Movie
Description
Rao is one of the central characters of the Sand Land anime, introduced as the elderly sheriff of Apato village, a small community in the northern part of the desert country. He is a stern but honorable man whose reputation rests on a strong sense of justice, and he is regarded in his town as a dignified and principled figure. Although he is old, Rao remains active and devoted to protecting his neighbors, and he is deeply troubled by the suffering caused by the kingdom's control over the water supply.
Rao's past explains much of his character. Thirty years before the events of the story, he was not a sheriff but a celebrated general in the royal army, known at the time as General Shiba. Rising to the rank of general at a young age, he became a legendary soldier and was considered the military genius who safeguarded the country. He was sent with his troops to destroy what he was told was a weapon being built by the Picchi, a peaceful race accused of planning to destroy the land. In reality, the Picchi had created a machine that could produce water, which threatened the king's monopoly and the plans of the army's supreme commander, Zeu. The mission was a trap. The materials the army had supplied exploded as intended, wiping out the Picchi, Rao's soldiers, and his own wife, an actress who lived in the area. Rao survived but was presumed dead. Believing he had committed a terrible crime, he abandoned his former identity and name, settled in a remote village under the name Rao, and took up the role of sheriff.
His motivation is shaped by grief, guilt, and a desire to do right. Rao feels responsible for the deaths caused by his mission and is determined to ease the suffering of people who, like him, live under the king's greed. He decides to act not as a soldier but as a civilian, searching for a new source of water that the king does not control. To accomplish this, he seeks help from demons, a bold and unusual decision for a human. He recruits the demon prince Beelzebub and his companion Thief, and the three set out together. As the journey continues, Rao learns that the weapon he was ordered to destroy was actually a water-producing device and that Zeu orchestrated the catastrophe to eliminate him and maintain control over the country's water. This revelation fills him with regret and anger, and his personal quest for water grows into a broader struggle against the corruption he once unknowingly served.
Rao's role in the story is that of the instigator and steady anchor of the adventure. It is his mission that brings the group together, and his experience guides them through encounters with the royal army. He is also the one who pushes for a reckoning with the authorities, eventually helping to tear down the dam that holds the water and forcing the king to give his wealth back to the people. Despite his age, he is a capable fighter and a highly trained soldier. He is especially skilled at operating tanks and other military vehicles, and he quickly proves able to command the tank he and his companions seize. His strategic thinking, marksmanship, and battlefield experience allow him to outfight younger soldiers and to turn the group's improvised vehicle into a serious threat. In close combat, he is also capable of defending himself, and he demonstrates practical skills such as disabling enemy equipment and using non-lethal weapons.
His relationships are central to his development. With Beelzebub and Thief, Rao begins his journey carrying the common human suspicion that demons are enemies of people. Over time, his interactions with his traveling companions change his perspective, and he comes to see them as trustworthy allies and friends rather than threats. He treats them with courtesy and respect, and the bonds formed during the journey help him let go of old prejudices. Against Zeu, Rao holds a deeply personal grudge, since the commander is responsible for the deaths of his men and his wife, and confronting Zeu becomes an important part of his arc. His relationship with the king is also defined by opposition, as Rao works to end the monarch's exploitative rule. Through these experiences, Rao develops from a guilt-ridden man haunted by his past into someone who actively repairs the damage caused by the kingdom, and he finds a measure of peace by dedicating himself to others.
Rao's past explains much of his character. Thirty years before the events of the story, he was not a sheriff but a celebrated general in the royal army, known at the time as General Shiba. Rising to the rank of general at a young age, he became a legendary soldier and was considered the military genius who safeguarded the country. He was sent with his troops to destroy what he was told was a weapon being built by the Picchi, a peaceful race accused of planning to destroy the land. In reality, the Picchi had created a machine that could produce water, which threatened the king's monopoly and the plans of the army's supreme commander, Zeu. The mission was a trap. The materials the army had supplied exploded as intended, wiping out the Picchi, Rao's soldiers, and his own wife, an actress who lived in the area. Rao survived but was presumed dead. Believing he had committed a terrible crime, he abandoned his former identity and name, settled in a remote village under the name Rao, and took up the role of sheriff.
His motivation is shaped by grief, guilt, and a desire to do right. Rao feels responsible for the deaths caused by his mission and is determined to ease the suffering of people who, like him, live under the king's greed. He decides to act not as a soldier but as a civilian, searching for a new source of water that the king does not control. To accomplish this, he seeks help from demons, a bold and unusual decision for a human. He recruits the demon prince Beelzebub and his companion Thief, and the three set out together. As the journey continues, Rao learns that the weapon he was ordered to destroy was actually a water-producing device and that Zeu orchestrated the catastrophe to eliminate him and maintain control over the country's water. This revelation fills him with regret and anger, and his personal quest for water grows into a broader struggle against the corruption he once unknowingly served.
Rao's role in the story is that of the instigator and steady anchor of the adventure. It is his mission that brings the group together, and his experience guides them through encounters with the royal army. He is also the one who pushes for a reckoning with the authorities, eventually helping to tear down the dam that holds the water and forcing the king to give his wealth back to the people. Despite his age, he is a capable fighter and a highly trained soldier. He is especially skilled at operating tanks and other military vehicles, and he quickly proves able to command the tank he and his companions seize. His strategic thinking, marksmanship, and battlefield experience allow him to outfight younger soldiers and to turn the group's improvised vehicle into a serious threat. In close combat, he is also capable of defending himself, and he demonstrates practical skills such as disabling enemy equipment and using non-lethal weapons.
His relationships are central to his development. With Beelzebub and Thief, Rao begins his journey carrying the common human suspicion that demons are enemies of people. Over time, his interactions with his traveling companions change his perspective, and he comes to see them as trustworthy allies and friends rather than threats. He treats them with courtesy and respect, and the bonds formed during the journey help him let go of old prejudices. Against Zeu, Rao holds a deeply personal grudge, since the commander is responsible for the deaths of his men and his wife, and confronting Zeu becomes an important part of his arc. His relationship with the king is also defined by opposition, as Rao works to end the monarch's exploitative rule. Through these experiences, Rao develops from a guilt-ridden man haunted by his past into someone who actively repairs the damage caused by the kingdom, and he finds a measure of peace by dedicating himself to others.