Kevin Penkin
Kevin Penkin (born 22 May 1992) is a British-born Australian composer, primarily for video games and anime. He is best known for composing the score of the anime Made in Abyss, which won Best Score at the 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and the score for the Tower of God anime adaptation, also won the same category at the fifth edition. He has also composed the music for Dragon Striker.
Kevin Penkin

Narutolovehinata5 · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Kevin Penkin
- Born
- 22 May 1992
- Birthplace
- United Kingdom
- Occupation
- Composer
- Nationality
- Australia
- Education
- Royal College of Music · Mount Lawley Senior High School · Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
- Languages
- English · Japanese
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Kevin Penkin (born 22 May 1992) is a British-born Australian composer, primarily for video games and anime. He is best known for composing the score of the anime Made in Abyss, which won Best Score at the 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and the score for the Tower of God anime adaptation, also won the same category at the fifth edition. He has also composed the music for Dragon Striker.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Kevin Penkin • Born — 22 May 1992 • Birthplace — United Kingdom • Origin — Perth, Western Australia • Genre — * Orchestral • ambient • vocal • video game music • Occupation — Composer • Years Active — 2011–present • Website — http: kpenkmusic.com
Biography
Biography
Penkin was born on 22 May 1992 in the United Kingdom, and grew up in Perth, Western Australia. Penkin's interest in video game music started from when he first heard the "Phendrana Drifts" theme from Metroid Prime; in a 2012 interview, he referred to the theme's electronic synths and acoustic instruments as "absolute bliss". Penkin began his career with composition credits in the 2011 short films Play Lunch and The Adventures of Chipman and Biscuit Boy. In the same year, Penkin composed the soundtrack of the video game Jūzaengi: Engetsu Sangokuden; this soundtrack represented Penkin's first collaboration with Nobuo Uematsu. Penkin has continued to collaborate with Uematsu in titles such as Norn9 and Defender's Quest II: Mists of Ruin. In 2013, Penkin received a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Music Technology at Edith Cowan University's Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 2015, Penkin graduated from the Royal College of Music with a Master of Composition degree in Composition for Screen. His studies were supported by a grant from the Tait Memorial Trust as the inaugural Tait Scholar at the Royal College of Music. In 2016, Penkin collaborated with Kinema Citrus on the Norn9 anime and the Under the Dog original video animation soundtracks. Penkin's relationship with Kinema Citrus continued through to 2017 for the soundtrack of Made in Abyss, winning the 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Award for Best Score with it. In 2018, Penkin composed the score for the video game Florence. Penkin composed the music for Kinema Citrus' anime adaptation of The Rising of the Shield Hero and NetEase's VR game Nostos in 2019. He composed the score for the 2020 anime adaptation of the South Korean webtoon Tower of God. Penkin was working with artist Takashi Murakami on the sequel to the movie Jellyfish Eyes, but the project was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Penkin composed the score for "The Village Bride" episode in the Disney+ animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions. Penkin lived in the United Kingdom for some time, but now lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Anime
Anime
• Year — Title — Note(s) • 2016 — Under the Dog • Norn9 • 2017 — Made in Abyss — Won "Best Score" at the 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards • 2019 — The Rising of the Shield Hero — Nominated for "Best Score" at the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards • 2020 — Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul • Tower of God — Won "Best Score" at the 5th Crunchyroll Anime Awards • 2021 — Eden • Star Wars: Visions — Episode: "The Village Bride" • 2022 — The Rising of the Shield Hero 2 • Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun • Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal — Composed the opening theme "Tear of Will" • 2023 — Pokémon: Paldean Winds • The Apothecary Diaries — With Satoru Kōsaki and Alisa Okehazama • The Rising of the Shield Hero 3 • 2024 — Bye Bye, Earth • Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf • Tower of God season 2 • 2025 — The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 — With Satoru Kōsaki and Alisa Okehazama • Bâan: The Boundary of Adulthood • Star Wars: Visions — Episode: "The Lost Ones" • Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 — Episode: "Nayuta of the Prophecy" • 2026 — Nippon Sangoku • Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi • The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 — With Satoru Kōsaki and Alisa Okehazama • Gekijōban Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō — With Satoru Kōsaki and Alisa Okehazama
Animation
Animation
• Year — Title — Note(s) • 2026 — Dragon Striker
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Note(s) • 2011 — Jūzaengi: Engetsu Sangokuden — With Nobuo Uematsu • 2012 — Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten • 2013 — Norn9 — With Nobuo Uematsu • Deemo — Composed "I Race the Dawn" • Leviathan: The Last Defense • 2014 — Project Phoenix • 2015 — Implosion: Never Lose Hope — Composed cutscenes music • 2017 — Kieru • 2018 — Florence — Nominated at the 15th British Academy Game Awards for music • This Is the Police 2 — With Ben Matthews • 2019 — Nostos • Rebel Cops — With Ben Matthews • 2020 — Necrobarista • 2021 — Grow: Song of the Evertree • Arknights — Composed "Heal the World" • 2022 — Sin Chronicle — With various others • 2025 — Defender's Quest II: Mists of Ruin • TBA — Renaine — With various others
Concert works
Concert works
• Year — Title — Note(s) • 2013 — Blossom Crossroads — Perth Symphony Orchestra • Looking for Serenity — Perth Chamber Orchestra • Altered Illustrations — Perth Chamber Orchestra Joshua Webster, cimbalom • 2014 — Atmosphere — RCM Student Film Orchestra Anaïs Laugenie, cello • Changing Feet — Tait Memorial Trust Chamber Orchestra Nicola Crowe, flute • 2015 — First Blood — "And So Forth" Opera Company Rebecca Hardwick, soprano • 2016 — Throughtones — Greywing Ensemble • Houn Maru — Commissioned by Rio Tinto, Perth Symphony Orchestra
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Trumbore, Dave. Crunchyroll Anime Awards Winners Revealed: Who Took Home the Big Prize?. Collider. 26 February 2018.
- 2.Penkin, Kevin. Apparently in some places in the world I'm already 26. That's a laugh. 998582948973764610. 21 May 2018.
- 3.Penkin, Kevin. Kevin Penkin Long Interview. Made in Abyss. Kadokawa Corporation.
- 4.Greening, Chris. Kevin Penkin Interview: Writing Soundtracks with Nobuo. VGMO -Video Game Music Online-. 27 February 2014.
- 5.Doucet, Lars. Nobuo Uematsu to work on Defender's Quest 2. Fortress of Doors. 2 April 2014.
- 6.Biography | kevin-penkin-music. Kevin Penkin.
- 7.((taittweets2013)). Kevin Penkin, Inaugural Tait Scholar at the Royal College of Music – Tait Memorial Trust. 7 November 2013.
- 8.Remington, Kate. Kevin Penkin's Intimate, Conversational Soundtrack For 'Florence'. www.wshu.org. 21 June 2018.
- 9.Penkin, Kevin. So, speaking of more to come. honoured to announce I composed the music for my first VR title, @nostosgame Nostos is an VRMMO Sandbox game and the main theme features the incredible singer of Nier Automata, Emi Evans!. @kevinpenkin. 1032271518976434177. 2018-08-22.
- 10.Crunchyroll Reveals Tower of God Anime's Video, Cast, Staff. Anime News Network.
- 11.Penkin, Kevin. ANNOUNCEMENT: I've been working with artist Takashi Murakami on the music for his movie "Jellyfish Eyes 2". Due to Covid-19 the project has been abandoned. Regardless, we worked extremely hard on the music and I hope one day I can share it. It was an honour to work with Murakami. 1281706716220944384. 11 July 2020.
- 12.I'm composing for a Star Wars anime. Specifically, an episode of the new Disney+ series "Star Wars Visions", which is a collection of original animated shorts based in the Star Wars universe. Beyond honoured. Please enjoy "The Village Bride" by Kinema Citrus, this September. 1411455374939459585. July 3, 2021.
- 13.May, Callum. Interview: Made in Abyss Composer Kevin Penkin. Anime News Network. 4 October 2017.
- 14.Penkin, Kevin. Less than 2 weeks until I call Melbourne my home. Pretty keen. 1137711535902666754. 2019-06-09.
- 15.Credits. kpenkmusic.com.
- 16.Ramée, Jordan. Every Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020 Winner, Including Anime Of The Year. GameSpot. 14 February 2020.
- 17.Gramuglia, Anthony. Netflix Announces Eden Anime From Fullmetal Alchemist Director. Comic Book Resources. April 14, 2019.
- 18.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime's 2nd Season Premieres in 2021. Anime News Network. September 4, 2020.
- 19.Loo, Egan. Made in Abyss Season 2's English-Subtitled Video Unveils Cast, Staff. Anime News Network. November 21, 2021.
- 20.Dengeki Online. June 28, 2022.
- 21.August 9, 2023.
- 22.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. The Apothecary Diaries Novels About Palace Intrigue Get 2023 TV Anime. Anime News Network. February 15, 2023.
- 23.Loo, Egan. The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime Season 3's Teaser Unveils October Debut. Anime News Network. April 7, 2023.
- 24.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. October 14, 2023.
- 25.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. New Spice & Wolf TV Anime Reveals 2024 Debut, Returning Cast. Anime News Network. June 29, 2023.
- 26.Komatsu, Mikikazu. Tower of God Season 2 Anime Releases New Trailer Featuring Opening Theme by NiziU. Crunchyroll News. 2024-06-22.
- 27.Hazra, Adriana. Tower of God Season 2's Sneak Peek Video Reveals NiziU Songs, Revamped Staff, More Cast. Anime News Network. 2024-03-23.
- 28.Mateo, Alex. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Anime Reveals Trailer, Visual, Theme Song Artists, April 4 Premiere for 2nd Part. Anime News Network. March 28, 2025.
- 29.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. GeeXPlus' New GeeXProductions Division Produces Gigguk's Bâan -The Boundaries of Adulthood- Anime Short Movie. Anime News Network. 2025-07-03.
- 30.Dempsey, Liam. Star Wars: Visions: Volume 3 Anime Reveals Composer Lineup. Crunchyroll News. October 28, 2025.
- 31.Watanabe, Tetsuaki. Animate Times. November 6, 2025.
- 32.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. Nippon Sangoku Anime's 2nd Trailer Unveils More Cast & Staff, April 5 Debut on Amazon Prime Video. Anime News Network. February 24, 2026.
- 33.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. August 7, 2026.
- 34.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. August 15, 2026.
- 35.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. July 3, 2026.
- 36.Tangcay, Jazz. 'Dragon Striker' Trailer: First Look at Disney’s Sports Fantasy Animated Series (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. May 6, 2026.
- 37.Mejias, Nicole. Composer Kevin Penkin on Symphonic Metal and Flamenco Music Influences in The Rising of the Shield Hero, and More!. Crunchyroll News. November 27, 2018.
- 38.Route 59 Games press kit. necrobarista.com.
- 39.Romano, Sal. Grow: Song of the Evertree launches November 16. Gematsu. August 27, 2021.
- 40.Penkin, Kevin. I wrote music for Arknights!!! Beyond honoured to work with the irreplaceable @SarahAlainn on the song "Heal the World". Feel free to check below. 1473229516495482881. December 21, 2021.
- 41.Romano, Sal. Sega announces 'choose your own ending RPG' Sin Chronicle for iOS, Android. Gematsu. October 1, 2021.
- 42.Defender's Quest II: Mists of Ruin. defendersquest2.com.
- 43.Romano, Sal. High-paced platformer Renaine coming to Switch, PC. Gematsu. September 18, 2018.
- 44.Flavell Neist, Carol. Symphony by the Lake. ArtsHub Australia. March 13, 2013.
- 45.Parry, Mike. Beethoven Bratwurst and Beer. ArtsHub Australia. December 18, 2013.
- 46.Changing Feet – A musical exploration of changing pace. Tait Memorial Trust. September 30, 2014.
- 47.Trainer, Adam. GreyWing Ensemble. Western Australian New Music Archive. May 10, 2016.
- 48.Tait Awardee, Kevin Penkin composes original score to celebrate Rio Tinto's 50 years of iron ore mining. Tait Memorial Trust. November 13, 2016.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,934 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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