Yoshi first appeared in Super Mario World, released for the Super Nintendo in 1990 in Japan and 1991 in North America, as Mario's rideable dinosaur companion. His tongue attack and swallowing enemies became one of the game's most memorable mechanics, and its sound effects were widely ripped and shared as games moved online. The clip spread through forums, Flash animations and later short video edits, where its retro charm kept it popular with Nintendo fans and meme creators long after the original cartridge era.