PETA bites Nintendo for Mario’s love affair with fur

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are certainly as shrewd as serpent for making the most out of a pop culture event – case in point, Nintendo’s recent launch of their Super Mario 3D Land game that sees Mario wear a furry raccoon-like “Tanooki suit” that enables him to float through the skies, while making short work of baddies with a well placed sway of his tail. Nobody made a meal of it over the past 20 years, but suddenly, PETA steps in and figures out that everyone’s favorite Italian plumber is being offensive as he kills of innocent animals.

Hard to believe this stunt is being pulled, and I don’t think it makes PETA any more credible considering how Super Mario 3D Land is E-rated and never in any way suggests that Mario actually killed an animal and skinned it for its fur. PETA claims that “by wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur.” I wonder whether PETA activists wear their birthday suits or fig leaves, as everything else seems to be off limits.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Gaming
Tags: mario, Nintendo