Looks like that Donkey Kong redesign isn’t just for the Switch 2’s Mario Kart

The long-awaited Switch 2 reveal generated a lot of buzz, not the least of which had to do with Donkey Kong’s new look in the console’s as-of-yet unnamed Mario Kart game. Nintendo fans were divided on the ape’s movie-like appearance, but if a recent discovery on the Donkey Kong subreddit is any indication, the redesign is here to stay.

A new line of Donkey Kong products ranging from apparel to keychains on Nintendo’s Japanese webstore appears to use updated graphics of Mario’s frenemy sporting a softer, more relaxed brow than we’re used to seeing. And when compared to a set of bingo cards released by Nintendo in 2019, it’s clear the developer is taking old drawings of Donkey Kong and updating them with his more jovial appearance.

Polygon reached out to Nintendo about the possibility of this being Donkey Kong’s official look moving forward, but did not hear back immediately.

Some have likened Donkey Kong’s redesign to what happens to Kirby when he travels from Japan to the United States, only in reverse. No longer does the ape’s smile seem borne of a confidence he can kick copious amounts of ass if necessary, but something more akin to Seth Rogen, his stoner voice actor in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

If it’s any consolation for the redesign haters out there, Donkey Kong Country designer Kevin Bayliss — also known as the man responsible for the the iconic look that’s apparently being phased out — is in support of the ape receiving a facelift.

“Unfortunately, when I designed him, because he basically had Battletoad eyes, it [was] hard to give Donkey Kong any expression other than ‘annoyed,’” Bayliss explained via X (formerly Twitter) on Jan. 25. “This is something I take a little more into consideration when creating characters today!”