The Super Mario Bros. Movie Appears to Have Influenced a Major Mario Kart 9 Character's Redesign

Nintendo has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, and with it comes the exciting announcement of Mario Kart 9. Fans have been quick to notice a significant redesign of one character in particular, seemingly inspired by The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The trailer showcased over a dozen characters, but it was Donkey Kong who caught everyone's attention with his new look.

For years, even decades, Donkey Kong's design has remained consistent across various games such as Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, the blockbuster success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a fresh take on his appearance, which Nintendo now seems eager to integrate into its gaming universe.

The trailer for Mario Kart 9 offered only a fleeting glimpse of the game, with Donkey Kong appearing in just a few scenes and not in great detail. As such, a comprehensive comparison of his new design will have to wait. Fans can look forward to a more detailed reveal during the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct scheduled for April. This event promises to shed more light on the new console and its features.

The console reveal trailer provided tantalizing hints about the Nintendo Switch 2, focusing primarily on its aesthetics. It confirmed that the hardware will be mostly backwards compatible, introduced a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a theory about using the controller as a mouse.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 has been slated for a 2025 release, it's unlikely to hit the market before June. This is due to the numerous hands-on events planned worldwide, with registration opening soon. These events will give fans an early taste of what to expect from Nintendo's latest offering.