With all the excitement around Donkey Kong’s new appearance in Donkey Kong Bananza, an artist decided to put their own spin on the iconic character. They imagined how the King of Swing might appear if Nintendo had kept the classic design for the upcoming Switch 2 game.
“I’m not a fan of DK’s portrayal in Bananza,” remarked Felipe Valdés in an initial post on X dated April 20. They went on to say they edited some of DK’s quirky expressions to better reflect the classic Rare design and invited feedback from the community.
Valdés focused on modifying DK’s oversized mouth and making his soft brows more rigid, staying true to the earlier aesthetic.
In Bananza, Donkey Kong has a playful and goofy expression, but Valdés’ take channels the harder-edged vibe from games like Donkey Kong Country, bringing back a bit of that old-school flair. Personally, as someone averse to change, I find the classic look more appealing, although I do appreciate Nintendo’s efforts to inject some ape-like humor into Bananza’s animations.
However, it’s crucial to remember these are just still images. Even though they look fantastic, DK’s classic design might not have fit the artistic direction Nintendo pursued with Bananza. I admire Valdés’ work and the dedication behind it, but we shouldn’t rush to declare, “Nintendo, hire this person,” simply based on appealing edits. Creating a video game involves a much more complex process. While many of us might have a soft spot for Donkey Kong’s original style, it’s important to respect the considerable effort the Bananza development team has invested. The game still looks impressive.
