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Character fact sheetName: Huey (ペンキー, Penkī in Japanese, from penki, "paint") First Appearance: Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U, 2016) Home: The Prisma Fountain in Port Prisma, Prism Island Voiced by: No credited voice actor Associates: Mario (party leader), Princess Peach, Luigi, the Toads of Prism Island |
General profile
Huey, known in Japan as Penkī, is the principal party companion of Paper Mario: Color Splash for Wii U (October 2016). A living, floating paint can whom Mario and Princess Peach find seemingly lifeless in the dried-up Prisma Fountain of Port Prisma, Huey is friendly and cheerful, a little greedy, shy in front of crowds, and quick to anger when paint is misused or wasted. He serves as Mario’s primary companion throughout the exploration of the colour-drained Prism Island.
Huey’s gameplay role is multifaceted. He functions as Mario’s talking party guide, delivering lore exposition, character commentary, and tactical hints throughout the game. He teaches Mario the Battle Card system that replaces traditional Paper Mario combat, gives him the Paint Hammer, and introduces the Cutout technique, which lets Mario use Thing cards, cut along dotted lines in the background to get past obstacles, and find hidden Battle Cards. He can also smell Paint Stars from long distances and absorb large amounts of black paint.
Huey’s defining narrative role is as the cheerful guide who accompanies Mario across Prism Island’s colour-drained landscape. His mission is to recover the six Big Paint Stars and restore colour to the island. Before the final battle with Bowser, he thanks Mario for his friendship, and after Bowser is beaten, he stays behind to contain the black paint and release it where it can do no more harm — one of the most emotionally affecting moments in the Paper Mario series.
Quotes
Enemies
Huey’s primary enemy is Bowser, whose black-paint scheme drains the colour from Prism Island. Bowser himself is covered in black paint, and during the final battle Huey turns back into his 3D form to absorb the black paint Bowser attacks with. Huey also opposes Bowser’s minions — Slurp Guys draining colour, Shy Guys, Goombas and other typical Mario series enemies — and the Koopalings who guard the Big Paint Stars.
Friends
Huey’s closest companion is Mario, whom he partners with as his primary adventure-companion throughout the entire Color Splash campaign. Their friendship has the dynamic of supportive-and-supported allies: Mario provides the physical combat capability and platforming skills, while Huey provides the magical paint-supply, navigation guidance, and tactical advice. He has warm relations with Princess Peach, who introduces him to Mario, and with the Toad inhabitants of Port Prisma and the colour-drained regions, whom he and Mario rescue across the adventure.
Appearances
Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U, October 2016)
Huey debuted in Paper Mario: Color Splash for the Wii U (October 2016), developed by Intelligent Systems. The game is the fifth Paper Mario entry and the only Paper Mario game released on the Wii U. Huey is introduced in the game’s opening: Mario and Princess Peach find him in the inactive Prisma Fountain, and when Mario whacks him with his hammer he wakes up, annoyed, before offering to grab something to eat. He then teaches Mario to battle with Battle Cards against a Slurp Guy draining a Toad’s colour.
Partnership with Mario (2016)
Huey’s partnership with Mario forms the central narrative through-line of Color Splash. The two characters traverse Prism Island’s colour-drained regions together, with Huey supplying paint and teaching new techniques. Their adventures include Huey sulking after Mario slaphammers a Mini Goomba off his back, being captured by a Green Pokey, getting struck by lightning at the Green Energy Plant, and nearly staying behind in Redpepper Crater’s hot springs.
Cutout Power and Battle Cards (2016)
Huey enables two critical gameplay mechanics in Color Splash: the Battle Card system, in which Mario’s attacks are played from collected paper cards (with the Battle Spin providing extra cards for coins), and the Cutout technique, first introduced in Cherry Lake, which lets Mario use Thing cards and cut along clear lines of the background to get past obstacles. Both are central to the game’s puzzle-solving and combat design.
The Big Paint Stars Quest (2016)
The game’s central narrative drive is the recovery of the six Big Paint Stars: magical artifacts whose recovery will restore colour to the entire Prism Island. Along the way Huey keeps mistaking Mini Paint Stars for Big ones, and after each Big Paint Star is recovered Mario’s First Strikes become stronger.
3D Cutscene Appearances (2016)
Huey is first found in 3D form; Mario squeezes him into paper form so he can use his paint. During the final battle with Bowser he returns to his 3D form to absorb the black paint, and if the battle drags on too long he is knocked out, causing an instant Game Over.
The Self-Sacrificial Ending (2016)
The ending of Paper Mario: Color Splash features one of the most emotionally affecting moments in the Paper Mario series: after Princess Peach is rescued, Huey tells Mario, Peach and Luigi to go back to Port Prisma without him, so that he can contain the black paint and release it where it can do no more harm, turning Bowser’s castle into a card. If Mario has earned every Super Flag in Port Prisma, Huey can be seen falling back into the Prisma Fountain at the end of the credits.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spirit (2018)
Huey appears as a support spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch (December 2018). He also appears in volume 53 of the Super Mario-kun manga.
Trivia & Official Sources
- Huey’s Japanese name, Penkī (ペンキー), comes from penki ("paint"). His English name is a male given name and a pun on "hue".
- Huey can float, smell Paint Stars from long distances and absorb large amounts of black paint, and he is strong enough to hold Mario by his handle.
- Huey introduces many of Color Splash’s mechanics, including Battle Cards, the Paint Hammer, the Cutout technique, the Unfurl Block and the Battle Spin.
- After Bowser is defeated, Huey stays behind to contain the black paint. If Mario earns every Super Flag in Port Prisma, Huey is seen falling back into the Prisma Fountain at the end of the credits.
- Huey is shy in front of crowds: he has stage fright during his act at the Emerald Circus, where his impression of a tin can angers the audience.
- Huey is a support spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- Huey appears in volume 53 of the Super Mario-kun manga, where he is drawn with a mouth.
- Huey is slightly greedy — the giant Coin in Mondo Woods gets his attention — though he values friendship more than money.
Sources
- Super Mario Wiki: Huey
- Super Mario Wiki: List of Huey quotes