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 looked familiar, Donkey Kong's appearance is noticeably different, 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 revamped look, and Nintendo now appears to be integrating this updated design into its games.

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