White Rabbit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The White Rabbit
Alice character
First appearance	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Created by	Lewis Carroll
Information
Nickname(s)	The White Rabbit
Species	European rabbit
Gender	Male
Occupation	Page
Nationality	Wonderland

The White Rabbit is a famous character from Lewis Carroll's 1865 book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He first appears in the story's beginning. Alice sees him wearing a waistcoat and saying, "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" Alice then follows him down a rabbit hole into the magical world of Wonderland.

Alice meets the White Rabbit again later. He mistakes her for his housemaid, Mary Ann. Alice grows too big and gets stuck in his house! The Rabbit also shows up near the end of the book. He works as a messenger for the powerful King and Queen of Hearts.

The White Rabbit's Personality

Alice meeting the White Rabbit.

Lewis Carroll, the author, once described the White Rabbit. He said the Rabbit was the opposite of Alice. Alice was young, brave, and knew what she wanted. The Rabbit, however, was "elderly" and "timid." He was also "feeble" and "nervously shilly-shallying." Carroll imagined him wearing glasses. He thought the Rabbit's voice should shake. His knees should also tremble. The Rabbit should look like he couldn't even say "Boo!" to a goose.

The White Rabbit acts differently depending on who he is with. He can be bossy to his helpers. But he becomes very polite and bowing to important people. These include the Duchess, the King, and the Queen of Hearts. This is very different from Alice. She is usually polite to everyone she meets.

The White Rabbit in Movies and Shows

The White Rabbit has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of the most well-known adaptations.

Disney's Animated Film

The White Rabbit in Disney's 1951 animated movie is very famous. He sings a little song when he first appears: "I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!" He is probably panicking because he is late. He needs to announce guests at a royal garden party. Being late could make the Queen angry!

He often acts as the "normal" character next to others' silly actions. For example, he asks the Dodo for help. He wants to get the "monster" (Alice) out of his house. The Dodo suggests burning the house down. The White Rabbit strongly disagrees! At the Mad Tea Party, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare try to fix his watch. They say it is "exactly two days slow." They end up breaking it while trying to fix it.

Bill Thompson was the voice of the White Rabbit in the original film. The White Rabbit also appeared in the Disney Channel show House of Mouse. He was voiced by Corey Burton in later appearances.

Tim Burton's Film

Nivens McTwisp, The White Rabbit
Alice character
First appearance	Alice in Wonderland
Created by	Lewis Carroll Tim Burton
Voiced by	Michael Sheen
Information
Nickname(s)	The White Rabbit
Species	Rabbit
Gender	Male
Occupation	Page
Nationality	Underland

In Tim Burton's 2010 film, the White Rabbit has a name: Nivens McTwisp. He works for the Red Queen. But he is also secretly part of a group called the Underland Underground Resistance. He was sent by the Hatter to find Alice. Actor Michael Sheen, who voiced him, said he didn't want to change the classic character too much.

McTwisp is also a playable character in the video game based on Tim Burton's movie. He can attack using his watch and control time.

Švankmajer's Film

The 1988 Czechoslovak film Alice is known for its darker take on the story. In this film, the White Rabbit starts as a stuffed rabbit. It comes alive in Alice's room. It breaks out of its glass case and leaks sawdust. As Alice chases him, he attacks her with paddles, a hacksaw, and skeletal animals. The White Rabbit is also the Queen of Hearts' executioner. He uses scissors to cut off the heads of characters like the Mad Hatter.

Television Appearances

• The White Rabbit appears in the Once Upon a Time spin-off, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. John Lithgow voices him. His first name is Percy in this show. He helps Alice and the Knave of Hearts.
• In Star Trek, the episode "Shore Leave" (1966) shows a planet where thoughts come to life. The White Rabbit appears to Doctor McCoy.
• The White Rabbit was on The Muppet Show in the "Brooke Shields" episode.
• In the Syfy miniseries Alice, "The White Rabbit" is a secret group. They work for the Queen of Hearts. They kidnap people from the real world for the Queen's casino. A member of this group, Agent White, represents the character.
• In Lost, the White Rabbit is mentioned several times. An episode is named "White Rabbit." The character Locke says Jack is chasing the White Rabbit (his father). The White Rabbit is also a symbol for the Looking Glass Station.

Film References

• In Jurassic Park, a character finds a computer file named "Whte_rbt.obj." This file was used to disable the park's security.
• The Matrix has many references to Alice in Wonderland. Early in the film, Neo is told to follow the "White Rabbit." Soon after, a woman with a white rabbit tattoo rings his doorbell. Later, Morpheus offers Neo a "red pill" to "find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes."
• In Pacific Rim, a character is warned not to follow the "White Rabbit" during training. This means not to get lost in dangerous memories.

Literature References

• In The Looking-Glass Wars, the White Rabbit is called Bibwit Harte. He is an albino tutor with excellent hearing.
• In the manga Alice in the Country of Hearts, Peter White is the prime minister. He has white rabbit ears and a large pocket watch. He is very much in love with Alice.
• Stephen King's novel The Long Walk has a character who calls himself "the White Rabbit type."
• In the manga Pandora Hearts, the main character Oz Vessalius is based on the White Rabbit. He is the chain B-Rabbit.
• In the Shazam! comic series, the White Rabbit lives in the Magiclands. He helps Mamaragan and others find Alice and Dorothy Gale.

Music References

• Egypt Central's song "White Rabbit" mentions the character: "Your magic white rabbit has left its writing on the wall. We followed like Alice, and just kept falling down the hole."
• Shinedown's song "Her Name is Alice" also refers to the White Rabbit.
• Vladimir Vysotsky wrote a song called "White Rabbit, Alice and Dodo."
• Marilyn Manson's album "Eat Me, Drink Me" is full of references to Alice in Wonderland.
• Mindy Gledhill's song "Rabbit Hole" compares following one's dreams to falling down the rabbit hole.

Musical Theater

• The White Rabbit appeared in the Broadway musical Shrek.
• In Frank Wildhorn's musical Wonderland, the White Rabbit is a panicky character. He has a sarcastic sense of humor. He helps Alice throughout the show. His pocket watch can turn back time.
• In the musical Alice By Heart, the actor Colton Ryan plays the White Rabbit.

Video Game Appearances

• In American McGee's Alice, the White Rabbit brings Alice back to Wonderland. He first appears as her soft toy. He then looks like a shriveled version of the classic illustration. He is later killed by the Mad Hatter but comes back to life. He also appears in the sequel, Alice Madness Returns.
• In the Nintendo DS RPG A Witch's Tale, the White Rabbit forces its way in front of the main character.
• Rockstar's game Manhunt has a level called "Kill the Rabbit." In this level, players hunt a man in a white rabbit suit.
• In Eye of the North expansion for Guild Wars, players must follow a white rabbit into a hole to find a boss.
• There is a reference to the White Rabbit in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
• In Super Mario 64, the character MIPS the rabbit says, "I'm late for an important date." This is a clear reference to the White Rabbit.
• In Heart no Kuni no Alice, a dating simulation game, Peter White takes on the role of the White Rabbit.

Images for kids

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  The White Rabbit leading Alice down the rabbit hole.

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  The White Rabbit from Tim Burton's 2010 film.

See also

In Spanish: Conejo Blanco para niños