Nintendo has officially revealed new details about Pauline's age in *Donkey Kong Bananza*, stirring up discussions among fans regarding her character timeline and how this latest adventure aligns with earlier entries in the franchise. According to a character profile on the Japanese website for *Donkey Kong Bananza*, Pauline is described as a "13-year-old girl who loves to sing." The profile also notes that she "used to live above ground, but for some reason was brought to the underground world and transformed into a rock."
The unveiling of this younger version of Pauline during the *Donkey Kong Bananza* Nintendo Direct has led many to believe she is the same music-loving character seen in *Super Mario Odyssey*. In that title, Pauline appears as an adult—now serving as mayor of New Donk City and fronting a popular band.
This revelation has sparked questions about Pauline’s overall story arc, particularly since her friendly dynamic with Donkey Kong in *Bananza* contrasts sharply with their traditional roles in earlier games. In the original *Donkey Kong* arcade title, Donkey Kong was portrayed as the villain who kidnapped Pauline, with Mario cast as the hero coming to her rescue. Now, seeing them working together raises intriguing possibilities: Does something happen later to turn DK into a kidnapper? Or have we misinterpreted their relationship all along?
In *Donkey Kong Bananza*, the duo teams up to help teenage Pauline return to the surface so she can chase her dream of becoming a globally renowned singer. Given that her musical career is already established in *Mario Odyssey*, it seems likely that this game serves as a prequel, showing the events leading up to her success.
However, the exact timeline remains ambiguous. Nintendo has never explicitly stated Pauline’s age in *Mario Odyssey* or any of her other appearances, leaving fans unsure how far in the past *Donkey Kong Bananza* is set.
What does seem clear is that the narrative thread connecting these titles emphasizes Pauline’s lifelong passion for music—even referencing her “traumatic” past experiences with kidnapping in *Mario Odyssey*. This suggests that those events still play a role in her character development, even if she has clearly moved forward in life.
Pauline’s Evolving Role Across the Mario Series
Pauline has been abducted by Donkey Kong multiple times throughout the years. Her earliest appearance as a damsel in distress dates back to the original *Donkey Kong* arcade game. Later, in the *Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2* series, she is again captured—first after choosing a gift from Mario over DK in *March of the Minis*, and later when DK becomes upset over missing out on a theme park opening in *Minis March Again!*
More recent installments in the *Mario vs. Donkey Kong* series have softened their relationship. In *Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move*, they co-host a mini-game, and in *Tipping Stars*, they team up to throw Mario a surprise party. These shifts hint at a more complex bond forming between the two characters—one that *Donkey Kong Bananza* now explores in greater depth.
What Happens Next Between DK and Pauline?
A lingering question remains: what causes the shift in dynamics between Donkey Kong and Pauline after *Bananza*? Could the events of the original *Donkey Kong* arcade game unfold within this new title, perhaps even introducing Mario as a disruptive force who separates Pauline from her friend? Some fans speculate that *Donkey Kong Bananza* could challenge long-held assumptions about the Mario universe—potentially repositioning Mario as the antagonist who intervenes in what may actually be a friendly situation.
As speculation continues, fans eagerly await July 17, 2025—the release date for *Donkey Kong Bananza*, which is set to be one of the major launch titles for the Switch 2. Hopefully, the full story will finally shed light on Pauline’s journey, Donkey Kong’s motivations, and how this chapter fits into the broader Mario and Donkey Kong lore.
