Mario Tanuki : guide complet de la transformation Tanuki

Tanooki Mario: The Complete Tanooki Transformation Guide

1439 words | Reading time : 7 minute(s)

ItemTanooki SuitSuper Mario Bros. 3

Inspired by the raccoon dog of Japanese folklore, it flies in SMB3 and glides in the 3D games. This complete guide breaks down the Tanooki transformation: the tail attack, full flight powered by the P-Meter in Super Mario Bros. 3, and simple hovering in the 3D entries. It traces the origin of the legend, its modern versions, the tricks to master it and the suit's legacy across the saga.

Contents

What is Tanooki Mario?

Tanooki Mario is a legendary transformation granted by the Tanooki Suit (Fr. “tanuki”, Eng. “tanooki”), inspired by the raccoon dog of Japanese folklore. It gives Mario the tail attack, a flight/glide whose rules change from game to game, and, in some entries, the ability to turn into a statue of stone.

The P Switch, introduced in that same Super Mario Bros. 3, flips the scenery for the length of a musical countdown that keeps speeding up.

The P-Wing from Super Mario Bros. 3 goes even further: it grants Raccoon Mario free flight for an entire level, well beyond the usual P-Meter.

The Goomba's Shoe, that green boot Mario snatches in Super Mario Bros. 3, long kept the status of a ghost item in Nintendo's manuals.

A note on wording: in Nintendo's official French, you usually read “ costume tanuki ”. The “tanooki” spelling is the one used in the English versions.

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Mario in the Tanooki Suit, round ears and striped tail
Round ears and a striped tail: the suit comes straight from Japanese folklore.

The extraordinary powers of Tanooki Mario

  • Flight / gliding:
    SMB3: full flight once the running gauge (P-Meter) is charged, just like Raccoon Mario (Super Leaf).
    3D Land / 3D World: no upward flight, but a slowed descent and a short hover.
  • Spin attack: the tail lets you strike enemies, blocks and projectiles, and stretch the reach of certain jumps.
  • Statue: in the games that support it, Mario briefly turns into an invulnerable statue (except pits and crushing), cancelling damage and interactions while delivering a powerful slam on landing.

Super Mario Bros. 3: the origin of the legend

First seen in Super Mario Bros. 3, the Tanooki Suit combines the perks of the Super Leaf (flight once the P-Meter is charged, tail) with the ability to turn into a statue (Down + B). Rare and iconic, it defined the 8-bit era through its versatility across exploration, attack and defence.

Tanooki Mario in modern games

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

  • 3D Land: the Super Leaf grants the tail + hover. The Statue Leaf (a separate item) adds the statue transformation.
  • 3D World / + Bowser’s Fury: tail + hover, no statue (apart from specific items in cameos/bonuses depending on the mode).
  • Accessibility variant: the White Tanooki Suit (after several failed attempts, depending on the game) offers extended invincibility along with the Tanooki moves.
  • Spin-offs: “ Tanooki Mario ” is a character variant in Mario Kart 8; the Super Leaf shows up as an item in Mario Kart 7 (tail) and Smash Bros. (hover/glide).

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Tanooki Mario as he appears on the big screen
The suit followed Mario all the way to the big screen without changing a thing.

Strategies and tips

  • SMB3: charge the P-Meter (full-speed run) before a springboard or a ledge to enjoy upward flight and reach secret areas or shortcut anchors.
  • Statue: trigger it to walk through packs of enemies, ignore projectiles or set off a slam landing safely under a Thwomp. Careful: pits, crushing and the timer are still fatal.
  • 3D: combine tail → jump → hover to make narrow platforms safe and pick up Star Coins and green stamps that sit off the main path.

The cultural legacy of Tanooki Mario

A symbol of Mario's animal transformations, the Tanooki Suit has shaped other forms (e.g. Cat Mario) and is everywhere in merchandise (plushies, Amiibo, figures). Its imagery goes back to the folklore tanuki, mischievous and shape-shifting.

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Comparison with other power-ups

Power-up Flight Attack Special transformation Main appearances
Tanooki Mario SMB3: full flight (P-Meter) / 3D: hover Tail (spin attack) Statue (SMB3, 3D Land via the Statue Leaf) SMB3, 3D Land, 3D World (+ Switch)
Raccoon Mario SMB3: full flight / NSMB2: full flight (P-Meter) Tail (spin attack) None SMB3, New Super Mario Bros. 2
Cat Mario No flight, but climbing and wall jumps Claws on the ground & in the air, feline dash Near-total wall climbing 3D World, Bowser’s Fury

Secrets and references

  • SMB3: some skies and bonus areas demand full flight (P-Meter). Statue mode can crush tough enemies if the landing is well placed.
  • Accessibility: the White Tanooki Suit makes tough levels easier (invincibility + tanooki moves).
  • Cameos: appearances and nods in Smash Bros. (Super Leaf) and various spin-off series (Mario Party, etc.).

The future of Tanooki Mario

As more open designs take hold (wider worlds, finer physics), the tanooki could gain new interactions (wind currents, specific surfaces, weight/statue puzzles), reinventing its role between mobility and control.

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FAQ

  • What is the difference between Tanooki Mario and Raccoon Mario?
    Both share the tail and, in classic 2D, flight once the P-Meter is charged. The Tanooki adds the statue (SMB3, 3D Land via the Statue Leaf). In 3D it is more of a hover than real flight.
  • Is the Tanooki Suit in every Mario game?
    No. It is above all central to SMB3, 3D Land and 3D World (along with their Switch re-release).
  • Is the tanuki based on a real animal?
    Yes, the tanuki (the Japanese raccoon dog), often tied to shape-shifting in folklore.
  • Does the statue make Mario invincible?
    Yes, for a brief moment (contact/attacks), but it does not protect against falling into a pit, being crushed, or running out of time.
  • “Tanuki” or “Tanooki”: which spelling should you use?
    “Tanuki” is the common French form; “Tanooki” is the official English one. Both refer to the same transformation.

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