With all the buzz surrounding Donkey Kong’s revamped appearance in Donkey Kong Bananza, one artist decided to take a creative leap and reimagine how the iconic character might look in the upcoming Switch 2 game if Nintendo had adhered to the original design.
“I’m not a fan of DK’s portrayal in Bananza,” explained Felipe Valdés in an initial X post from April 20. “I edited some of his more unusual expressions to align better with Rare’s classic design,” he added, inviting feedback from the community.
Valdés’ revisions largely focus on toning down Donkey Kong’s exaggerated mouth and giving his soft brows a more defined, rugged appearance.
In Bananza, Donkey Kong comes off as an expressive and comedic character, while Valdés’ reinterpretation channels the tougher, nostalgic vibe reminiscent of titles like Donkey Kong Country. Personally, I lean towards the latter, old-school aesthetics, though I do recognize Nintendo’s effort to infuse more humor and playfulness in Bananza’s animations.
It’s crucial to remember that these alternative designs are static images. They’re impressive, but Donkey Kong’s classic look might not fit the artistic style Nintendo aimed for with Bananza. While I admire Valdés’ work and the dedication poured into this creative endeavor, we should be cautious about rallying for a “Nintendo, hire this man” scenario based on a few edits. The game development process is incredibly complex. Even if some of us favor Donkey Kong’s retro look, it’s essential not to overlook the hard work of the Bananza development team. The game, after all, still appears quite impressive.
