Movie
Description
Doctor Rao, whose full name is Bryak Lao, is a pivotal character in the narrative. He is the maternal grandfather of the heroine, Lana, and is established as a distinguished authority on solar energy. His knowledge is uniquely critical because he is the only person who knows the precise orbit of the artificial satellite, referred to as the "star," which is responsible for transmitting solar energy to a post-apocalyptic world.
In the past, Doctor Rao was a benevolent figure with a beard and a full head of hair. However, he suffered a tragic fate when he was shot down while trying to escape from Industria in a small flying boat. He survived but was left with devastating injuries, including the loss of one eye and a deep scar on his head. This physical trauma resulted in a completely different appearance, making him look akin to a bald, one-eyed monster. To hide his identity from the authorities of Industria, who sought to exploit his scientific knowledge, he adopted the persona of a man named Patchy, or Pachi. This disguise was so effective that even his own granddaughter, Lana, did not recognize him.
His personality under the guise of Patchy is a stark 180-degree contrast to his true nature. While Doctor Rao was originally gentle and compassionate, Patchy is deliberately portrayed as extremely blunt, rough, and ill-tempered. He behaves like a gruff and rowdy taskmaster, threatening to work Conan and Lana until they collapse. This harsh demeanor serves as a convincing cover, allowing him to live and work in plain sight within a branch of the Industria administration, with even the hot-tempered Monsky being deferential to him. Although he maintains this cold exterior, he does not truly harm his granddaughter or Conan, although his actions include striking Conan on several occasions.
Doctor Rao possesses notable telepathic abilities, enabling him to communicate with his granddaughter, Lana. This connection functions almost perfectly at close range, and they can exchange short messages even when separated by great distances. This psychic link is the reason Industria relentlessly pursues Lana, as she is the only person capable of locating her missing grandfather. Beyond his telepathy, his primary ability is his profound and irreplaceable scientific expertise regarding solar energy and the orbital mechanics of the power-generating satellite. He also possessed the skills to pilot a flying boat and used it to save survivors in the aftermath of the great war that devastated the world.
Doctor Rao's core motivation is to prevent the destructive potential of solar energy from being misused. He was fully aware of the intentions of Industria's leadership, particularly Lefka, and correctly surmised that his knowledge would be used to power weapons like the Gigant. For this reason, he steadfastly refused to help Industria, despite their desperate need for energy, and chose to go into hiding rather than contribute to a system he believed was corrupt and dangerous. His role in the story unfolds when Conan and Lana discover his true identity as Patchy. Following this revelation, he assists the group in escaping from Industria but later returns to warn the island's council of elders that Industria is soon to sink into the sea. In his final moments, his body is weakened and dying, though he maintains a connection to the world through his telepathic link with Lana. As the people of Industria escape by boat, Doctor Rao dies peacefully in front of Conan, Lana, and the refugees. He is one of the few characters capable of physically subduing the exceptionally strong protagonist, Conan.
In the past, Doctor Rao was a benevolent figure with a beard and a full head of hair. However, he suffered a tragic fate when he was shot down while trying to escape from Industria in a small flying boat. He survived but was left with devastating injuries, including the loss of one eye and a deep scar on his head. This physical trauma resulted in a completely different appearance, making him look akin to a bald, one-eyed monster. To hide his identity from the authorities of Industria, who sought to exploit his scientific knowledge, he adopted the persona of a man named Patchy, or Pachi. This disguise was so effective that even his own granddaughter, Lana, did not recognize him.
His personality under the guise of Patchy is a stark 180-degree contrast to his true nature. While Doctor Rao was originally gentle and compassionate, Patchy is deliberately portrayed as extremely blunt, rough, and ill-tempered. He behaves like a gruff and rowdy taskmaster, threatening to work Conan and Lana until they collapse. This harsh demeanor serves as a convincing cover, allowing him to live and work in plain sight within a branch of the Industria administration, with even the hot-tempered Monsky being deferential to him. Although he maintains this cold exterior, he does not truly harm his granddaughter or Conan, although his actions include striking Conan on several occasions.
Doctor Rao possesses notable telepathic abilities, enabling him to communicate with his granddaughter, Lana. This connection functions almost perfectly at close range, and they can exchange short messages even when separated by great distances. This psychic link is the reason Industria relentlessly pursues Lana, as she is the only person capable of locating her missing grandfather. Beyond his telepathy, his primary ability is his profound and irreplaceable scientific expertise regarding solar energy and the orbital mechanics of the power-generating satellite. He also possessed the skills to pilot a flying boat and used it to save survivors in the aftermath of the great war that devastated the world.
Doctor Rao's core motivation is to prevent the destructive potential of solar energy from being misused. He was fully aware of the intentions of Industria's leadership, particularly Lefka, and correctly surmised that his knowledge would be used to power weapons like the Gigant. For this reason, he steadfastly refused to help Industria, despite their desperate need for energy, and chose to go into hiding rather than contribute to a system he believed was corrupt and dangerous. His role in the story unfolds when Conan and Lana discover his true identity as Patchy. Following this revelation, he assists the group in escaping from Industria but later returns to warn the island's council of elders that Industria is soon to sink into the sea. In his final moments, his body is weakened and dying, though he maintains a connection to the world through his telepathic link with Lana. As the people of Industria escape by boat, Doctor Rao dies peacefully in front of Conan, Lana, and the refugees. He is one of the few characters capable of physically subduing the exceptionally strong protagonist, Conan.