Eiji Aonuma, the longtime producer of The Legend of Zelda collection, has ensured that the hero of time will rise to fight evil since Ocarina of Time. Now Aonuma himself has obtained a hero’s title, albeit with out getting to select up a cool sword. This week, the French Ministry of Tradition invited Hyrule’s caretaker to receive the honors of being knighted.
Hailed by Minister of Tradition Catherine Pégard as “a storyteller who at all times leaves room for the participant’s creativeness,” Aonuma was given the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French authorities. Pégard gave Aonuma his medallion, thanking him for uplifting youngsters of “the entire world to dream.” The Japanese sport maker ready his personal assertion in French, encouraging followers to “proceed this journey collectively.”
Eiji Aonuma, réalisateur des derniers Zelda, est devenu ce matin au Ministère de la Tradition Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
Il a conclu son discours en français pour son épouse, présente dans la salle : “Merci de m’avoir suivi jusqu’ici, continuons l’aventure ensemble” ♥️ pic.twitter.com/6Z0MbeyQGT
— Chloé Woitier ☕ (@W_Chloe) October 23, 2026
Aonuma started working at Nintendo in 1988, but it surely was serving as a director on Ocarina of Time that may cement his legacy. He has been an integral a part of each mainline Zelda entry since, and even many of the spin-offs. Aonuma often serves as producer, and has formed Hyperlink’s journey from the Nintendo 64 period, by Wind Waker, Breath of the Wild and proper again to a remake of the game where his own quest began.
The French Ministry of Tradition introduced Aonuma’s knighthood again in 2023, holding the ceremony simply this previous week. He’s joined in his class by jazz musician Kenny Garrett, actress Richa Chadha and Ranma ½ creator Rumiko Takahashi. Not like some knighthoods, the excellence could be given to artists no matter nationality, and infrequently span a various array of mediums.
Whereas sport builders are much less frequent than different disciplines, they’re no strangers on the Ministry. Shigeru Miyamoto himself obtained the title in 2006 and the illustrious Peter Molyneux only a yr later. Earlier this yr the Ministry introduced their intentions to provide the title to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creators Sandfall Interactive, the primary time a complete sport studio might be sharing one ribbon.