Editing Donkey Kong (character) (section)

===Design===
Miyamoto designed Donkey Kong to appear dumb,<ref name="NOM" /> as he saw him as humorous rather than evil. In his mind, Donkey Kong's motivation was not to hurt Pauline, but to retaliate against Mario, who mistreated him.{{sfn|Sheff|1994|p=47}} With the exception of ''Donkey Kong 3'', Donkey Kong's character artwork during the 1980s generally portrayed him as likable, even as a villain. The Game Boy game was the first to depict Donkey Kong wearing a red tie with his initials.<ref name="GRadar: DKDesign" /> For ''Donkey Kong Country'', Rare's Kevin Bayliss redesigned Donkey Kong.<ref name="GRadar: Drafts" /> Bayliss was asked only to make him look more modern;<ref>{{cite web |title=Men at Work |url=http://www.playtonicgames.com/men-at-work |publisher=[[Playtonic Games]] |access-date=January 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801015417/http://www.playtonicgames.com/men-at-work |archive-date=August 1, 2015 |date=July 8, 2015}}</ref> he had no problems with the existing design, but was nonetheless excited to reinterpret him.<ref name="GRadar: Drafts" /> 

[[File:Donkey Kong concept art development.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|Donkey Kong's design evolution during the development of ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' (1994): Miyamoto's design, Bayliss's concept art, and the final render]]

Alongside the red tie from the Game Boy game, Bayliss gave Donkey Kong what ''GamesRadar+''{{'s}} Bob Mackey described as "menacing, sunken eyes and [a] beak-like muzzle".<ref name="GRadar: DKDesign">{{cite web |last1=Mackey |first1=Bob |title=It's On Like... Him: How Donkey Kong's design has evolved over three decades |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/evolution-donkey-kong-design/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=November 10, 2023 |date=February 26, 2014 |archive-date=July 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719175933/https://www.gamesradar.com/evolution-donkey-kong-design/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Bayliss wanted a character that looked believable and could perform animations such as pounding his chest.{{sfn|Milne|2022|p=18}} His initial design was blocky and muscular to make Donkey Kong easy to animate, but became more cartoonish when Nintendo faxed reference material.<ref name="GRadar: Drafts">{{cite web|last=Wood|first=Austin|title=Original ''Donkey Kong Country'' drafts reveal the characters that might have been|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/original-donkey-kong-country-drafts-reveal-the-characters-that-might-have-been|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|access-date=16 June 2022|date=19 January 2021|archive-date=16 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616191837/https://www.gamesradar.com/original-donkey-kong-country-drafts-reveal-the-characters-that-might-have-been/|url-status=live}}</ref> Bayliss recycled the eye design from those of the [[Battletoads (characters)|Battletoads]], characters he had previously designed for Rare. In retrospect, Bayliss felt this made it difficult for Donkey Kong to express emotions besides annoyance.<ref name="GRadar: Problem">{{cite web |last1=van der Velde |first1=Issy |title=Donkey Kong designer reveals his biggest problem with his Rare redesign, and explains how his childhood breakfast cereal ban shaped Diddy Kong, too |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/donkey-kong/donkey-kong-designer-reveals-his-biggest-problem-with-his-rare-redesign-and-explains-how-his-childhood-breakfast-cereal-ban-shaped-diddy-kong-too/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

Miyamoto provided some suggestions,<ref name="RG: MakingOf">{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=Stuart|title="Yes, we did go to the zoo and observe the gorillas": The making of ''Donkey Kong Country''|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-donkey-kong-country/|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|access-date=11 June 2022|date=22 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611165430/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-donkey-kong-country/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NOM">{{cite web |title="ドンキーコングの生みの親"　宮本茂独占インタビュー |trans-title=Exclusive Interview with Donkey Kong Creator Shigeru Miyamoto |url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0002/01/miyamoto.html |website=Nintendo Online Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040212000129/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0002/01/miyamoto.html |archive-date=February 12, 2004 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |language=Japanese |date=February 2000}} ([https://themushroomkingdom.net/interview_miyamoto_nom18_feb2000.shtml Translation])</ref> but otherwise left the specifics to Bayliss.{{sfn|Milne|2022|p=18}} ''Donkey Kong Country'' marked Donkey Kong's first appearance as a [[3D modeling|3D model]],<ref name="Poly: Switch2">{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Donkey Kong’s Switch 2 version looks like his Mario movie self |url=https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2/509861/donkey-kong-redesign-switch-2-mario-kart-9 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=January 22, 2025 |date=January 16, 2025}}</ref> and the limitations of technology at the time influenced the redesign. Miyamoto asked that Donkey Kong have eyebrows and tangible fur, but both were infeasible. For the eyebrows, Rare compromised by making the area around Donkey Kong's eyes black. Miyamoto suggested the tie to better convey Donkey Kong's stubbornness. He felt Rare "breathed new life into" Donkey Kong and made him "really cool", but also childish.<ref name="NOM" /> Because real gorillas move slowly, Rare based Donkey Kong's running animation on a horse's [[Canter and gallop#Gallop|gallop]].<ref name="RG: MakingOf" /> [[Steve Mayles]] rendered Donkey Kong's finalized 3D model in mid-1993.<ref name="JXV: BTS">{{cite web |title=Les coulisses de Donkey Kong Country : Des gorilles et des hommes |trans-title=Behind the scenes of Donkey Kong Country: Gorillas and Men |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/651885/les-coulisses-de-donkey-kong-country-des-gorilles-et-des-hommes.htm |website=[[Jeuxvideo]] |access-date=February 2, 2025 |language=French |date=May 7, 2017}}</ref>

Nintendo used the Bayliss design for decades in both ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Mario'' games. While [[Paon]] reintroduced elements of the arcade-era design for Donkey Kong's appearance in ''[[DK King of Swing|DK: King of Swing]]'' (2004), they were not retained in subsequent games, including ''King of Swing''{{'s}} sequel ''[[Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber]]'' (2007).<ref name="GRadar: DKDesign" /> In 2022, Donkey Kong underwent his first major redesign since ''Donkey Kong Country'' for his appearance in ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''.<ref name="Poly: Switch2" /> The design, which combines elements of the Bayliss design with the original arcade-era one, features larger eyes, a less angular brow, lighter fur, and more realistic proportions.<ref name="Poly: Switch2" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Frederiksen |first1=Eric |title=The Super Mario Movie Features A Redesigned Donkey Kong, Shigeru Miyamoto Says |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-super-mario-movie-features-a-redesigned-donkey-kong-shigeru-miyamoto-says/1100-6509563/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=November 17, 2023 |date=November 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117210712/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-super-mario-movie-features-a-redesigned-donkey-kong-shigeru-miyamoto-says/1100-6509563/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Leston |first1=Ryan |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals Why Donkey Kong Got a Redesign For The Super Mario Bros. Movie |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/shigeru-miyamoto-donkey-kong-redesign-super-mario-bros-movie |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=November 17, 2023 |date=November 28, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117210714/https://www.ign.com/articles/shigeru-miyamoto-donkey-kong-redesign-super-mario-bros-movie |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2025, Nintendo introduced another redesign, similar to artwork by the ''Mario'' artist [[Shigehisa Nakaue]],<ref name="Euro: BaylissRedesign">{{cite web |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |title=Donkey Kong's new look in Switch 2 Mario Kart approved by former Rare artist |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/donkey-kongs-new-look-in-switch-2-mario-kart-approved-by-former-rare-artist |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=January 22, 2025 |date=January 21, 2025}}</ref> which debuted in the [[Nintendo Switch 2]] games ''[[Mario Kart World]]'' and ''Donkey Kong Bananza''.<ref name="Poly: Switch2" /><ref name="NLife: NewDesign" /> ''[[Video Games Chronicle]]''{{'s}} Chris Scullion described it as a blend of the ''Super Mario Bros. Movie'' and Game Boy ''Donkey Kong'' designs,<ref name="VGC: Redesign">{{cite web |last1=Scullion |first1=Chris |title='People need to embrace change': Donkey Kong Country artist welcomes new DK design |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/people-need-to-embrace-change-donkey-kong-country-artist-welcomes-new-dk-design/ |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |access-date=April 5, 2025 |date=April 3, 2025}}</ref> and ''[[The Verge]]''{{'s}} Ash Parrish noted it allowed Donkey Kong to display a greater range of expressions.<ref name="Verge: Best">{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=April 3, 2025 |title=Donkey Kong Bananza was best in show at the Switch 2 hands-on |url=https://www.theverge.com/games/642699/donkey-kong-bananza-hands-on-preview-switch-2 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Bayliss considered the new design superior and said design changes were necessary for characters to endure.<ref name="NLife: NewDesign">{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Donkey Kong Country Artist Shares His Thoughts On Kong's New Design |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/donkey-kong-country-artist-shares-his-thoughts-on-kongs-new-design |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=April 4, 2025 |date=April 3, 2025}}</ref>