Kolorado
| Kolorado | |
|---|---|
 Picture of Kolorado in one of his letters to Mario | |
| Full name | Professor Kolorado |
| Species | Koopa Troopa |
| First appearance | Paper Mario (2000) |
| Latest appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024) (mentioned) |
- “Archaeology is about mystery. And you know, without mystery life is rather bland, hm? Maybe you should write this stuff down Mario.”
- —Kolorado, Paper Mario
Professor Kolorado is an adventure-loving, bold Koopa Troopa explorer and archaeologist in Paper Mario. A former student of Professor Frankly, Kolorado lives in Koopa Village, but is rarely home, preferring to go out on quests for ancient artifacts, to the displeasure of his wife. He is the idol of his neighbor Kooper, who eventually becomes his assistant at the end of Paper Mario. Kolorado is a parody of Indiana Jones, as they are both legendary archaeologists. Both wear similar outfits and go on quests for unique artifacts, and Kolorado is also chased by a Spiny Tromp similar to the boulder scene from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.
History[edit]
Background[edit]
Not much is known of Kolorado's life before Paper Mario, though according to a Toad in Toad Town, his interest in adventuring was inspired by Koopa Koot when he was once a famous explorer. In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Goombella informs Mario that Kolorado was a student of the renowned Professor Frankly. Kolorado seems to have followed the footsteps of his father, a fellow adventurer who died while exploring Hooktail Castle. It is unknown whether Kolorado knows about this or not. Kolorado later married and settled down in Koopa Village. However, he left the village frequently to explore unknown lands, frustrating his wife. Because of his journeys, Kolorado became well-known and respected in the archaeological community and also became the personal idol of Kooper.
Paper Mario[edit]
Kolorado is first mentioned during Mario's visit to Koopa Village, where Kooper mentions that Kolorado is his role model, and, if Mario enters Kolorado's house, he can find his wife angry at her husband for constantly being away from home. Mario and Parakarry can also find a letter addressed to Kolorado on Mt. Rugged and later deliver it to him.
During their mission to rescue the Star Spirit Mamar, Mario and his partners first meet Kolorado and a group of fellow explorers on the edge of Dry Dry Desert, where they intend to find the treasure of Dry Dry Ruins. After obtaining the Super Hammer, Mario can find an Artifact that he can give to Kolorado in exchange for a Star Piece. Later, Kolorado sends a letter to Mario's House, stating that he found the ruins, but did not find any treasure there. Moustafa also sends Mario a letter saying he saw a "suspicious looking Koopa" around the ruins, referring to Kolorado.
After rescuing the fourth Star Spirit, Muskular, Mario encounters Kolorado again in the Toad Town Port, where he is attempting to find a way to Lavalava Island in order to find a legendary treasure there. After a whale takes the two to the island after Mario cures it of a stomachache caused by Fuzzipede, Kolorado accompanies Mario to Yoshi's Village before rushing towards Mt. Lavalava after the path to it is opened. On the way, he is twice endangered by the inhabitants of Jade Jungle.
Kolorado ventures into the volcano with Mario, but is unable to find any treasure or even progress through the treacherous caverns without Mario's assistance or encountering other trouble. While Mario battles the Lava Piranha, Kolorado attempts to aid him, but is badly burnt and runs away. After the plant's defeat, Kolorado, Mario, and the newly freed Star Spirit Misstar try to find a way out of the near-erupting volcano when Kolorado notices a chest on a high ledge and tries reaching for it only to be endangered by the rising lava. He is saved by Misstar, and the group narrowly escapes from the volcano as it erupts.
Following the eruption, Kolorado is left too distraught over the lost treasure to leave Yoshi's Village until Mario finds the Treasure Chest, which miraculously survived the eruption and landed in Jade Jungle. After Mario gives him the treasure inside, the Volcano Vase, the overjoyed explorer gives Mario a Magical Seed in return and accompanies him back to Toad Town.
Once back in Toad Town, Kolorado attempts to go back to Koopa Village to see his wife only to find the path blocked by Kent C. Koopa, who demands one hundred Coins for passage. After Mario defeats Kent C., Kolorado safely returns to Koopa Village and remains with his wife for the rest of the game, though he mentions plans to explore the Crystal Palace.
Through the rest of Paper Mario, Kolorado is alluded to in two of Goombario's Tattles, in both of which Goombario impersonated Kolorado and his love for treasure. A Duplighost in the Crystal Palace also disguises himself as Kolorado, intending to trick Mario into thinking he was Kooper.
After Mario defeats Bowser, Kooper becomes Kolorado's assistant and leads him to Shiver City, where they are ready to embark on an expedition to the Crystal Palace. Upon arriving, Parakarry stops the two to deliver a party invitation from Princess Peach to Kooper and give Kolorado a message from his infuriated wife, forcing him to forestall the expedition and return to Toad Town. Kolorado is later seen alongside his wife in the game's ending parade, where they wave to the player atop the Whale and are sprayed into the air by its spout.
Tattle[edit]
- "He's the archaeologist, Kolorado. He's famous as both a scholar and an explorer. Unfortunately, he's also renowned for his carelessness. He's wild about treasures and ancient secrets, so he's always taking off around the world on some adventure."
Russ T.'s information[edit]
You know a Koopa called Mr. Kolorado, the famous explorer and archaeologist?
I have nothing but respect for him. Solving the riddle of the Candy Canes on Pleasant Path,
investigating Dry Dry Ruins in Dry Dry Desert, discovering many new facts...these are but a few of his accomplishments.
Recently, he found a treasure that proves an ancient civilization once existed on Lavalava Island.
According to Mr. Kolorado, a long time ago, people once lived on Lavalava Island.
I heard that these people used to live in the holes dug out of the side of the volcano on Lavalava Island.
But they they were forced to flee the island because the volcano became very active.
Even he couldn't find out what kind of people they were or where they escaped to.
Long after these mysterious people left the island, Yoshis and Ravens arrived, and they've lived in harmony ever since.
Letters[edit]
In Paper Mario, Mario can find two letters from Kolorado on the desk in his house as the game progresses.
How are you, dear boy? I've just finished my exhausting research of the ruins found by my unwavering efforts.
Sadly, I did not find any treasures as valuable as I had hoped.
I will press on, though, old chap! There are treasures hidden all over the world!
I hear them calling my famous name, asking me to dig them up!
How are you, old bean? Smashing, I trust. I'd just like to thank you for helping with that nasty volcano business.
Of course, I'm sure you're well aware of my own heroic role in the final fracas.
I've lately worried about my dear wife. How she must worry about me as I brave danger!
Perhaps it's time I returned home for a while. Feel free to stop by for a spot of tea!
- Kolorado
There is also a letter addressed to him, which Mario finds on the upper-left ledge of Mt. Rugged and gives to Parakarry in Chapter 2. After Parakarry joins Mario's party, the two can deliver the letter to Kolorado, for which he gives a Star Piece as a reward.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
If Mario reads Lumpy the Ratooey's journal, he discovers that at some point Kolorado went back to Dry Dry Desert and that Lumpy encountered him there during Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Kolorado helped Lumpy make his dream of finding oil a reality by providing him with shelter.
Mario and Koops also discover the remains of Korvallis, Kolorado's father, in Hooktail Castle (which Koops mistakes as the bones of his own father), while Goombella mentions that Kolorado was a student of Professor Frankly.
He is referenced an additional time in the remake in one of the Creepy Steeple Boo's quizzes, where "Kolorado" is the correct answer to "What is the name of the son mentioned in the letter held by the Dull Bones in Hooktail Castle?".
Personality[edit]
Kolorado is consistently portrayed as extremely courageous, willing to go into the depths of Mt. Lavalava to find treasure. As Raphael the Raven comments, this bravery often gives way to foolishness; Kolorado is also an ignorant character in his comical and constant misnamings of the whale (much to the whale's annoyance) as a tuna and Misstar as a starfish. Kolorado is a generally friendly character who is willing to help, but despite his intentions, never actually aids Mario in his quest. In fact, he is shown to be very weak; during his time on Lavalava Island, he is attacked by both Jungle Fuzzies and Spear Guys, and is unable to fight back against either of them, requiring Mario to assist him. This is demonstrated when Kolorado attempts to help Mario in fighting the Lava Piranha; although he rushes courageously at the monster, he is easily beat back.
Kolorado is obsessed with finding treasure, and his wife comments that he is rarely at home, always going on some expedition. Although there is no voice-acting in Paper Mario, Kolorado's text seems to hint at a stereotypical southern English accent, as he often uses phrases such as "tally-ho", "old boy", "old chap", and "old bean". A similar accent was also applied to Admiral Bobbery in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Quotes[edit]
- Main section: List of Paper Mario quotes § Kolorado
- "I'm known as Kolorado. I'm an archeologist, you know. I travel the world."
- "So close...Can't resist...By the Stars, I'll risk my life for that treasure!!"
- "Now then, gentlemen...It's time to scale the frosty heights to the Crystal Palace!"
Naming[edit]
Kolorado's name is a portmanteau of "Koopa", which he is based on, and "Colorado", a state in the United States. Likewise, both Kolorado and Indiana Jones share names with states in the continental United States.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | チャールズ Chāruzu |
Charles | [?] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 查尔斯 Chá'ěrsī |
Charles. Sometimes qualified as「查尔斯博士」(Chá'ěrsī Bóshì, Dr. Charles) | [?] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 查爾斯 Chá'ěrsī |
Charles | [?] | |
| Dutch | Koopar | Possibly a portmanteau of "Koopa" and the name "Caspar", which can mean "treasure bringer" | [?] | |
| French | Kolorado | - | [?] | |
| German | Kolorado | - | [?] | |
| Italian | Professor Charles Jones | From the Japanese name; his last name is a reference to Indiana Jones | [1][2] | |
| Korean | 찰스 Chalseu |
Charles | [?] | |
| Russian | Колорадо Kolorado |
Kolorado | [?] | |
| Spanish | Kolorado | - | [?] |
Notes[edit]
- Kolorado has been the focus of three editorials of Toad Town News in Paper Mario.
- According to the in-game description, most books on the bookshelf in Kolorado's room are about archaeology, but there are also a few that seem "somewhat less intellectual".
- The player can choose to ignore Kolorado while he is endangered in Jade Jungle, which results in him escaping unharmed and chastising Mario for not helping him.
References[edit]
- ^ «Vorrei solo fare un ultimo saluto a mio figliolo Charles. Buona fortuna, tesoro...» – Korvallis' letter. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Italian).
- ^ «Anche il famoso archeologo, il Professor Jones, è un allievo del Professor Goombastein.» – Goombella tattling Professor Frankly. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Italian).
