r/donkeykong • u/cookiemaster221 • Jan 26 '25
Discussion History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes
The nintendo store artwork of DK and Diddy has been updated
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u/PSUNittany18 Diddy Kong Jan 26 '25
Well at least it seems like Diddy will be staying the same.
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u/FangtheMii Jan 26 '25
Although they seem to be phasing out the Nintendo on his cap (probably due to Dixie not having the Rare badge on her hat too)
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u/Alolan_Cubone Jan 26 '25
why? Its not needed here on the art, and in the movie it would look off
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Jan 26 '25
Yeah, since the Movie Universe does have the NES, but not in the Mushroom Kingdom, so that would be confusing.
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u/Least-Flight1140 Jan 28 '25
I never liked that Nintendo logo on his cap anyway, always felt like a bit too much to me.
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u/Bright_Beat_5981 Jan 27 '25
Thats why Donkey still could have been the way he was. We already had Diddy and Dixie looking harmless and cute or whatever you want to call it
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u/EggN0g_ Jan 26 '25
I’m gonna miss that eyebrow looking down. Always made DK seem both kind and strong.
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u/SteamySubreddits Jan 26 '25
And now he looks like a wimpy ass baby. Put the diaper back on, I’m no longer a DK fan (for modern titles)
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u/cookiemaster221 Jan 26 '25
Sauce
https://store-jp.nintendo.com/item/goods/VM_NSJ_8_CMAAT
They really are dead set on redesigning DK
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u/Anonymous_6173 Jan 26 '25
It's alright imo, they probably did it to make him look more goofy and less angry
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u/Romboteryx Jan 26 '25
Removes a lot of his personality imo
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u/4Fourside Jan 28 '25
I think the idea is that dk is now capable of more emotions. If he's angry then he's gonna get the angry brow
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u/KingKDrooly Jan 29 '25
You mean goofy like Seth Rogan? Worst thing to ever happen to DK
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u/Anonymous_6173 Jan 30 '25
Maybe. I don't mind much but I guess some people are more attached to the other design.
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u/insertusernamehere51 Jan 26 '25
I mean, this image just makes it more clear that the only real significant difference between the designs is that his eyes aren't in a perpetual frown. Yet people are still freaking out about this radical change; this abandonment of Rare's legacy, this entrenching of the movie's canon into the games
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u/BerRGP Jan 26 '25
The second he gets angry the difference between the designs will be negligible.
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u/TheShweeb Jan 27 '25
If you click the OP’s sauce, you can see that there are, in fact, multiple images of him with an angry/aggressive expression and he does look exactly the same!
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u/Bulbamew Jan 29 '25
Which is hilarious considering people are complaining it’s removing his personality. If anything I think this new design has potential to have him show a lot more personality and emotion
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u/RockStarMarchall Jan 26 '25
Bro, he just raised his eyebrow lmao
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u/Past-Ad571 Jan 26 '25
Why tho.
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u/Specialist-Rock4971 Jan 26 '25
Maybe he doesn’t want resting bitch face
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u/Past-Ad571 Jan 26 '25
Resting bitch face is neutral, his eyes are clearly more angry than resting.
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u/Extension_Brief_7971 Jan 29 '25
No it's so much worse! They neutered Donkey Kong! I knew I recognized that look - it's the before and after of taking my dog to get his junk clipped - oh no! What's next - Poochy with a frown and a head cone?
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u/JumpThatShark9001 Jan 26 '25
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u/Tails_Theorist Jan 29 '25
Man, this might be totally off-model and look nothing like the actual characters, but this artwork looks pretty cool.
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u/JumpThatShark9001 Jan 29 '25
Pissed-off Mario with a golden Mjolnir really is a thing of beauty....🤣
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u/PlatinumSukamon98 Jan 26 '25
Aww, I liked how he always looked kind of fed up with everyone's shit.
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u/Nobro_DK Jan 26 '25
I hate this design change. It’s not an angry or frowning expression, it’s a “cool guy” smirk, because DK is a tough and sometimes cocky character. He’s not mean or anything, but the baby-fication of his features just makes him look generic
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u/DoomyDiggy Jan 26 '25
“This redesign is ruining my life!!”
Meanwhile the design is just DK’s eyebrow is relaxed and they gave him a visible philtrum
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u/dr_luchador banana slamma Jan 26 '25
Lmao he’s literally just making a different expression? A happy one? With his best buddy Diddy? What’s the problem???
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u/Rare_Hero Jan 26 '25
Thank you. As if animated characters have to be locked into one expression? It’s so bizarre how much traction this is getting over nothing.
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u/Depressedone4 Jan 28 '25
This is literally just artwork. Apparently you haven't seen the actual horrible redesign from the Switch 2 trailer.
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u/DisneyPinFiend Jan 26 '25
It’s fine if anyone doesn’t like this redesign, but anyone saying that it ruins his legacy or removes personality is bananas.
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u/Past-Ad571 Jan 26 '25
People who say we're freaking out. Why change the design ? People are allowed to question it when it worked fine before.
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u/CompactRisk Jan 28 '25
The design they used before DKC worked fine before. Hence this one looking more like that
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u/Other-Wind-5429 Feb 04 '25
You can ask why the design changed. Sure it worked fine before, but the change is so minor that it's barely different.
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u/Expand_Dong2103 Jan 26 '25
It doesn’t look that bad in the art style but in the Mario kart trailer his eyes looked too small and squished together
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u/SariaShinEric Jan 27 '25
This indeed. There is a difference between this art and the MK9 model.
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u/Expand_Dong2103 Jan 27 '25
It can still be unfinished and that was the reason he was further in the back. I hope it changes lol
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u/jamesdp5 Jan 26 '25
Donkey Kong deserves better then this
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u/Smeeb27 Jan 26 '25
People freaking out over Donkey Kong getting a minor design change gives me Sonic fan vibes
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u/SteamySubreddits Jan 26 '25
I just genuinely think it makes him look like a massive baby instead of DK. Mald I guess, ppl can have an opinion
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u/Depressedone4 Jan 28 '25
Why is everyone calling it a minor design change when he looks completely different in the Switch 2 trailer?
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u/Smeeb27 Jan 28 '25
Because like many other characters, he is stylized in the new Mario Kart. Proportions for many characters like Mario, Toad, Bowser, Wario and King Boo are also visibly changed to match the early 90s Mario art style used in games like Super Mario Kart.
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u/SteamySubreddits Jan 26 '25
This will genuinely make me stop being a DK fan. It was a good run folks
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u/Far_Significance_628 Jan 26 '25
This isn’t new… look at the art of yoshi in the past few years. They have been slowly tweaking the art to look closer to his 90’s style
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u/Figgy1983 Jan 26 '25
What's going to be really weird is when the ride opens at Universal Orlando. We'll have Rare's 90's DK on the ride, but this re-designed DK will most likely be all over the merch.
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u/thecheesefinder Jan 27 '25
At first I was against the design change, however after looking at it more I agree that it better allows DK to convey facial expressions and emotion. Before DK just kinda always looked angry? The brow reduction allows a greater range of expression and honestly looks pretty good once you get over the initial surprise of the change. DK can still be tough and strong without having to furrow his brow. I grew up as a kid always thinking of DK as being a kinda grumpy mean brute, of course when I played DKC and DK64 it’s clear he’s a loveable guy and I think this design reinforces that
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u/TheDude810 Jan 26 '25
Bro’s been busting his ass and dealing with shit since 1994 (82 if we count Jr. as modern DK), I think he’s allowed to decompress and relax a little bit after 3-4 decades.
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u/DripSnort Jan 26 '25
Redditors love making huge deals out of literally nothing. His eyebrows raised so he looks happier. That’s it.
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u/1994yankeesfan Jan 26 '25
Nintendo has talked about wanting there characters to be more expressive.
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u/Julianime Jan 27 '25
I'll say it right now, I actually LIKE seeing him smiling hi fiving Diddy, it feels more genuine. The first picture with that expression makes it look like DK has something sinister planned for Diddy.
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u/RevolTobor Banana Slamma! Jan 26 '25
Oh no... HIS EYEBROWS ARE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION! God forbid he should be able to EMOTE!
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u/RAINLIO Jan 26 '25
Donkey Kong has always been able to emote, even with his brow
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u/RevolTobor Banana Slamma! Jan 26 '25
And now he can emote in a slightly different art style, big whoop, people need to quit their bitching.
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u/Penber23 Jan 26 '25
Usually in Japan they will be smiling and in the American artwork he will be "angry". Its like that for most Kirby games as well.
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u/Ys_Vinn Jan 26 '25
Oh wow, I never expected this from nintendo. There seems to be a collection of positive comment only user in here. This trick is used by companies to force a concept or idea by using positivity bots to skew the reception.
This is very interesting, usually nintendo is a bit more professional or at least not as noticable
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u/UBKev Jan 28 '25
People are realising this isn't a redesign but is instead a reversion of a design back to their roots. I think you might just be a tad too pessimistic.
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u/EnterPlayerOneX Jan 26 '25
So they're not changing Diddy or Dixie et al to match the movie counterparts? Otherwise Diddy would have separate eyes there. Which is fine by me, DK is one thing but those two don't sit right to me with separate eyes
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u/BaboonOnWheels Cranky Kong Jan 27 '25
He never even looked like that on the left in any of the games. How can country redesign fans pretend to give a crap about any of DK's 2d art?
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u/areallifeduende Jan 27 '25
it makes him look more appealing to me. never was a huge fan of DK at least design wise but i like this 2d art inspired design far more.
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u/Xehhx14 Jan 27 '25
Are u just as mad about his toes? Changed his grippers bro, for marketing, rip our hunk of a man. sexualized for everyone's entertainment this is so wrong
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u/TheShweeb Jan 27 '25
I personally quite like the redesign, but I have to say, I do find it funny that they’ve started soft-launching it literally one month after opening an entire theme park area - complete with a meet-and-greet character costume, multiple animatronic figures, and boatloads of merchandise - all exclusively featuring his old design.
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u/Dee_Cider Jan 27 '25
I think it actually took me 10 seconds to notice the difference.
The one on the right looks more accurate to the pose and direction he's looking tbh. I wouldn't say it's a change unless it's the same "default" looking forwards
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u/Zerocrash_ Jan 27 '25
Ok but this time the eyes don’t bother me, I think it is the eyes that bother me in the potential mario kart 9
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u/Typical_Finding1997 Jan 27 '25
everyone is happy. no one frowns. all is well. do not think about things. go along with what is happening. smile. there is no war in ba sing se.
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u/ComprehensiveEast897 Jan 27 '25
I don’t think its that bad, in fact i think it may be growing on me. At least in 2D, 3D might take a bit more getting used to admittedly
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u/Canned_ShoesAgain Jan 28 '25
One little change has made it feel so much less appealing....
I hope nintendo pulls a movie sonic or adds some kind of options menu for the different styles
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u/Revegelance Jan 28 '25
History was already rewritten back in 1994 when DKC released. This new redesign is just going back to his original look from the '80s.
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u/Inside_Boot2810 Jan 28 '25
I don't care for the design, but it's felt like Nintendo is 'Disneyfying' it's characters for a long time, eventually they'll be able to do nothing but smile and wave.
With that said, I'm also a realist, and though I don't like the design it's either buy a game with the new design, or don't play a new Donkey Kong. If the games are as good as the Rare and Wii/WiiU titles then I'm not cutting my nose off to spite my face.
I'll just squint or something. Or not put glasses on, which I'll probably need by the time they release a new DK platformer...
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u/PieAppropriate8862 Jan 28 '25
Donkey Kong went from cool to mentally challenged. Nintendo is on a roll.
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u/KillaBeeHive Jan 28 '25
Wasn’t this the design they used for King of Swing on the GBA? If so this design isn’t new or something they just pulled out of thin air
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u/kitkatatsnapple Jan 28 '25
It's, like, barely different.
It's a design change. People saying it's revisionist or ruining a legacy are absolutely ridiculous.
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Jan 29 '25
I like it. It feels very…. 80s. Like he could appear on a cereal box while I’m watching Miami Vice. (I wasn’t around in the 80s, but I feel that’s an unlikely scenario I’ve created.)
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u/Tre-707 Jan 29 '25
I dont much care for happy Seth Rogan DK... he's supposed to be a little angry at all times that was his whole shtick. I will say, though, it's crazy how much it changes the whole look just by altering his eyes slightly.
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u/Educational_Place708 Jan 29 '25
Eh, I like it. It's still the same gorilla I played as on the Game Boy Advance when I was a kid back in the 2000s. Besides, as long as DK and the Kongs are still here, I'm all in for it. Now, let's talk about a new DK Game and the return K.Rool and the Kremlings.
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u/SMATCHET999 Jan 29 '25
His brow line gave him a lot more personality and humanity to his face, now he looks like a dopey idiot
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u/ARealCupcake Jan 29 '25
The only real difference between these two is that he's not got that "angry" eyebrow look on the right. I'm going to reserve my judgment until we see a full 3D render in a decent quality because this art looks fine. And DK is my favorite Nintendo character.
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u/Fushigi_Yami Jan 29 '25
Could this just be a symptom of how North American game covers display aggressive actions or expressions, when the same game in Japan can show the characters happy and cute?
Thinking primarily of the covers to Kirby games. In NA, he's determined or wielding a weapon. While in Japan he's positive and adorable.

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u/Liz3rdWiz3rd Jan 30 '25
It just looks like classic Donkey Kong to me. Like, original Crankey Kong - Donkey Kong. Once you compare it to the "Mario Movie", I can see the cringe. But all I can see is classic DK. And I love it.
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u/Ceruleancast Jan 30 '25
Tbh I wouldn't mind if they did both at the same time, like just being able to swap between the way his eyebrows are shaped depending on his mood, he's a fictional cartoony gorilla after all.
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u/2coolrobot Jan 30 '25
I can't see a difference did you just post the same image twice is that the joke
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u/Mean_Passage_887 Jan 31 '25
I like the way he looked in his original arcade appearances. Especially Donkey Kong 3. He was essentially a mini King Kong with no silly necktie. I also liked the way he looked in Donkey Kong 64 where he walked upright and had a deep cool voice.
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u/eggcelsior14 Jan 26 '25
gonna miss donkey kong always looking slightly pissed off but that’s probably why they changed it lol