Eiji Aonuma honored in France
Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France during the Paris Games Week on October 23, 2026. The honor was originally awarded in November 2023 by then culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak, but the official ceremony was delayed until this year.Aonuma's speech and gratitude
At the ceremony, Aonuma delivered a speech in French, expressing gratitude to his wife for supporting him throughout his career. He said, "Thank you for following me until now, let's continue the adventure together," highlighting the personal significance of the recognition.Aonuma's career with Nintendo
Aonuma joined Nintendo in 1988 and became involved with The Legend of Zelda series with the N64 game Ocarina of Time. He was responsible for designing several of its dungeons, including the Water Temple, and later directed Majora's Mask before taking the lead of the franchise.Revolutionizing the Zelda series
As the producer of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Aonuma played a key role in transforming the Zelda series into a more open-world experience. He is also overseeing the 2026 remake of Ocarina of Time, which marks the 40th anniversary of the series, alongside director Hidemaro Fujibayashi.Other video game honorees
Aonuma is not the first video game figure to receive the Order of Arts and Letters. Previous recipients include Michel Ancel, known for Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil, and Frédérick Raynal, the creator of Alone in the Dark. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, Zelda, and other Nintendo franchises, was also honored on the same day with Japan's Order of Culture.
