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Allusions are a common feature that are used to call to mind a reference that connects to a character, location, creatures, etc. They are shown to have an impact on the character's influence in the story, and can be seen through actions, designs such as emblems, and names. Each character has an allusion, but their behavior and roles are not governed by said allusion.[1]

Some characters may share a connected allusion theme within their group – such as Team RWBY having a connecting theme of alluding to fairy tale characters, or Salem's Inner Circle sharing the theme of taking well-known "hero" characters and changing their stories to make them turn into villains if they had lost something from the classical tale.[2]

For more information on a character's individual allusion, see their respective Behinds the Scenes and Trivia pages.

Team RWBY[]

Team RWBY shares the connected theme of the members of the group alluding to fairy tale characters. They are shown as follows:

Ruby Rose[]

Ruby Rose alludes to the character Little Red Riding Hood[3] from the fairy tale of the same name, which follows Team RWBY's theme of fairy tale allusions. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Ruby wears a red, hooded cape, much like Little Red Riding Hood.
  • The "Red" Trailer, which introduces Ruby, features her walking through a forest and being attacked by a pack of Beowolves, which are wolf-like Grimm. Little Red Riding Hood traveled through a forest, followed by a wolf, which later ate her grandmother and attacked her.
  • Roman Torchwick's nickname for her is "Red".
  • During "Heroes and Monsters", Roman call her "Little Red".
  • She is referred to as "Little Red" again by Cinder Fall during "The Coming Storm".

Weiss Schnee[]

Weiss Schnee alludes to the character Snow White from the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which follows Team RWBY's theme of fairy tale allusions. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • The literal translation of Weiss' name, from German to English, is "White Snow".
    • However, the actual descriptive phrase "white snow" would translate to "weißer Schnee" or "schneeweiß" in German. The German name of Snow White in the original book is "Schneewittchen".[4]
  • The song Mirror Mirror heavily references the evil queen's use of a magic mirror, with the lyrics "Mirror, tell me who's the loneliest of all" referencing the queen's line "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" This song first plays in the "White" Trailer, which serves as Weiss' introduction.
  • The pendant on the necklace Weiss wears with her original battle outfit is an apple,[5] referencing the poisoned apple that Snow White takes a bite of.
  • Advertisements for Schnee Dust Company merchandise bear the slogan "The finest of them all", referencing the evil queen's phrase "who's the fairest of them all".
  • Klein Sieben, one of the Schnee family's butlers, alludes to all the seven dwarves.

Weiss also alludes to another variation of Snow White in the fairytale Snow White and Rose Red. This allusion is a connection to how she and Ruby would become close partners.[6]

Blake Belladonna[]

Blake Belladonna alludes to Belle and The Beast from the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, which follows Team RWBY's theme of fairy tale allusions. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • Blake loves to read, much like Disney's version of Belle.
  • In the episode "The Shining Beacon, Pt.2", Blake is seen to own a candelabra, which references Lumière, the living candelabra from the Disney adaptation. According to Miles Luna, this was part of an attempt to surround her with lots of "Belle-related items".[7]
  • Red Like Roses has the lyric "Black the Beast descends from shadows."
  • Like The Beast, Blake has animal traits and is ostracized for them
  • Gambol Shroud's asymmetrical dual wield form is inspired by her duality of being both Belle and The Beast.[8]
  • In BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, Blake's two Distortion attacks are called Untouchable Beauty and Ferocious Beast.

Yang Xiao Long[]

Yang Xiao Long alludes to Goldilocks[9] from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which follows Team RWBY's theme of fairy tale allusions. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • The "Yellow" Trailer, which serves as an introduction for Yang, takes place in Hei "Junior" Xiong's nightclub. During the course of the trailer, she knocks out a DJ who is wearing a bear mask and fights Junior. The literal translation for Junior's name, from Chinese to English, is Black Bear. That, added with his nickname, Junior, makes him the "baby bear" to her Goldilocks.
  • Yang's first fight in the series proper is against a pair of Ursai, bear-like Grimm, in the episode "The Emerald Forest". This again is another allusion to the three bears in the story of Goldilocks.
  • Yang places great value on her long, thick, golden-blonde locks of hair.
  • Her Volume 4 "DGAS" outfit has a patch on the left leg of her pants depicting three Ursa masks, thus referencing the three bears.
  • In "Welcome to Haven", there is a fuel station called "Just Rite". In the fairy tale, Goldilocks tries the bowls of porridge, chairs and beds successively, each time finding the third "just right". In the same episode, the Shady Man and Yang herself describe her body as being "not too bulky, not too lean" but "just right".

Team JNPR[]

The members of Team JNPR allude to characters who are said to have disguised themselves as the opposite gender in their original stories.[10]

Jaune Arc[]

Jaune Arc alludes to Jeanne d'Arc, or Joan of Arc, which follows JNPR's theme of people who dressed themselves as the opposite gender.[11] Joan of Arc dressed herself as a man while in the French army. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • His name is similar to that of Joan of Arc.
  • In Volume 1, Jaune had a brief story arc spanning "Jaunedice" through "Forever Fall, Pt.2", which referenced Joan of Arc's tale. In this arc, Jaune is bullied and blackmailed by Cardin Winchester, who alludes to Henry Beaufort, who was a Cardinal and the Bishop of Winchester. Henry Beaufort took part in the trial of Joan of Arc, which led to a false conviction, sentencing her to death by immolation.

Nora Valkyrie[]

Nora Valkyrie alludes to Thor, from Norse mythology, which follows JNPR's theme of people who dressed themselves as the opposite gender.[12] In order to steal back his hammer, Thor once had to disguise himself as the goddess Freyja, wearing bridal gear along with the disguise. This allusion has had the following effects on the character and the show:

  • Her emblem is a hammer with a lightning bolt through it.
  • She wields a warhammer that has a Norse name. Thor is said to wield a hammer called Mjolnir.
    • The idea for Nora's weapon also stems from a video of a Mexican tradition where explosives are hit with sledgehammers.[13]
  • Her last name is Valkyrie, which references the fact that Thor had to disguise himself as Freyja, who is sometimes associated with valkyries.
  • Her Semblance allows her to absorb and produce electricity to power up her muscles, giving her more strength. Thor is known for his strength and his connection to lightning and thunder.
  • She discovered her Semblance when she was struck by lightning on a Thursday. The word "Thursday" means "Thor's Day" in Old English and is named after Thor.

Pyrrha Nikos[]

Pyrrha Nikos alludes to Achilles, which follows JNPR's theme of people who dressed themselves as the opposite gender.[14] Achilles once had to go into hiding by disguising himself as a red-haired woman named Pyrrha. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • Pyrrha's given name comes from the name that Achilles took on while in disguise.
  • Pyrrha's nickname is "The Invincible Girl". Achilles was an invincible warrior who was impervious everywhere but his heel.
  • The reference to 'achieving immortality' in Pyrrha's chant implies that she was merely using a mantra to focus her Aura, as she is inspired by Achilles, who attempted to earn god-like immortality by gaining fame as a hero, but ultimately only achieved immortality in being remembered.
  • Shortly before Pyrrha is killed, an arrow strikes her ankle, thus preventing her from fleeing. Similarly, Achilles was killed by an arrow striking his heel.

Lie Ren[]

Lie Ren alludes to Hua Mulan, which follows JNPR's theme of people who dressed as the opposite gender.[15] Mulan had to disguise herself as a man to sneak into the Chinese army in place of her aging father.

  • Ren's battle outfits have Chinese influences.
  • Ren's father, Li Ren, tells him to be brave and fight during his final moments. This could reference in how the original legend, Hua Mulan's parents fully supported her decision in joining the military in place of her aged father.

Team CRDL[]

Team CRDL seems to have a bird motif.

Cardin Winchester[]

Cardin Winchester alludes to Henry Beaufort,[16] who oversaw the trial of Joan of Arc. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Henry Beaufort was a Cardinal and a Bishop of Winchester. As reference to this, Cardin's full name is Cardin Winchester, and he chooses the Black Bishop piece during the initiation.
  • His scroll ID is 1374-BEAUFORT.
  • In Volume 1, he bullies Jaune Arc, who alludes to Joan of Arc.
  • His weapon, The Executioner, is a reference to Henry Beaufort overseeing the execution of Joan of Arc.

His first name is likely also derived from the cardinal, an American bird species.

Russel Thrush[]

  • He is named after a family of birds called turdidae or, more commonly, thrushes. This fits the bird theme for Team CRDL.
    • Taking his given name into account, he is likely an allusion to the Turdus ruficollis or "red-throated thrush".

Dove Bronzewing[]

Dove is named after the bird species known for their pure white color. Another form of dove, known as a Bronzewing, has feathers colored bronze.

Sky Lark[]

Sky Lark is named after a genus of larks known as Alauda, also known as Skylarks. This fits the bird theme for Team CRDL.

Team CFVY[]

The members of CFVY appear to have names derived from various sweets.

Coco Adel[]

Coco's name could be derived on either the drink hot cocoa or cacao, which is the main ingredient of chocolate. Her name, fashion style, weapon, and appearance also allude to the 20th-century fashion designer Coco Chanel.

  • They share names and have similar last names.
  • They are both fond of wearing multiple strings of pearls (as in the famous photograph by Boris Lipnitzki) and berets.
  • Her crosshairs belt buckle could be seen as a subtle allusion towards the Chanel double-C logo.
  • Chanel handbags are also well known for their diamond-patterned leather and simple black-and-gold color scheme, elements of which are apparent in Coco's weapon.

Fox Alistair[]

Fox's name makes allusion to the fox hunter's pie. Also, Fox possibly alludes to the character Todd from the story The Fox and The Hound.

Velvet Scarlatina[]

Velvet's name holds a resemblance to red velvet cake. In addition, she alludes to the stuffed rabbit in the children's book The Velveteen Rabbit.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • She is a rabbit Faunus.
  • In the story, the child who owns the titular stuffed rabbit becomes ill with scarlet fever, which is sometimes referred to as "scarlatina" in old literature. Velvet's full name references this and the story's title.
  • In order to fulfill Team CFVY's sweets-naming rule, Velvet's name is also an allusion to red velvet cake.

Yatsuhashi Daichi[]

Yatsuhashi is the name of a Japanese pastry made with sweet beans.

  • On July 7, 2014 at 11:47 AM, Monty Oum began tweeting a series of 23 images of yatsuhashi,[17] much to the confusion of his followers. He followed these with an image of Yatsuhashi Kengyo[18] along with the message, "You all will figure it out". After his candid reveals of two other names mere hours earlier, followers surmised Yatsuhashi to be the name of the final member of team "Coffee".[19]

Team SSSN[]

Each of the members of team SSSN is based on characters or people from classic tales.

Sun Wukong[]

Sun Wukong alludes to the character Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • Sun is a monkey Faunus. The original Sun Wukong is a monkey.
  • He fights with a staff named Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang, similar to the original Sun Wukong's staff, Ruyi Jingu Bang.
  • His Semblance allows him to produce clones of himself. The original Sun Wukong could create clones of himself from strands of his hair.
    • Coincidentally, Monty once tweeted that his computer began lagging when he put three Suns in a scene, as well as the fact that most of Sun's polygons are in his hair.[20]
  • In Volume 1, Sun identifies Blake as a Faunus right away. This may be a reference to the original Sun Wukong's ability named "huǒyǎn-jīnjīng" (火眼金睛, lit. "fiery-eyes golden-gaze"), which enabled him to see through disguises and illusions.
  • In "Of Runaways and Stowaways", he says the line "It'll be a regular journey to the east! Yeah, I like the sound of that." This is a reference to the title of the novel.

Scarlet David[]

Scarlet David alludes to Peter Pan from the novel Peter Pan in Scarlet, which acts as a sequel, in which Peter Pan has become the new Captain Hook. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • His given name, Scarlet, comes from the title of the novel. His family name, David, comes from David Barrie, brother of Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie.[21]
  • He has a pirate motif with his outfit and his weapons.
  • At one point in "New Challengers...", Scarlet is seen to perform a "flying" pose, similar to that of the Peter Pan from the Disney film adaptation of the Peter Pan series. He then performs a similarly Disney-adaptation-esque maneuver to stick a landing on the mast of the arena's ship, complete with comical melodramatic overbalancing reminiscent of Captain Hook and the playful Peter Pan.
  • Scarlet's weapons Hook and Darling are both named after characters from Peter Pan. Darling being the last name of the three children Protagonists of the story and Hook being the name of the Pirate Captain Antagonist.
  • Scarlet's Semblance,"Gliding" and the flying pose he made during "New Challengers...", is also another allusion to the story/movie of "Peter Pan".

Sage Ayana[]

Though it is unknown which specific character was the inspiration for Sage, it is known that the character alludes to Aesop[22] or one of Aesop's fables[23] His weapon Pilgrim alludes to the Aesop fable The Pilgrim and the Sword.

Neptune Vasilias[]

Neptune Vasilias alludes to Neptune, the god of the sea in Roman mythology, who is the counterpart of Greek mythology's Poseidon. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • His given name is Neptune. His family name, Vasilias, is a variant of the Greek word Basileus, meaning "leader, prince, king or emperor", and Poseidon is often called the King of the Sea.
  • His weapon transforms into a trident, which the Roman god Neptune is known to wield.
  • His hydrokinetic semblance is likely a tribute to his name origins
  • His emblem is a trident head in a shield.
  • Neptune's older brother's name is Jupiter, who was ironically the younger brother of Neptune in Roman mythology.

Team FNKI[]

The members of Team FNKI are inspired by internet memes.

Flynt Coal[]

Flynt is a reference to Flynt Coal, a running joke and fictional character created by the Achievement Hunters during their Let's Play Minecraft series. "Flynt Coal" also spawned merchandise and a character of the same name in X-Ray and Vav. His name is derived from the Achievement Hunters repeatedly getting confused between the game items "Flint" and "Coal".

Neon Katt[]

  • Neon's design is based on the famous Internet meme Nyan Cat,[24] which features an animated cat flying through space leaving a rainbow trail, all set to J-pop music. Her overall appearance may take design cues from rave parties and J-pop fashion.

Kobalt[]

(conjectural) Kobalt wears black and blue, supposedly referencing an infamous dress which was perceived by some to be white and gold but in reality is black and blue. Kobalt shares this allusion with Ivori.

Ivori[]

(conjectural) Ivori is clad in white and gold, supposedly referencing an infamous dress that was in the black and blue in color scheme but was perceived by some to be colored white and gold. Ivori shares this allusion with Kobalt.

Team STRQ[]

Summer Rose[]

Summer alludes to the poem The Last Rose of Summer by Thomas Moore and to The Huntsman from Little Red Riding Hood.

The Last Rose of Summer[]

Summer alludes to the poem The Last Rose of Summer as evidenced by the epitaph on her gravestone: "Summer Rose/Thus Kindly, I Scatter", a line from the poem. In the poem, all of the rose's companions are dead, and the writer promises to help the rose join them.

The Huntsman[]

Summer is based on The Huntsman from Little Red Riding Hood:

  • Her main weapon is a hunting riffle which can turn into an axe, another weapon sometimes associated with hunting.
  • Summer's daughter Ruby alludes to Little Red Riding Hood herself and sees her as her heroine, just like how The Huntsman was Little Red Riding Hood's hero for saving her from the Big Bad Wolf.
  • She is considered to be one of the best huntresses who ever lived in Remnant, with the huntsmen as a whole alluding to The Huntsman form Little Red Riding Hood.

Raven Branwen[]

Raven alludes to Huginn,[25] a raven who flies around the world gathering information for Odin. Specifically, she alludes to the poem Grímnismál.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Raven is named after the type of bird that Huginn is.
  • In the scene in "Burning the Candle" where Yang Xiao Long tells Blake Belladonna about her search for Raven, lines from Grímnismál that talk about Huginn and Muninn are written across the top of the chalkboard.[26]
    • "Hugin and Munin fly each day over the spacious earth. I fear for Hugin, that he come not back, yet more anxious am I for Munin."
  • Prior to the events of the series proper, Raven left her team behind. This connects with the line "I fear for Hugin, that he come not back" in the poem.
  • Ozpin granted Raven the ability to transform into a raven. This is similar to how Odin granted Huginn and Muninn the ability to speak.
    • The reason that Ozpin gave Raven and Qrow Branwen this ability was so that they could gather information on Salem's plans and track down Maidens. This is similar to how Huginn and Muninn were tasked with traveling the world to gather information for Odin.

Qrow Branwen[]

Qrow alludes to the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz as well as Odin's raven Munin from Norse Mythology.

Scarecrow[]

Qrow Branwen alludes to the Scarecrow from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.[27]

  • His persistent drinking of alcohol - a substance known for impairing judgment - may be a reference to the Scarecrow's "brainlessness." Though the fact he still functions and fights even intoxicated could refer to the Scarecrow still being able to think and plan despite not having a brain.
  • The Scarecrow sought out a brain in the original story. Qrow works for Ozpin by gathering intelligence.
  • In the Volume 3 episode "End of the Beginning", Qrow notes that now Ozpin is gone, he has to pick up where he left off. This could be a nod to how Scarecrow took over as ruler of Emerald City when Oz left in the original book.

Muninn[]

Some characters stand in as a certain role for another character's allusion, giving them a secondary allusion alongside their primary basis. Qrow is the Muninn,[28] to Raven's Huginn. Muninn is a raven who flies around the world gathering information for Odin. Specifically, he alludes to the poem Grímnismál. This has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Qrow is named after a very similar bird to the type that Muninn is. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens, beyond their size and basic appearance, and both are of the genus Corvus.
  • In the scene in "Burning the Candle" where Yang Xiao Long tells Blake Belladonna about her search for Raven Branwen and the day that Qrow saved her life, lines from Grímnismál that talk about Huginn and Muninn are written across the top of the chalkboard.[29]
    • "Hugin and Munin fly each day over the spacious earth. I fear for Hugin, that he come not back, yet more anxious am I for Munin."
  • Prior to the events of Volume 3, Qrow spent his time going on missions around Remnant gathering information for Ozpin. This is very similar to how Muninn traveled the world to gather information for Odin, and the danger of this job provides cause for concern, matching the line "yet more anxious am I for Munin."
  • Ozpin granted Qrow the ability to transform into a crow. Similarly, Odin granted Huginn and Muninn the ability to speak.
  • During Tyrian's report to Salem of how he poisoned Qrow, she stated that the "last eye is blinded", clearly alluding to how Qrow primarily served as Ozpin's spy and informant using his bird form.
    • This in turn alludes to Odin's own relationship with Muninn, as along with Huginn, he served as Odin's main "eyes" in observing the going on's of the world in Norse Mythology.

Team ABRN[]

Arslan Altan[]

Arslan alludes to the character Aslan from C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series.[30] In addition, Altan (Telgey) is a Mongolian earth goddess.

Bolin Hori[]

Bolin may allude to Hebo, the Chinese god of the Yellow River.

Reese Chloris[]

Reese may allude to Chloris, who in Greek mythology, was a nymph associated with spring, flowers, and new growth.

Team BRNZ[]

Brawnz Ni[]

On the AfterBuzz TV of RWBY Volume 3 Episodes 1 and 2 Reviews, Miles said that Brawnz's kneecaps pay homage to the The Fairly OddParents! character Bronze Kneecap.[31]

Roy Stallion[]

Roy's name could possibly allude to Full Metal Alchemist character Roy Mustang given that last names both mean horse.

Team NDGO[]

Nebula Violette[]

Like the rest of her team, Nebula is a reference to IndieGoGo.

Dew Gayl[]

Like the rest of her team, Dew is a reference to IndieGoGo.

Gwen Darcy[]

Like the rest of her team, Gwen is a reference to IndieGoGo.

Octavia Ember[]

Like the rest of her team, Octavia is a reference to IndieGoGo.

Ozpin's Group[]

Members of Ozpin's Group, along with Qrow Branwen and the Headmasters of the other Huntsman Academies, allude to characters from The Wizard of Oz.

Ozpin[]

Ozpin alludes to Oz from The Wizard of Oz, as well as the god Odin from Norse Mythology.

Wizard of Oz[]

Ozpin alludes to the Wizard of Oz, from the novel of the same name The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • The initials of the Wizard's name, Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs,[32] spell OZPINHEAD, which may be the origin of Ozpin's name, as well as his position as headmaster of Beacon Academy.
  • The Wizard lived in Emerald City, and Ozpin's green motif likely comes from this.
  • In "Known by its Song", Raven Branwen states that "Old Man Oz has a great and terrible secret". This alludes to the Wizard's title, "Oz, The Great and Terrible."
  • Ozpin has the ability to reincarnate into different people. In the original The Wizard of Oz book, the Wizard appeared to Dorothy and her friends in several different forms all claiming to be the same person.
  • Ozpin revealing how he had no plan to defeat Salem may allude to how the Wizard was revealed to be a fraud to Dorothy and her friends.

Odin[]

Some characters stand in as a certain role for another character's allusion, separately from their own. Ozpin stands in as Odin for Raven's allusion to Huginn and Qrow's allusions to Munin:

  • Huginn and Muninn are ravens to whom Odin gave the ability to speak. Huginn and Muninn both traveled the world to gather information and report back to Odin just as Qrow and Raven gathered information for Ozpin.

Glynda Goodwitch[]

Glynda Goodwitch alludes to Glinda the Good Witch from the novel The Wizard of Oz. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Glynda's full name is derived from this allusion.
  • The Good Witch is usually depicted with a magic wand. Glynda wields her riding crop like a wand when using her Semblance.
  • The Good Witch is usually depicted wearing a tiara or crown. Glynda's emblem is a tiara.

Oscar Pine[]

Oscar alludes to Tip from The Marvelous Land of Oz.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Both lived simple farmhand lives with their female guardians before leaving.
  • Both first encountered the Scarecrow/Qrow when they arrived at the largest city in the land, Mistral/Emerald City.
  • Both become central characters because of their relation to the Wizard and to Ozma.
    • Tip turns out to be Princess Ozma, the lost true ruler of the Land of Oz, while Oscar becomes the host for the spirit of Ozma, the ancient hero and ruler.
    • Tip, as Princess Ozma, takes over the land after the Wizard of Oz, while Oscar becomes Ozma's host after Ozpin, who alludes to the Wizard of Oz.

Beacon Academy Staff[]

Bartholomew Oobleck[]

Oobleck alludes to the character Bartholomew from the Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • His name is taken from the title of the book.
  • His hair is green, like the oobleck.
  • The fact that he prefers to be called "doctor", rather than "professor", may reference how the author, Theodor Seuss Geisel, authored his children's books under the pen name Dr. Seuss.

Peter Port[]

Port alludes to the character Peter from the fairy tale Peter and the Wolf. [33] This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • His first name is Peter, like the protagonist of the original story.
  • He wears mostly red, like Disney's depiction of Peter from the 1946 compilation film Make Mine Music.
  • In his first appearance in "The Badge and The Burden", Professor Port tells a story about how he captured a Beowolf and was hailed as a hero by his village.
  • The barrel of his weapon resembles the bell of a trumpet, which may be a reference to the fact that musical instruments are used to represent the different characters in Peter and the Wolf. Trumpets are used to represent the hunters who arrive to rescue Peter during his skirmish with the wolf, while Port is a licensed huntsman himself.

Thumbelina Peach[]

Professor Peach likely alludes to Thumbelina, a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen about a tiny girl, Thumbelina, and her adventures with toads, moles and may bugs. She may also be a reference to Professor Plum, a character in the board game Cluedo, who was likewise named for a species of fruit.

Ann Greene[]

Professor Greene likely has an allusion to Anne of Green Gables.

Harold Mulberry[]

Professor Mulberry may be an allusion to the English nursery rhyme, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.

Cinder's Faction[]

Cinder Fall[]

Cinder alludes to Cinderella from the fairy tale of the same name.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the story:

  • In the Volume 1 Cast Commentary, it is said that the shoes she wears with her original battle outfit are made of glass. This is supported by the "clink" noises they make in "Ruby Rose". In the fairy tale, Cinderella wears glass shoes to the ball and accidentally leaves one behind as she leaves in a hurry.
  • She has been shown to fight with glass.
  • Her emblem is a pair of high heel shoes placed sole-to-sole.
  • In the episode "Dance Dance Infiltration", Mercury Black tells her that she should return by midnight. As Cinder narrowly eludes guards, she transforms her stealth outfit into a dress and leaves behind her glass masquerade mask. The clock strikes midnight shortly after she returns to the dance. This references how, in the fairy tale, Cinderella is warned that the spell that gives her a beautiful dress and glass shoes will wear off at midnight. She makes a narrow escape from the ball as the clock strikes midnight, accidentally leaving behind one of her shoes in the process.
  • She shows a preference for fiery-type Dust and magic. In some versions of the fairy tale, Cinderella is a nickname given to her by her step-sisters as a means of mocking the cinders that would cover her clothes after having to sleep near the fireplace as a means to keep warm.
  • Her weapon is named "Midnight", alluding to how, in the fairy tale, Cinderella has to leave the ball at midnight. Following her fight with Pyrrha Nikos, Midnight was never to be seen again, likening to how Cinderella hid after the bells struck midnight in the original fairy tale.[34]
  • Cinder's childhood directly connects to the tale of Cinderella.
    • She was under the care of a cruel adoptive mother and her daughters, much like how Cinderella was under the care of a cruel stepmother and her daughters.
    • Cinder was was put to work by her adopted mother, being used more like a servant or maid, much like Cinderella.
    • Rhodes gave Cinder the means to escape her life with the Madame, thus acting as her Fairy Godmother.
  • When Cinder murdered Madame and the stepsisters in her childhood, it was almost midnight when Rhodes found her.

Roman Torchwick[]

Roman alludes to Romeo Candlewick, known as Lampwick in the Disney adaptation, from Pinocchio.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • His name bears similarity to that of his character allusion.
  • He puffs cigars, much like Lampwick is seen doing on Pleasure Island in the Disney movie.

Appearance Basis[]

  • His appearance is heavily based on that of the character Alexander DeLarge in the 1971 British film A Clockwork Orange, which is based on the novel of the same name.[35]
  • His appearance also has similarities to that of Lampwick in Disney's adaptation of Pinocchio.

Emerald Sustrai[]

Emerald alludes to Aladdin from The Book of One Thousand and One Nights as well as the Disney movie.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and the show:

  • Emerald is a thief who used to live on the streets, much like Aladdin's origin.
  • In "Best Day Ever" Emerald is called "street rat" by Roman Torchwick, which is an insult used toward Aladdin.
  • Sustrai is the Basque word for thief.
  • Emerald is notably darker skinned than most of the characters in the series, which may allude to Aladdin being a Middle Easterner.
  • Emerald's emblem is the shape of a cut gem, which could reference Aladdin as the diamond in the rough.
  • Emerald's Semblance is Hallucinations, making people see what she wants them to see. This is similar to Aladdin making people see him as a prince.
  • Emerald's partnering with Mercury could link to the fact that the mythological Roman God Mercury (Hermes in Greek Mythos and the mythological inspiration for Mercury's character) was the patron God of Thieves, and Emerald herself is a thief.

Mercury Black[]

Mercury alludes to the mythological figure Mercury, who is the Roman equivalent to the Greek God Hermes.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • His first name is Mercury.
  • His emblem resembles a boot with wings on it. The Roman god Mercury is often depicted wearing a pair of sandals with wings on them and his weapons share the mythological name of Mercury's boots.
    • From Volume 8 onward his boots gain a stylized wing.
  • His weapons are worn on his feet.

Neopolitan[]

Neopolitan alludes to both Hecate, a goddess from Roman Mythology, and the Mad Hatter from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Hecate[]

She alludes to Hecate, the goddess of a three-way crossroads from Roman Mythology.[36]

  • Her teammate is Roman Torchwick and Hecate is a goddess of the Roman pantheon.
  • Hecate often carries two torches and her teammate's name is Torchwick.
  • Her real name is Trivia, which is another name of Hecate.
  • Neo's name calls to mind Neapolitan ice cream, which is a cross between three different flavors of ice cream, specifically chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. This could reference the three-way crossroads that Hecate presides over.
  • She can shapeshift into other people, which might be a reference to depictions of Hecate where she has three faces.

Mad Hatter[]

She is based on the Mad Hatter from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

  • Since Volume 6, she always wears a derby hat on her head, which might be a reference to the hat worn by the Hatter.
  • She acts as the central antagonist of Volume 9 which takes place in the Ever After, a place based on Wonderland, the Hatter's homeworld. She also sets up her own tea party, just like the Hatter.

Salem's Inner Circle[]

The allusion theme of Salem's followers, Cinder included, takes well-known "hero" characters and changes their stories to make them turn into villains if they had lost something from their classical tales.[2]

Salem[]

Salem alludes to the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. In addition, she could also be based on Rapunzel, the German fairy tale made famous by the The Brothers Grimm, and may fulfill the role of the Fairy Godmother to Cinder's allusion to Cinderella.

Salem alludes to the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.

  • She shares her name with Salem, Massachusetts, a town with a infamous historical event called the Salem Witch Trials.
  • She is the enemy of Ozpin, who alludes to the Wizard of Oz.
  • She is capable of magic, like the Witch.
  • In the Volume 6 post-credits scene, she creates an army of winged Beringels, referencing the Witch's winged monkeys.
  • In "Witch", she uses whirlwinds to lift herself off the ground and travel at high speeds, in reference to the twister which takes Dorothy to the Land of Oz.

Another allusion that Salem may be based on is she is the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.

  • This is due to Cinder's own relationship and backstory with Salem, where before becoming affiliated with her, Cinder was stated to be weak and had nothing. But upon aligning with Salem, she has now become formidably powerful and gained the means to steal the powers of Maidens.

Salem also serves as part of Hazel's allusion, as shown in "Witch" when Salem was held in place by Hazel before burning her with a Fire Dust crystal. In Hansel and Gretel, a witch attempts to burn the character of Hansel, Hazel's allusion, in an oven before being outwitted and thrown into the fire herself.

Salem's role as "The Girl in the Tower" is likely based on Rapunzel, the German fairy tale made famous by the The Brothers Grimm.

She may also have associations of witchcraft and the occult, due to the Salem witch trials, where many people were accused of witchcraft and executed.

  • She shares her name with the most notorious town associated with witches.
  • She was burned alive which could be a reference to the common misconception that people accused of witchcraft were burned alive.

Arthur Watts[]

Arthur Watts alludes to John Watson, from the Sherlock Holmes stories, if he had connected with James Moriarty instead of Sherlock Holmes.[37] The name Arthur likely alludes to the author of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

  • Watts' first name alludes to the author of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
  • The surname Watts emanates from Watson.
  • Watts was also a doctor.
  • The euphemism "bloody", said by Watts during his castigation of Cinder in "Ultimatum", is popular slang in the United Kingdom, particularly in England where Watson is from, and the Sherlock Holmes series is primarily set.
  • Aside from Watson, Watts in turn also bears a resemblance to Sir Doyle himself.
  • Watts' dress is evocative of popular English wear during the 19th century when Doyle lived, and wrote the Sherlock Holmes books.

Tyrian Callows[]

Tyrian is based on the Scorpion from the fable The Scorpion and the Frog.[38] This allusion has had the following influences on him.

  • Tyrian is a scorpion Faunus.
  • This is represented through Tyrian's psychotic behavior as the Scorpion in the original fable would attack others simply because it was in its nature, much like how Tyrian openly embraces his own violent nature.
  • F. Pickerel, the Huntsman in charge of Tyrian's incarceration is named after the Pickerel frog and is likely the Frog to Tyrian's Scorpion.

Hazel Rainart[]

Hazel Rainart alludes to Hansel from Hansel & Gretel.[39] In addition, he had a twin sister named Gretchen Rainart, who alluded to Hansel's sister Gretel.

This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • The allusion theme of Salem's followers takes well-known "hero" characters and changes their stories to make them turn into villains.[40] With this in mind, Hazel alludes to Hansel from Hansel & Gretel[41] if he had lost Gretel in the story.
  • Hazel had a twin sister named Gretchen Rainart, who alluded to Hansel's sister Gretel.
  • Hazel was initially opposed to Salem, who alludes to a witch and was once referred to as such by the people of Remnant. Given that Gretchen trained to become a Huntress, she was also opposed to Salem when she was alive. This parallels Hansel and Gretel's conflict with a witch in the story.
  • Hazel ultimately sacrifices himself to temporarily destroy Salem through consuming Fire Dust and burning her alive. This act parallels how Hansel and Gretel defeated the witch by forcing her into an oven.

Tock[]

Tock alludes to Tick Tock, the crocodile from the story of Peter Pan.

  • She was a female crocodile Faunus; the crocodile in Peter Pan is described as female.
  • Her name is Tock.
  • She carried a stopwatch, referencing how the crocodile makes a tick-tock noise because it has a clock inside of it.
  • Her emblem was a stopwatch.
  • She forcefully takes a certain body part from an enemy, forcing them to use a prosthesis.
  • She has a thick English cockney accent, referencing the fact that the Peter Pan stage play was first performed in England.
  • She wields cutlasses, a weapon frequently associated with pirates, which Tick Tock followed constantly throughout Peter Pan.

White Fang[]

The White Fang shares its name with a novel written by Jack London, as well as the character the novel is named after. The novel follows the perspective of White Fang, a wolfdog, as he sees the world of Humans and endures the hardships it brings, which turn him savage. By the end of the novel, White Fang is tamed by a man named Weedon Scott, and his savage nature turns into a more peaceful one until he eventually saves Scott's life. Certain members of the White Fang share a connecting theme to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

Adam Taurus[]

Adam has multiple allusions to him in which he alludes to the Beast, Gaston, and the cursed rose from the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.[42][43][44] His allusion sets him as a reverse version of the Beast - one who truly becomes a monster, like Gaston, beyond Beauty's help and becoming a burden (curse) for her, rather than being redeemed by her.

These allusions has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Adam's card information in RWBY: Amity Arena references the Beast: "The final traces of love, the beauty he let go, never returns, and as the last petal falls, Adam is cursed to forever remain a beast. Because, in this tale as old as time, there is no happy ending. In this story... HE is the monster."[45]
  • "The beauty he let go" could refer to Blake Belladonna, who alludes to Belle, and how Adam did not stop her from leaving in the "Black" Trailer.
  • "As the last petal falls, Adam is cursed to forever remain a beast" refers to how, in the fairy tale, the Beast owned a rose that acted as a countdown for his curse. It was said that, when the last petal fell, the curse would become permanent, causing him to remain a beast for the rest of his life.
  • "In this tale as old as time" refers to a song from the Disney adaptation, which has the lyrics "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast."

Beyond the info from the Amity bio, his overall design and character show multiple references to the Beast, Gaston, and the cursed rose.

  • In the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, the Beast's name is Adam.
  • Adam and Blake had a mutual romance like Belle and the Beast.
  • Adam's sword name, Wilt and Blush, call backs to the enchanted rose blooming and wilting as time runs out. The glow on Adam's sword, when he is using Moonslice, could also be a reference to the glow the enchanted rose emitted.
  • Adam, like Disney's depiction of the Beast and Gaston, has bright blue eyes.
  • Like Disney's depiction of the Beast, he dies from a stab wound and like Gaston's depiction, he falls from a great height to his assured death.
  • His emblem is a wilting rose which calls back to the enchanted rose wilting as the curse progresses.
  • Like, Gaston, his obsessive love for Blake, who alludes to Belle and the Beast, drives him to violence in the face of her rejection.
  • Both characters, Gaston and Adam, are generally perceived by others in-universe as a charismatic and heroic figure, but are actually anything but.

Sienna Khan[]

Sienna likely alludes to Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, which is all the more evident as the predecessor, Ghira, may allude to Bagheera from the same story.

  • Shere Khan is a tiger, and Sienna is a tiger Faunus as indicated by her ears and stripes.
  • Both characters share the last name Khan.
  • Sienna's Semblance is likely another reference to Shere Khan who, in an ironic manner, had a crippled leg.
  • Her leadership of the White Fang, a group known for it's anti-human sentiment mirror Shere Khan's own hatred of humans.
  • Shere Khan was killed by being trampled by male oxen (bulls), paralleling Sienna's death at the hands of Adam, a bull Faunus.

Corsac Albain[]

Corsac and his brother may allude to Tabaqui from The Jungle Book, a jackal who feeds on scraps from either Shere Khan or the wolves of the Seeonee Pack.

Fennec Albain[]

Fennec and his brother may allude to Tabaqui from The Jungle Book, a jackal who feeds on scraps from either Shere Khan or the wolves of the Seeonee Pack.

Ghira Belladonna[]

His first name alludes to Bagheera from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, which is all the more evident as his successor to the White Fang leadership, Sienna Khan, may allude to Shere Khan from the same story.

Kali Belladonna[]

Kali's first name may allude to Kali, a Hindu goddess who is said to destroy evil in order to protect the innocent. She may also allude to Raksha, the mother wolf in The Jungle Book.

Vale[]

Junior Xiong[]

Hei "Junior" Xiong alludes to the Baby Bear in the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Merlot[]

The character of Doctor Merlot may allude to Doctor Moreau from the science fiction novel The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells.

Iris Marilla[]

Iris alludes to the Greek goddess of rainbows of the same name.

Spruce Willis[]

Spruce's name is a play real-world actor Bruce Willis, who is known for his action movies.

Mistral and Anima[]

Leonardo Lionheart[]

Lionheart alludes to the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. He may also have a secondary allusion in the famous polymath, Leonardo Da Vinci. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • Lionheart is a lion Faunus, reflecting the Cowardly Lion's species.
  • During the Battle of Haven, he ran away after his Aura was broken but was later killed by Salem for his cowardice, referencing the Lion's cowardness.
  • The two share the same first names.
  • Lionheart's weapon, Stalwart, resembles a painting pallet – in reference to da Vinci's famous paintings.
  • The statue of Jinn at Haven Academy likely references da Vinci's sculptures.
  • His pocket watch resembles da Vinci's clock; which was famous for being the first to measure both minutes and hours.
  • Branwen Tribe

The Branwen Tribe alludes to Branwen the Blessed from Norse mythology.

Lil' Miss Malachite[]

Lil' Miss Malachite and her crime syndicate alludes to the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet. Lil' Miss Malachite herself alludes to the titular character Little Miss Muffet while her organization is based on and named after the Spider that antagonized her in the story.

Dee[]

Dee and Dudley appear to be based on Tweedledee and Tweedledum from Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice in Wonderland.

Dudley[]

Dee and Dudley appear to be based on Tweedledee and Tweedledum from Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice in Wonderland.

Bartleby[]

Bartleby alludes to the character Bartleby from the short story Bartleby, the Scrivener. In the story, a Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk who, after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copies or do any other task required of him, with the words "I would prefer not to."

F. Pickerel[]

Pickerel likely represents the Frog from the fable The Scorpion and the Frog with Tyrian representing the Scorpion.

Fenix Nemean[]

Fenix's last name refers to the Nemean lion, a vicious monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea. It was eventually killed by Heracles, and it could not be killed with mortals' weapons because its golden fur was impervious to attack.

Maria Calavera[]

Maria Calavera alludes to the Grim Reaper, the figure that represents death in mythology.

Atlas Academy[]

James Ironwood[]

James Ironwood alludes to the Tin Man from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • The Tin Man was also a woodcutter, creating a connection with the latter part of his surname.
  • In "Never Miss a Beat", Qrow Branwen references Ironwood's allusion by saying "Sometimes, I'm not sure he even has a heart." In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man went to the wizard because he felt that he lacked a heart.
  • Half of Ironwood's body is made of metal, and the Tin Man has a body made of metal.
  • In "Unforeseen Complications", Vernal refers to Ironwood's army as his "little troops and tin cans."
  • It was stated on the Commentaries that Due Process were based on the Tin Man's pistol.
    • While the original Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz did not carry a pistol (the Scarecrow did when hunting the witch), the character from the 2007 television miniseries adaptation Tin Man did indeed carry a pistol, which may be the basis of the allusion.
  • In "Out in the Open", Arthur Watts refers to him as a "Tin Soldier" and again makes the statement that the "Tin Soldier's heart has cost him his mind" being a direct allusion to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz desiring a heart of his own.
  • In "Gravity", Ironwood's human arm becoming flayed and unusable and later being replaced with another prosthetic arm in "Divide" is a reference to the Tin man's backstory where his axe is enchanted to chop off all his human body parts and has to replace them with tin prosthetics until his whole body is made of tin.
  • Ironwood's semblance, Mettle, led to him making decisions that would cause others to view him as heartless 'in a figurative sense, not unlike how the Tin Man was heartless in a literal sense.

Penny Polendina[]

Penny Polendina alludes to Pinocchio from The Adventures of Pinocchio. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • The name "Penny" is similar to "Pinocchio". Her last name, Polendina, comes from the derogatory nickname that Pinocchio's creator, Geppetto, was given, due to his yellow wig bearing resemblance to polenta in the original story.
  • She is a sentient robot. Pinocchio is a sentient wooden puppet.
  • In "A Minor Hiccup", Penny says "I'm not a real girl." This statement is similar to Pinocchio's statements of wanting to be "a real boy".
  • In the same episode, Penny hiccups whenever she tells a lie, just as Pinocchio's nose would grow in length whenever he told a lie.
  • She manipulates her swords through the use of very thin wires, similar to how a puppet is controlled with thin strings.
  • Penny receiving the power of the Winter Maiden from Fria is an allusion to her finally becoming a real girl due to the power only being able to bond with Aura, similar to Pinocchio becoming a real boy upon receiving the Blue Fairy's blue magic.
  • Multiple instances throughout Volumes 7 & 8, Penny is referred to as a "toy" or "magical puppet".
  • Ambrosius making Penny a human body is another reference to Pinocchio becoming a real boy.

Pietro Polendina[]

Pietro alludes to Mister Geppetto from The Adventures of Pinocchio. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • His last name, "Polendina", comes from the derogatory nickname that Geppetto was given in the original story because his yellow wig is similar to polenta, which is boiled cornmeal.
  • He built Penny, who alludes to Pinocchio. Geppetto is the one who built Pinocchio in the story.
  • He has a statue of a whale in his pharmacy. In Pinocchio, Geppetto is swallowed by a whale.
  • His keys feature a cricket, a reference to Jiminy Cricket.

Winter Schnee[]

Winter possibly alludes to the titular character of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen.

  • Winter is a highly regarded member of the Atlesian military, and the eventual leader of the Ace-Ops following the death of Clover Ebi. This would effectively make winter comparable to a queen amongst her peers.
  • She eventually obtains the Winter Maiden's powers, furthering the idea of her being a queen in the figurative sense.
  • Her color scheme is primarily white, and her given name calls to mind ice and snow.

Ace Operatives[]

The Ace-Ops are based on Aesop's Fables. "Ace-Ops" is a homophone of "Aesop's" and every member of the team is based on one of the fables:

Clover Ebi[]

Clover is based on A Fisherman's Good Luck. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • His first name and the four-leaf clover pin he wears on his outfit are both symbols of good luck.
  • His Semblance causes good luck to happen around him, similar to the good luck the fisherman had in the fable.
  • Before his death in the hands of Tyrian, Clover's last words were "Good Luck".
  • His weapons of choice, Kingfisher, strikingly resembles a fishing rod.
  • His last name "Ebi" is Japanese for "shrimp", a type of seafood, referencing the fisherman in the fable.

Elm Ederne[]

Elm is based on Elm from The Elm and The Vine, as her Semblance allows her to create Aura roots to plant herself in place, similar to the roots of the tree in the story. She shares this allusion with Vine.

Harriet Bree[]

Harriet is based on the Hare from The Tortoise and the Hare. She shares this allusion with Tortuga. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • Harriet's Semblance allows her to run at very high speeds, just like the hare could run very fast.
  • She is called "Hare" by her teammates.
  • The hair on the top of her head somewhat resembles a rabbit's ears.

Vine Zeki[]

Vine is based on the Vine from The Elm and The Vine, as his Semblance allows him to generate light-yellow Aura vines from his arms and legs. He shares this allusion with Elm.

Marrow Amin[]

Marrow is based on The Dog and Its Reflection.[46]

  • He is a dog Faunus.
  • He is named Marrow, after a substance found inside of bones, which are associated with dogs.
  • His surname, Amin, is an Arabic and Persian name that means "faithful, trustworthy". This further alludes to his inspiration as dogs are often seen as faithful animals.
  • He uses a boomerang weapon called Fetch, alluding to the game of fetch one plays with a dog.
  • His Semblance allows him to freeze enemies in place with a point or snap of his fingers. This seems to be inspired by dog commands, specifically stay.
  • During Volume 8, Marrow holds firm to Ironwood's orders until he sees his true intentions and breaks away from the Ace-Ops. This could refer to how in the original fable, the dog mistook its reflection for another dog with a better bone only to find out it was a fake and lose its bone.

Tortuga[]

Tortuga is based on the Tortoise from The Tortoise and the Hare. They share this allusion with Harriet.

Happy Huntresses[]

The Happy Huntresses are based on Robin Hood's Merry Men.

Robyn Hill[]

Robyn Hill alludes to Robin Hood, a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore. Some resemblances include:

  • Her given name, Robyn, is a feminized version of Robin.
  • She fights for the poor against the rich.
  • She's primarily clad in green, like many popular depictions of Robin Hood.
  • Her Happy Huntresses are a reference to Robin Hood's Merry Men.
  • In battle, she uses a crossbow while Robin Hood used a bow.
  • Her emblem is that of a robin. Her crossbow is also bird-shaped.

May Marigold[]

May alludes to Maid Marian, the love interest of the outlaw Robin Hood in English folklore.

Fiona Thyme[]

Fiona alludes to Friar Tuck from the legend of Robin Hood.

Joanna Greenleaf[]

Joanna alludes to Little John, Robin Hood's right-hand man who was known for his immense size and strength. On one occasion, John used the name of Reynold Greenleaf to go undercover in Nottingham.

Atlas and Mantle[]

Jacques Schnee[]

Jacques alludes to Jack Frost, the personification of ice, winter and freezing cold. In addition, he could also allude to the Evil Queen to Weiss' Snow White.

Klein Sieben[]

Klein alludes to the Seven Dwarves from the fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Nicholas Schnee[]

Nicholas Schnee likely alludes to Santa Claus, who is associated with Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Fria[]

Fria alludes to the character known as The Fairy with Turquoise Hair (also known as "the Blue Fairy") from Carlo Collodi's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio, in which she turns Pinocchio into a real boy. Her name also refers to the Norse Goddess, Freya.

Camilla[]

Camilla is associated with the Old Roman family name, Camillus. It was also the name of a legendary warrior maiden of the Volscians in Virgil's Latin epic, Aeneid.

Drunk Mann and Drinking Buddy[]

Drunk Mann is voiced by Joel Mann and Drinking Buddy is voiced by Dustin Matthews, and the characters are caricatures of said animators.

Rhodes[]

Rhodes alludes to Rhodopis, a figure found in the earliest versions of Cinderella. Alternatively, he may also allude to the Colossus of Rhodes.

Argus[]

Caroline Cordovin[]

Caroline alludes to the nursery rhyme of the old woman who lived in a shoe.

Saphron Cotta-Arc and Terra Cotta-Arc[]

Saphron and Terra Cotta may refer to the ancient Greek poetess Sappho of Lesbos, so famed for her romantic preference for women that the name of her homeland coined the term "lesbian", and her own name coined the term "sapphic". Many of her works that survived did so on terra cotta pottery shards.

The Crown[]

The name of the organization alludes to the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill, particularly the line "Jack fell down and broke his Crown," in reference to the Asturias' allusion to the titular characters.

Gillian Asturias[]

Gillian alludes to the titular character Jill from the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill.

Jax Asturias[]

Jax alludes to the titular character Jack from the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill, as during the final battle of Before the Dawn, he was lobotomized by Yatsuhashi´s Semblance, similar to the line ¨Jack fell down and broke his crown¨.

Umber Gorgoneion[]

Umber likely refers to Medusa from Greek mythology:

  • Her whips are somewhat similar to Medusa´s snake-like hair.
  • Her last name is derived from the Gorgon race Medusa is from.
  • Her Semblance, Stone Glance, allows her to put people into a temporary rigor mortis-like state through a paralysis stare, similarly to how Medusa can turn people to stone via eye contact.

Carmine Esclados[]

Carmine alludes to the Red Knight, Esclados, from Arthurian legends.

Bertilak Celadon[]

Bertilak alludes to the Green Knight, Bertilak de Hautdesert, from Arthurian legends.

Argento Pocoron[]

Argento Pocoron, Rosa Schwein and Green possibly allude to The Three Little Pigs.

Rosa Schwein[]

Argento Pocoron, Rosa Schwein and Green possibly allude to The Three Little Pigs.

Green[]

Argento Pocoron, Rosa Schwein and Green possibly allude to The Three Little Pigs.

Shade Academy[]

Theodore[]

Theodore alludes to Dorothy from the The Wizard of Oz.

Xanthe Rumpole[]

Rumpole alludes to Rumplestiltskin, a popular fairy tale, as her Semblance allows her to permanently turn objects into gold similar to how the titular character could spin straw into gold.

Elektra Fury[]

Elektra appears to allude to Electra, one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.

Rae Noire[]

Rae alludes to the nurse rhyme, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.

Ariadne Guime[]

Ariadne likely alludes to the Cretan princess in Greek mythology of the same name, who is associated with the Minotaur and Theseus.

Olive Gashley[]

Olive alludes to "The Gashleycrumb Tinies"[47].

Vacuo[]

Starr Sanzang[]

Starr Sanzang alludes to Tang Sanzang, a central character in the novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en.

Tayet Aldhahab[]

Tayet alludes to Tayt, the Egyptian goddess of weaving, textiles, and to a lesser extent mummification.

Edward Caspian and August Caspian[]

The Caspians allude to the character Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia.[48]

Ancient Past[]

The Gods[]

The Gods allude to the Brothers Grimm, a pair of brothers who were authors and often credited with creating the classic fairy tales.

Jinn[]

Jinn alludes to the Djinn, (الجن al-jinn, also romanized as "djinn"; commonly anglicized as "genies") supernatural creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian and later Islamic mythology. The greatest magicians in Arabic lore were able to capture djinn to their service and tied them to items such as lamps or rings. The Djinn granted wishes to whoever helped them out of gratitude. Both these aspects were popularized by the folk tale of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp", featured in One Thousand and One Nights, where a poor boy finds an oil lamp in which a wish-granting jinni was concealed. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • Jinn is able to answer up to three questions every 100 years, referencing the fact that the djinn can grant up to three wishes.
  • In one of Nora´s lines, she wonders if they can ask more questions. However, it is not true as Jinn can only answer up to three questions. This references the rule that one cannot wish for more wishes.

Ozma[]

Ozma alludes to Princess Ozma from the Land of Oz series, beginning with the second book, The Marvelous Land of Oz.

Ambrosius[]

Ambrosius possibly alludes to the Blue Fairy from Pinnochio.

Grimm[]

The name for the creatures of Grimm may be a reference to the Brothers Grimm and Grimms' Fairy Tales, a famous classic collection of German fairy tales compiled by the brothers. Notable stories include "Little Red Riding Hood", "Snow White" and "Hansel and Gretel", all of which serve as inspiration for RWBY characters.

Beowolf[]

The name Beowolf originates from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, which is about a great hero who slays many monsters.

Boarbatusk[]

The name Boarbatusk may be in reference to the Latin term barbatus, meaning "bearded" (as in the Boar is "bearded" with tusks) or the babirusa, a wild pig known for its elaborate tusks.

Cenitaur[]

Cenitaurs are a mix between a centipede and a centaur from Greek Mythology.

Centinel[]

Centinels are based off of centipedes. Being in Atlas and their Grimm inspired from prehistoric creatures, they allude more to Athropleura.

Creep[]

Creeps are not based on any single type of animal. Instead, their design is inspired by aspects of both reptiles and birds to show that some Grimm lack an animal equivalent.

Death Stalker[]

Death Stalker is likely based on the real species of scorpion which shares its name.

  • The initial function of the Death Stalker's glowing tail stinger is very similar to the Anglerfish and its own glowing appendage in reality. Both use it to lure their prey to them via the light on the end of the appendage, before attacking and presumably killing them. Also, their eyes and markings illuminate once they reveal themselves.

Goliath[]

The Goliaths seem to be based on African elephants, based on their ear size.

  • However, their curved tusks more closely resemble those of mammoths.

They also allude to the titular Goliath from "David and the Goliath", a story from the bible.

Griffon[]

Griffons (also spelled griffin or gryphon) are legendary creatures possessing traits of eagles and lions.

The Hound[]

The Hound may allude to the Big Bad Wolf from the fairy tale of "Little Red Riding Hood".

  • The Hound has canine and lycanthropic forms, similar to a wolf.
  • It was sent to hunt Penny, much like how the Wolf hunted Little Red Riding Hood.
    • Ironically, when hunting for Penny at the Schnee Manor, it nearly took Ruby, who alludes to Little Red Riding Hood.
  • The Hound had a person inside, which could refer to how the Wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother.

The Hound could also allude to the black dog from British folklore.

  • The Hound is a black canine.
  • In some cases, the black dog is said to shapeshift. The Hound had the ability to change its shape and extend wings and extra limbs from its body.
  • In one folktale of the black dog, it is referred as the Church Grim.

The Faunus in The Hound is likely a fox or dog Faunus, which alludes to the 1967 story: The Fox and the Hound by Daniel P. Mannix. It shares this allusion with Fox Alistair and his uncle, Copper.

King Taijitu[]

Taijitu is a term that refers to the concept of Yin and Yang, the symbol of which is well known for featuring a black/white dynamic to represent duality. It is used as the symbol of Taoism.

Megoliath[]

Megoliaths are based off of mammoths from prehistoric times.

Monstra[]

Monstra alludes to Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio.

Nevermore[]

The name "Nevermore" is a reference to Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "The Raven".

  • The Nevermore's abilities are similar to the Stymphalian Birds of Greek Mythology, which were also man-eating birds that could attack by launching their blade-like feathers at victims.

Nuckelavee[]

The Nuckelavee alludes to the Nuckelavee, a demon from Orcadian mythology with origins from both Norse and Scottish mythology. The Nuckelavee was commonly blamed for disease and destruction of crops.

Sabyr[]

Sabyrs allude to saber-toothed cats from prehistoric times.

Sulfur Fish[]

Sulfur Fish are based off of silverfish.

Teryx[]

Teryx's are based off the Velociraptor, in reference to Jurassic Park.[49]

Ursa[]

Their name comes from the Latin word for bear.

  • Although ursae is the Latin plural for the word ursa, the plural is given as "Ursai" according to in-episode captions and published scripts. The word probably does not follow the standard plurals because Latin doesn't exist in Remnant.

Wyvern[]

Wyverns are mythical dragons or flying reptilian creatures similar to dragons recognizable by their single pair of legs.

Fairy Tales[]

The Girl in the Tower[]

The Girl in the Tower likely refers to Rapunzel, as the character in question refers to Salem.

The Boy Who Cried Grimm[]

The Boy Who Cried Grimm is a nod to Aesop's Fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

The Shallow Sea[]

One of the animals the god of animals turns into in the story, "The Roc" alludes to the giant bird of prey with the same name featured in One Thousand and One Nights that is encountered by both Abd-al Rahman and Sinbad The Sailor.

The Indecisive King[]

The full title of the tale, The King, The Crown, and The Widow alludes to the title of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

The Judgement of Faunus[]

The Judgement of Faunus alludes to "The Judgement of Solomon" from the bible. The actions of the God of animals in the story solving one problem only to create another allude to the Greek Myth "The Judgement of Paris".

The Girl Who Fell Through the World[]

The Girl Who Fell Through the World likely alludes to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", a 1865 novel by author Lewis Carroll. It tells of a young girl named Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole into a subterranean fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures.

In "RWBY: Roman Holiday", the name of the girl in the story is revealed to be Alyx which sounds similar to the name of the main character Alice.

Locations[]

Emerald Forest[]

The forest's name may be a reference to the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz.

Brunswick Farms[]

Brunswick is a German city related to the The Wild Huntsman, a Headless Horseman-like legend.

Atlas[]

Atlas' name is likely a reference to Atlas, a Titan in Greek mythology who was punished for opposing the Olympians by being made to hold up the sky for all eternity.

Additionally, it can be a reference to the ancient mythical city of Atlantis (whose name means "Island of Atlas") and is famous for being sunk underwater, which is what happened in "The Final Word".

Argus[]

Argus or Argos is the name of several figures in Greek mythology.

Glass Unicorn[]

The Glass Unicorn refers to a symbol of the same name from the novel The Glass Menagerie. The hotel's name is a reference to a symbol of the same name from the 1944 novel, The Glass Menagerie. In the novel, the glass unicorn is a figure in protagonist Laura's collection. In the story, unicorns are "extinct" in modern times and are lonesome as a result of being different from other horses. Similarly, Laura too is unusual, lonely, and ill-adapted to existence in the world in which she lives. The fate of the unicorn is also a smaller-scale version of Laura's fate in Scene Seven. When character Jim dances with and then kisses Laura, the unicorn's horn breaks off, and it becomes just another horse. Jim's advances endow Laura with a new normalcy, making her seem more like just another girl, but the violence with which this normalcy is thrust upon her means that Laura cannot become normal without somehow shattering. Eventually, Laura gives Jim the unicorn as a "souvenir." Without its horn, the unicorn is more appropriate for him than for her, and the broken figurine represents all that he has taken from her and destroyed in her.

Evacuation Central Location[]

The Evacuation Central Location could allude to the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz.

Ever After[]

Ever After was likely heavily inspired by Wonderland and Looking-Glass World from Lewis Carroll's books "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass".

Ever After[]

Alyx[]

Alyx alludes to Alice, the main protagonist of Lewis Carrol's novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" as well as it's sequel "Through The Looking Glass, and what Alice Found There".

Lewis[]

Lewis alludes to Lewis Carroll, the creator of many novels, such as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

Little[]

Little alludes to the Dormouse from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. They are both mice prone to falling asleep.

Mouse Leader[]

The Mouse Leader alludes to the Mouse from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. They are a short-tempered mouse who is initially antagonistic to the heroes, but quickly becomes an ally. Both also have dialogue indicating their fear of cats.

Curious Cat[]

The Curious Cat alludes to the Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and story:

  • The Curious Cat can turn invisible, shapeshift, can separate its own body, and can transport themselves wherever they would like to go, just like the Cheshire Cat can.

Red Prince[]

The Red Prince alludes to both "The Queen of Hearts" from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "The Red Queen" from the sequel "Through The Looking Glass, and what Alice Found There":

  • The Red Prince has the ability to shrink others with the snap of his finger, although it is unknown if he can restore other to their normal size, which could somewhat reference both pishalver, the drink that makes the consumer shrink, and upelkuchen, the cake that makes the consumer grow.
  • He is spoiled and bratty, much like Disney's depiction of the Queen of Hearts.
  • He only prefers the color red, and seems to not like the color green and other colors, similar to the Queen of Hearts prefers the color red over the other colors.
  • Whenever the Toy Soldiers and the Toy Guards do their jobs badly, the Red Prince orders their execution via decapitation, referencing the Queen of Hearts' most known quote "Off with their heads!".

Red King[]

"The Red King" alludes to the character with the same name from "Through The Looking Glass, and what Alice Found There".

Toy Soldiers/Guards[]

The Toy Soldiers and Toy Guards allude to the Card Guards.

Herbalist[]

The Herbalist alludes to the Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

  • The hookah is represented by the Herbalist's mist that he spews from his mouth.
  • In the Disney movie, the Caterpillar is known for its phrase of "Who are you?", which is represented by the Herbalist's "What are you?" that he has a great focus on.

Juniper[]

Juniper possibly alludes to the White Rabbit of ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

Jabberwalker[]

The Jabberwalker alludes to "The Jabberwock", a creature that is featured in the nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carrol which was also in "Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice Found There".

Shoebill-Like Bird[]

The Shoebill-Like Birds allude to "The Dodo", a creature that appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

References[]

  1. Silverman-Oum Interview
  2. 2.0 2.1 The World of RWBY: The Official Companion
  3. Silverman - Oum interview
  4. "Snow White"
  5. Monty Oum's Twitter
  6. 2017 Roosterteeth Panel - Connichi
  7. Volume 1 Directors Commentary "The Shining Beacon, Pt.2"
  8. Johnny Junkers' Twitter
  9. RWBY Crew Chat (at 10:05)
  10. Monty Oum's Twitter
  11. Monty Oum's Twitter
  12. Monty Oum's Twitter
  13. Roooster Teeth Podcast #235
  14. Monty Oum's Twitter
  15. Monty Oum's Twitter
  16. Miles Luna's Twitter
  17. Monty Oum's Twitter
  18. Monty Oum's Twitter
  19. Monty Oum's Twitter (retweet)
  20. Monty Oum's Twitter
  21. Rooster Teeth ExtraLife 2015 Livestream
  22. RTOz Panel
  23. Rooster Teeth Extralife 2015
  24. RWBY Volume 3 Blu Ray Extra '3,2,1, BEGIN!'
  25. Backwardz Compatible 2018 Episode 21 - Brok
  26. Screenshot
  27. CRWBY AMA
  28. Backwardz Compatible 2018 Episode 21 - Brok
  29. Screenshot
  30. Uyalago's Twitter
  31. Afterbuzz TV
  32. The Annotated Wizard of Oz (page 264)
  33. Volume 1 Directors Commentary "The Badge and The Burden"
  34. RWBY: Amity Arena Flame Cinder card bio
  35. Volume 1 Directors Commentary "Ruby Rose"
  36. We are E. C. Myers, Eddy Rivas, and Kerry Shawcross, here to answer questions about the new RWBY: Roman Holiday novel from Scholastic. Ask us anything!
  37. The World of RWBY: The Official Companion
  38. Fan Service: Attack on Titan and Knuckles
  39. RWBY Rewind
  40. The World of RWBY: The Official Companion
  41. RWBY Rewind
  42. The World of RWBY: The Official Companion
  43. Gray on RWBY Vol 3 ep 9&10 Aftershow
  44. Barbara on RWBYRW
  45. RWBY: Amity Arena Adam Taurus Card Info
  46. Larissa Angus' Twitter
  47. E.C. Myers' Twitter
  48. After the Fall Special RWBYCast Podcast featuring EC Myers
  49. RWBY: Volume 7 Director's Commentary – Chapter 9
Setting
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