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Throughout the production of a series, a lot goes on behind the scenes in regards to planning and design, which often go through multiple stages before resulting in the final version that is seen on screen. Some concepts and ideas can have an effect on the show and characters, and unexpected occurrences during production can also lead to changes and additions to the plans for the show.

Character Basis[]

Neo alludes to Hecate, or as per their other name, Trivia, the goddess of a three-way crossroads.[1]

  • Her color scheme and personal emblem reference groups of three, inspired by Neapolitan ice cream and connecting her to Hecate's depiction as a goddess of three faces and crossroads.
  • Her birth name was Trivia, which is the name of Hecate's Roman counterpart. Taking on her Neopolitan identity over her Trivia one can be reflective of how Hecate was reimagined into Trivia by the Romans. It also contains the prefix tri, referencing a group of three.
  • Her semblance is used to summon illusions, some which are projections of deceased characters: this can act as a dual reference to Hecate being the patron goddess of witchcraft and ghosts.
  • Her partnership with Roman Torchwick may reference the fact that Trivia is a goddess of the Roman pantheon.
  • Hecate is often depicted as carrying two torches, which fits with Neopolitan's partnership with Roman Torchwick.
  • Hecate is classified by many as a goddess who holds great influence and dominion over the Underworld. This facet is referenced by her illusion of Roman, who goads her to take over the entire Ever After using her powers.

Given her actions in the Ever After, she could also allude to the Mad Hatter from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

  • She wears Roman's hat, as the Mad Hatter wore a hat himself.
  • She hosts a tea party of her making for Ruby. The Mad Hatter hosted a tea party for Alice.
  • She attempts to mentally break Ruby by having clones of people associated with her fight her, which could relate to the 'Mad' in the Mad Hatter's name.

Appearance Basis[]

SoulFire Torchwick Cosplay

Carter's cosplay of Roman Torchwick, which inspired Neo's design

  • Monty Oum stated during the August 21st, 2014, Rooster Teeth livestream that Neo's design is partially based on a presentation-play cosplay of Torchwick made by one of his friends (Sonja Carter aka SoulFire Photography).[2][3]
  • Her color scheme is based around Neapolitan ice cream.

Production[]

  • According to Gray G. Haddock, Neo was created from scratch about ten days prior to her debut after Monty had the idea for her. She was inserted into the shots of the White Fang rally in "Painting the Town..." just a couple of days before the episode was finished.[4]
  • According to The World of RWBY: The Official Companion, Neo's Semblance, Overactive Imagination, was created because Monty needed Roman and Neo to exit during "Painting the Town..." but having them escape was hard to animate, and it was decided having them shatter instead would be easier.
  • Animator Paula Decanini described Neo as "the funnest character to animate", given that her mute nature forces her personality to express through facial expressions and body language.[5]
  • After Volume 3, Rooster Teeth changed animation software from Poser Pro 2013 to Autodesk Maya. With this change, the animation department also made all new models for RWBY.
  • Neo's allusion to Hecate was reverse-engineered by EC Myers during the production of Roman Holiday. Regarding this process, he recalled that the plan was always to reveal that Neo changed her name at some point, but he was unsure what he wanted her original name to be. Neo's birthname was originally to be Kat, in reference to Kit-Kat chocolate bars, but the name did not sound right to him. Through extensive research on names such as Kate and Catherine, he eventually arrived at Hecate, and it was at that point that he decided that Neo's birth name would be reference Hecate's Roman counterpart, to fit with the themes of the novel.[1]
    • Myers later clarified that while Neo's birth name Trivia was intended as a reference to Hecate, the character herself is not necessarily intended to allude to the goddess. He also stated that he is unsure of who or what, if anything, she actually alludes to.[6]

Image Gallery[]

References[]

Characters
BRIR
RWBY/Justice League
Super Heroes and Huntsmen
Other
Minor Characters
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