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Rabbids

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Rabbids
Genre(s)Party
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
Creator(s)Michel Ancel
Platform(s)
First releaseRayman Raving Rabbids
November 14, 2006
Latest releaseRabbids Multiverse
June 6, 2024
Parent seriesRayman

Rabbids, also known as Raving Rabbids (French: Lapins Crétins), is a multimedia franchise developed and published by Ubisoft. It originated as a spin-off video game from the Rayman video game series, 2006's Rayman Raving Rabbids. Rabbids is centered on a titular fictional species of mischievous rabbit-like creatures, who speak gibberish and scream wildly whenever they experience an adrenaline rush. Most video games from the franchise are of the party video game genre, though other genres have been explored as well.

The Rabbids were initially introduced as antagonists in the Rayman series of games. The popularity of the characters, aided by various viral videos and media appearances, led Raving Rabbids to become its own separate franchise, dropping the Rayman name as of 2009's Rabbids Go Home.[1][2] The success of the Rabbid characters led the developers to create more games in the franchise, eventually leading to the removal of Rayman from the branding entirely.

The Rabbids have gone on to appear in other expanded media, such as a TV show and a feature film in development, as well as making guest appearances in other Ubisoft games. As of June 2019, the series had sold over 20 million units worldwide.[3] A film adaptation is in development by Lionsgate, Ubisoft Film & Television, Mandeville Films & Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.

Development

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The earliest Rayman 4 trailers depicted menacing rabbit-like aliens, 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 through a horde of zombie-like 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 successful on 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 characters with various traits and quirks. Rayman creator Michel Ancel described the bunnies as "vicious, but at the same time [...] totally stupid".[4]

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".[5] 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.[6]

The music style for the franchise was created by composer Mark Griskey. Griskey 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.[citation needed]

Characters

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A cosplayer in a Rabbids costume
  • Rabbids – Rabbids are wild rabbit-like creatures. They like to cause havoc and mischief on Rayman's world, the human world and others, and are gibberish speaking and yell "Bwah!" whenever they experience adrenaline rushes. They were originally the antagonists; however, due to increase in popularity, they became the protagonists in Rabbids Go Home. Two notable Rabbids who first appeared in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle are Rabbid Mario and Rabbid Peach.
  • Rayman – the main protagonist of the first three games. He always foils the Rabbids' plans. When the Rabbids became the protagonists of the franchise, Rayman was dropped, but continues to appear in his own games. He appears as a playable character in a Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope downloadable content.
  • Professor Barranco II – Professor Barranco II is the supreme leader of all Rabbids. He is seen wearing black glasses and surgical equipment, and he is responsible for everything in the first Rayman Raving Rabbids. In promotional videos he can be seen designing contraptions that would appear in the game. He, alongside three other leaders, is the smartest Rabbid to exist outside of the 2010 TV series.
  • Professor Barranco III – the third leader of the Rabbids, who planned out all of their invasions on Rayman's world, Earth and others. He is seen in the games Rayman Raving Rabbids 2, Rabbids: Travel in Time and Rabbids: Alive and Kicking as the main antagonist. He is one of the rare smart Rabbids to exist after the events of Rabbids Go Home, but can be easily fooled as well. In Rabbids: Alive and Kicking 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 heterochromic, with blue and red eyes. He appears in the TV series, but is more of a dictator to his Rabbid minions.
  • 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 point, though his absence in further games suggest that he was relieved of his duties due to failure in keeping Rayman.
  • The Semi-Leaders – the Semi-leaders are fat, lazy and angry Rabbids who serve as the secondary antagonists of Rayman Raving Rabbids 2. They constantly force the Rabbids to bring them food and do not do pretty much anything other than sitting or lying around and keeping things in check. They each have different themes in clothing.

Games

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Overview of Rabbids games
Year Title Developer(s) Platform(s)
2006 Rayman Raving Rabbids Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Sofia Windows, Xbox 360, PS2, Wii
Rayman Raving Rabbids Visual Impact GBA
Rayman Raving Rabbids Ubisoft DS
Rayman Raving Rabbids Gameloft J2ME
2007 Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 Ubisoft Paris Windows, Wii
2007 Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 Ubisoft Paris DS
2008 Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party Ubisoft Paris Wii
2008 Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party Ubisoft Paris DS
2008 Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party Gameloft Argentina J2ME
2009 Rabbids Go Home Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Sofia Windows, Wii
Rabbids Go Home Ubisoft DS
Rabbids Lab Ubisoft Montpeliler, Ubisoft Sofia Wii, WiiWare
2010 Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Casablanca Wii
Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D Ubisoft 3DS
Rabbids Go Phone/ Again Ubisoft iOS
2011 Raving Rabbids: Alive & Kicking Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris Xbox 360
Raving Rabbids: Party Collection (Feat. Rayman) (Compilation of Rabbids, Rabbids 2 and TV Party) Wii
2012 Rabbids Land Ubisoft Paris Wii U
Rabbids Rumble Headstrong Games 3DS
2013 Rabbids Big Bang Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris iOS, Android, Windows Phone
2014 Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show Ubisoft Barcelona Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4
2016 Rabbids Heroes[7] Ubisoft iOS, Android
2017 Rabbids Crazy Rush[8]
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris Nintendo Switch
Virtual Rabbids: The Big Plan Ubisoft Android
2018 Mario + Rabbids: Donkey Kong Adventure (DLC) Nintendo Switch
2019 Rabbids Coding[9] Ubisoft Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android
2020 Rabbids Wild Race Ubisoft Browser
2021 Rabbids Volcano Panic Ubisoft Browser
2021 Rabbids @ Versailles iOS
2022 Rabbids: Party of Legends Ubisoft Chengdu Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Ubisoft Nintendo Switch
2023 Mario + Rabbids: The Tower of Doooom (DLC 1)
Mario + Rabbids: The Last Spark Hunter (DLC 2)
Mario + Rabbids: Rayman in the Phantom Show (DLC 3)

Other video games

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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 Far Cry 5, 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 and Just Dance: Summer Party includes a Rabbid who attempts to dance with the choreographer. Another song, "Make the Party (Don't Stop)" in Just Dance 4, features a Rabbid as the DJ in the background. Also, the alternate version of the song "Naughty Girl" in the Nintendo Switch version of Just Dance 2018 via the 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 and a Rabbid Mii Fighter hat was available as downloadable content on January 28, 2020. 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] They also appeared in a Stumble Guys crossover event, which introduced six unlockable characters and a new "Rabbids Rampage" show.[12]

In other media

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TV series

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Main article: Rabbids Invasion

In October 2010, Ubisoft and Aardman announced a partnership to produce a TV series pilot and several shorts based on the franchise.[13] One year later, it was announced that a series of 7-minute computer generated animated episodes called Rabbids Invasion had been commissioned by France Televisions and that it would be produced in-house by Ubisoft Motion Pictures in France. In 2013,[14] The series premiered on France 3 in France and Nickelodeon in the United States.[15] In early 2012, Ubisoft Motion Pictures called on the French animation studio TeamTO to create most of the CGI parts of the series.[16][17][18] At E3 2013, it was announced that it would be an interactive show entitled Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show for the Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 with a require of camera devices (Kinect and PlayStation Camera). The show aired for four seasons, with the fourth season premiering on Netflix on July 1, 2019.

Film

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In early 2014, a live-action/animated film based on the franchise was in the works by Columbia Pictures. The following year, Sony Pictures Animation joined in. It was supposed to aim for a late 2016 release, but reasons are unknown why it did not get released during that time.[19] However, in late 2019, Ubisoft signed a deal with Lionsgate to produce the Rabbids movie instead, with Todd Strauss-Schulson in talks to direct the film with Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman as producers along with Jason Altman and Margaret Boykin. It is 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.[20]

Comic book series

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A comic book series based on the franchise has been released in France, Belgium and Switzerland. They are drawn by the French cartoonist Romain Pujol and written by Thithaume. There are ten volumes.

Merchandising

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The Rabbids have 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 released in France.

Licensing

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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.[21][22]

Reception

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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",[23] and that the bunnies have literally "upstaged Rayman himself".[1]

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."[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Matt Casamassina (2006-10-13). "Rayman Raving Rabbids: Impressions and Video". Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-12. The bunnies in the game are so well-designed, animated, and voiced, that they have actually upstaged Rayman himself to become the spotlight of Ubisoft's marketing efforts for the title.
  2. ^ a b Alex Navarro (2006-11-19). "Rayman Raving Rabbids Review on GameSpot". Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-12. It might have Rayman in the title, but the real stars of the show are the adorably bizarre raving rabbids.
  3. ^ "Facts and Figures" (PDF). June 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Matt Casamassina. "Rayman Raving Rabbids Interview". Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved 2007-11-12. The Rabbits are hundreds and they are vicious, but at the same time they are totally stupid.
  5. ^ "Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 interview". YouTube. 2007-06-26. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  6. ^ Matt Casamassina (May 5, 2009). "Why You'll Love Rabbids Go Home: Two and a half years in development, a brand new engine, no mini-games and it's a full-blown comedy adventure". IGN. News Corporation. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009.
  7. ^ Frank, Allegra (25 May 2016). "The Raving Rabbids return with a collectible card game on mobile". Polygon. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  8. ^ Rabbids (2017-02-23), Rabbids Crazy Rush, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2017-03-10
  9. ^ Robinson, Andy (September 30, 2019). "Ubisoft announces free Rabbids game designed to teach coding". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Ubisoft adds Rabbids to for Honor, unicorns and teddy bears to Rainbow Six Siege". Polygon. April 2019.
  11. ^ The Crew 2 [@TheCrewGame] (March 23, 2021). "This week in The Cre... BWAAAAH! Raving Rabbids are invading Motornation! https://t.co/mAi99AIjHC https://t.co/hLtophyi8W" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "https://twitter.com/StumbleGuysGame/status/1635378828934774784?cxt=HHwWgIDQvauYhLItAAAA". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-03-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  13. ^ Ubisoft & Aardman to Create Pilot for Animated Television Show Based on Raving Rabbids, IGN
  14. ^ "Rabbids Invasion: Debut Date Announced and Trailer Revealed". IGN. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  15. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (October 6, 2011). "Nick licenses 'Raving Rabbids'". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  16. ^ "Des news de l'anim numéro 48 été 2012". SPFA. Summer 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  17. ^ "Drôme: Le studio TeamTO recrute". France3 Rhône-Alpes. June 6, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  18. ^ "De retour d'Annecy 2012". Catsuka. June 10, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  19. ^ "Ubisoft teams with Sony Pictures for Rabbids movie". Polygon. 10 February 2014.
  20. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2019-12-12). "Lionsgate Closes Pic Rights On Ubisoft Video Game Series 'Rabbids' With Mandeville To Produce; Todd Strauss-Schulson In Talks To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  21. ^ "LAI Virtual Rabbids – December 2017 | RePlay Magazine". www.replaymag.com. December 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  22. ^ "Ubisoft's Rabbids Are Back In VR With Virtual Rabbids – The Big Ride". VRFocus. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  23. ^ Matt Casamassina (2006-11-16). "Rayman Raving Rabbids Review". Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-12. Although we could honestly take or leave Rayman himself, Ubisoft has with the bunnies created characters with more personality and charisma than 10 of the most popular videogame mascots combined.
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