Donkey Kong artist tells angry fans to ’embrace change’ after Switch 2 redesign

The man behind Donkey Kong’s original 3D design has given his thoughts on the ape’s new look in Donkey Kong Bananza.

While Donkey Kong’s redesign was revealed back in 2022, in the lead up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it was only given a full showcase in the Switch 2 Direct on Wednesday.

The ape’s revamped look was given the spotlight with the announcement of Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D platformer which is set to be released on July 17, 2025 for the Switch 2.

While the new design seems to have shocked some fans – who weren’t paying attention to other uses of the design – the designer who created the character’s original 3D look, in 1994’s Donkey Kong Country, has given it his seal of approval.

Former Rare developer Kevin Bayliss posted his thoughts in response to an article around the mixed reactions to the redesign.

‘I don’t understand why there’s any debate to be had,’ Bayliss wrote on X. ‘It’s still DK, only better looking. People need to embrace change more! All good things get better with age (I would say that though – since I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years now). Everyone give a big warm welcome for the new DK.’

He added: ‘And let’s remember, 20 years from now he’ll probably receive another ‘nip and tuck’ here and there to keep him fresh and current. Look at early Mickey Mouse compared to modern Mickey Mouse.

‘Evolution while being sympathetic to the original is an art – but it has to be done gradually, and this latest incarnation is perfect in my opinion. But – everyone has their own special Kong.’

Donkey Kong originally debuted in the 1981 arcade game of the same name, when he was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto himself. This design was used across several sequels until 1994’s Donkey Kong Country, where the character was rendered with 3D graphics for the first time.

Graphical improvements aside, the 3D design has largely stayed the same over the decades since. That changed, however, with 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, when the redesign was highlighted by Miyamoto but strangely wasn’t used in the new Donkey Kong themed area of the Super Nintendo World theme park.

While some people are unhappy with the redesign, the majority appear to be in favour of Donkey Kong’s goofy new personality.

‘Oh my god, the design has sold me,’ one X user wrote. ‘It’s so expressive.’

‘I’m convinced that anyone who thinks the new Donkey Kong design is a downgrade from the Rare design is being blinded by nostalgia,’ another added.

However, some people aren’t convinced. ‘Hate to sound like one of those people but I miss Rare design Donkey Kong,’ a user wrote on X.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the character’s first fully 3D platformer since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Since then, there’s been a number of 2.5D games like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and Donkey Kong Country Returns but nothing as open-ended as Bananza.

Email [email protected], leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.