Star Fox designer prefers movie look, backs Switch 2 redesign

Takaya Imamura, the original designer of Star Fox characters, responded to fan questions on social media this week after news of a new Star Fox game. He wrote that he prefers the movie versions of Fox and the team but called the Switch 2 game’s redesign “good in its own right” and praised its clear direction.

Imamura posted that he woke to a flood of messages about Star Fox’s return and asked, “wait, this isn’t a dream, right?” When a fan asked what he thought of the new character designs, he wrote that the Switch 2 appearance is what happens “if I’m not supervising… or something like that” and added, “I think the concept is good.” In a separate reply he wrote, “Personally, I prefer the movie version, but I thought this one was good in its own right — it had a clear direction.”

The franchise has shown two updated looks for its core cast in recent months. The Super Mario Galaxy film presented a softer, stylized appearance for Fox and the team. The upcoming Switch 2 title leans toward a more realistic aesthetic. Fans have debated the two approaches; a recent poll found majority support for the Switch 2 designs among respondents.

Imamura worked on Star Fox through titles including Star Fox Guard and Star Fox Zero and later served as a series supervisor. He left Nintendo in 2021 after 32 years with the company.

Imamura’s remarks came as fans continued to compare the film and game versions of the characters.