The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask art director was a fan of the series since he was a student: "I have fond memories of working hard with my friends to beat the 'Second Quest'"

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Takaya Imamura Reflects on His Time Shaping The Legend of Zelda Series

Takaya Imamura is a name well-known among Nintendo fans, largely for his work as art director on The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, where he helped create some of the series’ most iconic and unsettling imagery, including the eerie moon and the quirky character Tingle. His influence on the Zelda franchise is fitting, given that Imamura has been a lifelong fan, tracing back to the original NES game.

"I've been a fan of The Legend of Zelda since my student days!" Imamura shared in a Twitter interaction with fans. "I have fond memories of working hard with my friends to beat the 'Second Quest.'"

The Second Quest is the more challenging version of the original Zelda game, unlocked after defeating Ganon for the first time or by entering "ZELDA" as the player name. While not the hardest NES challenge overall, completing the Second Quest—with its remixed dungeons and hidden secrets—requires significant dedication and skill.

The Legend of Zelda first debuted in Japan on the Famicom Disk System in 1986, and Imamura joined Nintendo three years later in 1989. His early work included designing characters and graphics for F-Zero, before contributing sprite work for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Reflecting on that period, he admitted he “wasn’t too pleased” with having to work on the game rather than playing it as a fan.

Describing the graphic creation process for early games, Imamura noted: "Back then, Windows didn’t even exist yet, and we used specialized software for our work." He added, "Many creators I know say that the real joy comes from creating something interesting within limitations. I feel the same way."

Imamura’s blend of creativity and reverence for the series helped shape some of the best Zelda games of all time, leaving a lasting legacy on one of gaming’s most beloved franchises.

References

  1. Twitter — Takaya Imamura fan interactions and reflections on Zelda series work (2025).

  2. Nintendo Archives — The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and A Link to the Past development history.

  3. NES and Famicom Disk System records — Original launch of The Legend of Zelda (1986).

  4. F-Zero development credits — Takaya Imamura’s early design contributions.

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