安藤浩和 (video game composer known for Nintendo work)

Hirokazu Ando (安藤浩和, Ando Hirokazu; born March 2, 1969) is a Japanese composer. Along with Jun Ishikawa, Ando is best known for composing for the Kirby video game series. He has also composed for other games developed by the company, such as Super Smash Bros. (1999), Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) and the BoxBoy! series. Ando started learning to play the Electone aged 3–4 up to his second year in high school. It was this experience that also taught him how to read chords and sheet music. He listened to a wide variety of music as a child, including works by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Claude Debussy. Being immersed in music had allowed to think about sound a considerable amount and helped form his own sensibilities. Despite his musical background, Ando initially did not have interest in being a composer. He attended Hirosaki University in order to major in physics in the science department. While he was in college, he had purchased an MSX computer that sparked an initial interest in video games. Ando became inspired to be a video game composer after playing Dragon Quest II for the first time and being impressed by its music. He then created his own music playing program and sent it to HAL. Soon after, he was hired to work on sound. Jun Ishikawa, Yuuta Ogasawara, Yuki Shimooka, and Tadashi Ikegami Shogo Sakai, Jun Ishikawa, Megumi Ohara, and Yuki Shimooka Jun Ishikawa, Yuki Shimooka, Kiyoshi Hazemoto, and Yuki Kato Greening, Chris (February 7, 2017). "BoxBoy album features chiptunes from Kirby composers". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023. Iwata, Satoru (2010). "4. Surprise, Fun and Warmth". Nintendo. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-04-02. "Keyboard Magazine 2017 SUMMER". Ritto Music. 2017. pp. 55, 56, 59. King, Darryn (June 20, 2018). "The Music Of Kirby: Still Tickling Gamers Pink". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.