Miyamoto Shares What Prompted Donkey Kong’s Major Visual Update

In Short:

• Nintendo updated Donkey Kong’s look to enhance how he conveys emotion in the next wave of games
• Shigeru Miyamoto, still hands-on with character design, has expressed support for Donkey Kong’s makeover
• While the redesign sparked debate, a portion of the fanbase sees it as a smart move to modernize Donkey Kong

Shigeru Miyamoto, the visionary behind many of Nintendo’s greatest hits, has revealed why Donkey Kong received a fresh new look.

Once Mario’s enemy, Donkey Kong has evolved into one of the company’s most versatile heroes, starring in platformers, kart races, and sports games alike.

With a new Switch 2 game on the horizon, Donkey Kong is enjoying a major comeback. Observant fans have noted that his design has been tweaked again, now bearing a stronger resemblance to the version seen in the Super Mario Bros movie, something that hinted at in the Mario Kart World.

Donkey Kong’s fresh look is clearly seen in Bananza, where his facial expressions and body language feel more lifelike than ever. Nintendo says this was a deliberate choice to make the character more engaging.

As part of the marketing push for the Epic Universe theme park expansion at Universal, which includes a Donkey Kong Country zone, Shigeru Miyamoto responded to questions about DK’s visual overhaul.

Still involved in the creative process, Miyamoto explained that while Rare’s Donkey Kong Country helped shape the character’s early look, Nintendo started changing Donkey Kong’s design with Jungle Beat to enhance his expressiveness.

The Real Reason Behind Donkey Kong’s Expressive Redesign

Nintendo has been pushing the boundaries of Donkey Kong’s classic design by adding new layers of expressiveness to the character.

This redesign effort was showcased in the Super Mario Bros. animated film and remains evident in the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.

While trailers and Nintendo Treehouse gameplay highlight Donkey Kong’s vivid expressiveness in the upcoming Switch 2 title, the redesign has also faced some fan backlash.

While some fans debate the redesign, Donkey Kong Country artist Kevin Bayliss argues that the character is still recognizable and simply looks better. He expects Donkey Kong to keep evolving, with more changes likely over the next 20 years.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Also Read: Why Multiplayer In Donkey Kong Bananza Makes Perfect Sense After Super Mario Odyssey?