Der Kinderlumper

You know, a gigantic troll with sharp teeth, nose like a broom handle, he grabs children, puts them in a gundersack if they... you never heard of this?

The boys create Rutabaga-themed vehicles when Candace is chosen to be Rutabaga princess and gets to start the "Running of the Chinchillas." Across town, Doofenshmirtz plans to turn himself into a real live Kinderlumper to scare Roger into relinquishing control of the Tri-State Area over to him.

Episode Summary
The episode opens at Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated in the middle of the night. Dr. Doofenshmirtz wakes up from a nightmare about the Kinderlumper, before coming to an evil realization.

The next day, Candace is dressed as the Rutabaga Princess, preparing for the 100th Annual Running of the Chinchillas. Stacy figures out that Candace wants to be Rutabaga Princess so she can be on TV, hopefully escalating her path to stardom, and making Stacy "famous by association."

Phineas calls out to Candace, having had Baljeet genetically alter rutabaga to make vehicles for her to ride in during the Running as he, Ferb, Buford, Baljeet, and Isabella demonstrate the vehicles, Candace declines and leaves with Stacy to start the Running. Meanwhile, Linda realizes she needs to be in Badgertown for the end of the Running, Perry enters his lair, where Major Monogram and Carl are handicapping the Running. Monogram tells Perry that Doofenshmirtz is planning to attend, and must be up to something. Perry leaves.

At the start of the Running, newsman Mike Van Hatofapilgrim reports while Candace initiates the event with the help of her Tuber Troubadour, Irving. The Running starts, and Candace and Stacy run alongside the chinchillas. Over at D. E. Inc., Perry arrives as Doofenshmirtz is putting the finishing touches on his Kinderlumper-inator. The scientist announces that he is planning to turn himself into a Kinderlumper, but Perry has never heard of the Kinderlumper. Doofenshmirtz explains the tale of the Kinderlumper by means of a song that his mother used to sing to him: the Kinderlumper is a giant, nasty troll who takes misbehaving children and puts them in a gundersack.

After telling the story, Doofenshmirtz enters his Kinderlumper costume, planning to turn himself into a Kinderlumper and scare his brother into giving up control of the Tri-State Area. He activates the -inator, but Perry starts fighting him, and they both get zapped, turning into Kinderlumpers. The -inator fires again, straight through the hole Perry used to get into the building.

While Candace and Stacy are still running, the ray hits the chinchillas behind them, turning them giant and troll-like. The two girls see this and take off. The chinchillas knock over the news van, and Mike tells his assistant to call in a news chopper. Back at D. E. Inc., Perry has destroyed the Kinderlumper-inator, along with everything else in the building. Doofenshmirtz lures him towards a giant X on the floor before dropping a cage on him, trapping him. He then leaves to scare his brother at the end of the Running.

At the Flynn-Fletcher house, the kids are preparing to cheer Candace on, when the two girls come running up to tell them about the giant chinchillas. They all get in the rutabaga vehicles to flee, as Mike continues to report from the chopper. However, the vehicles are not fast enough, and all the kids are gradually overcome by the wave of chinchillas. Candace and Stacy's vehicle crashes into a fire hydrant; Stacy is trapped and tells Candace to run as she too is stampeded. At the Running's finish line, Melanie tells Roger that the chinchillas should be there soon, but is frightened by the giant Kinderlumper (Doofenshmirtz) arriving. Roger, however, is excited. Doofenshmirtz is confused by his brother's lack of terror, but Roger tells him that their mother sang him a version presenting the Kinderlumper as a loving, gift-bringing creature.

The ray's effects wear off, turning Doofenshmirtz, Perry, and the chinchillas back to normal. Candace dramatically reaches the end of the Running, telling her parents to save themselves, before the now-normal chinchillas run over her. Lawrence asks Linda if she was this dramatic when she was Rutabaga Princess; she affirms. The kids and Stacy run up to Candace, congratulating her on her excellent Running as Rutabaga Princess. Candace asks how they weren't stampeded; Phineas reveals that they were, but the chinchillas were fluffy enough that no one was harmed. Mike comes up and reveals that they got it all on tape, including the kids and the rutabaga vehicles, pleasing Candace. However, the chinchillas climb in the helicopter (with the camera inside) and pilot it away, to Mike and Candace's chagrin. Phineas then sees Perry and greets him.

Songs

 * Der Kinderlumper

End Credits
Young Heinz is bouncing on his bed when his mother comes in to warn him: if he doesn't stop, he'll be visited by the Kinderlumper. Heinz goes to bed, but the Kinderlumper immediately appears in the window.

I Know What We're Gonna Do Today!
None.

The "Too Young" Line
None.

What'cha doin'?
None.

Perry's entrance to his lair
Perry places a black hole on the wall, climbs through it, and removes it.

Evil Jingle
None.

Background Information

 * "Kinderlumper" seems to be the match-up of two German words: "kinder" and "lumper", which means "children" and "stevedore".
 * Third time that Candace becomes a princess. ("Lights, Candace, Action!", "Make Play")
 * It is revealed Candace doesn't like rutabaga.
 * Sixth episode to begin at Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc. ("Hail Doofania!", "A Real Boy", "The Remains of the Platypus", "When Worlds Collide", "Blackout!").
 * Tenth episode to begin at night. ("Traffic Cam Caper", "Elementary My Dear Stacy", "Oh, There You Are, Perry", "Invasion of the Ferb Snatchers", "Candace Gets Busted", "That's the Spirit", "When Worlds Collide", "Blackout!", "Happy New Year!")
 * First time that Roger sings.
 * It's revealed that Roger doesn't like almond brittle.
 * Irving breaks the Fourth wall by looking directly at the audience.
 * Mike Van Hatofapilgrim is the second news reporter to have a last name styled "X of a(n) Y" (Gordon Gutsofanemu in "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!" and "Sci-Fi Pie Fly").

Production Information

 * This episode was aired on Disney Channel on Demand on February 8, 2013.
 * This episode debuted on February 15 at 9:30 PM ET/PT instead of the usual 9 PM slot.

Continuity

 * Candace is seen no interests in music again. ("Wizard of Odd", "Bully Bust")

Errors

 * When Phineas grabs Perry, the lines on Ferb's clothes disappear briefly.Linesgone.jpg

Allusions

 * Running of the Bulls - The Running of the Chinchillas is reminiscent of this famous real-life annual event held in Pamplona, Spain.
 * The Clapper - Doofenshmirtz activates everything in his building with two claps, just like this device.
 * How the Grinch Stole Christmas - During the song Der Kinderlumper, he slithers similarly to how the Grinch in the Christmas special does.
 * Minnie the Moocher and The Blues Brothers - Doofenshmirtz's song and dance are very similar to this 1931 Cab Calloway tune and his "Moonwalk"-inspired dance. This song also inspired the 1932 Betty Boop short, also titled Minnie the Moocher, which featured Calloway's song and dance in the form of an animated walrus. In addition, the setting and costumes from Doofenshmirtz's back story song mimics Calloway's "Minnie The Moocher" performance from this film.
 * Krampus - The legend of a demonic beast that carries off naughty children and puts them in his sack comes from Krampus, St. Nicholas's assisstant in early folklore.
 * Looney Tunes - The hole Perry uses is similar to "the portable hole" from the short "The Hole Idea"

Cast

 * Vincent Martella as Phineas
 * Ashley Tisdale as Candace
 * Thomas Sangster as Ferb
 * Caroline Rhea as Mom
 * Dan Povenmire as Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Additional voices
 * Jeff "Swampy" Marsh as Major Monogram, Additional voices
 * Tyler Alexander Mann as Carl
 * Richard O'Brien as Dad
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Perry, Additional voices
 * Alyson Stoner as Isabella
 * Bobby Gaylor as Buford
 * Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet
 * Kelly Hu as Stacy Hirano
 * Jack McBrayer as Irving
 * John O'Hurley as Roger
 * Cloris Leachman as Doofenshirtz's Mom
 * Pamela Adlon as Melanie, Additional voices
 * Gordon Tokumatsu as Mike Van Hatofapilgrim