Return to Wartwood
"Return to Wartwood"Season 2 Number 12B 
Episode information
Production code
Written by
Storyboards by
Silver PaulDirected by
Previous Next "Night Drivers" "Ivy on the Run"
Synopsis[]
After realizing they forgot to get anyone a gift fromNewtopia, the Plantars come up with a risky plan to keep the town from finding out.
Plot[]
The Plantars return to Wartwood, much to the delight of all the townsfolk who welcome them with open arms. They decide to throw a celebration with food for their return. However,Stumpy mentions that he cannot wait to try a Newtopian coral hand fragment thatHop Pop supposedly picked up on his journey.Mrs. Croaker adds that the party should also double as a special gift giving from the Plantars from their trip. A nervous Hop Pop andPolly dragAnne andSprig back into the fwagon and reveal that before they left, they promised everyone that they will come back with gifts from Newtopia and made a list and hid it underneath the floorboards of the fwagon, but forgot about it. While Anne wants to be responsible and tell the truth, Sprig agrees with his family as they apparently promisedIvy a red sunshell to match his blue moonshell.
They collectively decide to create fake gifts and have them burned through some terrible disaster before the eyes of the townsfolk. Using a strange monster book made from skin, given to Sprig fromMaddie, they settle on summoning a Chicka-lisk, a terrible golden gift-eating chicken beast capable of breathing fire and turning people to stone through its gaze beam, but doesn't eat amphibians and won't attack unless threatened. They collect the items to summon him, which ironically took little to no effort despite the ridiculous lengths to get them, and successfully perform the ritual before heading out to the party. Anne and the Plantars stall everyone until the Chicka-lisk arrives with Sprig feeling even more guilty when Ivy expects her gift.
The Chick-alisk appears, in a rather magnificent display, and immediately goes for the presents (which through subtitles reveal that he comically thinks they are for him). The townsfolk, not wanting to lose the "gifts" the Planters "worked hard to get" for them, team up and battle the creature with Anne and the Plantars ultimately joining in after the Chick-alisk retaliates. The gifts end up getting destroyed anyway the Chicka-lisk becomes offended by their "Chicka-lisk formation" and leaves ("Okay, that's just offensive, you guys. Chicka-lisk, out!"). Despite the plan working, Anne coaxes the Plantars to come clean. Everyone is angry and disappointed that they did not get any gifts, but admit that they are glad to see the Plantars being themselves again as life in Wartwood was boring without them. Ivy tells Sprig that he can make it up to her by going on a date with her and kisses him, much to Anne's delight.
Cast[]
- Brenda Song asAnne Boonchuy
- Justin Felbinger asSprig Plantar
- Bill Farmer asHop Pop Plantar
- Amanda Leighton asPolly Plantar
- Katie Crown asIvy Sundew
- James Patrick Stuart asOne-Eyed Wally
- Stephen Root asMayor Toadstool
- Laila Berzins asSadie Croaker
- Brian Maillard asLeopold Loggle
- Jill Bartlett asMaddie Flour
- John DiMaggio asStumpy
- Jack McBrayer asToadie
- Matt Braly as Chuck
- Kaitlyn Robrock asFelicia Sundew
- Mona Marshall asSylvia Sundew (uncredited)
Trivia[]
General[]
- This episode, as well as "Night Drivers", chronologically take place after the events in "A Day at the Aquarium" and before "The Shut-In!".
- This episode, along with its sister episode, aired onFebruary 16, 2021 in Greece, the Middle East, and North Africa. It was leaked online shortly afterwards.
- The Chick-alisk actually originated in the pitch pilot for the series, which would eventually get turned into the episode "Best Fronds". It was going to be the monster Anne and Sprig battled. In the final version of the episode, they battle a giant water snake.
- At the beginning of the episode, Hop Pop partially recreates the "Just Right" meme, which originated fromThe Emperor's New Groove.
- Sadie is more welcoming to Sprig, but finds his voice "irritating" referencing the episode "Cracking Mrs. Croaker".
- Rosemary, Lavender, and Ginger, having previously made appearances inthe theme song and "Civil Wart" are confirmed to be part of Maddie's family as of this episode.
- One-Eyed Wally's history is still a secret to the rest of Wartwood.
- There are tulips outside the Plantars' house as Chuck grew them ("I grew tulips").
- The book of monsters that Maddie gave to Sprig resembles the Book of the Dead from theEvil Dead film series.
- The Chicka-lisk is a combination of aBasan, a fire-breathing bird from Japanese folklore, as well as a basilisk and a cockatrice, both dragon-like creatures with a petrifying gaze from European folklore (all of which resemble chickens). Many of its actions are lifted straight from theGodzilla andDragon Ball franchises. His theme, which is a chanting of "Chick-alisk", sounds similar to "Sephiroth's Theme" fromFinal Fantasy VII.
- Mayor Toadstool claims that they have a formation for every predator. They previously showed off their mantis formation in the very first episode "Anne or Beast?"
- Felicia Sundew and Chuck's voice actors are only listed under additional voices while Mona Marshall as Sylvia Sundew is not listed in the credits at all.
- After the Chicka-lisk leaves, Anne says “Finger Licking Gone”. This is a reference to theKentucky Fried Chicken slogan, "Finger Lickin' Good".
Continuity[]
- Sprig tells Ivy when he got eaten by the Ant Queen from "Marcy at the Gates".
Gallery[]
International Premieres[]
- February 16,2021 (Middle East)
- June 25,2021 (Australia and New Zealand) (Premiere onDisney+)
- July 28, 2021 (United Kingdom &Italy) (Premieres onDisney+)
- January 10, 2022 (Portugal)
