With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally revealed and the first look at what’ll be on it, excitement is at an all-time high. Among the discussion behind what the system can do and what games are yet to be shown, there’s a large amount of talk about the one we have seen: the new Mario Kart. Perhaps the biggest focal point of all are the redesigns of the characters, ranging from subtle tweaks to Donkey Kong’s full-on overhaul. Even the designer responsible for Donkey Kong’s iconic appearance has thoughts to share.
When Donkey Kong was first created all the way back in 1981, his depictions tended to vary wildly. After all, at the time the only source material was fairly minimal 2D sprites, so it was up to each individual artist’s interpretation as to how he should look for the most part. With the advent of Donkey Kong Country in 1994 however, a brand-new 3D design would stick the landing as his most well-known look for the next 30 years. That classic design was made by Kevin Bayliss, a former character designer for Rare. When it comes to his thoughts on Donkey Kong moving away from this look, Bayliss had nothing but good things to say!
You can take the KONG out of the Country, but you can't take the Country out of the Kong! (I love it – this is really funny! – Everything changes! – Change is good!) https://t.co/AWxh2mJr6W
— Kevin Bayliss (@Kev_Bayliss) January 20, 2025
In a short tweet over a fan animation depicting Donkey Kong’s transformation into his new self, Bayliss shared that he thinks the new design looks great and that “change is good.” The general response to Donkey Kong’s new self has been rather mixed overall, but seeing one as influential in the modern perception of the character as Bayliss giving his blessing lends favor towards the more classic Kong look. Only time will tell if the design sticks and what the future of both the Donkey Kong and the greater Mario franchises will look like, but at least for now, this new take on the great ape is a welcome part of it!
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Written by Abbie Maxwell
Lifelong Nintendo fangirl, Abbie holds a special place in her heart for video games. She has always strived to provide tips and tricks to make the experiences of those who share her passions that much better.
