Pauline's Age Revealed; Sparks Super Mario Odyssey Prequel Speculation

Nintendo has officially disclosed the age of Donkey Kong Bananza's companion, Pauline, raising fresh questions about the character's chronology and how the events of Bananza align with earlier titles—most notably Mario's original arcade game, where DK is famously cast as the villain and Pauline as his kidnap victim.

A character profile on the Japanese website for Donkey Kong Bananza clarifies that Pauline is "a 13-year-old girl who loves singing. Previously living above ground, she was brought underground for unknown reasons and transformed into rock."

The introduction of this younger Pauline during the Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Direct strongly implies she is the same music-loving character seen in the Nintendo Switch platformer Super Mario Odyssey, where an adult Pauline serves as mayor of New Donk City and the lead vocalist of a popular band.

Nintendo fans have been quick to speculate on what this means for Pauline's overall timeline—especially considering that DK and Pauline’s friendly partnership in Bananza stands in stark contrast to their traditional dynamic as kidnapper and captive. Could something occur to twist DK into a villain? Or have we misunderstood Pauline and DK’s relationship all along?

Donkey Kong Bananza features the two characters collaborating so the teenage Pauline can return to the surface and pursue her dream of becoming a world-renowned singer. Pauline’s role as a singer in Odyssey clearly indicates she ultimately succeeds.

Though Bananza’s story seems to act as a prequel to Odyssey, the exact chronology remains somewhat ambiguous. Nintendo has never specified Pauline’s age in Odyssey or in any previous appearance, leaving it uncertain how far before those events Bananza takes place.

Yet by connecting the character across these games through Pauline’s musical aspirations, Bananza underlines the fact that Odyssey’s Pauline does reference her kidnapping by DK—which she refers to as "traumatic."

Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Screenshots

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Over the years, Pauline has been kidnapped by DK multiple times. Most famously, Mario rescues her from DK in the original Donkey Kong arcade game—but she is abducted again in several games within the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Pauline is taken by Donkey Kong after choosing a gift from Mario over one from DK. In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, she is kidnapped once more by an angry DK, furious about missing a theme park opening.

Later entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, however, portray Pauline’s interactions with DK more positively—such as in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, where they co-host a mini-game, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, where the duo organize a surprise party for Mario.

Does something happen by the end of Donkey Kong Bananza to sour DK and Pauline’s relationship, transforming the ape from ally to abductor? Could the original Donkey Kong arcade events unfold within Bananza, with Mario arriving as the hero? Or were we mistaken about their history all along?

Some fans propose that Bananza will upend the Mario universe by revealing DK and Pauline have actually been friends the whole time—and that Mario has been the real antagonist, repeatedly "rescuing" Pauline when she was simply spending time with her companion.

All should become clear when Donkey Kong Bananza launches as Nintendo’s next major Switch 2 title on July 17, 2025.