Takashi Tokita

(born 24 January 1965) is a Japanese video game developer working for Square Enix. He has worked there since 1985, and has worked as the lead designer for ''Final Fantasy IV'' as well as the director of ''Parasite Eve'' and ''Chrono Trigger''.

Career

Tokita joined Square in 1985 as a part-time employee, not becoming full-time until the development of ''Final Fantasy IV''. For the first three ''Final Fantasy'' games, he worked on graphic design, testing, and sound effects, respectively, before becoming lead designer of ''Final Fantasy IV'' in 1991.

Tokita wanted to make a career as a theater actor, but working on ''Final Fantasy IV'' made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games. He was one of only 14 people working on the game. Tokita feels that ''Final Fantasy IV'' is the first game in the series to really pick up on drama, and the first Japanese RPG to feature "such deep characters and plot". He also felt that ''Final Fantasy IV'' was so good because it was the culmination of the best parts of the first three games.

Following that title, he was also involved in the production of ''Final Fantasy VII''.

''Chrono Trigger'' is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Director credits were attributed to Akihiko Matsui, Yoshinori Kitase and Takashi Tokita. Tetsuya Takahashi had the role of graphic director. Additionally, Takashi Tokita, along with Yoshinori Kitase wrote the various subplots to the game.

He handled the game design for ''Parasite Eve'' and wrote the game's story. He considers the later games in the series as having been "handed off" to others.

After the successful remakes of ''Final Fantasy III'' and ''Final Fantasy IV'', there was a desire by the team to make a new game in the same style.

He was the lead developer on '' Final Fantasy IV: The After Years''.

His greatest inspiration was '' Dragon Quest 2'', since it emotionally engaged him like no game he had played before.

Between 2003 and 2007, Tokita was the head of Square's Product Development Division 7.

Currently, Tokita is a senior manager and producer in Square Enix's Business Division 8.

Games

* '' Aliens: Alien 2'' (1987) — Graphic design
* '' Cleopatra no Mahō'' (1987) — Graphic design
* ''Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School'' (1987) — Graphic design
* ''Hanjuku Hero'' (1988) — Graphic design
* ''Square's Tom Sawyer'' (1989) — Graphic design
* ''Final Fantasy Legend'' (1989) — Scenario, Sprite graphics, Character design, Sound effects
* ''Final Fantasy III'' (1990) — Sound effects
* ''Rad Racer II'' (1990) — Sound effects
* ''Final Fantasy IV'' (1991) — Lead game designer, scenario writer
* ''Final Fantasy V'' (1992) — Special thanks
* '' Hanjuku Hero: Aa, Sekaiyo Hanjukunare...!'' (1992) — Scenario director
* ''Live A Live'' (1994) — Director, scenario writer, event designer
* ''Chrono Trigger'' (1995) — Director, scenario writer
* ''DynamiTracer'' (1996) — Producer
* ''Final Fantasy VII'' (1997) — Event planner
* ''Parasite Eve'' (1998) — Director, scenario writer
* ''Parasite Eve II'' (1999) — Special advisor
* ''Chocobo Racing'' (1999) — Director, scenario writer, lyrics
* '' The Bouncer'' (2000) — Director, dramatisation, lyrics
* '' Hanjuku Eiyuu Tai 3D'' (2003) Director, producer
* '' Egg Monster Hero'' (2004) — Producer
* '' Hanjuku Eiyuu 4'' (2005) — Director, producer
* '' Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls'' (2005) — Game designer, producer
* ''Final Fantasy IV Advance'' (2005) — Supervisor
* '' Musashi: Samurai Legend'' (2005) — Producer
* '' Final Fantasy IV DS'' (2007) — Director, executive producer
* '' Final Fantasy IV: The After Years'' (2008) — Producer, scenario writer, game design
* '' Nanashi no Game'' (2008) — Executive producer
* '' Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light'' (2009) — Director, scenario writer
* '' Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy'' (2011) — Special thanks
* '' Ikenie no Yoru'' (2011) — Co-director
* '' Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection'' (2011) — Supervisor
* ''Theatrhythm Final Fantasy'' (2012) — Special thanks
* ''Final Fantasy Dimensions'' (2012) — Producer, scenario writer, game design
* ''Demons' Score'' (2012) — Producer
* ''Final Fantasy IV'' for smartphones (2012) — Supervisor
* ''Final Fantasy V'' for smartphones (2013) — Special thanks
* '' Final Fantasy IV: The After Years'' 3D remake (2013) — Producer
* ''Final Fantasy VI'' for smartphones (2014) — Special thanks
* ''Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call'' (2014) — Special thanks
*''Dissidia Final Fantasy'' (2015) — Special thanks
* '' Final Fantasy Legends: Toki no Suishō'' (2015-2017) — General director, scenario & game designer, illustrator, lyrics
* ''Holy Dungeon'' (2015) — Writer
* '' Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius'' (2015) — Special thanks
* ''I Am Setsuna'' (2016) — Special thanks
* '' Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV'' (2016) — Special thanks
* '' Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary'' (2017) — ''Final Fantasy'' character supervisor
* ''Oninaki'' (2019) — Creative producer
* ''Live A Live'' (Remake) (2022) — Producer, scenario writer

References

External links

*
''Takashi Tokita''
profile, interviews, and photo gallery at the Square Haven People Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tokita, Takashi
Living people
1965 births
Japanese video game directors
Square Enix people