Ghosts 'R' Us

Ghosts 'R' Us is the fourth episode of the Super Mario World animated series.

Plot Synopsis
Mario, Yoshi, Luigi and Princess Toadstool are searching the Enchanted Forest for the missing Oogtar the Caveboy. As the group searchs, Yoshi becomes increasingly uneasy in the haunted forest. After reassuring Yoshi that there aren't ghosts in the forest, Luigi bumps into a robed being.

Apologizing to the figure for bumping into him, Luigi is warned by Princess Toadstool that the figure is "Wizenheimer", "the most dangerous Koopa Wizard of them all". Yelling that it isn't Wizenheimer, its Wizardheimer, the Koopa Wizard ends-up scaring a panicking Yoshi away.

After frightening Yoshi away, Wizardheimer demands that Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool to jump into a nearby Warp Tube. The group refuse to enter the pipe, stating that it leads to a Haunted House. Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool are subsequently forced into the tube when Wizardheimer conjures-up a Bob-omb and threatens to blow-up the group. After Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool jump into the tube, Wizardheimer follows them in.

Eventually, Yoshi stops running and begins to worry about his friends. Before Yoshi can track them down Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool though, a large moan scares the dinosaur. Terrified, Yoshi runs-off, only to be chased by a "monster" who was, in actuality, the "missing" Oogtar.

While running-away from Oogtar, Yoshi nearly bumps into a wall of Piranha Plants sticking-out of Warp Tubes. Yoshi easily jumps over these Piranha Plants, unfortunately, Oogtar isn't as lucky and ends-up becoming stuck-in a Piranha Plants mouth. After begging for help, Oogtar is saved when Yoshi slurps-up the Piranha Plant chewing on Oogtar.

After Oogtar thanks Yoshi for saving him, Yoshi explains to Oogtar that Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool have been kidnapped by a Koopa Wizard. Hearing Yoshi's story, Oogtar decides to aid Yoshi in his search for their friends.

In the basement of Wizardheimers Haunted House, Wizardheimer begins to taunt the now shackled Mario, Luigi and Princess Toadstool. After Princess Toadstool asks Wizardheimer why he is holding them captive, the Koopa Wizards only response is, "because I'm an evil Koopa Wizard, I don't need a reason to be mean and nasty, its my nature!". Wizardheimer then leaves his prisoners, whose only hope of escape are Yoshi and Oogtar.

While looking for their friends in the forest, Oogtar and Yoshi are attacked by an angry Caterpillar. A panicking Oogtar is forced to drag Yoshi away, Yoshi having gone into shock due to the Caterpillars monstrous roars.

While fleeing from the Caterpillar, Yoshi comes across an ? Block, which he hits. A pair of Wings pop-out of the box, leaping into these wings, Yoshi gains the power of flight. With Oogtar on his back, Yoshi fluttered-up into the air and swooped-down on the attacking Caterpillar and with his sticky tongue, gobbled it up.

With the ability to fly on his side, Yoshi easily finds the Warp Tube his friends were forced down and with Oogtar, Yoshi ventures down it. Coming out of the other end of the Warp Tube, Yoshi is horrified to discover that Wizardheimer lives in a Haunted House. Deciding to leave Yoshi behind, the overconfident Oogtar began pounding on the door of Wizardheimer's Haunted House. Coming to see what the commotion was, Wizardheimer was met with Oogtar, who demanded to be brought to the Haunted House's dungeon to see his friends. An amused Wizardheimer agreed to take Oogtar to the dungeon, the Koopa Wizard subsequently zaps the cave-boy into chains in the dungeon.

Realizing it was up to him to save his friends, Yoshi, with the use of a Triangle Block, barges into Wizardheimer's Haunted House. Inside the Haunted House, Yoshi was attacked and chased by a gang of Boos and a Big Boo. After a long chase, Yoshi found himself in Wizardheimer's basement, face-to-face with the Koopa Wizard himself.

After almost being blasted by Wizardheimer, Yoshi, after getting some advice from Oogtar, used his tongue to slurp-up Wizardheimer's wand, leaving the Koopa Wizard powerless. Yoshi's subsequent burp from eating the wand shoots out a magical blast that freed his friends. The now free Mario defeated Wizardheimer by jumping on his head and sending him tumbling into the bowels of his basement.

Even with Wizardheimer defeated, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Yoshi and Oogtar were still trapped in his Haunted House. It was only after a failed attempt by Oogtar to break down the basement door that a magic key was found. Using this magic key, the gang were transported back to Dome City, safe and sound.

Trivia

 * The name "Ghosts 'R' Us" is a spoof of Toys "R" Us, the famous, international toy-store.


 * In several scenes of the episode various objects, such as ? Blocks and doors disappear, only to reappear later. Also, in several scenes, the "L" on Luigi's hat turns white on a black background. Also, while running from the Big Boo, Yoshi's shell/saddle briefly turns white.


 * When approaching the Haunted House, Oogtar claims that he "eats ghosts for breakfast". Coincidentally, the Paper Mario character Tubba Blubba would go on to eat ghosts as a sort of hobby.