Mario vs. PETA *Assume the palm to face position*

[Songbird]

WHAT THE DUCK?! Seriously, that was the first thing I said when I found out about this. So… PETA is upset that Mario wears the Tanooki Suit. Here is what they say; usually I would just link to the main source, but I’m not going to send anyone to such lunacy!

"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.

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. Play Super Tanooki Skin 2D and help Tanooki reclaim his fur!"

Yes, there’s a game to it, but again I’m no way in planet heck am I going to send anyone there. Speaking of which, I wonder what Tommy thinks of this…

In the end, this is all I can do.

[DancingFlameDragon]

That...what the.. I can't even... ... HUH!?

1) Mario gets the tanooki suit by TOUCHING A LEAF (no, he didn't hunt down a tanuki and skin it alive, he's just dressing up like one)
2) Nobody even thought about wearing tanuki fur because of Mario until you mentioned it, PETA!
3) If the best thing you can go after is a guy wearing a funny animal costume in a silly video game, you've really lost any credibility (not that I was ever really a fan of them anyway...)

[Swish]

PETA just be trollin' for headlines. I sincerely doubt they actually believe Mario is subtle animal cruelty propaganda, but a lot of people like Mario so if they can find a silly way to tie their agenda to it they might get discussed.

And hey look it worked.

[Terraguy]

I think it's quite obvious, as Swish says, that PETA is just looking to be in the news, whether that includes denouncing Mario as a fur trapper or using nude females with vegetables for more page views.

[METRO24]

Originally Posted by DancingFlameDragon

1) Mario gets the tanooki suit by TOUCHING A LEAF (no, he didn't hunt down a tanuki and skin it alive, he's just dressing up like one)

Don't forget that tanooki leaf could be leaf from endangered tree.

I wonder, why PETA didn't noticed it when Super Mario Bros. 3 was released. Don't forget that there he's also wearing frog suit!

But Mario not only this time could expose to PETA and all ecological organizations.

1. He's eating toadstools to grow up and he's breaking flowers to shoot fireballs and if these toadstools and flowers are protected?

2. He might kill rare species of turtles (Koopas), fishes (Cheep-Cheeps), octopuses (Bloopers) and maybe very rare specie of lizard/crocodile or something (Bowser).

3. In Super Mario USA/Bros. 2 he shows that wasting vegetables by throwing them the enemies like snakes (Cobrats), birds (Albatosses), mouses (Mousers) and crabs (Clawgrips) is good

4. And finally from beginning of his career he's fighting with gorilla (Donkey Kong), and now a lot of ecologists talks about protection of gorillas.

[CKAGT]

Assume the facepalm position?

Don't mind if do!!

*FACEPALM

[Songbird]

So it was only a joke after all. Here is their response to the outcries…

"Mario fans: Relax! PETA's game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur. We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur."

Sorry PETA, I’m still laughing at you not with you.

[DancingFlameDragon]

Originally Posted by Songbird

So it was only a joke after all. Here is their response to the outcries…

"Mario fans: Relax! PETA's game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur. We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur."

Sorry PETA, I’m still laughing at you not with you.

Yeah, same here. With other sites, I'd believe it was an outright joke... but I really can't tell with them.

[CKAGT]

Originally Posted by DancingFlameDragon

Yeah, same here. With other sites, I'd believe it was an outright joke... but I really can't tell with them.

PETA deserves a clap, for fooling us all!