Original Star Fox Designer Comments on New Character Designs for Switch 2 Game

Nintendo’s big reveal of Star Fox on the Switch 2 has been met with mixed feedback from fans about the new, realistic character designs of Fox McCloud and company, with even the original character designer saying the movie actually looks better. While now retired from Nintendo, the artist behind Star Fox still finds a lot to like about all current versions of the characters, even if he has a preference for one.

Star Fox is Nintendo’s upcoming remake of the original Star Fox 64, making it the fourth time Nintendo has remade or re-imagined the Nintendo 64 original in almost 30 years. Nintendo’s official Star Fox Direct reveal has already amassed 2.3 million views, and fans seem generally excited about the game’s release on June 25, 2026. However, it’s not without some mixed responses. Using the Switch 2’s powerful new hardware, Nintendo has leaped into life-like character design for this go-around with Team Star Fox, making Fox and company look more like real animals than ever before. This aesthetic leap into realistic CGI has left fans who loved the classic, cartoon-like look of the Star Fox games jarred, especially after Fox’s impressively stylized cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. What’s more, many fans are frustrated that Star Fox is yet another remake of Star Fox 64 instead of actually pushing the franchise forward with a sequel.

It Could Be a New Era for Star Fox

Star Fox’s appearance in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie alongside rumors of a new game could signal the start of a long-overdue new era for the IP.

Star Fox’s Original Character Designer Thinks the Movie Looks Better

In the midst of all the social media commotion over the new Star Fox character designs, the series’ original graphical designer, Takaya Imamura, has stated that he actually prefers The Super Mario Galaxy Movie version of the character over the design of the Switch 2 remake. Imamura has been active on Twitter recently, chatting with fans of the series regarding all things Star Fox on the Switch 2 following the recent reveal. And despite having a preference for one style over the other, Imamura still thinks that the upcoming Switch 2 version of the character is “good in its own way with a clear direction.” Additionally, Imamura believes that the concept is good and seems to accept that this is what Star Fox looks like when he is not supervising, or “something like that.”

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Takaya Imamura retired from Nintendo in 2021 after 32 years with the company. Still, the former character designer remains a prominent voice on social media about all things Nintendo, and more specifically, the upcoming Nintendo movies. As the former art director for The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Imamura has commented on the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, stating that fans hearing Link speak for the first time might make the series’ “Zelda magic” disappear. When factoring in his recent comments on Star Fox, it seems like Imamura is enjoying his retirement as a fan who can also discuss, dissect, and scrutinize his own works on social media with gamers who grew up enjoying all his designs.

The good news for fans who may not like Fox’s redesign in the new Star Fox game is that there could be a lot more of the franchise coming down the pipeline very soon, and more versions of Fox McCloud to discuss on social media. Rumors are circulating that a movie starring Fox McCloud and the rest of Team Star Fox is in the works at Illumination, and it would certainly make sense given Fox’s surprise appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which just launched this spring. And it is possible that this fourth remake in the Star Fox franchise could be the catalyst for a potential sequel, should the game succeed when it launches later in June.

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Regardless of where fans land when it comes to Star Fox, it’s good to have the series back in some way. Players have been clamoring for games from some of Nintendo’s buried franchises, like Star Fox and F-Zero, which have seemingly been left in the dust as the company’s heavy hitters continue to have massive projects in the works fairly regularly. While Star Fox on the Switch 2 might disappoint fans who have been waiting for decades for Team Star Fox’s story to continue, at least it means Nintendo is making an effort to unearth its B-sides and rarities for new audiences.