The Super Mario Bros. Movie Appears to Have Influenced a Major Mario Kart 9 Character's Redesign

Nintendo's recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character's redesign has captured particular attention: Donkey Kong. His appearance in the Mario Kart 9 trailer is noticeably different, seemingly drawing inspiration from his design in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

For years, Donkey Kong's design remained consistent across various titles, including Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a revamped look, and Nintendo appears to be integrating this updated design into its games.

Although the Mario Kart 9 trailer offered only fleeting glimpses of Donkey Kong, the differences in his design are already apparent. A more detailed comparison will likely be possible after the April Nintendo Direct, which is expected to showcase the Nintendo Switch 2 more extensively. This event will also likely offer more information on the console's features, including backwards compatibility, the new Joy-Con button, and the potential use of the controller as a mouse.

While a 2025 release window has been announced, the Nintendo Switch 2 is unlikely to launch before June, given the numerous planned hands-on events worldwide, with registration opening shortly.