Ketcha [1] is an acolyte of the Holy One and a member of the Mani Tribe. She befriended Nausicaä when she was captured by the Dorok [2].
Biography[]
Ketcha is a member of the Mani Tribe. She became an acolyte to the Holy one and travelled with her when they captured Asbel and Nausicaä. After Nausicaä escaped, she accompanied the Holy One in looking for Nausicaä after her great shout to the Ohmu [3]. She was present during the Battle of the Acid Lakes [4] and saw the destruction of the Mani Tribe warriors. The Holy One and Ketcha survived, however, and later ended up in a Wormhandler village, which Yupa was also investigating.
She joins Yupa and Asbel in stealing the Worm Handler Brig [5]. When Miralupa appears in the enclave, they are forced to leave the Holy One behind. Ketcha is is overcome with grief, initially blaming Asbel and Yupa for the Holy One's sacrifice [6].
After the Worm Handler Brig is shot down [7], Ketcha, Yupa and Asbel are rescued by the Forest People [8]. They stay with the Forest People and travel through the Sea of Corruption [9], seeing the ruins of the capital city of the Kingdom of Eftal. Ketcha becomes friends with Ceraine and her brother Selm. The Forest People loan them boats [10] and they escape the Sea of Corruption, in time to encounter Mito and the Valley Gunship.
She later journeys with Yupa and Asbel to a large flat area in which they witness a battle between the the ships carrying the God Warrior. She runs out and begs for the ships to come back, but they do not notice her. She sits lonesomely on a hill or dune, which Asbels notices. Mito attempts to speak to Ketcha in Dorok, causing her to draw her knife in fright. Yupa intervenes, introducing them to Ketcha. Gol remarks that his Dorok was more than a bit rusty, sounding like the grunting of an ox. The Valley men thank Ketcha for her friendship with Nausicaä [11].
On her journeys with Nausicaä’s friends she goes into a Torumekian town in which she sees a slave trader whipping little children. Revealing herself she insults him in her native language. The Torumekian Slave Trader remarkers how he’d like to have a Dorok girl like Ketcha and adjusts his position. Ketcha showcases her martial prowess by kicking him to the ground. This causes Yupa and Ketcha to make a quick escape. Soon after she encounters a group of wandering Dorok emigrants. They explain that they were traveling to escape the onslaught of insects following the surge of the mold. They invite Ketcha to join them as she is young and in good health. Ketcha declines and later grieves for them remarking that though they were right to move and have many seeds that could be planted. They would reach nowhere safe by foot. [12] When the companions rescue Kushana, Ketcha shows hostility towards her, thinking that they should not give away their food and water, and telling her to hold her tongue, reminding her sharply that this wouldn’t of happened if the Torumekian Royal Family had not declared war.
Movie[]
In the film, Ketcha's role changes to being the assistant of Rastel and Asbel's mother, and she helps Nausicaä escape by switching places with her and exchanging the legend's iconic dress. In the movie it's possible to see that Ketcha's long hair is very dark brown and her eyes are also brown. Although her name is not mentioned in the film, it can be noted that is the same character because the physical characteristics are the same as in the manga in which it is mentioned that Ketcha's clothing size is the same as Nausicaä and they also exchange a piece of clothing in chapter seven. In addition, Ketcha has another appearance that it is in an official art of the manga where are some wellknown characters, but it can be seen in the background under the möwe there are the Holy one and next to him Ketcha in color just like in the anime, the only change is in her outfit that is the original from the manga that are a light pink dress and a light blue hat. Funfact, in the movie Ketcha wears jewelry earrings that in one scene are red, but in the other they change to be blue.
References[]
a See Page Conversions Between Editions to convert Deluxe Edition volume 1 (DE1) to other editions