Donkey Kong's redesign, but while fans are still getting used to it, the Mario Kart World Direct brought up another interesting facet of the character's history.

Carolyn Petit on Bluesky noticed an incongruity in a clip showing Mario Kart World characters in front of a billboard showing their Super Mario Kart counterparts in-game. Toad, Bowser, Peach, Koopa Troopa, Mario, Yoshi, and Luigi are all in front of pictures of themselves, but DK is posing in front of Donkey Kong Jr. Petit joked, "some of us have not forgotten and will not be fooled by this attempt to rewrite history." DK Jr. hasn't been a mainstay of the series for years, but eagle-eyed fans haven't let this bit of erasure slip by unnoticed.

Donkey Kong Jr. Is A Separate Character, Playable In The Original Super Mario Kart

Or Is DK Jr. Actually Donkey Kong?

Donkey Kong Jr. is a distinct character from his father, usually identifiable by the white singlet adorned with a red J he wears. He originally appeared in a 1982 arcade game named after him, but more relevant to Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Jr. was one of eight playable characters in Super Mario Kart, the series' original entry on the Super Nintendo. The Mario Kart World Direct had this clever nod to the series' roots while showing off photo mode while playing online with friends, but prospective players noticed this incongruity – or is it an incongruity at all?

In Super Mario Kart, Peach is simply named "Princess," likely because of the variable naming she had at the time – Peach in Japan, and Princess Toadstool in the West.

Donkey Kong Jr. is actually one of the more complicated facets of DK's character, because many believe the current DK is DK Jr. grown up. The confusion largely stems from the Donkey Kong Country series, where Cranky Kong is the eponymous Donkey Kong's grandfather. However, Cranky Kong is simultaneously believed to be an aged DK from the original 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game. Further confusion is added by Donkey Kong 64, where Cranky calls DK his son, thus an older Donkey Kong Jr.

DK Jr. Was Honored With A Roster Spot In Mario Kart Tour

Or Is He In Mario Kart World Too?

Donkey Kong Jr. hasn't been completely forgotten by the Mario Kart series; he's playable in Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo's mobile entry. DK Jr.'s identity mystery continues even with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where Cranky is reestablished as DK's father, making him a once-junior if Cranky altered his title. This Mario Kart World clip could also be a nod by Nintendo at confirming that Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. are one and the same, and it would be delightful if DK got the white singlet as an alternate costume in the game.

Until Nintendo makes a definitive statement on the matter, or new evidence surfaces in the Switch 2 game Donkey Kong Bananza, the Donkey Kong/Donkey Kong Jr. debate will likely continue. Mario Kart World seems unlikely to shed any light on the matter, though the keen-eyed fans who spotted this attempted erasure (or clever hint) will certainly be on the lookout.

Source: Carolyn Petit/Bluesky