Teh One Who Knocks
11-15-2011, 12:06 AM
David M. Ewalt, Forbes Staff
http://i.imgur.com/VnvKU.jpg
Beloved videogame star Mario is back in action this week following the November 13 release of Super Mario 3D Land. Now animal rights group PETA is attacking the hero plumber for wearing “fur” –the Tanooki Suit, a frequent power-up in Mario games that grants the ability to fly.
In a press release, PETA says:
Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur. We created our game to help inform people that in real life, Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn’t give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception.
“Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA’s undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free.”
As part of the campaign, PETA has also created an over the top side-scrolling web-based video game called “Super Tanooki Skin 2D.” It features a skinless tanooki chasing after Mario, who is attempting to fly away while wearing the animal’s blood-drenched pelt. It is, unsurprisingly, not a good game.
Of course, Mario’s Tanooki Suit is just that –a suit, a costume, not actually a skinned animal. And of course, PETA is just attempting to grab some publicity on the back of a major video game release, which is why I’m not linking to their game.
I have asked Nintendo for comment and will update if they have a response.
http://i.imgur.com/VnvKU.jpg
Beloved videogame star Mario is back in action this week following the November 13 release of Super Mario 3D Land. Now animal rights group PETA is attacking the hero plumber for wearing “fur” –the Tanooki Suit, a frequent power-up in Mario games that grants the ability to fly.
In a press release, PETA says:
Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur. We created our game to help inform people that in real life, Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn’t give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception.
“Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA’s undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free.”
As part of the campaign, PETA has also created an over the top side-scrolling web-based video game called “Super Tanooki Skin 2D.” It features a skinless tanooki chasing after Mario, who is attempting to fly away while wearing the animal’s blood-drenched pelt. It is, unsurprisingly, not a good game.
Of course, Mario’s Tanooki Suit is just that –a suit, a costume, not actually a skinned animal. And of course, PETA is just attempting to grab some publicity on the back of a major video game release, which is why I’m not linking to their game.
I have asked Nintendo for comment and will update if they have a response.