Carottin: The thieving rabbit from the Mario universe
1038 words | Reading time : 5 minute(s)
CharacterNabbitToad Houses
A purple rabbit who cleans out the shops before becoming playable. First a simple pilferer of Toad Houses that you have to chase down to get the loot back, Nabbit went on to become a cult playable character of the Mario universe. This profile covers his identity, his thieving act, his one-of-a-kind playstyle and his many appearances across the saga.
A little purple rabbit with a mischievous grin, always ready to clean out a shop: meet Nabbit, the most endearing thief in the Mushroom Kingdom. First a mere pickpocket to chase down, he became a cult playable character, famous for his invincibility. Portrait of a rogue unlike any other.
Contents
- Who is Nabbit?
- The Toad House thief
- A playable character unlike any other
- A regular in the Mario universe
- Fact file
- Frequently asked questions
Who is Nabbit?
Nabbit (Carottin in French, トッテン / Totten in Japan) is a purple rabbit with big eyes, long ears and black limbs. His trademark: a white scarf sporting a wide mouth full of pointy teeth, oddly identical to the mask worn by Bowser Jr. — even though nothing suggests he works for Bowser. Mischievous and almost entirely silent, he is above all a thief at heart.
The Toad House thief
Nabbit makes his first appearance in New Super Mario Bros. U (2012), in the role of a petty thief. He robs the Toad Houses and runs off with his loot in a big sack. In some levels, it is up to Mario to chase him down and catch him before the timer runs out: hand the sack back to the Toad and you get a P-Acorn, an item for sustained flight. A little chase that has become the character's signature.
A playable character unlike any other
The rogue quickly earned his hero stripes. Playable as early as New Super Luigi U (2013), then in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019), Nabbit has one unique quirk: he is immune to enemies, which makes him the perfect character for beginners. The trade-off: he cannot use power-ups (they are turned into lives and coins). Careful though: he is still vulnerable to pits, lava and being crushed — so he is not completely invincible. A clever trade-off, praised by fans of the New Super Mario Bros. U installment.
A regular in the Mario universe
Since then, Nabbit has become a familiar face in the saga. He turns up playable, and still immune to damage, in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023), as an unlockable costume in Super Mario Maker, and in various spin-offs (Mario Kart Tour, Mario Golf, Dr. Mario World under the name “ Dr. Nabbit ”…). Proof that a simple background thief can turn into a genuine mascot.
🐰 Fancy diving (back) into the universe? Discover our Mario figures and our Mario plushies.
Nabbit's fact file
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Rabbit |
| Names | Nabbit (EN) · Carottin (FR) · Totten (JP) |
| First appearance | New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) |
| Role | Toad House thief, then playable character |
| Special trait | Immune to enemies, but no power-ups |
| Weaknesses | Pits, lava, poison, crushing |
Frequently asked questions
-
What is Nabbit called in French?His official name is Carottin in Europe (a blend of “carotte”, carrot, and “lapin”, rabbit, with a nod to “carotter”, French slang for stealing) and Chipin in Quebec. In English he is called Nabbit, from “to nab”.
-
Is Nabbit a villain?He is a mischievous thief — an opponent to chase at first — but he is not in Bowser's service, despite the scarf that echoes the mask of Bowser Jr. He later became a playable character, so more of an anti-hero.
-
Why is Nabbit so easy to play?Because he is immune to enemy attacks: he is the ideal character for beginners. In exchange, he cannot use power-ups, which are turned into lives and coins at the end of the level.
-
Is Nabbit completely invincible?No. While enemies cannot hurt him, he is still vulnerable to pits, lava, poison, crushing and the timer running out. So he can very much lose a life.
-
Which games is Nabbit playable in?Notably New Super Luigi U (2013), New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019) and Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023), plus several spin-offs such as Mario Kart Tour.
-
What do you get for catching Nabbit in New Super Mario Bros. U?By returning his loot bag to the Toad, you get a P-Acorn, an item that lets you fly non-stop through a level.
The complete bestiary
Bowser, the Koopa army, the Boos, the Piranha Plants and the RPG bosses: our guide sorts 111 enemy profiles into eleven families, with the counters and the final bosses game by game.
👹 The complete enemy bestiary →In short
From the pickpocket you chase to the invincible hero you play as, Nabbit has come a long way in the Mario universe. Mischievous, silent and unkillable (or nearly), this little purple rabbit proves that a well-written supporting role can steal the show — literally and figuratively.