Box Art
Welcome to RetroTracks
- Remember that awesome tune? We do too.
Home Search Music Systems Artists Forum
Artist Details

Motoaki Takenouchi

Motoaki Takenouch (武内 基朗, Takenouch Motoaki, born July 8, 1967) is a Japanese composer, most recognized for his video game soundtracks during the 1990s, particularly for the Shining series of games. He has worked for companies such as Sega, Enix, Climax Entertainment, and Game Arts.

Takenouchi studied Music Composition at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he and fellow composer Hayato Matsuo were classmates. Around this time, he was involved with numerous music projects, including arrangement projects under the supervision of composer Koichi Sugiyama. However, he did not compose his first soundtrack (for the game Jewel Master) until after he graduated from university in 1991.

Takenouchi's compositional approach often encompasses elements of progressive rock and jazz fusion, frequently making use of odd time signatures, virtuosic musical lines, syncopation and dissonance. He has cited King Crimson, Yes, Frank Zappa and Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer as some of his favorite musicians and influences. Even so, he is perhaps better known for his symphonic orchestral soundtracks, as heard on games such as Shining Force II, Shining Force CD, and to a lesser extent on Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole.

In addition to his work on video game soundtracks, Takenouchi also composed music for some of the early releases on Shinji Hosoe's Troubadour record label. In 2000, he composed and arranged the song "Shower" for Rina Chinen. He currently plays keyboards for a band called "Autumn-River Willow", under the pseudonym of "dj".

Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole Sega Megadrive / Genesis
Shining Force II: The Ancient Seal Sega Megadrive / Genesis