In YouTube’s latest video DK Creations (via NintendoLife), longtime video game artist Kev Bayliss shows original sketches from Rare’s Donkey Kong Country, and talks about how he turned Nintendo’s original cartoon monkey from 2D villain into 3D rendered platform hero.
Using character design sketches he created while working on the 1994 Super Nintendo classic for Rare, Bayliss takes us by original Shigeru Miyamoto Donkey Kong art faxed (faxed!) From Nintendo to the thick-eyed acrobatic monkey that we know and love. Not wanting to offend Miyamoto, but his project didn’t seem like the type to kidnap Mario’s ex-girlfriend, Pauline. Bayliss’s most sullen badass looks like he can cause trouble all day.
Bayliss also shows sketches of the game’s enemies, some of which have not reached the final cut. Check out all his sketches in the video below.