Pauline's Age Confirmed by Nintendo in Fan Frenzy

Nintendo has officially confirmed the age of Donkey Kong Bananza's sidekick, Pauline, raising immediate questions about this younger version of the character. Fans are now speculating how her timeline in this new adventure aligns with her very different role in the classic Donkey Kong arcade game, where she was famously the damsel in distress, kidnapped by the villainous ape.

A character profile on the game's Japanese website explicitly states, "Pauline is a 13-year-old girl who loves singing. She once lived on the surface, but for reasons unknown, she was brought to the underground world and transformed into rock."

This youthful depiction, revealed in yesterday's Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Direct, strongly hints she is the same character from *Super Mario Odyssey*. In that Switch title, an adult Pauline serves as the mayor of New Donk City and leads a popular band, fulfilling her musical ambitions.

The reveal has ignited fan debate about Pauline's overall story. Their friendly partnership in *Bananza* stands in stark contrast to their traditional dynamic of kidnapper and victim. Does some event turn DK evil? Or have we misinterpreted their relationship all along?

The core of *Donkey Kong Bananza* involves the duo teaming up to help the teenage Pauline return to the surface and pursue her dream of stardom. Her role as a singer in *Odyssey* suggests she ultimately succeeds.

While *Bananza* appears to be a narrative prequel to *Odyssey*, the precise timeline remains fuzzy. Nintendo has never specified Pauline's age in *Odyssey* or other appearances, leaving the exact gap between games unknown.

By connecting the games through Pauline's musical passion, this detail also refocuses attention on a line from *Odyssey*, where Mayor Pauline describes her past kidnapping by DK as a "traumatic" experience.

Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Screenshots

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Pauline's history with DK is filled with abductions. Most famously, Mario rescued her from DK in the original arcade game. She was kidnapped again in several *Mario vs. Donkey Kong* spin-off titles.

In *Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis*, DK snatches Pauline after she chooses a gift from Mario over him. She's taken once more in *Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!* by a jealous DK who missed a theme park opening.

Later series entries portray a kinder relationship. In *Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move*, they co-host a mini-game, and in *Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars*, they collaborate to plan a surprise party for Mario.

Could *Bananza*'s ending feature an event that sours DK and Pauline's friendship, transforming the ape from ally to kidnapper? Might we witness the original arcade kidnapping within this game, with Mario arriving as the hero? Or is the classic narrative fundamentally wrong?

Some theories suggest *Bananza* will flip the script, revealing DK and Pauline were always friends. In this view, Mario has been the inadvertent villain, "rescuing" Pauline when she was merely spending time with her gorilla companion.

Players won't have to wait long for answers. The full story will be revealed when *Donkey Kong Bananza* launches as a major Nintendo Switch 2 title on July 17, 2025.