ACE

ACE is a music group consisting of TOMOri Kudo and CHiCO. They have composed, arranged, and performed music for the Xenoblade series and other game and film soundtracks, as well as producing original music for themselves and others.

TOMOri Kudo
Tomori Kudo (stylised as 'TOMOri Kudo') was brought up listening to pop music on Japanese radio and television, and later on, metal, blues and jazz bands. He initially learnt to play piano and electronic organ in primary school, and later learnt guitar in high school. He joined a pop music band and took on various music projects, including the video game Minna de Tamagotchi, a 1997 game for the Nintendo 64 by Bandai which he worked on alongside CHiCO.

CHiCO
CHiCO, born Hiroyo Yamanaka, grew up making music in a classically-trained household; she played violin and piano, and wrote short pieces based upon her mood. CHiCO's first job was working as an actress and assistant choreographer, which entailed selecting appropriate music for performances. She started composing at this time, writing the music for such performances herself. CHiCO followed this career by transitioning to one more music-oriented: she participated in bands, including one with TOMOri Kudo (where the two met). Minna de Tamagotchi, which she worked on with Kudo, was her first video game music project.

The pair's first work together under the name ACE was in 2009 with their single. They first worked with the Xeno series on the music of Xenoblade Chronicles in 2010, and have composed music for all releases in the Xenoblade series besides Xenoblade Chronicles X. The two have continued to work together until present.

ACE+
When ACE works with Kenji Hiramatsu, the resulting trio is known as ACE+. Besides making compositions of his own, Hiramatsu's contributions to the group entail 'tapping into his vast store of knowledge' about video games, and finding the significance of subtle details about a game's story to approach music-making from beyond a basic acoustic perspective. ACE+ worked together on the music of Xenoblade Chronicles, and all of the tracks composed by any of the three are credited under the name 'ACE+'.

Relevance to the Xeno series
ACE compose music for the numbered Xenoblade games. Their contributions are varied; their music is frequently used as cutscene themes, area themes, and/or battle themes.

Xenoblade Chronicles
Both members: TOMOri Kudo: CHiCO:
 * Composer
 * The Monado Awakens
 * Crisis
 * Urgency
 * Riki the Legendary Heropon
 * Riki's Kindness
 * The Battle is Upon Us
 * Thoughts Enshrined
 * The God-Slaying Sword
 * Majesty
 * Once We Part Ways
 * Gaur Plain (Night)
 * An Obstacle in Our Path
 * Valak Mountain (Night)
 * Zanza's World
 * Contributing composer
 * Engage the Enemy
 * Hostile Gazes
 * Enemies Closing In
 * Visions of the Future
 * You Will Know Our Names
 * Mechanical Rhythm
 * Agniratha, Mechonis Capital
 * Agniratha, Mechonis Capital (Night)
 * Irregular Bound
 * The End Lies Ahead
 * Arranger
 * Shulk and Fiora
 * Hometown (Night)
 * Colony 9 (Night)
 * Colony 6 - Silence
 * Alcamoth, Imperial Capital (Night)
 * Colony 6 - Hope
 * Colony 6 - Future
 * Music programmer
 * Alcamoth, Imperial Capital (Night)
 * Colony 6 - Hope
 * Colony 6 - Future
 * Music programmer
 * Musician: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
 * Musician: Vocals

Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Both members: TOMOri Kudo: CHiCO:
 * Composer
 * Argentum/Night
 * A Ship in a Stormy Sea
 * Exploration
 * Incoming!
 * Gormott/Night
 * Torigoth/Night
 * Wanted Nia
 * A Nopon's Life
 * Death Match With Torna
 * Those Who Stand Against Our Path
 * The Beginning of Darkness
 * Drifting Soul
 * Desolation
 * Contrition
 * Driver Vs
 * Alba Cavanich/Night
 * Running
 * Bringer of Chaos! Ultimate
 * Leftherian Archipelago/Night
 * Gramps/Night
 * The Impending Crisis
 * Tantal/Night
 * The Past Revealed
 * Drifting Soul (Violin Version)
 * With People and Darkness
 * Walking With You
 * Sea of Clouds
 * Disappearing World
 * Battle in the Skies Above
 * Blade Chosen
 * Affinity Chart Complete
 * Hunting Succeeded
 * Quest Clear
 * Gormott (Piano Arrange)
 * Arranger (With People and Darkness)
 * Recording coordinator
 * With People and Darkness
 * Walking With You
 * Sea of Clouds
 * Disappearing World
 * Battle in the Skies Above
 * Blade Chosen
 * Affinity Chart Complete
 * Hunting Succeeded
 * Quest Clear
 * Gormott (Piano Arrange)
 * Arranger (With People and Darkness)
 * Recording coordinator
 * Recording coordinator
 * Musician: Acoustic & Electric Guitar
 * Musician
 * Vocals (Leftherian Archipelago/Night)
 * Whistling & Whistle & Percussion

Torna ~ The Golden Country
Both members: TOMOri Kudo:
 * Composer
 * Four-limbed Titan/Gormott
 * Kingdom of Torna/Night
 * Recording coordinator
 * Recording coordinator
 * Musician: Guitar

Future Connected
Both members:
 * Composer
 * Bionis' Shoulder (Night)
 * Fogbeasts
 * Fogbeasts

Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Both members:
 * Composer

Both members: TOMOri Kudo:
 * Musicians (clapping, vocals)
 * Copyist