Editing Kolorado

{{FA}}
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:Kolorado Artwork.png|70px]]<br>Picture of Kolorado in one of his letters to Mario
|full_name=Professor Kolorado
|first_appearance=''[[Paper Mario]]'' ([[List of games by date#2000|2000]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]]) (mentioned)
|species=[[Koopa Troopa]] 
}}
{{quote|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 [[Kolorado's wife|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 {{wp|Indiana Jones}}, as they are both legendary archaeologists, although the former's name is a portmanteau on "[[Koopa (species)|Koopa]]," which he is based on, and "{{wp|Colorado}}," an American state. 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 ''{{wp|Raiders of the Lost Ark}}''.

==History==
===Background===
[[File:PM Kolorado.png|frame|left]]
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 [[Kolorado's father|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]].
{{br}}

===''Paper Mario''===
[[File:KolaradoPMKoopaVillage.png|thumb|200px|Kolorado in his home town, [[Koopa Village]], in ''Paper Mario''.]]
Mario first hears of Kolorado during his visit to [[Koopa Village]]. [[Kooper]] mentions that Kolorado is his role model, and if Mario enters his house, he meets Kolorado's wife, who is angry that her husband is constantly away from home. Mario and [[Parakarry]] find a [[letter]] addressed to Kolorado on [[Mt. Rugged]] and plan to deliver it to him.

[[File:Koloradocamp.png|thumb|left|200px|Kolorado's camp on the western edge of Dry Dry Desert.]]
Mario and his [[partner]]s first meet Kolorado in person on the edge of [[Dry Dry Desert (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Desert]], which they were going to cross in an attempt to rescue the [[Star Spirit]] [[Mamar]]. Kolorado, along with a group of fellow explorers, is there to find the treasure of [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Ruins]]. When Mario discovers and subsequently explores Dry Dry Ruins, he finds an [[Artifact]] that he can give to Kolorado. Kolorado gives Mario a [[Star Piece (Paper Mario series)|Star Piece]] as thanks if the player chooses to do so. Later on, Kolorado sends a letter to [[Mario Bros.' House|Mario's House]], stating that he finally found the ruins (although Mario never told him that he had already found them), but did not find any treasure there. [[Moustafa]] also sends Mario a letter saying he saw a "suspicious looking Koopa" messing around the ruins, referring to Kolorado.

Mario encounters Kolorado again in the [[Toad Town]] Port after rescuing the fourth Star Spirit, [[Muskular]]. The explorer is attempting to find a way to [[Lavalava Island]] in order to find a legendary treasure there. Mario finds a [[Whale (character)|whale]] who agrees to carry the two adventurers to the island after Mario cures it of a stomachache caused by [[Fuzzipede]]. Kolorado then accompanies Mario to [[Yoshi's Village]] and when a path is opened to [[Mt. Lavalava]], he rushes ahead to the volcano. On the way, he is saved from the inhabitants of [[Jade Jungle]] twice by Mario, although the player has the option on both occasions to ignore Kolorado and continue through the jungle, after which Kolorado would somehow escape the enemy on his own and berate Mario for not helping him.

[[File:KoloradoTreasure.png|thumb|200px|Kolorado tries to grab the treasure in the depths of an unstable [[Mt. Lavalava]], but is unable to reach it.]] 
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. At one point, he is run over by a [[Spiny Tromp]] trap. At the halfway point of Mario's battle with 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]] venture deeper into the near-erupting volcano to try to find a way out. At the end of the volcano, a [[Treasure Chest|chest]] is discovered on a high ledge, and Kolorado makes a near-fatal reach for it as lava rises behind him. He is scooped up at the last minute by Misstar, and the band of adventurers narrowly escape from the volcano as it erupts.

Kolorado is distraught at his lost treasure, despite Misstar telling him he should be glad to still have his life. Kolorado is too miserable to leave Yoshi's Village until Mario finds the Treasure Chest, which miraculously survived the eruption and was simply blown to a section of [[Jade Jungle]]. After Mario gives him the treasure inside it, the [[Volcano Vase]], to Kolorado, the overjoyed explorer trades a [[Magical Seed]] for the treasure and accompanies Mario back to Toad Town.

Once back in Toad Town, Kolorado tells Mario that he plans to go back to Koopa Village and see his wife. However, during his return trip, a large Koopa called [[Kent C. Koopa]] blocks the path to Koopa Village and demands one hundred [[Coin]]s for passage. Mario helps Kolorado by defeating the burly Koopa, and Kolorado spends the remainder of the game in Koopa Village with his wife, though he mentions plans to explore the [[Crystal Palace]]. 

[[File:Kolorado expedition.png|thumb|left|200px|Kolorado on his expedition to the [[Crystal Palace]].]]
Through the rest of ''Paper Mario'', Kolorado is alluded to in two of [[Goombario]]'s [[Tattle]]s, 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, fulfilling Kolorado's past plans. When they get there, though, they are stopped by Parakarry, who delivers a party invitation from [[Princess Peach]] to Kooper and gives 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====
*"''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====
<blockquote>
You know a Koopa called Mr. Kolorado, the famous explorer and archaeologist?<br>
I have nothing but respect for him. Solving the riddle of the Candy Canes on Pleasant Path,<br>
investigating Dry Dry Ruins in Dry Dry Desert, discovering many new facts...these are but a few of his accomplishments.<br>
Recently, he found a treasure that proves an ancient civilization once existed on Lavalava Island.<br>
According to Mr. Kolorado, a long time ago, people once lived on Lavalava Island.<br>
I heard that these people used to live in the holes dug out of the side of the [[Mt. Lavalava|volcano]] on Lavalava Island.<br>
But they they were forced to flee the island because the volcano became very active.<br>
Even he couldn't find out what kind of people they were or where they escaped to.<br>
Long after these mysterious people left the island, Yoshis and Ravens arrived, and they've lived in harmony ever since.
</blockquote>

====[[List of letters in Paper Mario|Letters]]====
In ''Paper Mario'', Mario can find two letters from Kolorado on the desk in [[Mario Bros.' House|his house]] as the game progresses.

[[File:Letter6PM.png|thumb|Kolorado's first letter.]]
<blockquote style="margin: 0.5em 0 0.8em 1.4em; width: 66%; padding: 1em 25px 1em 30px; border: 1px solid #aaa; background-color: #F9F9F9;">
How are you, dear boy? I've just finished my exhausting research of the ruins found by <span style="color:red">my unwavering efforts</span>.<br>
Sadly, I did not find any treasures as valuable as I had hoped.<br>
I will press on, though, old chap! There are treasures hidden all over the world!<br>
I hear them calling my famous name, asking me to dig them up!
</blockquote>

[[File:Letter9PM.png|thumb|Kolorado's second letter.]]
<blockquote style="margin: 0.5em 0 0.8em 1.4em; width: 66%; padding: 1em 25px 1em 30px; border: 1px solid #aaa; background-color: #F9F9F9;">
How are you, old bean? Smashing, I trust. I'd just like to thank you for helping with that nasty [[Mt. Lavalava|volcano]] business.<br>
Of course, I'm sure you're well aware of my own heroic role in the final fracas.<br>
I've lately worried about [[Kolorado's wife|my dear wife]]. How she must worry about me as I brave danger!<br>
Perhaps it's time I returned [[Koopa Village|home]] for a while. Feel free to stop by for a spot of tea!
:Kolorado
</blockquote>

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 (Paper Mario series)|Star Piece]] as a reward.

===''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''===
If Mario reads [[Lumpy]] the [[Ratooey]]'s journal, he discovers that at some point Kolorado went back to [[Dry Dry Desert (Paper Mario)|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 also discovers the remains of [[Kolorado's father]] in [[Hooktail Castle]], while [[Goombella]] mentions that Kolorado was a student of [[Professor Frankly]].
{{br}}

==Personality==
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 (character)|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 Fuzzy|Jungle Fuzzies]] and [[Spear Guy]]s, 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==
{{main|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 [[Star Spirits|Stars]], I'll risk my life for that treasure!!''"
*"''Now then, gentlemen...It's time to scale the frosty heights to the Crystal Palace!''"

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=チャールズ
|JapR=Chāruzu
|JapM=Charles
|Dut=Koopar
|DutM=
|Spa=Kolorado
|SpaM=-
|Ger=Kolorado
|GerM=-
|Rus=Колорадо
|RusR=Kolorado
|RusM=-
|Fre=Kolorado
|FreM=-
|Ita=Professor Charles Jones
|ItaM=From the Japanese name, his last name is a callback to Indiana Jones
|Chi=查尔斯<ref>From [[iQue]]'s localization of ''[[Paper Mario]]''</ref>
|ChiR=Chá'ěrsī
|ChiM=Charles. Sometimes qualified as 查尔斯博士 ''Chá'ěrsī Bóshì'' (Dr. Charles)
}}

==Trivia==
*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".

==References==
<references/>

{{Koopa Troopas}}
{{PM}}
[[Category:Koopa Troopas]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Married characters]]
[[Category:Paper Mario characters]]
[[de:Kolorado]]
[[it:Charles]]