View source for Zuntata

{{Short description|Japanese band}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Zuntata
| image            = 
| image_size       = 
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| background       = group_or_band
| alias            = Taito Sound Team
| native_name      = ズンタタ
| genre            = [[Synth-pop]], [[abstract music|abstract]]
| years_active     = 1983–present
| label            = [[Pony Canyon]], [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
| website          = {{URL|http://zuntata.jp/}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''Zuntata'''|ズンタタ|Zuntata|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is the "house band" of Japanese [[video game industry|video game developer]] and publisher [[Taito]]. The band consists of sound director Katsuhisa Ishikawa, bassists Yu Shimoda and Shohei Tsuchiya, and drummer Masaki Mori.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zuntata – 2009 Darius Odyssey Book Interview |url=http://shmuplations.com/zuntatadarius/ |website=Shmuplations |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230190658/http://shmuplations.com/zuntatadarius/ |archive-date=30 December 2019}}</ref> Zuntata is Taito's core sound department, and has become the collective name for the company's other sound production teams.<ref name="GA-Core">{{cite web |title=「ZUNTATA」結成当時のヨモヤマ話 |url=http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp003_1_1.php |website=GA-Core |publisher=Try Two |access-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310030434/http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp003_1_1.php |archive-date=10 March 2009 |language=ja |date=4 March 2009}}</ref> The band has contributed to many of the company's franchises, including ''[[Darius (video game)|Darius]]'', ''[[Groove Coaster]]'', ''[[Arkanoid]]'', and ''[[List of Space Invaders video games|Space Invaders]]''.

Zuntata's origins can be traced back to 1983, the year Taito established its sound division. The Zuntata name was employed in 1988, first used for the soundtrack for ''[[The Ninja Warriors (1987 video game)|The Ninja Warriors]]''. Zuntata's music was originally published by [[Pony Canyon]], before these operations were moved in-house. Zuntata worked on several Taito arcade games, namely [[shoot 'em ups]] and [[rhythm games]]. The band also assisted in production of the X2000, a Taito-developed [[karaoke machine]]. After Taito was acquired by [[Square Enix]] in 2005, many of the band's members departed due to creative differences between them and executives, as Taito was shrinking its operations into becoming more of a game publisher and owner of video arcades.

Zuntata continues to produce music for Taito video games, working primarily on the ''Groove Coaster'' series. The band's music, a combination of [[abstract music|abstract]] and [[synth-pop]], has gotten attention from video game publications for its bizarre nature and strangeness.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Martin |last2=Tapsell |first2=Chris |title=Clash of Fans: Dawn of War and Darius |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-05-21-clash-of-fans-dawn-of-war-and-darius |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522055242/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-05-21-clash-of-fans-dawn-of-war-and-darius |archive-date=22 May 2020 |date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Darius Gaiden |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/darius-gaiden/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118054211/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/darius-gaiden/ |archive-date=18 November 2019 |date=1 February 2016}}</ref> Both the band and its members have received awards, and its music has been published many times through albums and digital music storefronts such as [[iTunes]] and [[Spotify]].

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://zuntata.jp/ Zuntata official site]
*[http://www.ocremix.org/artist/6/zuntata Artist profile] at [[OverClocked ReMix]]
*{{musicbrainz artist|id=63d4eab6-de28-42d0-b506-148df013a618|name=Zuntata}}

{{Square Enix}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Japanese instrumental rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Japanese progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Japanese video game composers]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Square Enix people]]
[[Category:Taito people]]
[[Category:Video game music bands]]


{{Taito-videogame-stub}}
{{videogame-musician-stub}}