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Kev Bayliss, the artist behind the Donkey Kong design used in Donkey Kong Country, welcomed the character’s look in Donkey Kong Bananza. In an April 3, 2025 report, Nintendo Life quoted Bayliss saying: “It’s still DK, only better looking.” That is Bayliss’s personal assessment, not a formal role in Bananza’s development or a consensus among fans.
What Kev Bayliss said about Donkey Kong’s new look
Nintendo Life reported Bayliss’s reaction to the design shown for Donkey Kong Bananza on April 3, 2025. Alongside calling it “still DK, only better looking,” Bayliss wrote: “Evolution while being sympathetic to the original is an art – but it has to be done gradually, and this latest incarnation is perfect imo.” The informal “imo” is part of the quote: he was expressing his own taste, not declaring the redesign objectively better.
Bayliss is associated with the Donkey Kong design in Donkey Kong Country. His public endorsement is distinct from official production approval: the available reporting establishes his opinion, not that Nintendo sought or received his sign-off on Bananza.
Why Nintendo changed the design
Nintendo’s official developer interview describes a broader goal than a cosmetic refresh. Art director Daisuke Watanabe said the team wanted to reach the core of what makes Donkey Kong recognizable and appealing, bringing out his characteristics rather than simply updating his design.
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- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Producer Kenta Motokura said the team spoke with people who had drawn Donkey Kong over many years to preserve the image of the character held by creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Nintendo says the designers returned to Miyamoto’s original Donkey Kong as a foundation, then incorporated elements developed for Bananza. Motokura said the game itself sparked a design that, in his view, better conveys the new Donkey Kong.
How the 3D camera shaped the character
The team also considered how the character would read during play. Because Bananza uses a 3D camera that often shows Donkey Kong from behind, Motokura said a simple mass of brown fur could look monotonous. The designers therefore made creative changes to his outfit and fur, as well as considering how his proportions and expressions would work in the game’s presentation.
Rank #2
- Embark on a brand-new Donkey Kong adventure exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore the Underground World with dynamic environments and hidden secrets.
- Battle VoidCo and its minions using DK’s signature strength and powerful punches.
- Team up with a mysterious new companion with unique gameplay abilities.
- Recover the Golden Bananas across thrilling, action-packed levels.
That context helps explain why the Bananza-era appearance can feel like both a continuation and a change: Nintendo describes it as rooted in earlier designs, but tailored to the character’s role and visibility in this game. Bayliss’s approval is one artist’s response to that result; it does not settle how every player will compare it with the Donkey Kong Country look.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to see the design
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Nintendo Switch 2 game. Nintendo’s US product page provides current platform and product information; availability and pricing can vary by territory and over time.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
Rank #4
![Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qtRWiIToL._SL160_.jpg)
- Full version of game required to use DLC. Sold separately.
Rank #3
![Donkey Kong Bananza Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Xv8olm5RL._SL160_.jpg)
- Uncover a wide variety of environments, like forest, canyon, and lagoon, as you delve underground
- Reshape the world as you tear through it, with the help of…an Odd Rock?
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