Nintendo Doubles Down on Donkey Kong’s Controversial New Look with Merchandise Rollout

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Summary

  • Nintendo is embracing Donkey Kong’s new design with merchandise following his latest makeover for the Switch 2 generation.
  • Fans are divided over the revamped look, but many are accepting of Donkey Kong’s friendlier appearance.
  • The evolution of Donkey Kong continues as Nintendo updates his design for the new Mario Kart game, sparking debate among fans.

Nintendo appears to be pushing forward with the contentious new appearance of Donkey Kong, providing various merchandise showcasing his recent makeover. When Nintendo unveiled the upcoming Switch 2 console and the upcoming Mario Kart game for it earlier this month, fans couldn’t help but notice a change in Donkey Kong’s design. In footage shown for the new Mario Kart game, the ape appears to have undergone a redesign that aligns more closely with his look in the 2023 film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”, featuring a stockier build, rounder eyes, and a slightly altered fur color.

For the third time since his arcade introduction in 1981, Donkey Kong has undergone a major transformation, and the internet has been quick to express its reactions and debates about this latest facelift. While some Nintendo enthusiasts have criticized the change, others find his friendlier new appearance more acceptable. Even Kevin Bayliss, the artist behind the Donkey Kong Country character, has shared his thoughts on Donkey Kong’s new look, viewing it as a natural evolution for such an iconic character as Nintendo’s beloved primate.

It appears that Nintendo concurs with this viewpoint, as an array of fresh merchandise based on Donkey Kong’s revamped design for “Mario Kart” is now available on the My Nintendo Store. According to Nintendo Life, this assortment includes a selection of Donkey Kong-themed “charm straps” being made accessible in US and UK Nintendo stores. Additionally, the Japanese online Nintendo store offers a broader collection of bookmarks, pencil cases, stickers, and other items – all featuring Donkey Kong’s new design. Reddit user cookiemaster221 even noted similarities between some recent artwork from the Nintendo Store depicting Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, compared to earlier versions showing Donkey Kong’s old appearance.

Nintendo is Selling Redesigned Donkey Kong Merch

Many individuals responding to cookiemaster221’s post appear to be accepting of Donkey Kong’s revised appearance, suggesting that the changes aren’t too drastic and those criticizing might just be overreacting. One person humorously drew a parallel between DK’s friendlier visage and Kirby’s more serene facial expressions in the original Japanese games, which are frequently altered to make the pink ball seem more aggressive in Western releases.

Over the years, Donkey Kong has undergone significant changes, starting off as a villain in his early arcade games and then transforming into a banana-loving protagonist in later series such as “Donkey Kong Country” and “Super Smash Bros.” Nintendo seems to be altering the character once more for the upcoming Switch 2 era, sparking discussions among fans about which rendition of this iconic side-scrolling ape they find most appealing.

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2025-01-28 22:09