Eiji Aonuma Awarded Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France

Eiji Aonuma, the veteran producer of the "Legend of Zelda" series, was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture on October 25, 2026. Aonuma has been integral to the development of the series since "Ocarina of Time," contributing to the iconic adventure of Link against evil forces.

Catherine Pégard, the French Minister of Culture, praised Aonuma as a storyteller who always leaves room for imagination for players. She presented him with the medal, thanking him for inspiring "children around the world to dream." The Japanese game producer also prepared a speech in French, encouraging fans to "continue this adventure together."

Aonuma began his career with Nintendo in 1988, and his role as director of "Ocarina of Time" solidified his standing in the industry. Since then, he has been a core member of every main series "Legend of Zelda" title, as well as many spin-offs. He has consistently served as a producer, leading the adventures of Link since the Nintendo 64 era, through titles like "The Wind Waker" and "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," to the recent remake of the game that started his career.

The French Ministry of Culture announced Aonuma's honor in 2023, but the ceremony only took place this week. Others awarded in the same ceremony included jazz musician Kenny Garrett, actress Richa Chadha, and "Ranma ½" author Rumiko Takahashi. Unlike some knight titles, this honor does not restrict nationality and is awarded across various fields of art.

While it is not common for game developers to receive this medal compared to other art forms, it is not unprecedented in the French Ministry of Culture. Shigeru Miyamoto received the honor in 2006, and notable producer Peter Molyneux followed in 2007. Earlier this year, the ministry announced plans to award the medal to the development team of "Light and Shadow: Expedition 33," marking the first time an entire game studio has received this honor.

Reported by ITHome.