Top 10 Recent Character Redesigns That Pissed Everyone Off

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023)
Virtually every major character in this video game adaptation had their models at least slightly tweaked. This wasn’t unwelcome, as it helped to distinguish the movie from the games. The one design that raised eyebrows, though, was Donkey Kong. Ever since Kevin Bayliss redesigned the ape for 1994’s “Donkey Kong Country,” the character had been defined by his badass sunken eyes. The movie’s goofier look felt closer to Shigeru Miyamoto[a]’s original design, which intended to make the character appear dumb. While some saw this as a step backward, it’s not like they were changing Donkey Kong in the games… That was until the ninth “Mario Kart” was teased. Footage included a DK that looked more like his movie counterpart, except even sillier.

“Barney’s World” (2024-)
From the beginning, people either loved or hated Barney, despite his claims that “we’re a happy family.” Whichever camp you fall into, we’re used to seeing the purple dinosaur in live-action. When an animated relaunch was announced, nobody knew what to expect, but Barney’s updated look threw many for a loop. Those who grew up loving Barney were turned off by his wider eyes, lighter purple color, and thinner physique, as if he had undergone plastic surgery. He could’ve used some dental work as well with a chipped tooth that gives us “Dumb and Dumber” vibes. To those who never liked Barney, Mattel made the dinosaur even creepier than before. Even Demi Lovato, who played Angela on “Barney & Friends,” commented, “Aww man… I hate change.”

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018)
Vanellope meets her fellow Disney princesses in the “Wreck-It Ralph” sequel. Although many praised this encounter as the best scene in the movie, it also contained one of the most controversial elements. In the first trailer and early promotional images, some argued that Tiana, Disney’s first African-American princess, had a smaller nose and lighter skin tone. The civil rights group Color of Change was especially critical, launching a petition reading “#DontWhiteWashTiana.” There were also concerns that Pocahontas was being whitewashed. To better match their original hand-drawn counterparts, both characters had their CG designs altered before the movie’s release. In Tiana’s case, Disney consulted voice actress Anika Noni Rose[b] and Color of Change to ensure the updated design stayed true to the character’s background.

“Ben 10” (2016-20)
Few Cartoon Network properties have a more dedicated following than “Ben 10.” While the franchise has gone through peaks and valleys, most agree that the 2016 reboot is the lowest point. The reboot was condemned for its more lighthearted tone, dumbed-down characters, and generic designs. In the latter case, it felt like the showrunners sucked out all of the detail and anime influence that made the original show special. There’s a common criticism that a lot of modern animated shows look too similar with characters possessing big heads, bean-shaped eyes, and simple linework that doesn’t leave much room for expression or experimentation. The “Ben 10” reboot certainly fits that mold. If only Ben could’ve used the Omnitrix to change back into his former self.

“Space Jam: A New Legacy” (2021)
Since her debut in the original “Space Jam,” Lola has proven divisive with critics questioning why Warner Bros. saw the need to sexualize a bunny. Of course, that’s also why the character gained a cult following. Although Lola has appeared sporadically since 1996, she was poised to play a bigger role in “Space Jam’s” legacy sequel. The film’s director, Malcolm D. Lee, felt the original Lola wasn’t “politically correct,” unable to fathom why a character in a “kids’ movie” was wearing a crop top. Along with a more conservative wardrobe, Lola underwent a makeover, which we can only assume included reduction surgery. While some understood where Lee was coming from, others felt their beloved bunny had been downgraded… in more ways than one.

“The Little Mermaid” (2023)
Honestly, we could’ve populated this whole list with CGI redesigns from Disney’s photorealistic remakes. If we did, though, we’d essentially be saying the same thing over and over again. Making a character look more realistic doesn’t give them more personality. If anything, realism usually makes a character less expressive and thus, less believable. We can’t think of a better example than Flounder in “The Little Mermaid” remake. We all remember Ariel’s adorable little fish friend with his pinchable round cheeks. The remake made Flounder look like… well, an actual flounder, which are much flatter… and less emotive… and come with fewer merchandising opportunities. The redesign may fit the remake’s live-action aesthetic, but Disney originally brought this story to life through hand-drawn animation for a reason.

“Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go” (2021-)
When Roger Ebert reviewed the 2000 film “Thomas and the Magic Railroad,” he took issue with the fact that the trains’ mouths didn’t move. Longtime “Thomas & Friends” fans couldn’t have disagreed with Ebert more. It might’ve appeared cheap to some, but for life-long viewers, the lack of lip movements made the visual style one of a kind. Diehards weren’t pleased as the series started moving away from this tradition when Thomas switched to CG. That was nothing compared to “All Engines Go.” Not only did the trains still have lip movements, but the 2D animation couldn’t have been more bland. Weirdly enough, this reboot’s designs were too expressive and yet, still lacking in anything unique. That’s how a beloved franchise goes off the rails.

“Shrek 5” (2026)
With “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” breathing new life into the franchise, we knew “Shrek 5” was coming. Although “The Last Wish” revised a few character designs, that didn’t prepare people for the “Shrek 5” teaser. The green ogre is disturbed by the rise of sexy Shrek memes. Ironically, this mirrors how many reacted to the characters’ redesigns. Where the original films had a grounded aesthetic, the characters now appeared cartoonier. Social media had a bone to pick with the rounder eyes and bouncier facial expressions, not to mention Shrek’s bushy eyebrows. Defenders argue that critics have been too quick to judge, which may be true. When even Sonic’s social media is poking fun at you, though, maybe go back to the drawing board.

“ThunderCats Roar” (2020)
Following the initial series’ end in the late ‘80s, “ThunderCats” received a short-lived yet fondly remembered revival in 2011. After nearly another decade, fans were excited to hear the ThunderCats were making a comeback. That enthusiasm immediately depleted when they saw the artwork for “ThunderCats Roar.” Where the previous versions embraced Japanese animation, this reboot took the iconic characters in a new direction. Lion-O and company were unrecognizable with smaller bodies, giant pupils, and an all-around lazier aesthetic that felt closer to “Teen Titans Go!” The redesigns mirrored the reboot’s tonal shift, which was jokier and clearly not for loyal fans. It wasn’t just painful to look at, naturally sparking an uproar. Thankfully, cats have nine lives and this one was relatively short, only lasting a season.

“Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020)
We have to give the “Sonic” filmmakers credit. It’s not uncommon for a studio to make changes when a trailer is poorly received. However, to completely redesign the main character and even push back the release date was virtually unheard of. Yet, director Jeff Fowler[c] heard the fans with the final version getting the video game icon right. That said, would it have been that hard to just give us this from the get-go? Who thought it would be a good idea to give Sonic those eyes, that body, and teeth that still haunt our nightmares? We guess we can’t be too mad since fans eventually got a faithful design and Ugly Sonic has brought us countless hilarious memes, but seriously, what were they thinking?


Which redesign would you like to give an overhaul? Let us know in the comments.

[b]uh-NEE-kuh NOH-nee rose https://youtu.be/58TJjooa2t4?si=Fp9NEEImaC6i7T5A
[c]fouler https://youtu.be/wFT_mmwrB60?si=1vEouZz1FDdOjVl3