Nintendo Reveals Design Decisions Behind Young Pauline in Donkey Kong Bananza

Nintendo recently offered insight into the development of Donkey Kong Bananza, the highly anticipated title for the Nintendo Switch, by sharing details about the character design choices made during production.

Speaking with Japanese publication Nintendo Dream, the development team revealed the process that led to the decision to feature a younger version of Pauline accompanying Donkey Kong, instead of the character’s traditional, adult form. Donkey Kong Bananza is the latest entry in the storied Donkey Kong franchise, developed and published by Nintendo for its flagship platform, the Nintendo Switch.

As a new title in a franchise celebrated for its innovation and humor, every design choice is closely scrutinized.

In their interview, the developers discussed their desire to include Pauline, a fan-favorite character known for her appearances in both the original arcade Donkey Kong and the more recent Super Mario Odyssey. Takashi Motokura, one of the lead directors, explained that the team initially envisioned adult Pauline as Donkey Kong’s companion in the game.

However, when they prototyped the character models and interactions, the developers realized that her adult size presented challenges for gameplay, particularly when it came to placing her on Donkey Kong’s back during adventure sequences.

As Motokura recounted, "We wanted Pauline to appear in Donkey Kong Bananza, but integrating her in a way that suited our gameplay concept proved difficult." The development team found a breakthrough while experimenting with the new transformation mechanics central to Bananza’s gameplay.

Composer Naoto Kubo created a song to accompany these transformation sequences, and it was during the synchronization of music and gameplay that the decision to include Pauline became firm.

As described in the interview, once the song and transformations were connected, including Pauline felt like a natural fit for the evolving vision of the game. When asked about the choice to portray Pauline as a 13-year-old, producer Shinya Takahashi commented that the design was motivated by both gameplay functionality and the introduction of fresh dynamics to the series.

Takahashi stated, "We placed Pauline on Donkey Kong’s back to allow them to travel together.

At first, we used her adult form, but found that a smaller character felt more suitable for size and playability.

Introducing her as a younger character also felt appropriate, especially with many players experiencing Donkey Kong as a playable character for the first time." This behind-the-scenes look at Donkey Kong Bananza’s development underscores Nintendo’s thoughtful approach to both character design and accessibility, a hallmark that has defined its major releases on the Nintendo Switch, including recent hits showcased during Nintendo Direct presentations and featured on the Switch eShop.

The company’s collaborative and iterative development process continues to shape experiences that appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike. Donkey Kong Bananza is soon to join the ranks of beloved franchises on the Nintendo Switch.

Stay tuned for further updates as Nintendo prepares to launch its next big adventure.

Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Pauline Switch Bananza Nintendo Dream Naoto Kubo Takashi Motokura