Chris Colorado
| Company type | Animated television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Television |
| Founded | December 18, 2000 |
| Founder | Thibaut Chatel, Franck Bertrand, Jacqueline Monsigny |
| Products | Animated TV series |
| Parent | AB Productions, Studios Animage, Canal+, France 3, Mediaset |
Chris Colorado is a French animated series consisting of 26 episodes, developed by Thibaut Chatel, Franck Bertrand, and Jacqueline Monsigny. The production involved AB Productions, Studios Animage, Canal+, France 3, and Mediaset, with financial backing from the Centre National de la Cinematographie. The soundtrack was composed by Fabrice Aboulker. The show debuted on Canal+ in France on 18 December 2000 and was subsequently broadcast on FR3; it remains available on the Mangas channel.
Each installment has a duration of about 26 minutes. DVD editions are limited, with only a single French release containing the first four episodes.
Synopsis
Set in a dystopian future Earth following a devastating event known as The Great Crash—a disaster caused by a software malfunction that failed to detect an incoming meteorite which annihilated much of life—the story unfolds. Survivors established "The World Federation" to restore civilization. After many peaceful years, the tyrant Thanatos, commanding cyborg troops called Thanors, initiated The Mega War and conquered Europe. The resistance faction "The Centurions of Freedom," led by Commander Richard Julian, defeated Thanatos, forcing him to retreat to the devastated Glorious City. There, he harnessed a mysterious black substance derived from the meteorite—termed "Dark Torrent"—to rebuild his Thanor army and resume hostilities against the Federation.
The plot revolves around Captain Chris Colorado, an accomplished ex-soldier recruited by Julian. Chris discovers he is the son of William-Erwin Krantz, a famed Centurion who infiltrated Thanatos’s ranks but disappeared and was labeled a traitor. Though hesitant initially, Chris undertakes a covert assignment to uncover the truth about his father, his lineage, and the origins of The Great Crash—leading him into perilous encounters and crucial revelations impacting the ongoing conflict.
Chris Colorado
Serving as the central figure, Chris ranks among the World Federation’s elite soldiers and is an exceptional pilot with expertise in martial arts alongside doctorates in both law and science. Falsely accused of stealing classified plans by a clandestine group wary of his potential defection to Thanatos, he was dismissed from military service. Residing with his grandfather Samuel Colorado near the Grand Canyon, Chris is compelled back into duty as the chief operative for World Commander Richard Julian while pursuing answers about his father and his own identity.
Chippowok
An Apache belonging to the Hopi tribe and Chris’s longtime friend and trusted companion. Originating from a village close to Sam Colorado’s residence, Chippowok rescued Chris from Thanor pursuers and now acts as his guardian. He remains devoted to his tribal heritage but prefers not to use his true name ("Heart of Thunder"), often imparting traditional wisdom. He accompanies Chris throughout his personal quest and is later revealed to harbor affection for Chris’s sister Victoria (who now goes by Jennifer).
Richard Julian
Leader of the Centurions of Freedom who toppled Thanatos’s regime. He assigned William-Erwin Krantz a secret mission against Thanatos’s forces. As elected World Commander, Julian governs the World Federation from its relocated capital at Chichen Itza.
Jenifer Julian
The daughter of Richard Julian, later identified as Victoria Krantz, who is also the sister of Chris Colorado.
Rebecca Wong
Serving as both secretary and principal advisor to Commander Julian, Rebecca Wong underwent a transformation after an injury led to her arms being replaced with robotic prosthetics. Her demeanor is often perceived as detached and unapproachable. Formerly named Lily, she was once a political radical affiliated with the Steel Axe faction, which was dismantled by Julian. Initially skeptical of Chris, she eventually forms an alliance with him to support the World Federation and gradually develops romantic feelings toward him.
The Thanors
The Thanors are humans who were forcibly conscripted and converted into cyborg soldiers by Thanatos. They endure severe brainwashing and physical alterations, conditioned to choose death over capture through a temple-mounted device that triggers a coma-like state. Functioning as Thanatos’s main military force, they infiltrate the upper echelons of the World Federation as covert operatives. The army is led by a figure known as the "Supreme Thanor," who acts as Thanatos's deputy and bears a striking resemblance to the protagonist Chris.
Thanatos
Thanatos is the mysterious authoritarian commanding the Thanors, possessing psychic abilities derived from the Dark Torrent—a black liquid originating from a meteorite. His identity remains hidden behind a helmet, though he is recognized by key opponents such as Julian. His strategic objective includes recruiting Chris to his side.
French Voices
- Emmanuel Curtil : Chris Colorado
- Dominique Paturel : Richard Julian
- Maïk Dara : Rebecca Wong
- Benoît Allemane : Rear Admiral Jack Mitchell
- Pierre Hatet : Senator Herb Forsythe III, Governor of Moscovie
- Marie-Martine Bisson : Loren Krantz
- Valérie de Vulpian : Jennifer Julian
- Thierry Desroses : Chippowak
- Med Hondo : Atabaska
- Henri Poirier : Sam Colorado
- Edgar Givry : Venceslas
- Daniel Beretta : William Erwin Krantz
- Sébastien Desjours : Vladimir
- Philippe Dumat : Governor of Patanie
- Roger Carel : Professor Amton
- Jean-Claude Montalban : Major Duval
- Elisabeth Fargeot : Annouchka Krantz
- Guillaume Lebon : Doctor Storm
- Laurent Morteau : Additional Voices
English Voices
- David Gasman: Chris Colorado, Vladimir, Doctor Storm, Additional Voices
- Paul Bandey: Richard Julian, Chippowok, Senator Herb Forsythe III, Additional Voices
- Ed Marcus: Samuel Krantz, Captain Jack Mitchell, Thanatos, Wenceslas, Additional Voices
- Sharon Mann: Rebecca Wong, Additional Voices
Episodes
{{Episode list/sublist|Chris Colorado |-| Episode | Title |
|---|---|
| Title=The Destiny of Krantz |}
International broadcastThe show was transmitted on Toonami in the United Kingdom from 2001 until 2004. It also aired on ABC iView in Australia, Club RTL in Belgium, VRAK.TV in Quebec, as well as on ProSieben and Kabel 1 in Germany. Other countries where it was broadcast include Cartoon Network channels in Poland, Hungary, and Romania, along with Bulgarian National Television in Bulgaria, A1 TV in North Macedonia, Happy TV in Serbia, and ETV in Estonia. Additionally, it briefly appeared on the Middle East Broadcasting Center’s children’s network, MBC3. External links |