In response to the division among Donkey Kong fans over his look in Donkey Kong Bananza, his former designer has something to say to people complaining.
Withthe announcement of Donkey Kong Bananzaandthe new trailer for Mario Kart Worldat yesterday’s Switch 2 Direct, we got a closer look at the new design for Donkey Kong. We first got a glimpse of himwhen the Switch 2 was first announced, and, like with any redesign of a beloved, classic character, responses from fans have been mixed.
Kevin Bayliss, formerly a character designer for Rare and the main artist behind Donkey Kong’s redesign for the Donkey Kong Country games, took toXto discuss online responses to DK’s new look.
‘People Need To Embrace Change’
Bayliss is clearly a fan of the gorilla’s new design, and thinks it’s pretty clear that it’s better than his old one.
…I don’t understand why there’s any debate to be had. It’s still DK, only better looking. People need to embrace change more!
He follows up this post withanothermentioning how DK will probably be updated again in 20 years to similar response, like the redesigns to Mickey Mouse over the decades, and goes on to say, “Evolution while being sympathetic to the original is an art, but it has to be done gradually, and this latest incarnation is perfect imo.”
The arguments against the redesign seem to mostly be the classic “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but it’s a part of a wider aesthetic update to the entire Super Mario franchise that has been going on for a couple of years now.
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DK’s redesign takes notes from his older designs and is also clearly influenced by his look in theSuper Mario Bros. Movie, similar tothe new look for Mario and company in Super Mario Bros. Wonderandthe mid-development facelift for Princess Peach: Showtime!, and it’s part of a general shift to make characters in the series at large more expressive and cartoonish.
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