- For other uses, see Vanilla the Rabbit (disambiguation).
Vanilla the Rabbit (ヴァニラ・ザ・ラビット Vanira za Rabitto?) is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. She is an anthropomorphic rabbit and is the respected mother of Cream the Rabbit. Vanilla lives close to Night Carnival with her daughter, Cheese, Chocola her companion, and Gemerl, and runs a successful Chao Garden together with them.[2] Vanilla is a skilled homemaker who has taught her daughter polite manners under her kind, but strict, discipline.[3]
Appearance[]
Vanilla is a tall, cream-furred anthropomorphic rabbit with a white muzzle, a small brown nose, brown eyes, and a tuft of dark orange hair on her forehead. She has brown eyelids and dark orange markings around her eyes and on the ends of her lopped ears. For attire, she wears a long lavender dress with a white trim at the bottom of the puffy sleeves and the skirt, a burgundy-fitted vest with golden buttons, a ascot that's either blue or orange (depending on the artist), white gloves with gold cufflinks, burgundy low-heeled shoes with a yellow detail and gray soles, and pink lipstick.
History[]
Sonic Advance series[]
Sonic Advance 2[]
In Sonic Advance 2, 6 years after Cream's birth, Vanilla, Cream and Cheese were kidnapped by Dr. Eggman. Cream and Cheese, who were saved by Sonic the Hedgehog, came along with Sonic to find her mother, knowing she was still in trouble. Eventually, Vanilla was found by her daughter in Leaf Forest after Eggman was defeated.
Unfortunately, Vanilla was later kidnapped by Eggman again with his mech and taken into space. There, Super Sonic defeated Eggman, and Vanilla's Capsule plummeted down to Earth. Amidst her fall however, she was saved by Sonic. Upon being welcomed back by Sonic's friends, Vanilla was reunited with Cream, though she noticed that Sonic had already left for another adventure before she could thank him. Regardless, Vanilla has been grateful to Sonic ever since.
Sonic Advance 3[]
In Sonic Advance 3, Vanilla was taking Cream and Cheese to the beach where they found the damaged Gemerl laying helplessly in the sand. After Tails had repaired Gemerl and reprogrammed him to be a friend of Cream, Vanilla took Gemerl with her to live a happy life in her cottage with Cream and Cheese.
Sonic Rush[]
In Sonic Rush, Vanilla allowed Cream and Cheese to go out and play near Night Carnival Zone one day. When Cream returned, she brought Blaze the Cat, who she had met earlier.[4] Vanilla got the reluctant Blaze to stay for tea, during which Blaze explained her mission to save her world. Vanilla advised her to see Sonic for help and she allowed Cream and Cheese to go with Blaze on her journey.[5]
Later on, Sonic and Tails arrived at Vanilla's cottage looking for Blaze. Vanilla informed them that Cream had gone out with her to find him and told the duo where they could find them.[6]
IDW Publishing[]
Main Article: Vanilla the Rabbit/History and appearances (IDW)
Other game appearances[]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Vanilla is mentioned in Cream the Rabbit's trophy description which tells about how Cream's polite and courteous manners stem from her discipline.[3]
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[]
Sonic Runners[]
In Sonic Runners, Vanilla is mentioned in Cream's character profile.
Sonic Free Riders[]
In Sonic Free Riders, Vanilla is mentioned twice by Cream, both times when she tries to address her on live television.[7][8]
Sonic Generations[]
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Vanilla is mentioned by Cream in White Space, where she notes that Vanilla told her to return once she left Sonic's birthday party.[9]
In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Vanilla makes a small cameo appearance on a bonus artwork in the Collection Room.
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog[]
In The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Vanilla is mentioned by Knuckles, where he suggests that he and the rest ask her to make dinner for Amy's next birthday.
Personality[]
A beloved mother and respected elder, Vanilla is a calm and composed woman, never raising her voice. Like her daughter, Vanilla is kind, polite, and always ready to help those in need.[4] Apparently possessing a strong faith in Cream and her friends, Vanilla is not bothered by how Cream goes out on dangerous adventures with Sonic and his friends.[5] However, she does seem to prefer a quiet lifestyle, as she has been known to get somewhat frazzled by Sonic and his friends' adventurous ways.[6]
IDW Publishing[]
She is similar to how she acts in the games having a calm, gentle, well-mannered, and pacifistic person. She is very polite in all that she does and is very caring towards both friends and strangers alike, especially to her daughter, Her care for her daughter makes her a very cautious and protective person; in spite of all the adventures her daughter has been on, Vanilla is not willing to let Cream endanger herself on her watch or without the supervision of Sonic and his friends. Still, she can be trusting and understanding, and has been known to make decisions she feels will benefit others.[10]
Relationships[]
Cream the Rabbit[]
Cream the Rabbit is Vanilla's daughter and she loves her unconditionally. Vanilla is very caring for Cream and always puts her safety before her own. Though Vanilla has been known to be protective of Cream, she has allowed her to go on adventures with Sonic and his friends before, but only under their supervision.[11][1][12] Cream similarly greatly respects her mother and does not want to disobey her.
Vanilla cares dearly for Cream, ensuring that she is well-mannered, dressed and nourished. She is even ready to sacrifice herself for her sake, showing that she puts her daughter's welfare above her own life; during the Metal Virus plague, when Vanilla was surrounded by Zombots, her only concern was Cream's safety and would thank Amy for saving Cream.[1]
Chocola[]
Chocola is known to be Vanilla's companion while Cream goes out on adventures. He also will protect her from the danger of Dr. Eggman and his badniks.
Team Chaotix[]
Vanilla is very kind toward Vector and the rest of the Chaotix Detective Agency. After the Metal Virus plague, she and her family brought them refreshments and offered to help them run their office so that the Chaotix could get to the practical part of their work. Vector in particular seems to get flushed when in Vanilla's company as well.[13]
Gemerl[]
Being a devoted defender of her daughter first and foremost, Vanilla trusts Gemerl as her guardian and protector.[14][15] In addition, his often excessive actions come from a genuine emotional desire to protect her and Cream from any and all threats.[14]
Friends/allies[]
- Amy Rose
- Barry the Quokka
- Big the Cat
- Blaze the Cat
- Cheese
- Chocola (companion)
- Conductor
- Conductor's wife
- Cream the Rabbit (daughter)
- E-123 Omega
- Elder Scruffy
- Froggy
- Gemerl
- Knuckles the Echidna
- Restoration
- Rouge the Bat
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Silver the Hedgehog
- Sonic Fan Club
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Tangle the Lemur
- Team Chaotix
- Whisper the Wolf
Enemies[]
In other media[]
Animation[]
Sonic X[]
In the anime series Sonic X, Vanilla is a resident from Sonic's unnamed homeworld. There, she was separated from her daughter, Cream, when she was transported to Earth by Chaos Control. Vanilla was eventually transported to Earth herself by a second Chaos Control event and was reunited with her daughter. After that, Vanilla moved into the Thorndyke Mansion. Weeks after, a portal was created which let Vanilla and Cream return home. Six months later, Vanilla took in an alien named Cosmo for a day, before she and her friends, Cream included, went into space to battle the Metarex. Meanwhile, Vanilla remained on her home world where she handled local affairs.
Books and comics[]
Archie Comics[]
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Vanilla originally lived with her daughter, Cream, in the Southern Baronies in their estate. One day, however, she and Cream came under attack by Snively Robotnik. Though Amy Rose came to their rescue, Vanilla and Cream's estate got destroyed, so they moved to New Mobotropolis. While Vanilla initially had trouble adjusting to her new surroundings and the dangers Cream got involved in, she eventually came to accept it and even allowed Cream to join Team Freedom.
After the Super Genesis Wave rebooted the multiverse, Vanilla became virtually identical to her game counterpart. Currently, she lives in Mobotropolis with Cream, Cheese, Chocola, and Gemerl.
Trivia[]
- Although Vanilla does not have her own official character profile on the official Sonic Channel website, she is mentioned by name in Cream's character profile.[16]
- Vanilla, along with Cream and Cheese, were the first new characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog series to be introduced on a Nintendo video game console.
- In the mainline Sonic continuity, Vanilla is the only mother of a character introduced in the series.
- Sonic Speed Simulator marks the first time that Vanilla has a 3D model in some official capacity, not counting her Sonic Rush sprite work.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #22, "The Last Minute, Part 2"
- ↑ Sega (8 August 2023). Fast. Friends. Forever.. Sega. Sonic Team.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sora Ltd. (9 March 2008). Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Wii. Nintendo. Area/Level: Trophy Hoard. "Cream trophy: Her polite and courteous manner is thought to be a result of her mother's strict discipline."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sonic Team, Dimps (15 November 2005). Sonic Rush. Nintendo DS. Sega. Cutscene: Before Leaf Storm (Blaze's story). "Vanilla: Is that you, dear? Anything interesting happen today, Cream? / Cream: Hi, mom. I've brought a friend home today! / Blaze: A friend? / Vanilla: Well, it's nice to meet you. / Cream: I met my friend Blaze when I was wandering around! / Vanilla: Oh Blaze, I hope Cream wasn't bothering you. / Blaze: Um, no. But I... have an errand to take care of. ...Please excuse me! Unh! / Vanilla: Oh dear. Please relax. I insist you have some tea before you leave."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sonic Team, Dimps (15 November 2005). Sonic Rush. Nintendo DS. Sega. Cutscene: Before Leaf Storm (Blaze's story). "Vanilla: So, you came here to find your Sol Emeralds... / Blaze: (Why... Why am I wasting time here sipping tea?!) / Cream: You know, I'd suggest that you talk to Sonic. / Vanilla: Yes, Sonic should be able to help you. / Blaze: Please don't worry. This is my problem, so I'll find them myself! / Vanilla: Tsk, don't say that. Sonic will be glad to help. Now then, Cream will show you the way. After all, we don't want Blaze to get lost, do we? / Cream: Nope!"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sonic Team, Dimps (15 November 2005). Sonic Rush. Nintendo DS. Sega. Cutscene: After arriving at Cream's house (Sonic's story). "Vanilla: Hmm... I think they were headed toward the town. / Sonic: Thank you ma'am. Let's go, Tails! / Tails: Okay! / Vanilla: My, Cream's friends are always so busy."
- ↑ Sonic Team (4 November 2010). Sonic Free Riders. Xbox 360. Sega. Cutscene: After Team Rose Mission 06. "Cream: Hi, mama! I'll keep doing my best!"
- ↑ Sonic Team (4 November 2010). Sonic Free Riders. Xbox 360. Sega. Cutscene: After Team Rose Mission 10. "Cream: Mama! Cheese! I did it! I did it!"
- ↑ Sonic Team (1 November 2011). Sonic Generations. PC. Sega. Area/Level: White Space. "Cream: Um, where are we? I told Mama I'd be right back when I left..."
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #18, "Victims"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #18, "Victims"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #33, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #31, "Recovery, Part 1"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #18, "Victims"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #22, "The Last Minute, Part 2"
- ↑ Sonic Channel (Japanese). Characters: Cream & Cheese. Sega. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved on 3 July 2015.