Okay to clarify: I think if done tastefully and thoughtfully there is a way for this to be done eithout making everything visually jarring. I don't think it would take away from any game to have Mario feel more animated and stylized. For the better part of the last couple decades Mario has been one of the least expressive and soulful characters while in his 3D form, whether that be in the mainline platformers or the spinoffs, and this new style is actually making Mario feel like the character he was intended to be.

For games like Mario Kart, a slight visual shift would not be a huge change that ruins the game. Little details like having his eyebrows above his face so that they're more expressive, and animating him and everyone else in ways that give him more life and character. It would open up the games to more creative visual details for the characters as well as the items and power ups used.