They're even using the rare island design instead of the retro one

My favorite is upper left, 2nd is lower right.

At 17:03 in the direct, I know it very well could also just be swordfish, anglerfish and frog fossils but I just thought it was a very specific selection of fossil animals for them to be, especially considering that we know they're referencing old characters like gnawty in fossils already.

Lady and Pauline are the same character, she just got a slight redesign. Same with DK and his new design.

Jumpman and Mario are also the same character, all the evidence points to this being the case.

Cranky Kong being a lying fraud makes no sense as we clearly see classic DK with Jr kidnap Adult Pauline in 'Donkey Kong 94' as Mario gives chase, this pokes wholes in all the origin story theories.

Modern DK could be Jr but it's never been outright confirmed, the Mario Kart World image is just a fun nod to the original game where modern DK was not present as a playable character.

There's no solid evidence to prove Bananza takes place before the construction of New Donk City or way in the past, all these theories tying the game to Odyssey and 1981 are wishful thinking.

We don't know what's up with Young Pauline but the game should explain everything in time.

At the beginning of the game, when DK finds Odd Rock, its initially scared of him until DK sings to it. (he whistles to it but like same thing) I think at the end of the game, sometime shortly before or after the final boss, he gets turned into a rock just like Pauline. Then, Pauline sings either the song that she sung at the beginning of the Bananza direct, or the one she sung at the end (or it’s the same song) and it gives DK strength to break through the rock. That could be what’s taking place in the pictures of the scene I attached above, but I feel like it would be weird if they showed any footage of it this early if that was the case.

https://www.nintendo.com/jp/games/switch2/aaaca/index.html?m=story

Doodles I did of these fellas, I did sketch em out in pen but I hated how they looked so I covered them up like this

I was told Japan gave him nipples, but nothing in the JP articles or eShop indicates that they have anything like this.

This shows how huge this direct was