PETA is not Happy with Mario’s Tanooki Suit

I think most of us have reached the point in our lives where we know that video games are not real. The characters in video games (for the most part) are not real. Therefore, any acton that these fictional characters do in whatever game they’re in, is not real.

Well, apparently PETA doesn’t see it that way. In their latest crusade against animal cruelty (which, for the record, I don’t support, animal cruelty that is.) PETA is taking their frustrations out on everybody’s favorite plumber. Specifically for his Tanooki suit in Super Mario 3D Land. I’d just like to point out that when Mario 3 was released in 1990 here in the United States. Mario wore a Tanooki suit back then as well, and PETA didn’t seem to care back then.

Here’s what PETA had to say about the Tanooki suit.

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.

Okay, I’m sorry, but Mario isn’t real, and I’m pretty sure the developers weren’t really thinking about the ethical treatment of animals when it comes to a power up. Does Mario even skin an animal in the game to obtain this little power up? No, he touches a leaf, and it gives him a suit.

What I don’t get, however is that apparently PETA is okay with Mario jumping on turtles, and driving them out of their homes. Why? Because those turtles aren’t real! Also, how do they know that Mario is wearing 100% tanooki skin? It could be synthetic for all we know. I don’t think furries wear legit animal fur, so let’s just pretend Mario is letting his furry side out.

I understand what PETA is trying to say, but in this case I feel like they’re taking things a little too far. I could understand if they were mad at Nintendo for something a little more realistic, like if Miyamoto liked to spend his days kicking puppies or something horrible like that, but for a power up in a game? Really? Oh, and they made a little flash animation to prove their point, you can play it on their website if you’d like (In the source link). I wonder how long Nintendo is going to allow them to defame Mario like this…

What do all of you people on the interwebs think about all this? Do you agree with PETA? Do you think they’re taking things too far? Let us know with some comments.

Source: PETA (Via: My Nintendo News)