The Hootenanny

**"The Hootenanny"** is the seventh episode of the second season of *Centaurworld* and the 17th episode overall.

## Official Synopsis

All of Centaurworld's residents gather for the hootenanny. But can Horse turn this colorful collection of creatures into a fearless army?

## Plot

The day of the hootenanny arrives with centaurs coming from across Centaurworld for the occasion, each bringing their own traditions, which confuses Stabby who has never been to one before and sees a bunch of unrelated tangents. Wammawink begins worrying that they aren't prepared and the event will be a disaster, but Zulius steps in to take over organizing, reconciling with Splendib in the process, much to Ched's disappointment as he'd had a crush on the zebrataur.

Everyone starts settling in, and as Durpleton shows Stabby around he runs into his parents. Though he hopes for a heartfelt reunion, his parents soon show that they are as uncaring as ever, and Durpleton stands up to them; telling them that becoming a parent himself has made him realize how terrible they were, and that he no longer needs their approval. Wammawink is proud of how he's matured, but worries how everyone will keep in touch once Horse reunites with Rider, but Horse assures her that with the worlds connected, they can see each other whenever they want.

Ched then tells Horse that they have a problem, and a couple of birdtaurs pick up her & Wammawink to give her a different perspective, where she sees the holetaurs begin a song about a legendary holetaur figure: Guskin the gophertaur. However, when a disagreement starts between them and the coldtaurs, she realizes that each group is largely keeping to themselves instead of coming together the way they need to.

Meanwhile, the Woman is staying in the Beartaur's cave, which she rents a room in, much to his frustration as she is making a mess of his home. Upon realizing that she is depressed over failing to protect centaurwold and kill the Nowhere King, the Beartaur suggests that they set their own disagreement aside and go enjoy the hootenanny together.

That evening, things still have not improved at the hootenanny, so Horse (with help from Zulius & Splendib) addresses everyone and explains to them that the army she has been trying to build is made of a group of individuals who each use their unique skills to fight for a common goal, and that thanks to her friends, she believes all of Centaurworld can come together the same way. The herd then leads the other centaurs in a song of unity, finally bringing everyone together.

After the song, Waterbaby & Rider (as well as Becky Apples) arrive through the Rift and Horse and Rider finally reunite again after their reluctant parting of ways back in The Rift: Part 2. The group heads to the human world, where Horse and Rider begin forming their war strategy.

    Eventually the area rumbles with the sound of an approaching army. However, what the herd first thinks is the human army turns out to be the minotaurs lead by the Nowhere King. With both the human army nowhere in sight and the centaurs still at the Hootenanny celebration, Horse decides to use her magic to buy her friends some time by leaping into the Nowhere King's backstory, as it causes the person she leaps into to freeze and the minotaurs are controlled by the Nowhere King's mind.

She bids a tearful farewell to her friends before charging at the Nowhere King and taking her leap of faith.

## Features

### Locations

* The Rift
* The Human world

### Songs

* What's a Hootenanny?
* The Ballad of Guskin the Gophertaur
* Hootenanny Chorale

## Trivia

* Rider asks if Wammawink made enough "laughter snacks" because she incorrectly recalled the actual name of Wammawink's specialty: "giggle cakes".
* This episode foreshadows the gophertaurs' fascination with queso, which we don't find out until later in the series finale.
* The brief scene where Glendale vocalizes her handing out sweaters as gifts to every centaur who visits while in her public speaking persona is reminiscent of another well known celebrity.
* **Items stolen by Glendale:** a horsetaur wig

## Gallery

### Production art

*The Hootenany* episode color script by Jocelyn Liang, Background painterCentaurworld - Ballad of GuskinStoryboard animatic by Charlie Bryant, storyboarder
### Screenshots

What's a cataur's favorite beverage? - It's JUICE