Donkey Kong Bananza Influences Character Design in Super Mario Bros. Movie and Mario Kart World, Confirms Nintendo

Nintendo continues to refine its iconic characters, and Donkey Kong is the latest to receive a significant design update.

In a recent edition of "Ask the Developer," Nintendo confirmed that the forthcoming game Donkey Kong Bananza played a pivotal role in shaping Donkey Kong’s appearance in both the Super Mario Bros.

Movie and Mario Kart World.

This revelation demonstrates the company’s cohesive approach to character consistency across its games and multimedia adaptations. Donkey Kong Bananza, set to launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, marks a major revival of the fan-favorite franchise.

Designed to leverage the Switch’s hardware, Bananza is positioned as a showcase for not only classic platforming mechanics but also advanced character modeling and animation.

The new character design, debuted in early promotional materials, caught the attention of both longtime fans and newcomers to the series. Kenta Motokura, a veteran Nintendo developer known for his work on acclaimed titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, discussed the paradigm shift in character design.

During the “Ask the Developer” interview series, Motokura stated that the creative process for Donkey Kong was directly inspired by the vision for Bananza.

He explained, "The development of Donkey Kong Bananza served as the starting point for reimagining Donkey Kong.

The lessons and visual motifs we established in the game’s design led us to create a version of Donkey Kong that we felt was best suited for modern audiences." This new iteration of Donkey Kong, which features a more expressive face, updated fur textures, and a vibrant color palette, quickly became the template for his appearances in other Nintendo properties.

As a result, both the Super Mario Bros.

Movie, which debuted in 2023 to strong box office success, and Mario Kart World, the latest in the long-running racing franchise, feature Donkey Kong’s updated look. The alignment of character designs across the Nintendo Switch platform, big screen adaptations, and flagship titles underscores Nintendo’s commitment to a unified brand identity.

The approach streamlines recognition for characters, strengthens cross-media storytelling, and gives fans a consistent experience regardless of where they encounter beloved characters such as Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong Bananza is scheduled for release later this year on the Nintendo Switch and will be available via both retail and the Nintendo eShop.

With the anticipation surrounding the game’s debut and its impact on the broader Nintendo universe, Bananza is already poised to become a milestone for the franchise and its celebrated protagonist.

Mario Kart Donkey Kong Mario Kart World Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Mario Super Mario Bros. Movie Super Mario Super Mario Bros Mario Bros Kart Kenta Motokura Bananza Motokura