Nintendo have just dropped one of their massive Ask the Developer interview sessions, this time entirely dedicated to the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza. The discussion is packed with new details and insights behind the curtain of Nintendo’s next big platformer game, but one particular question has also put to rest a long-running debate about Donkey Kong’s redesign. In the interview, the Donkey Kong Bananza developers confirm that their Donkey Kong redesign came first, which then inspired the design used by the Super Mario Bros. Movie and Mario Kart World.
Fans have been questioning which redesign came first, as we initially saw the revamped Donkey Kong back in 2023 when The Super Mario Bros. Movie released. Following that, we saw a similar Donkey Kong used in the Switch 2’s exclusive Mario Kart World, and then we see him again now in Donkey Kong Bananza, all using his updated model. In the Ask the Developer interview, producer Kenta Motokura confirms “Donkey Kong Bananza sparked the creation” specifically in relation to the movie and Mario Kart World.
Elaborating on how they made the redesigned Donkey Kong, the developers say that they used Shigeru Miyamoto’s original design as a basis. With that, they built on it to emphasize Donkey Kong’s ability to emote in a cartoonish way, playing into both his “lovable goofball” and “cool, rugged king of the jungle” aesthetics that he is known for. They also wanted to showcase how much bigger than Mario he is, with his new design intentionally having “considerable on-screen presence” with his bulky size and wild fur.
What do you think of Donkey Kong’s redesign, that we now know got its start with Donkey Kong Bananza? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments down below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news and Donkey Kong Bananza coverage.
