks for so many beloved games and paved the way for women in the industry at a time when it was overwhelmingly male-dominated. Her groundbreaking work has already inspired countless artists and will continue to resonate for generations. We look forward to honouring her at the 21st BAFTA Games Awards.”
Shimomura graduated from the Osaka Junior College of Music, Department of Instrumental Music (piano) and is now a freelance composer having previously worked for beloved video games companies Capcom and Square Enix (formerly known as Square). Shimomura’s works span a wide range of genres, from rhythmical computer-generated sounds to large-scale classical orchestral pieces, though she is particularly well-known for her melodious and poignant songs, as well as her intense and dramatic pieces.
Fellows previously honoured for their work include Shuhei Yoshida, Warwick Davis, Hideo Kojima, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese, Gabe Newell, Siobhan Reddy, Helen Mirren, Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, Shigeru Miyamoto, John Carmack, Peter Molyneux, and Thelma Schoonmaker.
The award will be presented to Shimomura at the 21st annual BAFTA Games Awards on Tuesday 8 April at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and will be streamed live on BAFTA’s YouTube and Twitch channels. The ceremony will be hosted for the second time by comedian and video games enthusiast Phil Wang where he’ll entertain an audience filled with a complete roster of industry greats.
