Shinya Kumazaki

Shinya Kumazaki (クマザキ) is a Japanese video game concept designer, an employee at HAL Laboratory, and a creative force behind Nintendo's Kirby series. He began as a designer on Kirby Air Ride and Kirby: Canvas Curse. The first Kirby game he directed was Kirby Super Star Ultra, released in 2008.

Additionally, Kumazaki has done voice work for series. He voiced King Dedede and related characters in various games.

Kumazaki considers "devices, maps, and tough boss battles" the essential components of quality action games. His favorite main series and spin-off Kirby games are Kirby's Adventure and Kirby Air Ride, respectively.

Director

 * Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008)
 * Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011)
 * Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition (2012) — one of two directors
 * Kirby: Triple Deluxe (2014)
 * Kirby Fighters Deluxe (2014)
 * Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe (2014)

General Director

 * Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016)

Design

 * Kirby Air Ride (2003)
 * Kirby: Canvas Curse (2005)

Special Thanks

 * Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (2015)

Voice Acting

 * King Dedede
 * Kirby's Return to Dream Land
 * Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition
 * Kirby: Triple Deluxe
 * Kirby Fighters Deluxe
 * Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe
 * Mini Dedede
 * Kirby Fighters Deluxe — pitch modified
 * Combo Dedede
 * Kirby Fighters Deluxe — pitch modified
 * Dark Crafter
 * Kirby and the Rainbow Curse — uncredited, voice clip modified
 * Dedede Clone
 * Kirby: Planet Robobot — pitch modified as character splits

Trivia

 * Satoshi Ishida, an employee at HAL Laboratory, posted and updated Behind the Scenes Miiverse communities on behalf of Kumazaki, specifically for the Kirby's Nintendo 3DS games. Both developers would converse back and forth on some occasions, such as for the Kirby: Planet Robobot Ask-a-thon event.