Pelje is a supporting adult character in the anime Ronja the Robber's Daughter, where he belongs to the band of robbers led by the chieftain Mattis. He lives with the clan in Mattis' fort, an old mountain castle in the woodlands of early medieval Scandinavia, and he is one of the men who take part in the group's raids on wealthy merchants traveling through the forest. In appearance, he is a grown man with brown eyes and brown hair, sometimes rendered with an ochre tone, worn to shoulder length.

Pelje's place in the story is defined almost entirely by his membership in the Mattis robber band. He appears alongside his comrades in the shared routines of the fortress, including riding out on raids, keeping watch, and confronting the rival Borka band when it moves into the other half of the castle after the chasm known as Hell's Gap splits the building in two. He is one of the ordinary men of the clan who are loyal to Mattis, and, like the rest of the household, he is part of the close-knit community that regards Ronja, the chief's daughter, with fondness as she grows up among them. His personal character is not explored in great depth; instead, he functions as a dependable member of the collective whose conduct reflects the group dynamics of the robber band.

Because the narrative centers on Ronja's own growth, her friendship with Birk, and the rivalry between the two robber clans, Pelje remains in the background as part of the communal ensemble. He does not receive a personal story arc of his own; his development is tied to that of the clan, which gradually moves from hostility toward the Borkas to eventual reconciliation. His motivations are likewise those shared by the group: loyalty to Mattis and participation in the outlaw way of life in the forest. In practical terms, his skills are the common ones of the band, such as riding and raiding, rather than any individual specialty. Overall, Pelje represents the everyday members of Mattis' household who give the clan its sense of shared purpose and belonging.