Rabbids
computer game franchise From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rabbids, also known as Raving Rabbids and in France as Lapins crétins ("moronic rabbits"), is a video game franchise published by Ubisoft. It originated as a spin-off video game from the Rayman series, 2006's Rayman Raving Rabbids, and is centered on a fictional species of mischievous rabbit-like creatures known as Rabbids, who speak gibberish and scream wildly whenever they experience an adrenaline rush. The series consists mainly of party video games, though other genres have been explored as well.
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Development
The earliest Rayman 4 trailers depicted menacing rabbits, simply appearing from underground with a blank stare in various shapes and forms, smaller eyes and furry. At this point, trailers showed the game as an adventure game with fight stages, where Rayman would need to punch and kick himself kung fu style through a horde of zombie-bunnies. As the game concept evolved, from one of a central objective to minigames, a series of viral videos were created by Marketing Manager Adrian Lacey and Animator Charles Beirnaert which became incredibly successful on the new media platform YouTube. The rabbits slowly evolved into various merchandising products such as the Rabbid figures, which were much more conscious and amusing, changing from merely being enemies to fight through into more memorable characters with various traits and quirks. Rayman creator Michel Ancel described the bunnies as "vicious, but at the same time [...] totally stupid".[1]
In a video interview, project lead Loïc Gounon confirmed the possibility of splitting the Rayman and Rabbid series apart, mentioning that the Rabbids "managed to hit a bit more adult and a bit more older audience than the previous Raymans".[2] By 2009's Rabbids Go Home, Rayman does not make an appearance; when asked about the omission of Rayman during an interview about Rabbids Go Home, director Jacques Exertier provided an assurance that Rayman would return for more action-adventure video games.[3]
The music style for the franchise was created by composer Mark Griskey. Mark worked with Audio Director Yoan Fanise to define the comedic style of the early games and the style was continued with the further versions of the franchise. [4]
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Characters
Rabbids – Rabbids are rabbit-like alien who like to cause havoc and mischief on Rayman's world (where they came from), the human world, and others and are gibberish speaking and yell "BWAH!" whenever they experience adrenaline rushes. However, Rabbids are rather limited in their intelligence. They were originally the antagonists; however, due to increase in popularity, they became the protagonists in Rabbids Go Home. A notable Rabbid who first appeared in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is Rabbid Peach.
Rayman – the main protagonist of the first three games. He always foils the Rabbids' evil plans. When the Rabbids became the protagonists of the franchise, Rayman was dropped, but continues to appear in his own games.
Professor Barranco – the alfa male of the Rabbids who planned out all of their invasions on Rayman's planet, Earth and others. He is seen in the games Rayman Raving Rabbids 2, Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time and Raving Rabbids: Alive and Kicking as the main antagonist (despite having a minor role in RRR 2 and RRTIT). He is one of the rare smart Rabbids to exist, but can be easily fooled as well. In RAaK he has a Rabbid scientist as his second in command, who would later go on to become a major character in the TV series. He is the only character from the games to appear in the TV series.
Poor Rabbid - a Rabbid persecuted by his peers with a black eye and a bandage on his head. Throughout the first game, he's mutilated by Rayman, the other Rabbids, and Serguei. Appears only in Rayman Raving Rabbid, but his bandages appear in Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 a costume.
Serguei – Serguei is the main villain of Rayman Raving Rabbids. He is a large, black rabbid who abducted Rayman and the Globox kids and forced them to take part in the Rabbids Olympics filled with deadly challenges. In the end, Rayman manages to escape and free most of the Globox kids. It is unknown what happens to Serguei at that alfter that, though his absence in further games suggest that he was relieved of his duties due to failure in keeping Rayman.
Profesor Albert Einequen - is a Professor owner of the museum, He only appears on Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time. He is the owner of the museum and like any other human, he is afraid of the Rabbids. When the blue underweared Rabbid first enters the museum, he encounters the professor holding a vase. the professor screams and runs away, dropping various collectible clocks along the way. The Rabbid proceeds to follow him. After winning the first minigame, the professor hides in the family tree and is never seen again. Although it is still unclear, but it is possible that the professor is responsible for inventing the time washing machine as well as the golden washing machine. Einequen also appears on a trailer for Travel in Time in an 8-bit scenario, while he is explaining the various game modes of the game. It is unknown what happens to the professor after that. Although his later absence from the game suggests that he somehow escaped from the museum. His nickname is reference to Albert Einstein.
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Games
In other media
Other video games
The Rabbids have made several appearances in games outside of their own series or the Rayman franchise. In Red Steel, the Rabbids appear as enemies in one of the game's later stages. The Wii version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up includes three different types of Rabbids as playable characters, along with a stage based on Rabbids Go Home. Toys of the Rabbids appear as hidden easter eggs in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction and Watch Dogs. In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, a cheat can be used to turn the game's enemies into Rabbids. The song "Here Comes the Hotstepper" in Just Dance 2 includes a Rabbid who attempts to dance with the choreographer. Similarly, the alternate version of the song "Naughty Girl" in the Nintendo Switch version of Just Dance 2018 via Just Dance Unlimited subscription service includes Rabbid Peach from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as the main choreographer. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features three Rabbids from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as unlockable spirits[8] and a Rabbid Mii Fighter hat was available as downloadable content on January 28, 2020.[9] On April Fools' Day 2019, For Honor featured a limited time event in which Rabbids replaced all of the game's characters.[10] In 2021, they have been featured in The Crew 2 as their own LIVE Summit Event, as well as introducing two vanity cosmetic items into the game. The first is roofrack of a Rabbid hanging on to it and the second being a window tint full of Rabbids which can only be acquired by scoring platinum in the LIVE Summit.[11]
TV series
In October 2010, Ubisoft and Aardman announced a partnership to produce a TV series pilot and several shorts based on the franchise.[12] One year later, it was announced that 78 7-minute CG animated episodes would be made solely by Ubisoft Motion Pictures, and broadcast as 26 half-hour episodes by Nickelodeon on August 3, 2013.[13] In early 2012, Ubisoft Motion Pictures called on the French animation studio TeamTO to create most of the CGI parts of the series.[14][15][16] On E3 2013, it was announced that it would be an interactive Xbox One show entitled Rabbids Invasion. The show aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from August 3, 2013 through June 23, 2017.[17] On July 1, 2019, a fourth season was released on Netflix.
Film
A live-action/animated movie based on the franchise was in the works by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment.[18] However, in 2019, Lionsgate and Ubisoft signed a deal to produce the Rabbids movie with Todd Strauss-Schulson in talks to direct the movie with Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman as producers. It is now being developed by Lionsgate, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, Mandeville Films, and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, with Matt Senreich, Tom Sheppard, and Zeb Wells set to write the film, while revised by Todd Rosenberg.[19]
Comic book series
A comic book series based on the franchise has been released in France, Belgium and Switzerland. All comic strips are drawn by the French cartoonist Romain Pujol and written by Thithaume. There are ten volumes thus far.
Merchandising
Aside from video games and the comic book series mentioned above, the Rabbids also have other merchandising such as T-shirts, figurines, plush toys, school equipment, fan club magazines, and for a limited time, a Happy Meal toy. A Raving Rabbids themed version of the card game Jungle Speed was also released in France.
Licensing
The Rabbids franchise has also been licensed for the out-of-home entertainment market such as the recent collaboration with arcade game manufacturer LAI Games to produce Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride, an attendant-free VR attraction.[20][21]
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Reception
The Rabbids series, along with its titular characters, have become very popular. IGN has stated that the Rabbids have "more personality and charisma than 10 of the most popular video game mascots combined",[22] and that the bunnies have literally "upstaged Rayman himself".[23]
GameSpot noted that 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."[24]
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References
Other websites
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