Tanooki Mario

Tanooki Mario
Tanooki Mario performing a risky trick mid-race.
Information
First Appearance	Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013)
Latest Appearance	Mario Kart Tour (2021)
Total Appearances	Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Mario Kart 8 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Mario Kart Tour
Weight Class(es)	Medium

Tanooki Mario (タヌキマリオ) is a power-up of Mario originally from Super Mario Bros. 3. With this ability, Tanooki Mario could hover in the air and slam down in a solid statue form.

He is also found as a driver in the November DLC pack for Mario Kart 8, along with Link and Cat Peach. In addition to this, he reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. He's also an alternate skin for Mario in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.

Characteristics

Tanooki Mario is Mario dressed like a tanuki, an animal found in Japan. He wears fluffy reddish brown fur with a tan belly. The tail of the suit is striped with dark brown and reddish brown fur. The fur on his head is also tannish brown, and there is an opening for Mario to see through. He looks just like regular Mario with blue eyes, dark red hair, and a black mustache. There's a small cap coming out of the suit right above Mario's head, and it's color is tan, along with the ears of the costume. However, Mario has chosen to retain his white gloves from his regular outfit.

How to Unlock

Tanooki Mario appears as a downloadable character in Mario Kart 8, downloaded in the November 2014 pack as well as Link and Cat Peach.

A look at Tanooki Mario's excellent stat card.

Vehicles

Karts

• Tanooki Kart

Stats

Tanooki Mario shares his stats with the male Animal Crossing Villager.

Staff Ghost Tracks

• Ice Ice Outpost (Wii U, Switch*)
• SNES Rainbow Road (Switch* [200cc])

* - Retro track

Trivia!

• If Tanooki Mario uses the Standard Kart or Standard Bike as his vehicle, the vehicle's exhaust pipes will be painted to resemble the tail of a raccoon. This could be a pun on "tailpipe." This does not occur on the Standard ATV, strangely.
• Some of Tanooki Mario's voice clips are recycled from previous Mario games, including Super Mario Advance, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, and Super Mario Sunshine, among others.
• A few of Tanooki Mario's trick animations include fluttering in place (referencing his ability to flutter in Super Mario 3D Land) and turning into a Statue with a bandanna (a reference to the Statue Leaf which also appeared in Super Mario 3D Land).

Gallery

Tanooki Mario performing a Trick.

The Vacuum Star (Type X), not a bad ride for Tanooki Mario.

Tanooki Mario driving at Mario Circuit.