{"id":1922779,"date":"2026-05-07T14:49:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922779"},"modified":"2026-05-07T14:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:49:53","slug":"star-foxs-original-artist-reckons-fox-mcclouds-design-is-better-in-the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-than-it-is-in-the-switch-2-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922779","title":{"rendered":"Star Fox&#8217;s original artist reckons Fox McCloud&#8217;s design is better in The Super Mario Galaxy movie than it is in the Switch 2 game"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/star-fox-2026\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Star Fox (2026)<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Star Fox&#8217;s original artist reckons Fox McCloud&#8217;s design is better in The Super Mario Galaxy movie than it is in the Switch 2 game<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8220;I suppose this is what happens when I&#8217;m not overseeing it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Fox-McCloud-in-Switch-2's-Star-Fox-remake.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Fox McCloud in Switch 2's Star Fox remake\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"Fox-McCloud-in-Switch-2's-Star-Fox-remake.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"320\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintendo<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Victoria Phillips Kennedy avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/1644925423.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"179\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Victoria Phillips Kennedy avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"1644925423.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"179\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/victoria-kennedy\">Victoria Phillips Kennedy<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      News Reporter<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-05-07T14:49:53+00:00\">May 7, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/star-fox-64-remake-fox-mccloud-design?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          2 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"d51ff43c-2808-4265-919d-4939f1f67ff6\" data-name=\"Star Fox (2026)\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Star Fox (2026)\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Star Fox (2026)\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Star Fox (2026)\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Star Fox (2026)\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Star Fox (2026)\" title=\"Follow Star Fox (2026)\"><br \/>\n  Follow Star Fox (2026)<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The former Nintendo art director who originally designed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/star-fox\">Star Fox<\/a> characters in the &#8217;90s has admitted he prefers the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/super-mario-galaxy\">Super Mario Galaxy<\/a> film&#8217;s design of Fox McCloud to the newly-announced game&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>Takaya Imamura is a bit of a Nintendo legend, having designed characters including Captain Falcon and The Legend of Zelda&#8217;s middle-aged and fairy-obsessed Tingle, to name just two. But, for many, he is most famous for designing Star Fox&#8217;s anthropomorphic animal leads (did you know Imamura used <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/personas\/shigeru-miyamoto\">Shigeru Miyamoto<\/a> as his inspiration for Fox McCloud?)<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Star Fox Direct 5.6.2026\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ePZeyh5q9R8?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ePZeyh5q9R8\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Star Fox Direct 5.6.2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Star Fox Direct. <a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ePZeyh5q9R8\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But while Imamura is no longer at Nintendo, it&#8217;s clear his time there meant a great deal to him, and he still often comments on the likes of Star Fox on his social media channels. So, it comes as no surprise that following last night&#8217;s reveal of Star Fox for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/platforms\/switch-2\">Nintendo Switch 2<\/a>, the artist had some thoughts.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>To be clear, Imamura was not a part of the newly-announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/star-fox-64\">Star Fox 64<\/a> remake, or its character designs. He said as much while <a href=\"http:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052193311780462759?s=20\">replying to a fan on X<\/a>. But, even so, the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052159396206219617\">artist began<\/a> the day by saying how &#8220;proud&#8221; he was to see Star Fox 64 getting the remake treatment, and thanking Miyamoto in the process.<\/p>\n<p>When asked his thoughts on the new character designs, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052178219819012445?s=20\">he then replied<\/a>: &#8220;I suppose this is what happens when I\u2019m not overseeing it\u2026 I do think the concept is good, though&#8221; (translated via DeepL).<\/p>\n<p>Imamura went on to say that while he believes this version of Fox McCloud to be &#8220;good in its own right&#8221; and has &#8220;a clear direction&#8221;, he personally thinks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/glen-powel-voicing-fox-mccloud-starfox-in-super-mario-galaxy-movie\">Illumination&#8217;s animated take on the character in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie was better<\/a>. &#8220;I prefer the film version,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052193579955835056?s=20\">he stated<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure data-count=\"2\" role=\"group\">\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fox McCloud in Star Fox remake for Switch 2\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Fox-McCloud-in-Star-Fox-remake-for-Switch-2.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7773584905660378\" width=\"1413\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Fox McCloud in Star Fox remake for Switch 2\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Fox-McCloud-in-Star-Fox-remake-for-Switch-2.jpg\" height=\"795\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7773584905660378\" width=\"1413\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintendo<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Star Fox strikes a pose as he appears in The Super Mario Galaxy movie.\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/star-fox.webp?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Star Fox strikes a pose as he appears in The Super Mario Galaxy movie.\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"star-fox.webp\" height=\"864\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1536\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintnedo<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>These character designs in Star Fox (the new one) have been somewhat controversial, and since the Switch 2 remake was announced, many have shared their disappointment with how the characters appear in the game.<\/p>\n<p>While some have no issue with the Star Fox crew&#8217;s new look, others have been less complimentary, with responses ranging from <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/notsophatmatt\/status\/2052238547768254784?s=20\">Falco&#8217;s face looks &#8220;too human like&#8221;<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MeowyanXCooper\/status\/2052220228235378944\">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry but I hate this new hyper realistic approach to the Star Fox characters&#8221;<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Away from these divisive designs, though, there is one thing many people can agree on. How are we getting yet another version of the same game again?<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed_wrapper\" data-domain=\"twitter.com\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The first franchise in history to gain four remakes of the same story. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nMUvL1wcGj\">pic.twitter.com\/nMUvL1wcGj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \ud83c\udf3c\ud83c\udf83Samhain\ud83c\udf83\ud83c\udf3c (@SamHain31st) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamHain31st\/status\/2052198973759512710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>Star Fox is set to release later this year, on 25th June. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/a-remake-of-star-fox-64-is-coming-to-switch-2-this-june\">game will include new cutscenes in the form of pre-mission briefings to give us more context about the characters and the world<\/a>, as well as a multiplayer element and more.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The former Nintendo art director who originally designed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/star-fox\">Star Fox<\/a> characters in the &#8217;90s has admitted he prefers the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/super-mario-galaxy\">Super Mario Galaxy<\/a> film&#8217;s design of Fox McCloud to the newly-announced game&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>Takaya Imamura is a bit of a Nintendo legend, having designed characters including Captain Falcon and The Legend of Zelda&#8217;s middle-aged and fairy-obsessed Tingle, to name just two. But, for many, he is most famous for designing Star Fox&#8217;s anthropomorphic animal leads (did you know Imamura used <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/personas\/shigeru-miyamoto\">Shigeru Miyamoto<\/a> as his inspiration for Fox McCloud?)<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Star Fox Direct 5.6.2026\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ePZeyh5q9R8?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ePZeyh5q9R8\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Star Fox Direct 5.6.2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Star Fox Direct. <a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ePZeyh5q9R8\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But while Imamura is no longer at Nintendo, it&#8217;s clear his time there meant a great deal to him, and he still often comments on the likes of Star Fox on his social media channels. So, it comes as no surprise that following last night&#8217;s reveal of Star Fox for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/platforms\/switch-2\">Nintendo Switch 2<\/a>, the artist had some thoughts.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>To be clear, Imamura was not a part of the newly-announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/star-fox-64\">Star Fox 64<\/a> remake, or its character designs. He said as much while <a href=\"http:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052193311780462759?s=20\">replying to a fan on X<\/a>. But, even so, the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052159396206219617\">artist began<\/a> the day by saying how &#8220;proud&#8221; he was to see Star Fox 64 getting the remake treatment, and thanking Miyamoto in the process.<\/p>\n<p>When asked his thoughts on the new character designs, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052178219819012445?s=20\">he then replied<\/a>: &#8220;I suppose this is what happens when I\u2019m not overseeing it\u2026 I do think the concept is good, though&#8221; (translated via DeepL).<\/p>\n<p>Imamura went on to say that while he believes this version of Fox McCloud to be &#8220;good in its own right&#8221; and has &#8220;a clear direction&#8221;, he personally thinks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/glen-powel-voicing-fox-mccloud-starfox-in-super-mario-galaxy-movie\">Illumination&#8217;s animated take on the character in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie was better<\/a>. &#8220;I prefer the film version,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ima_1966\/status\/2052193579955835056?s=20\">he stated<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure data-count=\"2\" role=\"group\">\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fox McCloud in Star Fox remake for Switch 2\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Fox-McCloud-in-Star-Fox-remake-for-Switch-2.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7773584905660378\" width=\"1413\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Fox McCloud in Star Fox remake for Switch 2\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Fox-McCloud-in-Star-Fox-remake-for-Switch-2.jpg\" height=\"795\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7773584905660378\" width=\"1413\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintendo<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Star Fox strikes a pose as he appears in The Super Mario Galaxy movie.\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/star-fox.webp?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Star Fox strikes a pose as he appears in The Super Mario Galaxy movie.\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"star-fox.webp\" height=\"864\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1536\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintnedo<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>These character designs in Star Fox (the new one) have been somewhat controversial, and since the Switch 2 remake was announced, many have shared their disappointment with how the characters appear in the game.<\/p>\n<p>While some have no issue with the Star Fox crew&#8217;s new look, others have been less complimentary, with responses ranging from <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/notsophatmatt\/status\/2052238547768254784?s=20\">Falco&#8217;s face looks &#8220;too human like&#8221;<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MeowyanXCooper\/status\/2052220228235378944\">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry but I hate this new hyper realistic approach to the Star Fox characters&#8221;<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Away from these divisive designs, though, there is one thing many people can agree on. How are we getting yet another version of the same game again?<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed_wrapper\" data-domain=\"twitter.com\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The first franchise in history to gain four remakes of the same story. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nMUvL1wcGj\">pic.twitter.com\/nMUvL1wcGj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \ud83c\udf3c\ud83c\udf83Samhain\ud83c\udf83\ud83c\udf3c (@SamHain31st) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamHain31st\/status\/2052198973759512710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>Star Fox is set to release later this year, on 25th June. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/a-remake-of-star-fox-64-is-coming-to-switch-2-this-june\">game will include new cutscenes in the form of pre-mission briefings to give us more context about the characters and the world<\/a>, as well as a multiplayer element and more.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Star Fox (2026) Star Fox&#8217;s original artist reckons Fox McCloud&#8217;s design is better in The Super Mario Galaxy movie than it is in the Switch 2 game &#8220;I suppose this is what happens when I&#8217;m not overseeing it.&#8221; Image credit: Nintendo News by Victoria Phillips Kennedy News Reporter Published on May 7, 2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-1922779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1922779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1922779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1922779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1922779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1922779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1922779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}