I consider it be the same character.
But yeah, even without Donkey Kong, Mario Bros. is older too. So, Nintendo is just trying to cash in on the 25th anniversary of SMB.

> However, in Donkey Kong he's just "Jumpman". Instead, "Mario" first appeared in
> Mario Bros. in 1983 (not Super!).
>
> Who knows, maybe at Ninty they don't like these games :P
>
> > Donkey Kong is from 81,
> >
> > SMB1 is from 85.
> > Not the character of Mario, like everyone is saying.
>
>
>