History Main / FollowTheWhiteRabbit

** Not to mention SuperMario64, where there are ''two'' instances where you must chase and catch a rabbit in order to obtain two of the power stars. The rabbit in question even mentions that ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland he's late]]''.

* BirdBoy [[http://bird-boy.com/volume-1-page-11 Trying to spear the bird leads him into the woods]].

* ''MyNeighborTotoro''. Chibi Totoro even looks like a little rabbit.

* In ''MiyukiChanInWonderland'' this parodies the original (and this trope) by having Miyuki chase a PlayboyBunny on a skateboard.

* In DevonMonk's Literature/AllieBeckstrom novel ''Magic in the Blood'', Allie alludes to it, calling her guide a white rabbit.

* In ''WesternAnimation/NightmareBeforeChristmas'', Jack discovers Christmas Town by following Zero, the little ghost dog with a pumpkin nose.

It can be a form of MaybeMagicMaybeMundane, if anyone brings up the fact that it was an amazing coincidence, sceptical characters can still reasonably argue that it was indeed just the coincidence. Huntsmen often chase TheMarvelousDeer.

* ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'', the TropeNamer.

** Also, "follow the spiders" from ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets Chamber of Secrets]]''.
** ''Literature/PrisonerOfAzkaban'' has Ron blindly chase after Scabbers when he bites Ron and runs away from him... unfortunately for the Trio, they follow Scabbers right to the base of the Whomping Willow and into the jaws of a giant black dog.
* In "Fable of the Goat," a short story by Galician-Israeli author Shmuel Yosef Agnon, an Eastern European Jewish boy, curious as to how his often-wandering goat always returns with such sweet milk, follows it into a cave which magically leads to what is now Israel.

* In ''TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'':

* In ''TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', Jack discovers Christmas Town by following Zero, the little ghost dog with a pumpkin nose.

** In ''HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', Harry finds a PlotCoupon when following a glowing doe in the forest, though he knew that it's just someone's Patronus, not a real doe.

** ''ThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' has Ron blindly chase after Scabbers when he bites Ron and runs away from him...unfortunately for the Trio, they follow Scabbers right to the base of the Whomping Willow and into the jaws of a giant black dog.

* W H Auden - ''The Quest'' - XV Lucky

* ''{{Lost}}'' uses not an animal but the image of Jack's father to lead Him to the caves in the episode "White Rabbit"

* In ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'', spooking a green-furred ape with Force and then seeing which way it runs is the key to navigating Morgal Forest. Though, you could also do it by using a guide, or if you're very, ''very'' patient, by trial and error.

* The first part of the TrappedSeries has this exact quote as its subtitle, and a rabbit statue is essential to solving a puzzle.

** Also, "follow the spiders" from ''TheChamberOfSecrets''.

* ''VideoGame/Manhunt'' features a mission ("Kill the Rabbit") in which you are required to follow a guy in a white rabbit costume who attempts to lure you to your death.

* ''TheSecretGarden'' had this with the children following a bird.

* Happens literally in Sir Peter-arc of ''RuleOfRose'', where you must find and return the titular pet to the Aristocrat Club. [[spoiler:Poor creature won't survive the chapter, but his death parallels closely to another one that takes place much later in the storyline, with some unfunny irony.]]

The implication seems to be, that animals are inherently magical creatures, serving as the channels of ThePowersThatBe, and subtly guiding humans.

* ''Film/TheMatrix'' referenced the trope, with this name.

* In ''MuddleEarth'', the protagonist is transported to the magical world while chasing after his dog.

** Revisited in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'' when following a mysterious white-haired beast-girl (from the nation of Morgal, no less) seems to be guiding you through Teppe Ruins. Then she introduces herself and reveals that she ''was'' leading you, and needs you to do her a favor before she'll continue doing so. One of Matthew's possible reactions suggests [[ShipTease he enjoyed chasing her around]].

It can be a form of MaybeMagicMaybeMundane, if anyone brings up the fact that it was an amazing coincidence, sceptical characters can still reasonably argue that it was indeed just the coincidence.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/TheMatrix'' referenced the trope, with this name.
* ''TheSecretGarden'' had this with the children following a bird.
* In ''TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'':
** A robin leads the children to the Beavers' dam, indirectly.
** It's inverted later when they are hunting for the White Stag, and it leads them back to the gate to the normal world.
* Happens several times in ''Film/PansLabyrinth''. On the way to her new home she follows a big bug to find a pagan-esque statue in the woods, later she follows the same bug to find the large stone structure in the labyrinth by her house, and the Faun.
* In ''TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', Jack discovers Christmas Town by following Zero, the little ghost dog with a pumpkin nose.

* In ''ThePrinceOfEgypt'', Moses is led by a stray sheep to the Burning Bush.

* In PeterSBeagle's ''Tamsin'', Jenny's cat leads her to the ghosts and kicks off the plot.