Takaya Imamura, the legendary creator behind Star Fox, has shared his thoughts regarding the recent reveal of Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 title. Following a wave of mixed fan reactions to the new character designs for the Star Fox 64 port, Imamura revealed that he actually prefers the aesthetic used in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Imamura, who spent 32 years at Nintendo before departing in 2021, is responsible for the original visual identity of the franchise. Having served as a graphic designer on the first Star Fox and later as the art director for Star Fox 64, his influence on these iconic characters is foundational to Nintendo's history.

Imamura’s Reaction to the New Star Fox Design

The announcement of the new Star Fox Switch 2 game has sparked intense debate among the community. While some players are excited about the fresh port, others have criticized the updated character models, noting that Fox McCloud appears significantly more "cartoon-like" than his classic counterpart.

When responding to fans on X (formerly Twitter), Imamura expressed his initial shock at the news:

  • "A ton of messages have come in. Oh! Star Fox is finally making a comeback... I’ve gotta post about this... wait, this isn’t a dream, right?"
  • "I guess this is how it turns out if I'm not supervising... or something like that," he joked when asked about the new direction.

Despite the playful jab at his absence from recent supervision, Imamura remained supportive of the project's creative goals. While he explicitly stated, "Personally, I prefer the movie version," he noted that the new design has "a clear direction" and is "good in its own way."

A History of Critiquing Nintendo Film Projects

This isn't the first time the former art director has weighed in on how Nintendo's properties translate to the big screen. As the man who served as art director for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Imamura has expressed similar trepidation regarding the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.

His primary concern lies in preserving the atmosphere that longtime fans have grown to love. "The moment Link speaks, I can't help but worry a little that the 'Zelda magic' everyone has been nurturing in their hearts might just vanish into thin air," Imamura remarked.

As the gaming community awaits more details on the Star Fox Switch 2 release, all eyes remain on how Nintendo will balance nostalgia with modern updates. Recent reports suggest the game may feature a more accessible price point than expected, though physical collectors should prepare for higher costs for boxed editions.