Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals Evolution of Donkey Kong’s Design Ahead of Epic Universe Launch

As Universal’s highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, prepares for its opening, attention has once again turned to Nintendo’s legacy brands—particularly the iconic Donkey Kong franchise.

In an exclusive interview with IGN, Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s celebrated game designer, opened up about the evolution of Donkey Kong’s design and his ongoing involvement in character development.

Donkey Kong, first introduced to the world in 1981, has seen numerous transformations aligned with technological advancements and the creative direction of Nintendo’s development teams.

The beloved character, often accompanied by Diddy Kong, has become not only a staple of Nintendo’s gaming portfolio for platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop, but also a featured star in theme park experiences worldwide.

Miyamoto provided insight into the renewed visual direction for Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, stating he remains actively involved in the creation and refinement of these characters.

He reflected on past milestones such as the collaboration with Rare for the launch of Donkey Kong Country in 1994, a turning point that first introduced new levels of expressiveness to Donkey Kong’s design.

"From the beginning, I’ve been closely engaged with our character roster," Miyamoto said in his interview with IGN.

He explained that revisiting the Donkey Kong Country era, developed with Rare, prompted Nintendo to reconsider what expressiveness truly meant for these characters.

As the character progressed, Nintendo ventured into experimental titles like Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, developed in collaboration with the team responsible for the 3D Mario series.

Miyamoto credited advances in gaming technology during this period for enabling the characters to display an even wider range of emotions and dynamism than previously possible.

"With every new installment, we re-evaluate our designs—aiming to make Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong more lifelike and expressive," he remarked.

The continuous evolution of Donkey Kong’s look has carried over not only to video games but to adaptations intended for other media, including theme park attractions and animated features.

Miyamoto revealed that, in preparation for this next generation of Donkey Kong experiences, the development team has pushed expressiveness to new heights, ensuring that the characters resonate with fans on both screens and in real life at venues like Universal’s Epic Universe. Nintendo’s enduring commitment to character quality, as evidenced by Miyamoto’s hands-on approach, underscores why franchises like Donkey Kong remain influential in the gaming industry.

With the addition of immersive park attractions and ongoing game releases, the legacy of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong continues to grow—delighting both loyal fans and newcomers on every Nintendo platform.

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