Donkey Kong Devs Reveal Big Banana Secrets

Donkey Kong Bananza arrives next week, and we've just discovered the creative minds behind DK's ambitious new 3D journey. Turns out, it's the same powerhouse team behind Super Mario Odyssey – a connection eagle-eyed fans spotted through UI details and trailer hints.

Now that the developers' identities are revealed, we're flooding them with questions worth a king's ransom in bananas.

We sat down with Donkey Kong Bananza producer Kenta Motokura and director Kazuya Takahashi. Motokura, formerly director of Super Mario Odyssey, brings extensive Nintendo pedigree dating back to the GameCube era. His portfolio spans Super Mario Sunshine, Pikmin, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Land, and Super Mario 3D World. Takahashi, a newer recruit since 2020, leverages open-world design expertise that he claims brings unique perspectives to Bananza.

While we've spotlighted key interview moments elsewhere – including the game's origins, its place in DK lore, and its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusivity – the full conversation below contains plenty more ripe bananas worth peeling.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.