PETA Targets Mario in Latest Campaign

A new game from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pokes fun at Super Mario Bros. Trying to draw some attention to its cause, PETA says that its new game, Super Tanooki Skin 2D, will hopefully make Mario think twice about wearing fur in his games. In the game, which is part of its new "Mario Kills Tanooki" campaign, players "direct a bloody, skinned raccoon dog as he chases a tanuki fur–suited Mario through a surreal fur farm where raccoon dogs are routinely skinned alive for their fur."

"Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA's undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free." PETA says that "by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur." They also claim that the game informs people that in real life, "Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn't give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception."

Of course Mario isn't real life. Plumbers don't actually go down pipes and save princesses unless they are really high on prescription drugs. PETA should probably focus more of its efforts on the real world. Of course some would argue that because Mario is such a familiar icon to so many generations, that a campaign targeting him is good marketing. You can see the game for yourselves at PETA.org.

Source: Game Informer