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. While most characters in the Mario Kart 9 trailer look familiar, Donkey Kong sports a noticeably different appearance, seemingly inspired by his design in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

For years, Donkey Kong's design remained consistent across various titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a refreshed 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 have to wait until April's Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. This event, while focusing primarily on the console's aesthetics, hinted at backward compatibility, a new button on the Joy-Cons, and confirmed the controller's potential use as a mouse.

While announced for a 2025 release window, the Nintendo Switch 2's arrival is more likely to be in June or later, given the numerous hands-on events planned worldwide, with registration opening shortly.