Nintendo's Donkey Kong Mystery: Why Is Pauline 13?

A few weeks ago, Nintendo revealed a surprising detail: Pauline is 13 years old in Donkey Kong Bananza.

This move by Nintendo is unusual. The company typically avoids sharing precise character ages in official statements. For instance, it remains silent on whether Waluigi is Wario’s brother, friend, rival, or foe.

In a conversation with the game’s producer, Kenta Motokura, and director, Kazuya Takahashi, we sought clarity. Why did Nintendo disclose Pauline’s age? And why portray her as so young in this game, when she appears as an adult in Super Mario Odyssey and other titles?

The duo didn’t provide a direct answer, but Takahashi shed some light on Pauline’s role in the game and why she differs from her Odyssey counterpart.

“We envisioned this character accompanying Donkey Kong on his journey, occasionally serving as a narrator,” Takahashi explained.

“With both new players experiencing a Donkey Kong game for the first time and longtime fans in mind, we saw a chance to present a familiar character with a fresh look that could captivate newcomers. We always consider the setting of the world and each character to enhance player enjoyment.”

He hinted at a mystery: “As for why we chose 13 specifically, we want players to ponder this while enjoying the game, forming their own theories.”

Curious, we pressed further, but the responses remained vague. When asked about Donkey Kong’s age, Motokura replied, “That’s another question best left to player speculation.”

Admittedly, that was a lighthearted question. But a more serious one followed: does this confirm an official Donkey Kong series timeline? Is this a prequel to Super Mario Odyssey?

“Many team members also worked on Super Mario Odyssey, so there are similarities in how we approach character settings for both games. But we can’t reveal everything now—we want players to discover these details as they play,” Takahashi said enigmatically.

It seems Pauline’s age ties into the story, and Nintendo is staying tight-lipped, letting the game speak for itself. Answers may arrive with the release next week.

Our discussion with Motokura and Takahashi covered various aspects of Bananza, including its initial concept and the decision to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2. Read the full interview here, and explore our hands-on preview of the game here.