Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has provided insight into Nintendo’s decision to redesign the iconic Donkey Kong character, citing enhanced expressiveness as the primary objective behind the visual transformation.

In a recent interview with IGN, Miyamoto addressed the redesign directly for the first time, explaining his continued involvement in character development decisions. He referenced Nintendo’s collaboration with Rare on the original Donkey Kong Country as a foundation for understanding the character’s evolution.

“We worked together with the team that made 3D Mario,” Miyamoto explained regarding the development of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. “With the technology that was available at the time, we were able to make Donkey Kong more expressive.”

Miyamoto emphasized that the team reevaluated Rare’s original design with a focus on maximizing expressive potential. This analysis informed the decision to implement the new design for the Super Mario Bros. Movie and subsequent projects. The redesign has received endorsement from Kevin Bayliss, the former Rare artist who originally redesigned Donkey Kong in the 1990s. Bayliss expressed support for the changes in April, describing the new version as “still DK, only better looking” and encouraging fans to “embrace change.”

The redesign process began subtly with Donkey Kong’s appearance in 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, before becoming more apparent in footage from the upcoming Mario Kart World. Nintendo has since systematically updated marketing materials to reflect the character’s new look across various platforms.

The redesign received official confirmation in April with the announcement of Switch 2 title Donkey Kong Bananza. The new design appears to blend elements from the Super Mario Bros. Movie version with pre-Donkey Kong Country artwork, creating a hybrid aesthetic that bridges different eras of the character’s visual evolution.