Send in the Clown

Super Mario World episode
"Send in the Clown"
Production number	403
Airdate	September 28, 1991 (English) September 18, 1992 (French)[?]
Writer(s)	Martha Moran
Featured song	"At the Circus"
Captain N episode	"Return To Castlevania"
<< List of episodes >>

"Send in the Clown" is the third episode of the Super Mario World animated series. This episode is notable for being the last episode where Kootie Pie appears, as well as the only episode where Dino Rhinos, Ball 'N' Chains, Big Steelies, and the Koopa Clown Car appear.

Plot synopsis

Outside in a field, Mario and Princess Toadstool are in the middle of a tennis match, using fireballs from a nearby Fire Plant as balls. As Princess Toadstool scores a point against Mario, she is congratulated by Luigi, who is acting as the game's scorekeeper. Princess Toadstool than proceeds to hit another fireball to Mario; before Mario can hit the ball though, Yoshi, the game's ballboy, gobbles it up.

Mario and Princess Toadstool in a tennis court with Kootie Pie Koopa putting up a poster.

Mario proceeds to scold Yoshi for eating the ball, saying he is not supposed to eat them, he is supposed to catch them only when they are out of bounds. As Yoshi calls tennis "un-fun," the scene zooms out and shows Kootie Pie Koopa and Big Mouth Koopa putting-up posters for the "Koopaling Bros. Circus". As Big Mouth begins to ramble and yell at Kootie Pie, the annoyed Koopaling shoves a poster in Big Mouth's face.

As Kootie Pie and Big Mouth continue to put-up posters, King Koopa flies overhead in his Flying Clown Head and using a conch shell, begins to make announcements about how the cave-people can visit the Koopaling Bros. Circus for free. The cave-people follow Koopa to a Warp Tube which leads to "the circus". As the cave-people enter the pipe, Koopa snickers to himself, saying that he hopes his dinosaurs enjoy a "cave-people casserole".

Mario and Princess Peach are still playing tennis, with Princess Toadstool winning. As the Fire Plant launches another ball, Mario makes a futile attempt to chase it, with Yoshi running after him. Mario and Yoshi end-up tumbling into one another. As Mario is helped up by Luigi and Princess Toadstool, he notices that all the cave-people are missing. As Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Yoshi look around, Luigi notices a Koopaling Bros. Circus and panickingly states, "Oh no! Koopa's at it again!"

Using the Star Path, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Yoshi warp to Neon Castle in search of the cave-people. Entering Neon Castle, the group notice that there really is a circus tent in it. Entering this circus tent, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Yoshi decide to watch the show and see what will happen. After a performance by acrobatic Koopa Football Players and tight-rope walking Mechkoopas, Big Mouth, the circus' ringmaster, enters and begins an egotistical speech, only to be stopped by Koopa, who has several "clowns" enter.

Performing various stunts, these clowns decide to include a rambling Big Mouth in their act, much to his annoyance. After being flung into a pool of green goo, an extremely mad Big Mouth begins to chase the clowns around, much to the amusement of the show's spectators; the only person not laughing is Luigi, who still believes Koopa is up to no good. Mario rebuffs his brother's claims, telling him to just enjoy the show.

It is only after an incident involving a pie-throwing machine that the clowns are revealed to be Rexes. As the crowd of cave-people flee to the exits of the tent, several Thwomps cover the doors, trapping everyone inside. Flipping a switch, Koopa and Big Mouth dump everyone in a large cage hidden under the floor.

Mario in a cage with Dino-Rhinos.

As Mario is hanging over the cage, Koopa begins to taunt him and shoves him into the cage. After Mario is in the cage for a brief moment, Koopa grabs him and brings him back-up and, shoving a chair in Mario's arms, he pushes his "dinosaur tamer" in a cage filled with Dino-Rhinos.

After easily destroying Mario's chair, a Dino-Rhino shoves Mario to the ground and, putting on a bib, prepares to eat him. As Luigi and Princess Toadstool mourn Mario's fate, Luigi helps Toadstool remember a Fire Flower was in the princess' hands. She tosses it to Mario to free him. Using several fireballs, Mario defeats the Dino-Rhino and its Dino-Torch friends.

Melting the lock on his cage, Mario runs through Neon Castle searching for something he can help his friends with. While searching, Mario is attacked by an armada of enemies such as Koopa Football Players, Dry Bones, Bowser Statues, Mechkoopas, and a Ball 'N' Chain. While fleeing, Mario bumps into a block which shoots out a feather.

Grabbing this feather, Mario transforms into Caped Mario. Using his new powers, Mario defeats Koopa's minions, flinging them at the Koopa king. Mario then proceeds to chase down Big Mouth, who seeks refuge in the circus tent. Once Big Mouth is in the tent, Mario pulls it down on-top of Big Mouth and Kootie Pie.

Approaching the cage holding his friends, Mario is about to release everyone when Koopa in his Flying Clown Head appears. Koopa from his Flying Clown Head calls out to Mario (after calling him a plungerface) that he would not do that if he were Mario; unless Mario wants to see his precious princess again. Holding Princess Toadstool captive, Koopa begins to hurl Mechkoopas and Big Steelies at Mario. Stomping on a Mechkoopa, Mario hurls it at Koopa, who easily dodges it. He then proceeds to try and crush Mario with the Flying Clown Head.

King Koopa with Princess Toadstool in his Flying Clown Head.

Evading Koopa, Mario (who tells him that he will not do any more clowning around and is being "koo-put") grabs another Mechkoopa and hurls it at the Flying Clown Head. When it smashes into the contraption, Koopa loses control of the Flying Clown Head, dropping Princess Toadstool out of the vehicle. Catching Princess Toadstool, Mario proceeds to release all the captives. After doing this, everyone returns to Dome City.

Back home, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Yoshi have their own circus for the cave-people, with Yoshi as the clown, Princess Toadstool as tight rope artist, Luigi as an ice cream seller, and Mario as the ringmaster and juggler, with Yoshi eating the rocks.

Gallery

• 

  Kootie Pie Koopa covering Big Mouth Koopa.

• 

  King Koopa in his Koopa Clown Car.

• 

  Mario just defeated in the tennis match.

• 

  The circus poster.

• 

  The warp to Star World.

• 

  King Koopa's Castle where the circus is located.

• 

  The circus tent in King Koopa's Castle.

• 

  The circus.

• 

  Big Mouth Koopa as a ringmaster.

• 

  Big Mouth Koopa and the audience.

• 

  Luigi wondering why King Koopa would have a circus.

• 

  The revealing of the Rexes.

• 

  Thwomps blocking the exit.

• 

  Luigi and Princess Toadstool about to fall into the cage.

• 

  The Cave People falling into the cage.

• 

  King Koopa taunting Mario.

• 

  Mario throwing a fireball in the Dino-Rhino's mouth.

• 

  Mario avoiding obstacles.

• 

  Mario obtaining the Cape power-up.

• 

  Kootie Pie and Big Mouth are caught under the tent when Mario pulls it down.

• 

  King Koopa dropping a Big Steely

• 

  Mario shaking hands with Luigi after he saves the day.

• 

  Mario and Yoshi dressed up for their own circus.

Cast

• Walker Boone — Mario
• Tony Rosato — Luigi
• Andrew Sabiston — Yoshi
• Tracey Moore — Princess Toadstool
• Harvey Atkin — King Bowser Koopa
• Gordon Masten — Big Mouth Koopa, singer #2
• Paulina Gillis — Kootie Pie Koopa, Female singer
• Dan Hennessey — Caveman #1, Caveman #2, Caveman #3, singer #1, dinosaur #1, big dinosaur, caveboy
• Stuart Stone — dinosaur #2

Animation and continuity errors

• In the original version:
  • When Mario says "Huh?", his voice distorts slightly.
  • After Mario says he will keep the crowd entertained by juggling, his mouth continues moving despite no dialogue being present.
• At the beginning of the episode, the circus in Dome City can be seen even though Mario and his friends have not hosted it yet.
• The score for the tennis match at the beginning of the episode can be seen to be 30-love before Luigi announces it.
• In several scenes, the "L" on Luigi's cap is white on a black background.
• In a couple of scenes, Luigi has four fingers on each hand instead of five.
  • Similarly, when Mario says that he and his friends should check out the circus, he has four fingers on each hand instead of five.
• When Kootie Pie is putting up a poster, her snout is the same color as her body.
• Big Mouth's head is off-model when he scolds Kootie Pie and when she places the poster on his face.
• In one scene, the rim around the Koopa Clown Car is white instead of green.
• When two cave kids enter the Warp Pipe, they move without moving their legs.
• When King Koopa says the Cave People will become food for his dinosaurs, his claws are the same color as the spikes on his shackles.
• When Mario goes out of bounds to hit the ball, the stripes on his gloves are the same color as his shirt. This also happens to Luigi when he and Princess Toadstool are holding onto their seats as they are about to fall into the underground cage.
• A small line appears on the light-blue mountain on the right for a brief moment when the Star Path is about to warp Mario and his friends.
• When Mario and his friends reach Neon Castle, a railing is layered over Mario.
• When Yoshi asks what doom is, his mouth moves before any sound comes out.
• When Yoshi says that the circus is more fun than tennis, a line on his underbelly appears on his left arm.
  • In the same scene, Princess Toadstool's nose is missing.
• Mario and his friends laugh upon sitting down despite there being nothing to laugh for at the time.
• When King Koopa says to bring on the clowns, the bottom of his feet is yellow instead of green.
• The audio temporarily goes out of sync in the scene where Big Mouth gets hit with a pie while demanding respect.
  • In the same scene, Big Mouth's body is missing.
• When the pie launcher starts launching pies, the crank does not move even though King Koopa is cranking it.
• When a Rex trips on a pie, the nose on its costume overlaps on Big Mouth as he passes.
• When Mario and Luigi notice that the clowns are dinosaurs, part of Mario's mouth disconnects from his face.
• When Luigi mentions that the circus is a trap, his teeth turn the same color as his skin.
• After a Rex completely rips its costume, it is green instead of purple.
• When King Koopa taunts Mario, his shell is briefly layered behind one of his shackles.
  • In the scene in the Romanian dub, when Mario pleads for King Koopa to not drop him into the cage, his mouth moves before any sound comes out.
• When Mario falls into the underground cage, King Koopa disappears.
  • In the same scene, his mouth does not move as he screams.
• King Koopa drops Mario into the cage despite immediately pulling him out afterwards.
• When King Koopa hoists Mario out of the cage, the spikes on his tail are the same color as the spikes on his shackles.
• When King Koopa instructs Big Mouth to reveal the Dino-Torches, the claws on his left hand turn the same color as his body.
• When Mario suggests grace to the Dino-Torch, his mustache overlaps its snout.
• Initially, the cage Mario's friends are in is underground, but when Princess Toadstool tosses the Fire Flower to Mario, it is at ground level.
• When the third Koopa Football Player starts swinging to Mario, a Block overlaps it.
• Fire Mario loses his powers despite not being hit.
• When the Koopa Football Players run to the door, they are depicted with spikes on their shells.
• When Mario jumps over the statue, he is layered in front of and behind the wall.
• When a Ball 'N' Chain swings over to Mario, Mario overlaps.
• When Mario lands onto the platform in the lava, the Dry Bones appears out of thin air.
• When Mario jumps onto a moving platform, he passes through it.
• When Mario screams upon seeing Big Mouth and Koopa Football Players, his mouth does not move. This is fixed in the Greek and Hungarian dubs.
  • Most dubs that retain the vocals of "At the Circus" with the exception of the Brazilian Portuguese dub also feature Mario's English voice instead of his dubbed voice.
• When Mario runs past Big Mouth and some Koopa Football Players, he can be seen layered underneath a Koopa Football Player.
• Mario is seen about to dive at King Koopa's minions but instead performs a twirl in the next shot.
• The scene where King Koopa is crushed by his minions has its background saturated.
  • King Koopa is flattened before his minions actually fall on top of him.
• Mario lands far from the peg when he stops gliding but is seen in front of it in the next shot.
• When Mario is near the peg holding up the circus tent, the "M" on his cap is white while the background is red.
• Kootie Pie's body shifts right for a frame when the tent collapses onto her and Big Mouth.
• When Mario rips open the tent, the lock on the cage faces away from it, but in the next shot, it faces towards it. When the cave people cheer for Mario after he saves the princess, the lock is back to its original orientation.
• When Mario sees Princess Toadstool in the Koopa Clown Car, his gloves are the same color as his skin. This also happens with Luigi when he is giving ice cream, although the stripes on his gloves are the same color as his shirt.
• When Mario jumps on a Mechkoopa, his eyebrows are brown instead of black.
• When Mario and a Mechkoopa duck underneath the Koopa Clown Car, they can be seen to be overlapping on it.
• When Luigi, Yoshi, and the cave people cheer for Mario, the stripe on Yoshi's tail is colored green instead of white.
• After Mario opens the cage, the cave people inside are missing.
• When Mario is shaking Luigi’s hand, the latter's sideburns are missing, while a line disappears from his back several times.

• 

  King Koopa's miscolored claws

• 

  The miscolored Rex

• 

  Luigi's miscolored gloves

Profiles

• Koopa's Stone Age Quests DVD: To feed his hungry evil dinosaurs, King Koopa lures the cave people to a prehistoric circus at the Neon Style and Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Yoshi must rescue them. But only Mario escapes King Koopa's diabolical trap. He must battle the flying clown head to rescue everyone else from becoming dinosaur snacks.

Dub edits

• In the original version, before King Koopa drops Mario into the cage with his friends, he mentions that his dinosaurs can handle Mario, despite him being high in cholesterol. This is not mentioned in the French, Brazilian Portuguese, or Latin American Spanish dubs.
  • In the French dub, King Koopa mentions Mario being high in fat instead of high in cholesterol.
• In the Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish dubs, Mario's voice is added when King Koopa taunts him.
  • Inversely, in the Brazilian Portuguese dub, Mario's voice is absent during the song.
• In the French dub, Mario mentions that the Dino-Torch's breath smells worse than a drainpipe. In the original, he speculates that "no one invented mouthwash yet."

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
French	Que le Spectacle Commence	Let the Show Begin
German	Herein mit den Clowns[?]	In with the Clowns
Hungarian	Kész cirkusz	Circus ready
Italian	Manda dentro il Clown	Send in the Clown
Korean	지상 최대의 서거스 Jisang Choedaei Seokeoseu	Big Top Circus
Polish	Dawacjie klauna	Send the clown
Portuguese (NOA)	Que Venha o Palhaço	Send in the Clown
Romanian	Dați drumul claunului	Let the clown out
Spanish (NOA)	Koopa Circo	Koopa Circus
Spanish (NOE)	Haced entrar al payaso (original dub)	Send in the clown
	Que Entre el Payaso (re-dub)	Bring in the Clown

Trivia

• King Koopa narrates the preview for this episode by saying, "Hey kids, the circus is in town! Come one, come all, to King Koopa's big top dinosaur show! We've even got a flying clown head! And if you don't know what that is, you'd better tune in!"
• The name "Koopaling Bros. Circus" is a reference to the real-life Ringling Brothers Circus.
• Mario's scream when jumping over the Bowser Statue is a reused scream from The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 episode "Recycled Koopa" when he and Luigi are dumped into the Warp Pipe to Brooklyn. This scream is not kept in any dub which removes the vocals of "At the Circus," nor is it present in the Brazilian Portuguese dub, as these dubs either replace the scream with an original scream or remove it entirely.
• This episode's final battle is very similar to the one in Super Mario World. As Koopa throws Mechakoopas at Mario, he throws them back, and Koopa attempts to crush him with the Koopa Clown Car and drops a Big Steely on him. However, when the Koopa Clown Car hits Mario, his cape does not disappear.
• The ringleader costume Mario wears at the end of the episode is very similar to the one he wears on the cover of Super Mario All-Stars a few years later, which would also become a costume he could wear in Super Mario Odyssey.