Nintendo Switch 2 trailer quietly redesigns iconic character

The reveal video for the Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t only show off the sleek new hardware, it also gave us a glimpse of Mario Kart 9, which is likely to be a release title for the system.

Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the art direction has changed since the previous entry in the Mario Kart franchise, with one character getting a bit of a redesign.

The Switch 2 trailer showed off a snippet of Mario Kart 9

With some eager zooming-in, it’s clear to see that Donkey Kong has changed a bit since we last saw him, with darker circles around his eyes, chunkier arms, and a wider mouth.

Many Nintendo fans are claiming on Twitter, that Donkey Kong now looks as he appeared in the Super Mario Bros Movie.

Whenever Donkey Kong has appeared in 2D recently he has also had a very similar design, so it appears the shift is not just for Mario Kart 9, but perhaps this is a brand-new look for the long-time character.

One Twitter user showcased more of DK’s recent 2D appearances, one of which shows him behind the wheel of a kart, and it’s clear that this is a new direction for Nintendo.

Upon first look at the footage, though it’s hard to really break it down, Nintendo seems to be looking back to the SNES and N64 eras for their character models.

There’s a very chunky, squashed look to DK, but also Mario himself.

They’re small tweaks, but it makes the cast seem more in-line with a cartoon, or movie, perhaps appealing more to a younger audience again.

Fans seem excited by the changes, as it shows that Nintendo is happy to keep going back to the drawing board, even for their iconic characters.

Hopefully, we’ll get a much better look at everyone once the full Mario Kart 9 trailer is revealed.