Kroop
| Kroop | |
|---|---|
 Sprite from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | |
| Species | Koopa Troopa |
| First appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004) |
| Latest appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024) |
- “I appreciate that, Murphy! They ARE nice eyebrows.”
- —Kroop, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Kroop (also known as Mayor Kroop in the Trouble Center list) is a character in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. He is an elderly Koopa Troopa and the mayor of Petalburg. Kroop and his life experience serves him and the citizens of Petalburg during times of peace and of crisis alike.
History
Background
Kroop had a wife in his past. She is only necessarily brought up when Mario first enters Kroop's house. After this entrance, Kroop (who seems to be afflicted with bad eyesight) swiftly "identifies" Mario as a thief. After some ramblings, he eventually tells Mario that he can take any of his belongings; everything but his "pictures of him and the missus." After this is stated, he begins trailing off about memories before quickly getting back to the point.
Later on, if Mario accepts Kroop's trouble, the elderly Koopa mentions "dating the missus back before she was the missus." Apparently, his wife's father was very strict, always requesting that Kroop's wife be brought home before sundown. As such, on dates, Kroop would constantly watch the sun (even more so than he did his date), which was "kind of blinding, in a painful sort of way." He also mentions that he first told his wife he loved her (apparently by stating something about her shell in a loud voice) on a boarding platform as she left on a nearby train; situations such as this happen to be a movie stereotype, as Kroop himself notes. Before ending his long conversation with Mario, he talks about how he and his wife were madly in love and how his wife used to comb his eyebrows in a tender manner that he enjoyed.
Like all implied characters, little is known about Kroop's wife. Kroop has three pictures set up in his house, and, while these are possible candidates for his "pictures of him and the missus," it is hard to make out what they depict (if they even depict anything in particular at all). However, in the Switch remake, these pictures are now clearly visible, and they do indeed depict a younger Kroop as well as his wife in her younger years.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
When Mario and Goombella arrive in Petalburg and ask the greeter about the Crystal Stars, he states that while he does not know what they are talking about, the mayor might. Once Mario arrives at Kroop's pink house, he accuses Mario of being a thief before telling the plumber that Hooktail has the Crystal Star. Wanting her defeated to bring peace to the town, Kroop provides Mario access to Shhwonk Fortress, the site of the Moon and Sun Stones needed to open the path to Hooktail Castle.
After Hooktail's defeat, he wishes Koops luck on his adventure, and tells Mario how confident he was that he would be able to get the Crystal Star.
Kroop has a trouble in the game, in which he wants someone to talk to him. After Mario listens to his long speech, Kroop rewards the plumber with a Turtley Leaf. He, the Puni elder, and Mayor Dour are members of the Silver Club, and Kroop must be visited during the Newsletter... trouble.
Kroop is one of two residents in Petalburg that knows the whereabouts of General White. If asked, he states that the Bob-omb traveled to Creaky Key.
During the final battle against the Shadow Queen, Kroop, alongside other Petalburg residents, cheer on Mario.
General information
Physical appearance
In the present day, Kroop has large, bushy eyebrows, a white beard, a wrinkled face and green skin. His posture is poor and he requires a cane to walk. In the past, as revealed in the remake, his skin was a lighter green. His brown eyebrows, while still thick, were not yet thick enough to cover his eyes, and he lacked a beard. In both the past and present, he can be seen wearing brown shoes and a green shell; it is likely the same shell in both instances, as he calls it "antique" when speaking to Mario.
Personality
Kroop's personality is dominated by his age. Though he is quite knowledgeable, being the only one in Petalburg aware of the Crystal Stars and how to get to Hooktail Castle through the pipe, it is often difficult to hear what he is even being asked due to his hearing not being what it used to be. For example, the old Koopa calls Mario by the name "Murphy" (Japanese: マニオ - Manio) throughout the plumber's adventure. His memory is also poor to the point of worrying a Koopa Troopa in Petalburg. However, Goombella's tattle implies that his senility may be nothing more than an act to get what he wants, whether it be compliments about his eyebrows or not having to reward Mario for his heroism.
Though he can be grouchy, especially towards "kids these days", Kroop has a kinder side to him. After realizing that Mario is not a thief, he praises Mario for his efforts and enjoys talking to him, being sure to ask how he has been. When Koops decides to keep traveling with Mario, the mayor is there to see him off and reminds him that Petalburg will always be his home. Kroop truly loved his late wife, considering his photos with her his most valuable possessions and derailing conversations to talk about her. His memory of her is also relatively vivid, despite his previously mentioned memory problems.
Profiles
- Tattle: "That's Kroop, the mayor of Petalburg. He just babbles, whether he's alone or not. I just can't tell if he's really senile, or if he's just working that angle, y'know?"
Gallery
Screenshot from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Talking to Kroop in the remake
Kroop with the Diamond Star in Petalburg during the final battle in the remake
Concept artwork showing pictures of a younger Kroop and his late wife
Concept art showing Kroop wearing glasses
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | カメサブロウ[?] Kamesaburō |
Portmanteau of「亀」(kame, "turtle") and「三郎」(Saburō, an old-fashioned but common Japanese male given name) | |
| ハナハナ村の村長 (Trouble Center list and field Tattle name)[?] Hanahana Mura no Sonchō |
Petalburg Mayor | ||
| Chinese | 卡米三郎[?] Qiǎmǐsānláng |
Transliteration of the Japanese name | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 花花村村长 (Trouble Center list and field Tattle name)[?] Huāhuā Cūn Cūnzhǎng |
Petalburg Village Head | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 花花村村長 (Trouble Center list and field Tattle name)[?] Huāhuā Cūn Cūnzhǎng |
Petalburg Village Head | |
| Dutch | Koopaerts[?] | - | |
| French | Koopert[?] | Portmanteau of "Koopa" and common French name "Rupert" | |
| German | Kooperich[?] | Portmanteau of "Koopa" and common German name "Erich" | |
| Italian | Tartaddeo[?] | Portmanteau of tartaruga ("turtle") and the given name "Taddeo"; his name is only revealed in the Thwomp's quiz. | |
| Korean | 거북돌이[?] Geobukdori |
Portmanteau of "거북이" (geobugi, "turtle") and the Korean diminutive suffix "돌이" (-dori) | |
| 꽃잎 마을 촌장 (Trouble Center list and field Tattle name)[?] Kkonnip Ma'eul Chonjang |
Petalburg Village Chief | ||
| Spanish | Koopablo[?] | Portmanteau of "Koopa" and the Spanish name "Pablo" |
