Tanooki Mario

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Tanooki Mario
Artwork of Tanooki Mario from Super Mario 3D World.
Artwork of Tanooki Mario from Super Mario 3D World
Applies to Mario, Luigi, Toad, Toads, Princess Peach, Rosalina, Yoshi (Super Mario-kun), and Bowser (Super Mario-kun)
Item needed Tanooki Suit (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Super Leaf (Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World)
Statue Leaf (Super Mario 3D Land)
Power(s) given Glide, fly (Super Mario Bros. 3 only), tail whip, turn into Statue Mario (Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario 3D Land with Statue Leaf)
First appearance Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Latest appearance Mario Kart Tour (Autumn Tour) (2021)
“Thank you, kind raccoon. Please tell me your name.”
Kings, Super Mario Bros. 3

Tanooki Mario is a form of Mario or Luigi that first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. In its debut, it was attained by donning a Tanooki Suit, and gave the abilities of Raccoon Mario (which it is often confused with) and an added statue transformation.

This form's name comes from the tanuki, an animal found in Japan and often depicted in folklore. As of Super Mario 3D Land, Luigi's version of the form is mostly called Kitsune Luigi, referring to the kitsune. Additionally, in Super Mario Bros. 3, Statue Mario resembles Kṣitigarbha, the protector of travelers and the guardian of souls, who is known as Daigan Jizō Bosatsu in Japan.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros. 3

Tanooki Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Artwork of Tanooki Mario from Super Mario Bros. 3

The first appearance of Tanooki Mario is in Super Mario Bros. 3, when Mario obtains a Tanooki Suit. In this form, he can turn into an invulnerable statue by holding +Control Pad down and pressing B Button at the same time, in addition to using Raccoon Mario's moves, making it an improved version of Raccoon Mario. Additionally, if Mario dons a Tanooki Suit while using a Magic Wing, he will retain the infinite flight and gain the Statue ability.

As a statue, Tanooki Mario cannot be hurt, and if he uses this ability in the air, he can slam down like a Thwomp. This can destroy many enemies, instantly destroying all Goombas and enemies with throwable shells (like Koopa Troopas, Buzzy Beetles, and Spinies). It can also stomp previously unstompable enemies like Piranha Plants, Piranhacus Giganticuses, Venus Fire Traps, Spiny Eggs, Thwomps, Podoboos, Firesnakes, and Chain Chomps.

The Statue form is also the only way to destroy Roto-Discs and Rocket Engine flames. Statue Mario will sink rapidly underwater, and can even oppose some pipes' upward currents. This allows Mario to stomp Lava Lotuses, Bloobers and fish enemies underwater. Boss Bass is the only fish that Mario cannot stomp on, and the only enemy that can defeat him in that form by eating him. In Super Mario All-Stars, the tornado can turn Statue Mario back into Tanooki Mario on contact. He can still turn into the statue while in the tornado, but it will not free him or have any desirable effect. Statue Mario will also automatically revert to Tanooki form in five seconds.

In the NES version's ending, a Koopa Troopa can be seen comically praying before Statue Mario as if he was a religious idol.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 adds new utilities to this form that are seen in several World-e levels: its Statue form can reveal Vanishing Blocks (found in A Sky-High Adventure) and break Gray Brick Blocks (found in A Sky-High Adventure and Puzzling Pipe Maze). This version of the game also makes Luigi's Statue form as tall as he usually is, rather than copying Mario's.

Super Mario 64

The Nintendo Power player's guide for Super Mario 64 mentions the Tanooki Suit in the guide section on Snowman's Land, suggesting that it could keep Mario warm in the frigid climate if it was still available.[1]

Super Mario 3D Land

Tanooki Mario
Artwork of Tanooki Mario from Super Mario 3D Land

Tanooki Mario makes a reappearance in Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS as the main form. In this game, Mario becomes Tanooki Mario when he obtains a Super Leaf (since neither Raccoon Mario nor the Tanooki Suit appear in the game); the form is also slightly redesigned, as its ears, the fronts and insides of which are lighter-colored, are rounded and on the front of the hood, facing forward (rather than on the sides facing outward), and a brim was added. However, the form's mechanics are different from Super Mario Bros. 3, as while Mario can still tail whip (by pressing X Button or Y Button) and glide (now done by holding A Button or B Button, as with Caped Mario, rather than tapping the buttons), he cannot fly during gameplay. His slow descent also speeds up back to normal as A Button or B Button is held, rather than his acceleration decreasing only when those buttons are pressed. The tail whip is usable underwater, and able to hit more enemies. Mario also gains a new Tail Spin move[2] in this form (done by pressing X Button or Y Button while crouching) which replaces the Roll and Rolling Leap, letting him tail whip continuously, even while moving; this move can also be used to spin Tail Wheels, which can help him ascend quickly.

Statue Mario also reappears in this game (making this form closer to its original depiction), but it can only be used once a Statue Leaf is found in the Special Worlds, or in a Deluxe StreetPass Gift. Tanooki Mario gains a red scarf to show he can use the form; the statue also wears a red scarf and now depicts Tanooki Mario raising his right hand. It replaces the Ground Pound, and lasts for twelve seconds upon landing, unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3. A new variation of Tanooki Mario also appears in this game, called White Tanooki Mario. Mario or Luigi can only obtain this form by collecting an Invincibility Leaf after losing five lives in a (skipped) normal world level, and it makes him completely invincible for the duration of the level.

Luigi's Tanooki Suit and Statue form are now Kitsune-themed, rather than Tanooki-themed, unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, and most languages (including the original Japanese) call his Tanooki form Kitsune Luigi. Additionally, Statue Luigi has a green scarf and is shown holding out his left hand, unlike his brother.

Tanooki Mario gliding on an Airship in Super Mario 3D Land

In the game's ending, Mario and the three Toads that had joined him on his journey become Tanooki Mario and Tanooki Toads by using Super Leaves. Mario carries Princess Peach and the Toads flutter around as they fly all the way back to Peach's Castle during the credits (despite the lack of flight in-game). Despite using Super Leaves, the Toads are seen sporting scarves that match their vest and cap colors, much like Statue Mario.

In the Special Worlds, Toad himself sports a Tanooki Suit in the Toad Houses and pre-airship level cutscenes; in the former, he often gives a Super Leaf to either Mario or Luigi in representation of his get-up. Tanooki Toad (much like the other Toads sporting Tanooki Suits) also wears a colored scarf (red in Toad's instance) around his neck.

When the player completes all the levels, a picture appears after the credits are finished. It shows two Tanooki Toads and Tanooki Peach (wearing a Tanooki Suit version of her normal dress).

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

The normal and White Tanooki forms also appear in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, functioning just as they do in Super Mario 3D Land. Toad and Peach's Tanooki Suits look almost the same: Peach's is darker-colored and has puffy shorts and darker legs, rather than its Super Mario 3D Land design, and Toad's lacks a scarf. Mario and Luigi's suits remain the same. Rosalina's Tanooki Suit in this game is the same as Peach's, though with darker arms and shorter gloves. When Peach is wearing the suit, she will float before using the suit's scuttle, and can gain even more horizontal distance this way.

Super Mario Maker series

In Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, knocking on a Warp Door in the Super Mario Bros. 3 theme may cause Weird Mario to appear in this form.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

Although it never appeared on the actual show, concept artwork of Tanooki Mario can be seen on the bonus disc of Shout! Factory's The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 DVD set.[citation needed]

Monopoly

In Nintendo Monopoly, Tanooki Mario appears on the artwork of a Brick Block/Coin Block card that charges the player $50 for the purchase of a new suit.

Tanooki Mario is also a playable Character in Monopoly Gamer. He is sold separately as a "Power Pack" expansion figure.

Super Paper Mario

In Super Paper Mario, the Sammer Guy Cloak of Tanooki refers to this form, as well as Francis mentioning that he would like a Tanooki Suit made with real tanooki fur.

Mario Tennis Open

In Mario Tennis Open, Tanooki Mario is a costume for the player's Mii. It is unlocked by turning 15 characters into star characters. The racket for this costume costs 1550 coins to buy at the Clubhouse for Miis to be able to use.

Mario Golf: World Tour

In Mario Golf: World Tour, a Tanooki Mario costume is awarded to the Mii upon completion of 50 Moon Coin challenges. A golf ball and club set made with the theme of this costume are available as well for the Mii to buy and use.

Nintendo Comics System

Tanooki Mario appears in the Nintendo Comics System story "Tanooki Suits Me." In the comic, Mario is forced to wear the Tanooki Suit due to Luigi accidentally ordering a single tuxedo, and the Tanooki Suit was the only one available at the rental shop. An old man informs Mario that the suit is a genuine one created by Mushroomland's first tailor, Tanooki, who sewed a tail on the back of every suit he created as his trademark; he also informs Mario that Tanooki's suits possess magical powers and that genuine suits are very rare. Mario transforms himself into Statue Mario by curiously pressing a button on the front of the suit, and it is not until he wishes that he could turn back to normal that he turns back into Tanooki Mario.

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Tanooki Mario riding a Biddybuggy in Mario Kart 8
Tanooki Mario, driving at Mario Circuit.

Tanooki Mario appears as a character available in the first downloadable content pack in Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8, appearing as a character separate from Mario. Tanooki Mario has a different set of animations and quotes from Mario, as well as having different vehicle colors (for instance, the Sport Bike he rides has the orange/yellow coloration rather than Mario's red and blue one). Tanooki Mario's signature vehicle is the Tanooki Kart.

Although Tanooki Mario is a middleweight character like Mario, he has slightly more acceleration at the cost of his weight stat; a trait that he shares with the male Villager. Tanooki Mario's anti-gravity-specific trick animation involves him briefly turning into Statue Mario. One of his trick animations is a reference to one of Raccoon Mario's artworks from Super Mario Bros. 3, and, if he is on a bike or an ATV, one of his trick animations replicates his ability to fall slowly. Also, the sound his horn makes is Caped Mario's spinning sound from Super Mario World.

Tanooki Mario is the staff ghost for Ice Ice Outpost.

Tanooki Mario uses various voice clips taken from other games, with several voice file prefixes seemingly indicating the source game. File prefixes include GBAGolf_Mario, GC_SunshineMario, GCTennis, SuperMarioAdvance, and WiiBseball_Mario.

Like with every character playable in Mario Kart 8, Tanooki Mario appears as a playable character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the Wii U game, he is included within the base game and is available from the start. He shares stats with the male Villager as well as the Inkling Boy.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Tanooki Mario reappears in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX as a second downloadable alternate color scheme for Mario. Tanooki Mario has an exclusive item, which appears to function similarly to the Super Leaf from Mario Kart 7.

Mario Kart Tour

Tanooki Mario returns as a playable character in Mario Kart Tour beginning in the 2021 Autumn Tour. Tanooki Rosalina also makes her debut in the Mario Kart series in the same tour. Their special items are the Super Leaf, which also debuts in the Autumn Tour. Kitsune Luigi makes his series debut in the Animal Tour, also using the Super Leaf. Starting from the Battle Tour, both Tanooki Mario and Tanooki Rosalina are available in regular tour pipes, including the All-Clear Pipe.

Unlike Tanooki Mario and Kitsune Luigi, Tanooki Rosalina does not have her own separate emblem, instead sharing the same one as her normal counterpart.

Minecraft

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Tanooki Mario and Kitsune Luigi appear as playable skins. Chainmail Armor is replaced by the Tanooki Suit.

Profiles

Super Mario 3D Land

  • Electronic manual bio: Grab a Super Leaf to turn into Tanooki Mario. Press Y Button (or X Button) to do a tail attack, and hold B Button (or A Button) when in midair to float down gently.
  • European website bio: Picking up a Super Leaf turns Mario into Tanooki Mario! Tanooki Mario can use his tail to attack enemies and float down gently through the air.

Super Mario 3D World

  • Digital instruction manual bio: Attack enemies with your tail, and float down gently when in midair.

Mario Kart Tour

Tanooki Mario

  • Mario Kart Tour Twitter: The Autumn Tour is on now! With a Super Leaf in hand, fluffy-tailed Tanooki Mario has leaped into action in his trusty Tanooki Kart. And of course, the Tanooki Parafoil glider is also available![3]

Tanooki Rosalina

  • Mario Kart Tour Twitter: Starting with the new Tanooki Rosalina, lots of drivers with cute ears are here! You'll find them in the aptly named Big Ears Pipe, which is available for a limited time.[4]

Kitsune Luigi

Special skill Super Leaf from Mario Kart Tour. Super Leaf
Favorite courses
(Three items per Item Box)
MKT Icon Riverside Park.png
GBA Riverside Park
MKT Icon Dino Dino Jungle R.png
GCN Dino Dino Jungle R
MKT Icon Yoshi Valley T.png
N64 Yoshi Valley T
RMX Bowser's Castle 1 from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Bowser's Castle 1
MKT Icon DK Mountain RT.png
GCN DK Mountain R/T
Favored courses
(Two items per Item Box)
MKT Icon Riverside Park R.png
GBA Riverside Park R***
MKT Icon Dino Dino Jungle RT.png
GCN Dino Dino Jungle R/T*
MKT Icon Yoshi Valley R.png
N64 Yoshi Valley R*
MKT Icon Baby Park.png
GCN Baby Park**
RMX Bowser's Castle 1T from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Bowser's Castle 1T**
MKT Icon DK Mountain T.png
GCN DK Mountain T

* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy

Name Image American English description British English description
Tanooki Mario & Kitsune Luigi TanookiMario&KitsuneLuigiTrophy3DS.png If you find a Super Leaf, Mario transforms into Tanooki Mario! His newfound tail works as a weapon and as a propeller to slow his fall. His brother, Luigi, won't turn into a Tanooki, though—he becomes Kitsune Luigi. Wouldn't want to have trouble telling the two apart, would we? When Mario uses a Super Leaf, he grows a tail and turns into Tanooki Mario, a very handy form indeed. Likewise, Luigi turns into Kitsune Luigi. Both of them can swing their tails to attack enemies, or wag their tails to slowly float down after a jump, almost like they're walking on air.

LEGO Super Mario

  • Website description: Gear up for action with Tanooki Mario! When LEGO® Mario™ is wearing his interactive Tanooki suit, spin him round and collect extra coins for stomping on enemies. It’s a great way to power up your play in the amazing LEGO® Super Mario™ levels you build.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Tanooki Mario.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese タヌキマリオ[5] (Mario Portal)
Tanuki Mario
キツネルイージ
Kitsune Ruīji

Tanooki Mario; officially romanized as "Tanuki Mario"[6]

Kitsune Luigi



Chinese (simplified) 狸猫马力欧
Límāo Mǎlì'ōu
Tanooki Mario

Chinese (traditional) 狸貓瑪利歐
Límāo Mǎlì'ōu
Tanooki Mario

Dutch Tanuki-Mario
Kitsune-Luigi
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
German Tanuki-Mario
Kitsune-Luigi
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
Italian Mario tanuki
Mario tanooki (Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition)
Luigi kitsune
Tanooki Mario
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
Korean 너구리마리오
Neoguri Mario
여우루이지
Yeo-u Ruiji

Raccoon Dog Mario

Fox Luigi

Portuguese (NOA) Mario tanuki
Luigi kitsune
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
Portuguese (NOE) Mario Tanuki
Luigi Kitsune
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
Russian Марио Тануки
Mario Tanuki

Tanooki Mario

Spanish (NOA) Mario tanuki
Luigi kitsune
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi
Spanish (NOE) Mario Tanuki
Luigi Kitsune
Tanooki Mario
Kitsune Luigi

See also

Trivia

  • The sound effect for transforming into Tanooki Mario (and to a greater extent, Raccoon Mario) was taken from The Mysterious Murasame Castle.[7] In Super Mario 3D Land, however, the sound and visual effects for becoming this form are the same as the game's other powerups.

References

  1. ^ Arakawa, M. 1996. Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Page 88.
  2. ^ Super Mario 3D World manual. Page 20. nintendo.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  3. ^ mariokarttourEN (October 6, 2021). Twitter. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  4. ^ mariokarttourEN (October 13, 2021). Twitter. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Mario Trump NAP-05 King of ClubsMedia:NAP-05 Clubs King.png
  7. ^ World-of-Longplays (August 12, 2011). NES Longplay [117] Nazo No Murasamejou. YouTube. Retrieved August 14, 2017.