You ever see a game that has you excited, only for its discourse to weird you out? That was me with Donkey Kong Bananza. The conversation around Young Pauline makes me weary of how people perceive teenagers. Because Young Pauline is 13 years-old in the game, and people are being gross about it. But let’s give context:
Pauline appearing in this game was a nice surprise. The initial footage had Donkey Kong travelling with a sentient rock, so Pauline was a great twist reveal. She actually goes back to Donkey Kong in 1981, having made her debut alongside Mario and DK, but she’d largely been forgotten until several years ago. So to feature alongside DK? That’s huge.
It's especially huge because while Pauline has had a popularity resurgence because of her cameo as Mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey, she hasn’t really had depth or intrigue for a while. She could sing, but that was it. And while her adult design looked nice, showing a natural progression from her arcade days, everything about her was surface level. She didn’t even have a backstory for why she went into politics.
Pauline being a teenager in Donkey Kong Bananza, complete with a redesign and personality, changes everything. She has actual motivations, as well as depth. Sure, her desire to return to the surface world isn’t deep, but it’s something! This is Pauline as an actual character, not an avatar. What’s bad about that?
Leave it to the internet to make something creepy. And it starts with her design: she’s cute, she has freckles and she doesn’t wear shoes. This, apparently, is considered scandalous. I’ll ignore the freckles, because many people have them in real life, and focus on the first and third complaints. Because what gives?!
I’ll start with being cute. Okay, and? She’s a kid. Chihiro Ogino from Spirited Away looks cute, as does Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Vanellope von Schweetz in Wreck-It Ralph, whom Pauline probably takes inspiration, also looks cute. But they’re supposed to. I’d be worried if Pauline’s design wasn’t cute!
But I know what this is about: perverts might take advantage. To that, I have two responses. One, get your head out of the gutter. And two, even if Pauline were an adult, perverts would still take advantage. Considering what the internet did to Princess Peach after Princess Peach: Showtime!, it’s not unreasonable to assume that. I’m sure Nintendo knows this.
I’ll start with being cute. Okay, and? She’s a kid. Chihiro Ogino from Spirited Away looks cute, as does Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Vanellope von Schweetz in Wreck-It Ralph, whom Pauline probably takes inspiration, also looks cute. But they’re supposed to. I’d be worried if Pauline’s design wasn’t cute!
But I know what this is about: perverts might take advantage. To that, I have two responses. One, get your head out of the gutter. And two, even if Pauline were an adult, perverts would still take advantage. Considering what the internet did to Princess Peach after Princess Peach: Showtime!, it’s not unreasonable to assume that. I’m sure Nintendo knows this.
The overprotective backlash is gross. Yes, the internet has a new target. That can’t be helped, unfortunately. But shielding Pauline feels patronizing. Ignoring how Google has filters for inappropriate content, and we can argue its effectiveness, I can’t help wondering if this conversation would be taking place if she were a boy. I know she’s not real, but it’s worth pondering.
As for not having shoes? Give me a break. She’d recently been freed from a curse, and her not having shoes is the scandal here? No one’s asking how she became a rock, or how she’s able to bond with a gorilla? Her being barefoot is the big concern? Really?
I understand, again, that perverts will have a field day over this. But they were having a field day already with Adult Pauline, who wears stilettos. You can’t be naïve enough to assume that Young Pauline’s going to be treated any differently, right? Because if so, bless your heart. Also, touch grass.
As for not having shoes? Give me a break. She’d recently been freed from a curse, and her not having shoes is the scandal here? No one’s asking how she became a rock, or how she’s able to bond with a gorilla? Her being barefoot is the big concern? Really?
I understand, again, that perverts will have a field day over this. But they were having a field day already with Adult Pauline, who wears stilettos. You can’t be naïve enough to assume that Young Pauline’s going to be treated any differently, right? Because if so, bless your heart. Also, touch grass.
Like with being cute, Pauline being barefoot has little to do with her character outside of aesthetics. Young Pauline’s a spirited, insecure and shy singer whose voice helps DK. She has all the characteristics of a gifted, teenaged girl who’s unsure of herself. We should be talking about how cool it is that teenaged girls have a role model their age to relate to, as opposed to complaining about her design. Not only is that creepy, but it sends the wrong message.
Perhaps I’m being too sensible here. Puritanical reactionaries once called the Harry Potter books “Satanic”, and said the Pokémon franchise was “heretical”. It doesn’t matter how “modestly” Pauline does or doesn’t dress, they’ll find something to complain about. They shouldn’t, it’s gross, but they will. And nobody can stop that.
Maybe that’s why this irks me. Ignoring how Young Pauline dresses more “modestly” than many celebrated adult heroines, the term “Male Gaze” comes to mind here. Because Pauline’s the antithesis of that, as her appearance, like her personality, actually contributes to the story. This is less Male Gaze than dressing like a teenager, and acting otherwise says a lot about you.
Perhaps I’m being too sensible here. Puritanical reactionaries once called the Harry Potter books “Satanic”, and said the Pokémon franchise was “heretical”. It doesn’t matter how “modestly” Pauline does or doesn’t dress, they’ll find something to complain about. They shouldn’t, it’s gross, but they will. And nobody can stop that.
Maybe that’s why this irks me. Ignoring how Young Pauline dresses more “modestly” than many celebrated adult heroines, the term “Male Gaze” comes to mind here. Because Pauline’s the antithesis of that, as her appearance, like her personality, actually contributes to the story. This is less Male Gaze than dressing like a teenager, and acting otherwise says a lot about you.
Look, Nintendo has many issues as company, some of which I’ve covered. Even storytelling-wise, they routinely overplay the damsel in distress card. Mario games in particular are guilty of this, with Princess Peach only being playable in a handful of mainline entries. So for a Mario-adjacent character like Pauline, who up until now wasn’t that well-known or interesting, to have a complete revamp of her character is something that should be celebrated, not criticized. Like with Donkey Kong’s recent redesign, I’ll take it…even if she’s cute and barefoot.
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