Rabbit

“What part of ‘I'm not your lunch’ do you not understand? I already gave you the key! Put me down!”

—Rabbit, Super Mario 64 DS

Rabbits of the Mushroom Kingdom, much like their "Real World" counterparts, are small, furry mammals with long ears and large hind paws. They're common in the fields and wooded regions of the kingdom. These animals also feature quite prominently in several Mario games.

History

Nintendo Comics System

In the Bowser Knows Best issue of Nintendo Comics System, the Koopa Family has a pet rabbit named Pookie who they often mistreat, but escapes soon after his introduction.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Main article : Rabbit Mario

In Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Mario could become Rabbit Mario by eating a Carrot. While in this form, Mario could use his new-found rabbit ears to hover momentarily while falling or jumping.

Nintendo Adventure Books

In Leaping Lizards, Morton Koopa Jr. sneaks into the palace, vandalizing it and transforming the Mushroom King into a rabbit with his Magic Scepter. Luigi's attempt to change the king back with the same scepter only makes matters worse, changing the king from a normal bunny into a human-sized one. In a later book, Unjust Desserts, Magikoopa sneaks into the palace garden with some enemies he had shrunk by shapeshifting into a rabbit.

Wario's Woods

In the SNES game Wario's Woods, a suit-wearing rabbit by the name of Harry Hare faces Toad, as the seventeenth boss.

Super Mario 64

Main article : MIPS

In Super Mario 64, a yellow rabbit named MIPS could be found in the basement of Peach's Castle. If caught, he would give Mario a secret Power Star. MIPS was found twice in the game, the first time time after collecting fifteen Power Stars, and the second time after fifty Stars.

Super Mario 64 DS

In Super Mario 64 DS, rabbits feature much more prominently. They are found throughout the castle grounds (and their locations vary from character to character). The designated rabbits for each character have a specific color - yellow for Yoshi, pink for Mario, green for Luigi, and orange for Wario. If caught, they would unlock mini-games for the player to play in the Rec-Room. In Korean version, the rabbits for minigames do not appear because Korean version doesn't include minigames.

Special Glowing Rabbits needed to be caught to unlock a white door in the Character Door room, behind which was a secret Power Star. They will appear only after collecting at least 50 Power Stars.

Yoshi (Yellow Rabbits):

• 1-3: Outside the castle, at the end of the bridge
• 4: Outside the castle, in a patch of flowers to the right
• 5: Outside the castle, at the bottom of the drained moat
• 6: Outside the castle, to the left among the maze of hedges
• 7: In the basement, in front of the entrance to Lethal Lava Land
• 8: At the beginning of the game, Yoshi must find the rabbit with the key, located in the hedge maze

Mario (Pink Rabbits):

• 1: Outside castle, left of the bridge
• 2: Outside castle, at the bottom of the moat (after it's been drained)
• 3: Inside the room with the entrance to Jolly Roger Bay
• 4-5: In the basement, in front of the entrance to Lethal Lava Land
• 6: On the second floor of the castle, at the very top of the stairs
• 7: On the second floor of the castle, in the room with the large mirror wall

Luigi (Green Rabbits):

• 1: Outside the castle, to the left among the maze of hedges
• 2: In the room with the entrance to Bob-Omb Battlefield
• 3: Behind the castle, in the courtyard with the boos (back flip right outside the doorway)
• 4: In the basement, in the room where the water can be drained from the moat
• 5: On the second floor of the castle, just right of the doorway
• 6: In the room with the entrance to the Goomboss Battle (behind the Rec Room)
• 7: Outside the castle, on the roof (150 stars needed to unlock the cannon)

Wario (Orange-Gold Rabbits):

• 1: Outside the castle, to the far right
• 2: In the room with the entrance to Whomp's Fortress
• 3: In the basement, in the left hall with Toad
• 4: Behind the castle, in the courtyard with the boos
• 5: On the second floor of the castle, in the halls with the entrance to Tiny-Huge Island
• 6: On the third floor of the castle, near the entrance to Tick Tock Clock
• 7: On the third floor of the castle, in the upper alcove to the left

Super Mario Galaxy

Though actual Rabbits do not appear in Super Mario Galaxy, a sub-species of cosmic Rabbits known as Star Bunnies appear in the game, however many of them are simply Lumas in disguise. Real ones, however, can be found in Galaxies such as Space Junk, Snow Cap, and, most notably, Gusty Garden. These star bunnies act very similar to MIPS in Super Mario 64, with the exception of that they appear to find it much more fun to be chased.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

In Super Mario Galaxy 2 numerous Star Bunnies can be found inhabiting the Freezy Flake Galaxy and one can later be found on the Starship Mario. The secret mission in Cosmic Cove Galaxy also involves a Star Bunny. In this game, all Star Bunnies are real and none are Lumas.

New Super Mario Bros. U

In New Super Mario Bros. U, a character known as Nabbit appears and steals items from Toad Houses. Mario has to go through one level from each world to catch Nabbit. The player has 100 seconds to catch Nabbit.

New Super Luigi U

In New Super Luigi U, the character Nabbit appears as a playable character, replacing Mario. He can flutter and can pick up items that are traded in as 1-ups. Other Nabbits steal from Toads Houses like in New Super Mario Bros. U.

Super Mario 3D World

Rabbits appear again in Super Mario 3D World, where they can again be chased and caught. Also bigger sub-species are shown to appear. When they are caught they give prizes like Coins, Green Stars, or even a Mega Mushroom.