A thermal printer adapted for multicolor printing is provided with a thermal head which is driven according to information of color of character or image to be printed. The color information is previously stored in a memory. The multicolor ribbon used in the printer is composed of different color inks having different melting points coated in layers on a base film. In driving the thermal head, the amount of thermal energy generated from it is changed by changing the applied voltage to it and/or the driving time of it to perform multicolor printing with the multicolor ink ribbon.