Kevin Bayliss expresses great satisfaction with the reimagining of Donkey Kong, noting that there was a valid justification for updating his appearance.
Bayliss served as the art director during Rareware's peak in the 1990s, where he crafted numerous characters that emerged as alternative mascots to those in the Mario franchise, featured on both Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. He is the creative mind behind the contemporary rendition of Donkey Kong in the Donkey Kong Country series, along with Diddy Kong, Timber the tiger, and the antagonist Wizpig from Diddy Kong Racing. Recently, following the discussions surrounding Donkey Kong's redesign in Mario Kart 9, he took to social media to express his viewpoints.
The rationale behind the redesign of Donkey Kong stems from the character’s traditional frowning visage, which, although it suited his character in the 90s, limited the potential for a broader range of facial expressions. Essentially, he perpetually appeared irritated.
Bayliss reflects on how, when he initially crafted the character, the BATTLETOAD-inspired eyes created challenges in conveying moods beyond annoyance. This design restriction prompts him to consider character expressions more thoughtfully in his current work.
He believes that this intrinsic design flaw presents a solid basis for giving the character a modern update, particularly in light of Nintendo's recent adjustments in Donkey Kong's visual presentation. In both the 2023 version of Super Mario Bros. The Movie and the recent teaser for the latest Mario Kart installment on the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong embraces a design that not only suits cinematic adaptations but also resonates with the nostalgic cartoon style of the 80s and 90s that Nintendo artists, such as Shigehisa Nakaue, have preserved in their works.
Delighted by the updated look of Donkey Kong in the latest Mario Kart, Bayliss has shared his enthusiasm, declaring that he thinks it appears "KOOL" and responding positively to inquiries from fans about his perspective.
In response to the ongoing discussions, Bayliss has also been inspired to reveal the backstories of other characters he designed during that time. An intriguing detail that has recently emerged is that Diddy Kong’s appearance was directly inspired by the Coco monkey used in advertisements for Kellogg's Choco Krispies cereal, known as Choco Pops in some regions. He also states that Timber the tiger shares his inspiration from Tony the Tiger featured in Kellogg's Frosties (Ricicles). In contrast, the villainous wizard pig Wizpig was influenced by the aesthetics of Battletoads.
Reflecting on Rare's designs from the 90s, how do you feel they have evolved? What are your expectations for Diddy Kong’s appearance in Mario Kart 9?