Nintendo's recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character's redesign has captured fans' 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 like 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.

While the Mario Kart 9 trailer offered only fleeting glimpses of Donkey Kong, the differences are already apparent. A more detailed comparison will be possible once higher-quality footage becomes available, perhaps during the April Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. This event is anticipated to provide further insights into the new console, including the previously hinted-at features: backwards compatibility, a new Joy-Con button, and the controller's potential use as a mouse.
Although announced with a 2025 release window, the Nintendo Switch 2 likely won't launch before June. This is due to numerous hands-on events planned globally, with registration opening shortly.