Rip Van Fish

A Rip Van Fish is a sleeping fish found in Super Mario World. It is a large blue fish with orange fins, tail and lips along with a pair of big eyes. If Mario swims too close to a Rip Van Fish, it will awaken and begin to chase him until he can put significant distance between them, at which point the fish will go back to sleep. However, if Mario is invincible, it will do the opposite and flee from him. It is unknown whether it is related to Cheep Cheeps, which are found near them. While they never reappeared in later games, Deep Cheeps and Spiny Cheep Cheeps are given similar behaviors.

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

Super Mario World
Rip Van Fish first appeared in Super Mario World. In this game, they can also be awakened by the whistle of a Chargin' Chuck in Forest of Illusion 2. Whereas Mario can only awaken one fish at a time, the whistle can awaken all the fish in an area.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
The Rip Van Fish reappear in the World-e level Sea to Sky in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. They appear when Mario is swimming with the Frog Suit and act like they did in Super Mario World.

Super Mario World television series
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 several Rip Van Fish surrounding them, Mario and Princess Toadstool make a mad-dash to a nearby Warp Pipe, in the process, waking-up all the nearby Rip Van Fish. Fortunately, Mario and Princess Toadstool struck into the Warp Pipe before the Rip Van Fish can attack 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
In Mario's FUNdamentals, Rip Van Fishes appear as a playing card when the player plays Go Fish with Mario.

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

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

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

 * 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.


 * 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!