Tanooki Mario

It has been suggested that this page be split into the following: Tanooki Mario, Statue Mario. (discuss)

Template:Form-infobox Tanooki Mario is a form of Mario or Luigi in Super Mario Bros. 3. The Mario Bros. use a Tanooki costume with a tail, that allow them to fly or attack spinning.

History

Super Mario Bros. 3

The first appearance of Tanooki Mario is in Super Mario Bros. 3, when he obtains a Tanooki Suit. When they have this form, they will look like Tanookis and turn into a statue, known as Statue Mario or Statue Luigi, when pressing and Down on the at the same time, in addition to temporarily flying like Raccoon Mario. When Mario or Luigi is in a statue form, they are invincible. This makes it an improved version of Raccoon Mario.

When Tanooki Mario is a statue, he cannot be hurt and if he uses this ability in the air, he can slam down like a Thwomp. This can destroy certain enemies and trigger switches. It will instantly destroy all Goombas and enemies with throwable shells (Koopas, Buzzy Beetles, and Spinies). It can also stomp previously unstompable enemies like Piranha Plants, Piranhacus Giganticus, Venus Fire Traps, Spiny Eggs, Thwomps, Podoboos, Fire Snakes, and Chain Chomps. It is also the only way to destroy Roto-Discs and Rocket Engine flames. Statue Mario will sink rapidly underwater and can even oppose the upward currents coming from pipes. This allows him to stomp Lava Lotuses, Bloopers and fish enemies underwater. Boss Bass is the only fish that Statue Mario can't stomp on and the only enemy that can harm him in that form by eating him. In Super Mario All-Stars, Tweester can turn Statue Mario back into Tanooki Mario on contact but he can still turn into Statue Mario while in the Tweester though it will not free him or have any desirable effect. One setback is that while Mario is a statue, he cannot move.

Tanooki Mario is not to be confused with actual Tanookis, who are a species found only on Isle Delfino.

The Tanooki Mario form's name comes from the tanuki, an animal found in Japan and is often depicted in folklore. The form that Statue Mario takes while wearing the Tanooki Suit is Kshitigarbha, who is the protector of travellers and the guardian of souls. In Japan he is known as Jizo-Bosatsu.

Super Mario 3D Land

Tanooki Mario makes a reappearance in Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS as the main power-up. In game, Mario becomes Tanooki Mario when he obtains a Super Leaf (since neither Raccoon Mario nor the Tanooki Suit appear in the game). In his Tanooki form, Mario can spin and use his tail to defeat enemies and destroy blocks lying over the ground. He can also glide by shaking his tail and so fall slowly. In Super Mario 3D Land, however, Tanooki Mario cannot fly. Statue Mario also returns, but only can be used when Mario finds a gray Leaf in the Special World.

In the ending of the game, the three Toads that had accompanied Mario on his journey became Tanooki Toads by using the powers of the Super Leaf. While in their Tanooki forms, the Toads accompany Tanooki Mario and Princess Peach (who is being held in Mario's hands) by flying all the way back to the Princess Peach's Castle from Bowser's Castle. The Tanooki Toads are seen to be fluttering around Mario and Peach while flying during the credits, and interestingly they are seen sporting scarves that match their vest and cap colors.

Gallery

• TanookiMario SMB3.jpg

  Tanooki Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3.

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  Tanooki Mario in Iced Land.

• Statue Mario.PNG

  Artwork of Mario in his statue form.

• Tanooki Mario SMB3.png

  A sprite of Tanooki Mario jumping.

• Tanooki Mario Sprite SMB3.png

  A sprite of Tanooki Mario sliding.

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  A sprite of Tanooki Mario in his statue form from Super Mario Bros. 3.

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  Tanooki Mario in an Airship level in Super Mario 3D Land.

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  A model of Tanooki Mario from Super Mario 3D Land

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  Statue Luigi from Super Mario 3D Land

• TanookiToadSM3DL.PNG

  Tanooki Toad from Super Mario 3D Land

Trivia

• If Mario beats an Airship in this form, the Mushroom King will say, "Thank you, kind raccoon. Please tell me your name."
• 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.
• According to the comic book story "Tanooki Suits Me", Tanooki Mario's statue transformation is triggered by pressing a button on the front of the suit, and to change back, he has to simply wish he were human again.
• In Super Paper Mario, there is a Sammer Guy called Cloak of Tanooki. Also in the game, the character Francis mentions that he would like a Tanooki Suit made with real Tanooki fur.
• 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.
• A glitch in the original NES version allowed Tanooki Mario to become invincible if he entered a Goomba's Shoe as a statue. He would appear to be a gray Tanooki Mario. This was removed in remakes.
• Mario/Luigi turning into a statue by use of the Statue Leaf by dropping on enemies in Super Mario 3D Land is similar to Kirby using his Stone ability.

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