Rychu Walwahd
| Rychu Walwahd | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information: | |
| Homeworld: | Dac |
| Descriptive Information: | |
| Species: | Mon Calamari |
| Gender: | Male |
| Skin Color: | Orange |
| Eye Color: | Black |
| Chronological and political information: | |
| Affiliation: | Mon Calamari Ballet |
| Role: | Choreographer |
Rychu Walwahd was a Mon Calamari choreographer who led the Mon Calamari Ballet during the last days of the Galactic Republic. He oversaw the production of the opera Squid Lake, which was performed at the Galaxies Opera House shortly before the Great Jedi Purge and Declaration of a New Order.
Biography
- "Everything I know about choreography, I learned from a tree."
- ―Rychu Walwahd
Rychu Walwahd spent his youth studying an underwater tree that was considered by some to be "evil."[1] He later began to make space operas with the Mon Calamari Ballet, including the seminal Squid Lake[1][2] He would later give an interview about the meaning behind Squid Lake.[1]
Personality and traits
Behind the scenes
The name "Rychu" is a tuckerization of Ryan Church. Church worked as a concept artist as Lucasfilm Ltd during the production of Revenge of the Sith, and was the principal concept artist behind the Squid Lake scene. The surname "Walwahd" was lifted from a Star Wars Gamer article that listed Mon Calamari names. "Squid Lake" author Francesca Pallopides stated the name was chosen to echo German composer Richard Wagner, best known for his epic operas.[3]
Another name suggested for the character was "Churnayrch", which also used the approach of tuckerizing Church's name. This name was used in an early draft of "Rules of Persuasion: The Businesswoman's Tale" by Gregory O. Scott.[4]
The character is intentionally left unnamed in "Squid Lake: The Choreographer's Tale". His name is only specified in the author's notes for "Squid Lake"[5] and in the narrative of "Rules of Persuasion."[2]
Appearances
- "Rules of Persuasion: The Businesswoman's Tale" (First identified as "Rychu Walwahd")
- "Squid Lake: The Choreographer's Tale" (First appearance)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Squid Lake: The Choreographer's Tale"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Rules of Persuasion: The Businesswoman's Tale"
- ↑ cthugha (@cthugha_fp) on Discord (link), "If you need [a name], maybe something like Rychu Walwahd? (Rychu for Ryan Church, the concept artist for Squid Lake, and Walwahd is a Mon Cal last name from a Gamer article that makes it faintly echo Richard Wagner).
- ↑ Wayne Mann (@mrgentlezombie) on Discord (link), "[H]ow do you feel about the composer being named Churnayrch in Onara Kuat's tale, after concept artist Ryan Church?"
- ↑ "Squid Lake: The Choreographer's Tale" on AO3—Author's summary