Rabbid: Difference between revisions

'''Rabbids''' (''French: '''Lapins Crétins''''') are rabbit-like creatures that appear in the ''[[Rayman]]'' universe, most of the time as antagonists. The name is a portmanteau of 'rabid' and 'rabbit', though in the games, they are often referred to as bunnies. They primarily appear in a spin-off series known as [[Rabbids (series)|the ''Rabbids'' series]], but also have made appearances in platformers like [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']], [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (DS)|the DS version]], and ''[[Rayman Adventures]]''. They are seen as 'anti-mascots' to [[Ubisoft]].

The Rabbids were first introduced in a series of teaser images and videos for ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'' (then meant to be [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|the next major platforming adventure]] in the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]]) officially released by [[Ubisoft]] in April 2006, in which they were portrayed as zombie-like enemies that were set to take over the world, akin to the [[Robo-Pirate]] army and [[Hoodlum]]s. By the time the final game was released in December that same year, it turned out to be a compilation of mini-games akin to the ''Mario Party'' series due to the game being a Wii release game, and while the Rabbids were still portrayed as crazed animals that tried to take over the world, their main purpose now was to provide comic relief, taking away their original zombie-like look. Four more games featuring Rabbids were subsequently announced - ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids 2]]'' in 2007, ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party]]'' in 2008, and ''[[Rabbids Go Home]]'' in 2009. A fourth game, ''[[Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time]]'', was released in 2010.

In the main series, not much is known about where the Rabbids had originally come from. ''[[Rabbids Go Home]]'' suggests that they do not even know themselves. However, at an early point in [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']], [[Ly]] the Fairy explains that the Rabbids were once peaceful creatures in [[The Glade of Dreams|Rayman's world]] that had gradually been bullied by other creatures, therefore going bad and taking their pain out on the entire world. The back cover of the main game also suggests that the Rabbids used to be peaceful but had turned bad, though the game doesn't explain how. This explanation of the Rabbids' origin was also used in official [[Ubisoft]] press releases regarding [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|the original ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'' platformer]], before that game was scrapped. [[Michel Ancel]] stated in an interview that the Rabbids had been “preparing this assault since [[Rayman 1|the very first ''Rayman'' game]]”.

The Rabbids plot a somewhat different revenge on [[Rayman]] in [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']]. They capture him and instead take him to a jail cell in [[Dark (world)|the Dark world]], and they take away his hands. After a while in [[Rayman]]'s escape, [[Ly]] tells [[Rayman]] the story of how the Rabbids were once peaceful creatures until they couldn't take the abuse they suffered. [[Rayman]] has to travel through different but familiar worlds and eventually destroy the [[Rabbids' ship]] in order to save [[The valley|his world]].

The Rabbids from ''the Raving Rabbids series'' became massively popular both through the teaser trailers and the game itself. IGN has stated that the Rabbids have "more personality and charisma than 10 of the most popular video game mascots combined", and that the bunnies have literally "upstaged [[Rayman]] himself". GameSpot has noted, "The Rabbids themselves are almost exclusively responsible for [selling the game's humor], as they are, without a doubt, hysterical. They're adorably designed, with their dumb stares, high-pitched shrieks, and a penchant for taking comedic bumps." There has been speculation by reviewers that the success of the Rabbid character will probably inspire the developers to create more games of the franchise, possibly even without [[Rayman]]. This was first hinted in the launch trailer of [[Rayman Raving Rabbids|the first game]], where [[Rayman]], despite being the title character, only appears for a fraction of a second, only to be squashed flat by a couch taken over by the Rabbids, and became evident in ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids 2]]'', in which case [[Rayman]] disguises himself as a Rabbid, causing the game to put more emphasis on them than on [[Rayman]] himself. ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party]]'' was considered further evidence, as [[Rayman]], who is no longer playable, only appears in the game's cutscenes. This was then proven to be true with the announcement of ''[[Rabbids Go Home]]'', which does not feature [[Rayman]] at all.