Ohmu

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Ohmu are a species that features in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Contents

History

Ohmu (Japanese: 王蟲, Hepburn: Ōmu?) were a race of large terrestrial arthropod that formed on Earth following the Seven Days of Fire that engulfed the planet which transformed much of the surface into the hostile Cursed Earth. The Ohmu were one of many creatures that the previous humans had created in order to purify their polluted world, in addition to the plants and other insects that live in the Sea of Corruption.

Nausicaä came to encounters an Ohmu where she proved to be very good at communicating with them to the point of even being able to hear their calls. Eventually, she met a herd of Ohmu at the Acid Lakes, where she rescued a baby Ohmu. Whilst there, she held it into the air by the feelers of the Ohmu. After this, the Ohmu headed south into Dorok lands due to the Dorok having bioengineered a fungus to wipe out the Torumekian Army. The Ohmu ended up sacrificing themselves to spread the forest.

Overview

In appearance, Ohmu were enormous insects that were covered by a hard shell and moved on multiple legs with them possessing multiple eyes as well as feelers. They had 14 eyes which were usually blue but turned red when the Ohmu had been angered. Due to their great size, they can destroy entire settlements in this state, and the spores from forest plants which they scatter as they move can kill crops and render an area unsuitable for human life if left unchecked.

However, the molted exoskeletons of the creatures were stronger than ceramics, capable of resisting most human weaponry, and thus highly sought-after as material for weapons, tools, and structures.

Ohmu seem to have some unusual abilities. They possess a powerful empathy which causes them to reciprocate human emotions: responding to aggression with aggression, peaceful gestures with tranquility. The touch of their tentacles can heal human injury, even seemingly fatal wounds. In the manga, Ohmu are capable of generating a gelatinous substance known only as "serum". This mysterious gel can provide oxygen to the blood of a human even if the human is not breathing, and will protect a human from the harmful effects of the forest's toxic spores. Ohmu serum is held in high regard by worm-handlers, who seem to believe it has magical properties. The blood of an Ohmu is deep blue in color. Other insects will not attack a human whose body or clothing has been coated in Ohmu blood. The Ohmu have many eyes. When they are bright red, it is enraged; when they are a very light blue, it is closing its' eyes; when they are light blue, it has its' eyes open.

The film suggests that infant Ohmu are approximately the size of young adults. Notably, it is mentioned that as a child, Nausicaä once encountered a young Ohmu the size of a small dog. Like many arthropods, they grow larger each time they molt, and form a new exoskeleton to match their new size. Immediately prior to molting, an Ohmu gorges itself, presumably to stretch its exoskeleton as it forms, to accommodate growth.

Though they are ordinarily docile herbivores that feast upon the flora of the Fukai, killing any insect while in the Sea of Corruption will drive any nearby Ohmu into a berserk rage. While Ohmu are not aggressive unless provoked, humans generally do not approach Ohmu for fear of enraging them. However, a small number of humans were able to safely approach and even communicate with the creatures. In addition to their enormous physical power, a traveling Ohmu will unintentionally scatter spores from the forest wherever it goes. Land in which these spores germinate becomes unsuitable for human use, so every effort is made to prevent Ohmu from nearing human settlements. Ohmu themselves are not inclined to leave the Sea of Decay unless enraged and chasing an aggressor or intentionally traveling. While living Ohmu are feared by humans, their cast-off exoskeletons are extremely valuable as a material for weapons, tools and buildings.

Notes

  • Ohmu were created by Hayao Miyazaki where they featured in the setting of the Valley of the Wind universe.

Appearances

  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind:

External Links

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