OVA
Description
Elma Hoilie is a young Zolan girl who serves as one of the main characters in the story. She lives on the planet Zola, a world inhabited by humanoid marsupials known as the Zolan, and her daily life is marked by a dream to follow in the footsteps of her late mother, Maria Velázquez Hoilie, who was a very popular singer on the planet.
Elma has an energetic and bright personality, which is expressed through her constant enthusiasm for music. Her most defining trait is her deep admiration for the rock band Fire Bomber; she is a devoted fan and often sings their songs, sometimes translating the lyrics into the Zolan language. This passion for music is directly tied to her primary motivation: to become a famous singer just like her mother was.
Her role in the narrative begins when she encounters the wandering musician Basara Nekki after he is injured in a conflict with poachers. Elma rescues him, treating a cut on his shoulder with an antibiotic herb native to Zola called teptramiracine, which is necessary to protect non-Zolans from the dangerous bacteria carried by migrating galactic whales. After seeing Basara perform spontaneously, she immediately declares herself his apprentice and asks him to teach her, setting the course for their interaction.
Elma's family relationships form a significant part of her background. She lives with her father, Graham Hoilie, and often takes care of the cooking and cleaning for him. Her father is a whale hunter who became a macronized giant after losing his arm in an encounter with a legendary Great White Galactic Whale, an event that also claimed the life of Elma's mother. This tragedy has created a rift in the family, as Elma rarely speaks to her older sister, Liza Hoilie, who left home to join the Zola Patrol, the planet's police force, after their mother died. Accompanying Elma almost everywhere is her companion, a catsnake named Capy, who rides on her shoulders. According to director's commentary, Capy serves a practical purpose as an interpreter; when the creature is wrapped around her neck, Elma's words are heard in the common language of Earth, otherwise they would be heard in the native Zolan tongue.
Throughout the story, Elma's development is closely tied to her interactions with Basara. While she initially hopes for formal training, the lesson she ultimately receives is more about the philosophy of music. Before leaving, Basara tells her that singing whenever one wants to sing is what makes a song, a principle she immediately embraces after his departure. This experience reinforces the core message of her journey, which is to find her own voice rather than simply imitating another.
In terms of abilities, Elma is notably self-sufficient for her age, as she knows how to drive an auto tricycle. In later continuity, her passion for singing leads her to a successful career, with some accounts stating she becomes a singer comparable to legendary performers, while other sources indicate she eventually becomes a biologist who publishes a thesis on the behavior of galactic whales.
Elma has an energetic and bright personality, which is expressed through her constant enthusiasm for music. Her most defining trait is her deep admiration for the rock band Fire Bomber; she is a devoted fan and often sings their songs, sometimes translating the lyrics into the Zolan language. This passion for music is directly tied to her primary motivation: to become a famous singer just like her mother was.
Her role in the narrative begins when she encounters the wandering musician Basara Nekki after he is injured in a conflict with poachers. Elma rescues him, treating a cut on his shoulder with an antibiotic herb native to Zola called teptramiracine, which is necessary to protect non-Zolans from the dangerous bacteria carried by migrating galactic whales. After seeing Basara perform spontaneously, she immediately declares herself his apprentice and asks him to teach her, setting the course for their interaction.
Elma's family relationships form a significant part of her background. She lives with her father, Graham Hoilie, and often takes care of the cooking and cleaning for him. Her father is a whale hunter who became a macronized giant after losing his arm in an encounter with a legendary Great White Galactic Whale, an event that also claimed the life of Elma's mother. This tragedy has created a rift in the family, as Elma rarely speaks to her older sister, Liza Hoilie, who left home to join the Zola Patrol, the planet's police force, after their mother died. Accompanying Elma almost everywhere is her companion, a catsnake named Capy, who rides on her shoulders. According to director's commentary, Capy serves a practical purpose as an interpreter; when the creature is wrapped around her neck, Elma's words are heard in the common language of Earth, otherwise they would be heard in the native Zolan tongue.
Throughout the story, Elma's development is closely tied to her interactions with Basara. While she initially hopes for formal training, the lesson she ultimately receives is more about the philosophy of music. Before leaving, Basara tells her that singing whenever one wants to sing is what makes a song, a principle she immediately embraces after his departure. This experience reinforces the core message of her journey, which is to find her own voice rather than simply imitating another.
In terms of abilities, Elma is notably self-sufficient for her age, as she knows how to drive an auto tricycle. In later continuity, her passion for singing leads her to a successful career, with some accounts stating she becomes a singer comparable to legendary performers, while other sources indicate she eventually becomes a biologist who publishes a thesis on the behavior of galactic whales.