Rip Van Fish

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Rip Van Fish
Artwork of a Rip Van Fish from Super Mario World.
Artwork for Super Mario World
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (2003)
Relatives
Comparable

Rip Van Fish[1] (also pluralized Rip Van Fishes[2] and parsed as Rip van Fish)[3] are fish enemies who spend most of their time sleeping. They make their first and main appearance in Super Mario World. Rip Van Fish are large blue fish with orange fins, tail, and lips as well as a pair of big eyes.

Rip Van Fish is named after the literary character Rip Van Winkle, who fell asleep for twenty years.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

A Rip Van Fish, from Super Mario World. Rip Van Fish

In Super Mario World, if Mario or Luigi swims too close to a Rip Van Fish, it wakes up and starts to chase after him. Like Cheep Cheeps, a Rip Van Fish can be defeated if Mario and Luigi either shoot a fireball at it while under the effects of a Fire Flower, swim into one while under the invincibility effect of a Super Star, or have Yoshi swallow one. If Mario or Luigi is invincible, the Rip Van Fish acts the opposite and tries to swim away from them. Once Mario or Luigi swim a far enough distance from the Rip Van Fish, it goes back to sleep.

In Forest of Illusion 2, all Rip Van Fish within range can be awakened by the whistle of a Chargin' Chuck.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

The Rip Van Fish reappear in the underwater portions of the World-e level Sea to Sky in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. They act the same as in Super Mario World.

Super Mario World television series[edit]

Rip Van Fish
A Rip Van Fish from the Super Mario World cartoon series episode, "King Scoopa Koopa".

Rip Van Fish also appeared in the Super Mario World television series episodes "King Scoopa Koopa" and "Mama Luigi".

In "King Scoopa Koopa", after leaping down a Warp Pipe in the Star Path to escape several cave people transformed into Chickadactyls, Mario and Princess Toadstool end up in the ocean. Seeing a Rip Van Fish near, Mario and Princess Toadstool attempt to tiptoe past the Rip Van Fish, only for it to wake up, leading to the latter chasing them. Fortunately, Mario and Princess Toadstool struck into the Warp Pipe before the Rip Van Fish can get them.

In "Mama Luigi", Luigi and Yoshi, after falling into the ocean, end up waking a nearby Rip Van Fish, which proceeds to chase Luigi and Yoshi. Attempting to escape the Rip Van Fish, Luigi and Yoshi enter a nearby, underwater tunnel and begin swimming furiously, avoiding obstacles such as ? Blocks and Urchins. Eventually, the Rip Van Fish, having apparently grown bored of chasing Luigi and Yoshi, quickly stops and begins to nap once again, allowing Luigi and Yoshi to get away.

Mario's FUNdamentals[edit]

In Mario's FUNdamentals, Rip Van Fishes appear as a playing card when the player plays Go Fish with Mario.

Mario Family[edit]

Design of a Rip Van Fish from Mario Family.
A Rip Van Fish in Mario Family

A Rip Van Fish appears as a sewing design in Mario Family.

Nintendo Puzzle Collection[edit]

Rip Van Fish reappears in the Nintendo GameCube remake of Yoshi's Cookie in Nintendo Puzzle Collection, as the second opponent in the game's VS. Mode if the player plays on Hard mode.

Profiles[edit]

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

  • Super Mario World Instruction Booklet: This little fellow is always taking a nap, but when Mario comes along, he wakes up, and sets off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let Rip touch Mario.[4]
  • Mario Mania: Talk about cranky! Asleep, Rip Van Fish is harmless. Wake him, though, and you'll have to high-tail it out of there before he can hunt you down.[5]
  • Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 "Denizens of Dinosaur Land" poster: Even though these little guys are always napping, they wake up whenever Mario or Luigi comes near and set off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let them catch you!
  • Prima Games: Rip Van Fishes sleep until you come near, then they wake up and chase you for having disturbed their rest. They are vulnerable to Capes and Fireballs.[2]

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

グースカ
種族 アクア族
性格 きむずかしい
登場ゲーム ワールド
寝起きの悪さはンNo.1
水の中でイビキをかいて眠っているプクプクの仲間。のんびりしているように見えるが、近づくと目をさまして、猛スピードで追いかけてくる。起こさないのが一番だ。[6]

Rip Van Fish
Tribe: Aqua clan
Disposition: Moody
Game appearances: World
No. 1 in sleeping and waking up
A friend of Cheep Cheep's that is snoring and sleeping underwater. They appear to be taking it easy, but when you approach them, they wake up and chase you at breakneck speed. It is best not to wake them up.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese グースカ
Gūsuka
A Japanese term for sleeping heavily; officially romanized as "Gooska".

Chinese 瞌睡鱼[7]
Kēshuì Yú
Dozing Fish

French (NOA) Rip Van Poisson
Rip Van Fish
French (NOE) Rip Van Fish
-
German Rip Van Fish
-
Italian Rip Van Fish[8]
-
Portuguese O Peixe Rip
The Rip Fish
Spanish Rip Van Fish
-

References[edit]

  1. ^ M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 106.
  2. ^ a b Stratton, Bryan. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 14.
  3. ^ English Super Mario World entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved August 13, 2022. (Archived August 13, 2022 14:17:58 UTC via archive.today.)
  4. ^ Super Mario World Instruction Booklet, pg. 24
  5. ^ M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 51.
  6. ^ Shogakukan. 1994.「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten), page 66.
  7. ^ 无敌阿尔宙斯 (August 28, 2013). 神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译. Baidu Tieba. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 54