"Call me captain!"
Dola is the lady captain of a band of air pirates in Laputa: Castle in the Sky. She is voiced by Kotoe Hatsui in the Japanese version, Rachel Vanowen in the Streamline English version and Cloris Leachman in the Disney English version.
Appearance
Dola is obese/short and stocky with pink hair which has faded from the red color it had when she was younger; she wears it in two thick braids. She has dark eyes and a large nose. She wears a dark blue shirt and pants with a lacy white collar and cuffs, gold hoop earrings, and a green brooch. When flying, Dola wears a pilot's cap and goggles, and she sometimes wears a blue hat with a red band when dressing up.
Personality
Initially, Dola comes across as bossy, greedy, and selfish. Later on, though, she is revealed to be a soft-hearted person, and she even grudgingly grows fond of Sheeta and Pazu. Sheeta in particular reminds Dola of herself as a child, especially because of her braids. Dola's sons respect her greatly and always follow her orders, although they often forget to call her "captain" and just call her "Mom" instead. Dola is also brave and resourceful, which has helped her become a successful and respected air pirate over her long lifetime.
Role in the Film
Dola is the captain of a gang of air pirates made up of her seven sons. At the start of the film, Dola and her gang board the airship where Colonel Muska is holding Sheeta captive. Dola attempts to steal the crystal necklace Sheeta owns, but Sheeta escapes with it when she slips and falls off the airship, floating to the ground using the powers of the crystal.
The next day, Dola and the pirates disguise themselves and search for Sheeta in the mining town where she landed and Pazu found her. The children escape Dola, but she and her gang set up camp in Pazu's house. The pirates are waiting there for Pazu when he returns home from the fortress at Tedis, where Muska has again imprisoned Sheeta. Although Sheeta told Pazu to forget about finding the flying island of Laputa, Dola explains that she actually saved Pazu's life by allowing him to get away from Muska. Dola allows Pazu to join her gang, and they manage to rescue Sheeta from the fortress, although her crystal is left behind and falls into Muska's possession.
Dola brings the children back to the pirates' airship, the Tiger Moth, and puts them to work. Pazu helps the engineer, Dola's husband Motro, and Sheeta puts on one of Dola's outfits and cooks dinner for the gang. Sheeta and Pazu leave for Laputa on a glider, and the pirates make their way to Laputa as well aboard the Tiger Moth. Although the gang is captured by Muska and the military on Laputa, Pazu frees them, and they manage to escape on their flaptters with a little of Laputa's treasure. After Sheeta and Pazu cast a spell of destruction to demolish most of Laputa, they return to the air pirates. Sheeta is especially glad to see Dola and hugs her tightly. At the end of the film, the children return to Pazu's hometown, and Dola and her gang fly off to new adventures.
Gallery
see: Dola/Gallery