PETA: Mario is pro-fur

News DS Wii 3DS

Claims Tanooki Suit sends out the wrong message.

Following its condemnation of the wanton rat slaughter in Battlefield 3 last week, animal rights group PETA has now turned its attention to Mario.

According to its new Mario Kills Tanooki campaign, the Nintendo mascot's famed Tanooki suit power-up sends out a message that it's okay to wear real animal fur.

"When on a mission to rescue the princess, Mario has been known to use any means necessary to defeat his enemy - even wearing the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers," reads a post on its website.

"Tanooki may be just a 'suit' in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."

To help get its message across, the organisation has launched its own Flash-based platformer called Super Tanooki Skin 2D, in which you play as a skinless raccoon trying to chase down Mario and retrieve its hide.

Gruesome stuff. Check it out before Nintendo's lawyers get wind of it.

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Comments (81) Latest comment 3 months ago

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MatMan562 #1 3 months ago

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These guys are hillarious, they never fail to make me laugh!
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urban #2 3 months ago

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Fucking marketing Departments! Fred, please stop giving non stories screen time. They comment on everything hoping that the media will pick it up and give the charity exposure on the smallest of issues.

Stop. Please. Thanks.
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superbeast2010 #3 3 months ago

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Post deleted at 10:57:39 01-02-2012
Mister-Wario #4 3 months ago

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I can't believe you're taking a 23-year-old videogame powerup and using it as evidence of a pro-fur stance. Isn't the tanooki suit a reference to Japanese mythology? I highly doubt the developers had the fur trade in mind at all.

For the record, I never assumed the suit was made with real fur. I just assumed it was a costume made from synthetic materials.

And furthermore, this is a world where turtles and mushrooms are arguably both sentient and intelligent. So why the hell would raccoons be skinned?

We should email PETA Dorkly's Mario is a Furry video and see how they react.

Edited by 1 at 14/11/11 @ 19:14
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TearYouAsunder #5 3 months ago

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glol
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Yeoung #6 3 months ago

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Then again, it also promotes jumping from VERY high places and landing just fine, so the problem of fur-wearing children will probably just resolve itself.
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the_dudefather #7 3 months ago

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Man, I would love to be a game designer at Peta, must be a right laugh

/starts work on 'don't shove hedgehogs into pinball machines' game
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HerrQwerty #8 3 months ago

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@Mister-Wario PETA is racist.
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Ror1984 #9 3 months ago

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He also jumps on turtles' heads. Meanwhile, Sonic liberates all kinds of cute, furry little dudes from the clutches of the evil Dr Robotnik. Maybe Robotnik is even in league with Mario! He grabs the animals and Mario brutally skins them to wear their pelts! I reckon I might be on to something here.

Clearly, the conclusion to draw here is that Sonic is good and Mario is evil.

Another conclusion I think you could come to - at a stretch, I hasten to add - is that it's... y'know... not real.
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Sharzam #10 3 months ago

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Seriously ? This has to be a wind up.
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NeonStorm #11 3 months ago

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He also stomps on turtles and chucks fireballs at fish, but I'm guessing that went straight over their heads.
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Der_tolle_Emil #12 3 months ago

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@Yeoung: Then again, it also promotes jumping from VERY high places and landing just fine, so the problem of fur-wearing children will probably just resolve itself.

At least this post is funny

The news post, not so much. While I am definitely against fur or animal cruelty in general I think we all know the difference between a cartoon video game and real life. This is absolutely ridiculous and if that is how PETA spend their donations I know which organisation to avoid in the future. I'm sure my donations are better spent elsewhere.
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Kafeen #13 3 months ago

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The game's kinda fun. Possible game of the month?

Edited by 1 at 14/11/11 @ 19:26
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Phantom_Dynamite #14 3 months ago

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That's like saying the people who dress up as Pudsy for Children in Need are pro fur and bear hunting. what tosh.
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Cobalt_Jackal #15 3 months ago

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PETA, just fuck off. Crawl back into your little hole somewhere and die. Godamn cunts the lot of them.
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DSR3 #16 3 months ago

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Post deleted at 09:51:18 12-12-2011
RevanNL #17 3 months ago

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But jumping on turtles isn't a problem at all? Next on PETA's list: Skyrim promotes the killing of animals. Fortunately you only kill humans in MW3, otherwise they would be all over that too.
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Kafeen #18 3 months ago

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@RevanNL People are animals too.
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smelly #19 3 months ago

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Fuck off Peta.

That is all
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funkateer #20 3 months ago

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When I read 'pro-fur' and reading the word 'princess' my dirty mind played up and I was thinking I'm more an anti-fur kind of guy when it comes to princesses. I mean, come on we're not in the seventies anymore!

Thankfully, my off-the-mark association is not any more ridiculous than PETA's.
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bad09 #21 3 months ago

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Personally I prefer wearing the skins of PETA members.
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harzo #22 3 months ago

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Are these guys fur real???
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Dave #23 3 months ago

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Now I know why my son wanted a fur coat. It all makes sense now. Bad Mario!
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Al_Swearengen #24 3 months ago

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Fur fuck sake!
This sends the wrong message to who exactly? Who besides you bunch of useless flaccid fucktards actually believe this? How brainless do you think people are that they'll play a Mario game and decide, "Hey I need to get me a fur coat!"
Grow up PETA you bunch of moronic cunts. Get a real job.
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uiruki #25 3 months ago

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Just ignore them. Don't give them the oxygen of publicity. Their trolling skills are weakening. This article shouldn't be on the front page, or any page of any website. You know it makes sense.
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Der_tolle_Emil #26 3 months ago

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I love it how they have a link on the very same page where they use the whole Mario theme in another game of theirs.
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shadowdogg #27 3 months ago

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This is where we need Bin Laden - to get rid of PETA!
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VibratingDonkey #28 3 months ago

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It's like Jack Thompson recently joined PETA or something.
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FuzzyDuck #29 3 months ago

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I also blame Mario's wearing of a Tanooki Suit for those kids down the road pretending to be living statues, those b*****ds!
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cardboardMonster #30 3 months ago

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This is clearly another "eff off PETA situation", but if you're casually browsing the web on your iPhone and want to see what the fuss is about on your Flash-less device, I suggest you don't load up YouTube and watch the video they've put up showing people bludgeoning animals. Shock and awful.
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carrotcake #31 3 months ago

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It's not made from an animal. He becomes part-tanuki, like magic. He collects a leaf and transforms, magically.
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Devange #32 3 months ago

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My god PETA just shut up and stop existing in the videogame world,
go hump a virtual tree and save more real life animals.
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Toothball #33 3 months ago

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PETA are really getting good at their new venture of viral marketing for games. They've come up with some real gems so far, and this one is another classic.
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cloudskipa #34 3 months ago

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You have got to be fuckin' kidding me
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elvenscroll #35 3 months ago

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I'm a vegetarian and even I think Peta are dicks.
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Markusdragon #36 3 months ago

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Like the depiction of the Tanuki in japanese folklore, this is a massive load of bollocks.
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Olemak #37 3 months ago

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Shh, nobody mention red dead redemption!
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ro-kurorai #38 3 months ago

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Mario is powering up by picking up a leaf, not killing any tanooki. By PETA's logic (and their game's) it's ok to kill Italian plumbers, hypocrites.
Besides, as already mentioned by comments preceding mine, the suit has been around a couple of years.

I love animals and support the idea of their ethical treatment. But PETA can fuck off. Their flash-game is disgusting and sends a way worse message: Animals killing humans is fun and a-OK.

Hope Nintendo's lawyers put PETA in their place, this is getting ridiculous, a farce.
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Donaldthescotishtwin #39 3 months ago

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Fuck you PETA you should've just stayed mute like before.
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_Price_ #40 3 months ago

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Hope they don't trace the 4 million wolf pelts I've sold across Cyrodiil....
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Zozzilla #41 3 months ago

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PETA are a set of fucking retards.
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Nevflinn #42 3 months ago

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PETA lost me the moment I saw that anti-Mario propaganda picture.

They can present the finest case in the world for all it matters, and they would still lose. Mario just. Wouldn't. Do that.
They ain't foolin' me here.
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GiarcYekrub #43 3 months ago

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40 seconds
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photoboy #44 3 months ago

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I feel extreme sympathy for PETA's cause here. Skinning animals alive is fucking barbaric and shouldn't be allowed.

However, I think making a Flash-based game where a skinned animal chases the person that took its hide trivialises the issue, it's like what happens in an episode of Tom & Jerry. Not the best way to get your message across I think (also the game is crap).

I know they have to be controversial to get their message heard, but the game just makes them hypocritical.
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Alien1375 #45 3 months ago

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Succesful PETA-troll is succesful.
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freethinker101 #46 3 months ago

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Why havn't they waded in over Dark Souls killing of rats for humanity then?
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Toothball #47 3 months ago

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@freethinker101

Not high profile enough. You saw the shot they had at Modern Warfare 3 last week? It was a cheeky one, but this time it's much more elaborate.

Edited by 1 at 14/11/11 @ 22:16
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mumblyjoe #48 3 months ago

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I killed all sorts of animals and wear there skin, maybe they should have a go at skyrim next
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munki83 #49 3 months ago

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@mumblyjoe
you bet me to it peta would hate skyrim it encourages kicking wolves in the face and making animal based armor
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Blazewamp #50 3 months ago

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PETA STFU
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Jolly_Armadillo #51 3 months ago

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"skinned alive"

I'm pretty sure they kill them first, unless, they do it while they squirm in pain for fun
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alcides #52 3 months ago

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They're only trying to get attention. but still, they're right, this is awful and pointless. Why do they have to skin them ALIVE?
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alexbulluk #53 3 months ago

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My god, Peta people need to get lives.
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darkmorgado #54 3 months ago

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@Der_tolle_Emil They also spend their donations on funding convicted terrorists. Making a flash game is the least of their problems, and the least of the problems you should have if you donate to them.

Edited by 1 at 15/11/11 @ 00:01
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darkmorgado #55 3 months ago

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Hope they don't trace the 4 million wolf pelts I've sold across Cyrodiil....

I'm almost tempted to send them an email about the skinning in Skyrim just to see what crackpot lunacy they come out with.
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tankboi #56 3 months ago

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FUCK. OFF.

Stop publishing this utter nonsensical tripe. It literally hurts my brain to even consider these idiots for a second.

PETA: every time you send a story like this to the press, a kitten will die. Now kindly grab your jacket, and allow us grown adults to think for ourselves.

Good night.
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Ashcroft #57 3 months ago

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Just like how PETA glorify animal testing, by using drugs developed using it.

Oh wait I forgot that their stupid fucking rules only apply to everyone else, not to their piss-ant terror group.
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Pwnsweet #58 3 months ago

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Gold!
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grover #59 3 months ago

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@Jolly_Armadillo

In the video, the tanooki seems to blink after its face has been peeled off.

Edited by 2 at 15/11/11 @ 03:18
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brn #60 3 months ago

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If PETA don't like the tanooki-suit, then what would they pro-fur?
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EugenesLair #61 3 months ago

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Yes, and when Mario wears the bee suit on Galaxy ... that's a REAL BEE he's killed!
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skunkfish #62 3 months ago

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Looking at the cute pictures of the Tanuki on wikipedia followed by the Tanuki coats for sales on ebay did make me a little bit sick though...
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skunkfish #63 3 months ago

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Btw, the game's pretty solid. Plays a bit like Ovenbreak only a little less intense...
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menage #64 3 months ago

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It's a fucking suit! Like halloween and shit you idiots.
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Freek #65 3 months ago

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It's too stupid to even justify, but lets putt the record straight here: Mario does not skin animals.
The tanuki suite is a magical ability, you pick up a LEAF, for fucks sake, to obtain it, not skin some unlucky animal.
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Xboxfanuk #66 3 months ago

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I am pro fur.
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X201 #67 3 months ago

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Dear PETA,

Are you really THIS desperate for publicity?

Yours
X201
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Jellyman2 #68 3 months ago

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@Mister-Wario yes you're right. The tanuki is part of Japanese folk law, it's a mischievous creature that can change its shape. It is also known for having massive balls which it can use to wrap itself up in and roll around or make a parachute from (in folk law of course). It teams up with the fox and plays tricks on people. It's a pretty awesome creature.

I once did a presentation about it and sang this song which in Japanese which kids sing in the playground:
"Tan- tan- tanuki no kintama ha
kaze mo nai noni bura bura"

Which translates as:
"The tan- tan- tanuki's golden balls,
even though there's no wind
go swinging to and fro"

Tanuki are awesome and would probably slap PETA with their massive balls.
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Buenos_Estente #69 3 months ago

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This article has made me consider wearing fur for the first time

Ive played mario a lot and never even thought about creating my own costumes, to me I just thought they were magical power ups and he was more becoming the animal rather than wearing their skin. But having just read about it now it has made me realise i do want a real Tanooki costume, i also dont think a fake one will do. Has anyone created this costume before and can you confirm it can make me fly?

thanks PETA your an inspiration
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Eraser #70 3 months ago

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Thanks PETA, for pointing out that Mario says it's ok to wear fur, because I didn't know. But now that I know it's ok to wear fur, I'll go out and buy a nice warm fur coat for myself.
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Spielo #71 3 months ago

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Please stop printing their attention-seeking nonsense. If we ignore them they'll go away.
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patch #72 3 months ago

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The Tanooki suit was made by a tailor called Tanooki, as told in "Tanooki Suits Me". Get your facts right, PETA!
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abigsmurf #73 3 months ago

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He's based off of Tanuki from Japanese folklore, not the real life Tanooki. The whole 'turning into a statue' thing is a hint. If you tried to skin one of those, they'd probably beat you to death with their giant testicles (yes you read that right).

Strongly recommend watching Pom Poko by Studio Ghibli which is a great film about Tanuki.
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Octoroc #74 3 months ago

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It's as though a veil has been lifted from my eyes! I shall never play a Mario game again.
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kinky_mong #75 3 months ago

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@Markusdragon: I wish I could give your comment +1000!
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bigbadbeasty #76 3 months ago

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Oh for the love of....
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ghearoid #77 3 months ago

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PETA are a bunch of cunts. I'm vegetarian and shit like this makes me want to eat a burger just to spite them.
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weebl #78 3 months ago

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Team Meat did it right.
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youhavenomail #79 3 months ago

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Bloody hell, even Morrissey isn't this bad.
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dadrester #80 3 months ago

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the game on their website is a pretty decent canabalt rip off actually. certainly looks the part.
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SG #81 3 months ago

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Urgh. PETA give animal activists a bad name. Does the same apply to the bee and frog suits?
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