Mario Tanuki : Le Guide Complet de la Transformation Légendaire de Mario

Tanuki Mario: The Complete Guide to Mario's Legendary Transformation

1195 mots | Temps de lecture : 5 minute(s)

Summary

What is Tanuki Mario?

Tanuki Mario is a legendary transformation obtained through the Tanuki Suit (French "tanuki", English "tanooki"), inspired by the raccoon dog of Japanese folklore. It grants Mario a tail attack, a flight/glide (the rules of which vary depending on the game), and, in some games, the transformation into a stone statue .

Vocabulary note: In official Nintendo French, it is generally written as "tanuki costume." The spelling "tanooki" is that of the English versions.

🧢 Want a style as iconic as the Tanuki? Check out our Mario T-shirts to show off your favorite power-ups even when you're not playing.

📚 To compare this transformation with other equipment, dive into Mario's Caps: Complete Guide to Iconic Powers .

The Extraordinary Powers of Mario Tanuki

  • Flight / Gliding:
    SMB3 : Full flight after charging the race gauge (P-meter), like Mario Raton (Super Leaf).
    3D Land / 3D World : no upward flight, but a slowed descent and a little floating.
  • Spin Attack: The tail can hit enemies, blocks, and projectiles, and extend the range of certain jumps.
  • Statue: In compatible games, Mario briefly transforms into an invulnerable statue (except for void/squashing), negating damage and interactions and inflicting a powerful knockback.

Super Mario Bros. 3: The Origin of the Legend

First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3 , the Tanuki Suit combines the advantages of the Super Leaf (flight after P-meter, tail) and the statue ability (Down + B). Rare and iconic, it marked the 8-bit era with its exploration/attack/defense versatility.

Mario Tanuki in modern games

The transformation returns in Super Mario 3D Land (2011) and Super Mario 3D World (2013, then Switch 2021) with a 3D focus:

  • 3D Land : Tanuki Leaf grants tail + flutter. Statue Leaf (separate item) adds statue transformation.
  • 3D World / + Bowser's Fury : tail + floating, without statue (except specific items in cameos/bonuses depending on the mode).
  • Accessibility Variant : The White Tanuki Costume (after several failures, depending on the game) grants extended invincibility with Tanuki moves.
  • Spin-offs : " Tanooki Mario " is a character variant in Mario Kart 8 ; the Super Leaf appears as an item in Mario Kart 7 and Smash Bros. (tail and float).

🎯 Work on your timing and positioning with our New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe mini-boss guide —perfect for mastering jumps, floats, and Tanuki combos.

🎒 Need an adventure companion? Browse our Mario school bags & backpacks to carry your pro-gamer gear.

Strategies and tips

  • SMB3 : Charges the P-meter (maximum travel) before a jump or ledge to take advantage of an upward flight and reach secret areas or shortcut anchors.
  • Statue : Trigger this to dash through enemy shoals, ignore projectiles, or trigger a safe fall under a Thwomp. Caution: Drop, crush, and timer are still lethal.
  • 3D : Combine tail → jump → float to secure narrow platforms and collect star coins/green footprints off-path.

Mario Tanuki's Cultural Legacy

A symbol of Mario's animal transformations, the tanuki costume has influenced other forms (e.g., Cat Mario ) and is rife with derivative products (stuffed toys, Amiibo, figurines). Its imagery refers to the folkloric figure of the tanuki, mischievous and shapeshifting.

🌟 Do you also enjoy hunting for exceptional items? Explore the rarest objects in the Mario universe to complete your 100%.

Comparison with other power-ups

Power-up Flight Attack Special transformation Main appearances
Mario Tanuki SMB3: full flight (P-meter) / 3D: floating Tail (spinning stroke) Statue (SMB3, 3D Land via Leaf Statue) SMB3, 3D Land, 3D World (+Switch)
Mario Raton (Raccoon) SMB3: full flight / NSMB2: extended glide Tail (spinning stroke) None SMB3, New Super Mario Bros. 2
Mario Cat No flying, but climbing and wall jumping Claws on the ground and in the air, feline rush Almost total climbing of the walls 3D World, Bowser's Fury

Secrets and references

  • SMB3 : Bonus skies and areas require full flight (P-meter). Statue mode can crush tough enemies if the drop is well-timed.
  • Accessibility : The White Tanuki Costume makes difficult levels easier (invincibility + tanuki moves).
  • Cameos : Appearances/winks in Smash Bros. (Super Leaf) and various spin-off series ( Mario Party , etc.).

The Future of Mario Tanuki

With the rise of more open approaches (extended worlds, more refined physics), the tanuki could gain new interactions (wind ranges, specific surfaces, weight/statue puzzles), reinventing its role between mobility and control.

FAQ

  • What is the difference between Tanuki Mario and Raton Mario?
    Both share the tail and (in classic 2D) flight after P-meter. The Tanuki adds the statue (SMB3, 3D Land via Statue Leaf). In 3D, it's more about floating than flying.
  • Is the Tanuki costume present in all Mario games?
    No. It's mostly central in SMB3 , 3D Land and 3D World (as well as their Switch re-releases).
  • Is the tanuki inspired by a real animal?
    Yes, the tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog), often associated with metamorphosis in folklore.
  • Does the statue make Mario invincible?
    Yes, for a short time ( contact/attacks ), but it does not protect against falling into the void , being crushed or the end of time .
  • “Tanuki” or “Tanooki”: which spelling should you use?
    "Tanuki" is common in French; "Tanooki" is the official English. Both refer to the same transformation.

🧸 Fan of the Tanuki shape? Complete your decor with our Mario figurines for a 100% Mushroom Kingdom gaming corner.

Back to blog