- For other uses of "RWBY", see RWBY (disambiguation)
| “ | The future-fantasy world of Remnant is filled with ravenous monsters, treacherous terrain, and more villains than you can shake a sniper-scythe at. Fortunately, Beacon Academy is training Huntsmen and Huntresses to battle the evils of the world, and Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang are ready for their first day of class. | ” |
RWBY (pronounced ruby)[1] is an American multimedia franchise produced by Rooster Teeth Productions. It originates as an anime-style web series created by Monty Oum, written and planned with the help of Miles Luna and Kerry Shawcross[2].
Contents
Summary[edit | edit source]
Plot[edit | edit source]
The members of Team RWBY fighting together
The plot is centered around the four members of Team RWBY – Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long. The series follows their meeting and training at Beacon Academy, a prestigious school for training Huntsmen and Huntresses, warriors who defend the world from evil.
Along the way, they make many friends and allies, including fellow students Team JNPR, Sun Wukong and Penny Polendina, and foil the plots of villains, such as Roman Torchwick, Cinder Fall and the terrorist group the White Fang.
However, as the series continues, Team RWBY must confront their own demons: Ruby is faced with moral dilemmas that challenge her heroic intent, Weiss must reconcile her legacy as heiress of the Schnee Dust Company with her own personal convictions, Blake remains haunted by her past as a member of the White Fang, and Yang searches tirelessly for her mother, who mysteriously disappeared when she was a child.
Setting[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Remnant
A map of Remnant, the world of RWBY
RWBY is set in the world of Remnant, a future-fantasy world with airships, high-tech weaponry and a form of natural energy called Dust, existing side by side. According to the narration in the series, the early history of Remnant has been long forgotten, with recollections being passed down in the form of myths and legends.
In the world of Remnant, all living creatures possess a soul, the physical manifestation of which is known as Aura: a form of innate energy that bestows its user with certain abilities and powers. Semblances are expressions of this power and are akin to a personal superpower unique to each character. Remnant is populated by two intelligent species - Humanity and the Faunus, a species of Human-animal hybrids.
All of the inhabitants of Remnant are beset by the Grimm, which are described as "creatures of destruction" and lack a soul. Huntsmen and Huntresses fight the Grimm and protect the peace of Remnant and its people.
Characters[edit | edit source]
- Main articles: Characters, Minor Characters
Protagonists[edit | edit source]
Huntsmen[edit | edit source] |
Antagonists[edit | edit source]Supporting Characters[edit | edit source] |
Show Content[edit | edit source]
Trailers[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Trailers
Ruby Rose in the "Red" Trailer, the first trailer to be released
Four trailers were released leading up to the premiere of RWBY. Unlike regular previews, the trailers for RWBY were not cut using animation from the series, instead being original self-contained animated short films that told their own unique stories. In this sense, they acted more like prequels for the series proper than actual trailers.
Each trailer is referred to by a certain color and letter and features a character corresponding to those themes, revealing a little about the central characters' backstory. For example, the "Red", or "R", Trailer featured the character Ruby Rose.
Episodes[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Episodes
Episodes of the series are watchable in their entirety on Rooster Teeth's website and YouTube. The series is also simulcast concurrent with the public release of the show on anime streaming website Crunchyroll. Previous seasons were available on the internet streaming service Netflix.[3]
In 2016, theatrical screenings of RWBY Volume 1 in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States were announced, with the help of screening and events coordinator Tugg. The theatrical screenings took place from April 27th, 2016.[4] Screenings for Volumes 2 and 3 were also announced for 2016 in the lead-up to Volume 4 .[5] Screenings for Volume 2 took place on July 27th.[6]
RWBY Complete[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Complete
"RWBY Complete" is the volumes of "RWBY" presented as a full-length, feature films without chapter breaks and credits. The Complete versions of the first four volumes were included on the DVDs and Blu-rays for the volumes as movie versions. Rooster Teeth would later repackage them as "Complete" on their website and Animation YouTube channel, including the later volumes.
Development[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Development
Monty Oum had the idea for RWBY for several years, but never got around to acting on it due to the amount of his time dedicated to his work on Red vs. Blue. During the production of Season 10 of Red vs. Blue, Monty decided to develop his idea further and present it to Burnie Burns. After describing the premise of the show as well as giving a description of the character that would become Ruby Rose, Monty received approval for the show.
Official RWBY Media[edit | edit source]
Animated Series[edit | edit source]
RWBY: World of Remnant[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY: World of Remnant
RWBY: World of Remnant is a supplemental mini-series, documenting various areas, beings and objects in Remnant, the world in which RWBY is set.
Episodes of the series provide information on specific subjects within the RWBY universe, with narrative exposition accompanied by illustrative visuals. The art style of World of Remnant is heavily stylized and mostly rendered in 2D as compared to the 3D look of the main series.
World of Remnant episodes air on an irregular release schedule, concurrent with the main show. World of Remnant episodes air during the main series' "off-weeks", in lieu of a full episode. These were irregularly spaced in Volume 2, but Volume 3 features a World of Remnant after every third episode of the series.
RWBY Chibi[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Chibi
RWBY Chibi is an animated spin-off of RWBY. The show features stylised "chibi" versions of RWBY characters, with an emphasis on lighthearted comedy rather than plot and drama.
It was first announced as part of Rooster Teeth's 13th Anniversary celebrations on April 1st, 2016. The first episode premiered on May 7th, 2016.[7][8] Subsequent episodes aired on Saturday mornings at 10am CST, the same time slot as RWBY. The first season of RWBY Chibi was released weekly up until the start of RWBY Volume 4 in Fall 2016. The show returned for its second season during the hiatus between Volume 4 and 5.[9]
On January 16th, 2018, it was confirmed that a third season of RWBY Chibi would air on January 27th, 2018.[10]
Upcoming Unnamed RWBY Spin-Off[edit | edit source]
On February 11th 2020 a new RWBY spin-off show in a "new 2D, mixed media style of animation" was announced. This show will tell stories that "would be the kind of bedtime stories that Taiyang might have read to Yang and Ruby when they were little."[11]
Books[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Books
There have been a number of novels and a world companion book release for RWBY.
Comics and Manga[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Comics and Manga
There have been a number of different manga and an upcoming comic series released for RWBY.
Soundtracks[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Soundtracks
Each volume of RWBY features an original soundtrack composed by Jeff Williams, with songs written for the show spanning a variety of genres. The songs are written and recorded by Jeff Williams and feature vocals from Jeff Williams' daughter, Casey Lee Williams, with other vocalists including Sandy Lee Casey, rapper Lamar Hall, and Adrienne Cowan .
Games[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Games
RWBY has a wide range of board and video games based on it, spanning from deck-building games to a range of mobile games to a fully-fledged video game.
Merchandise[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Merchandise
RWBY merchandise is distributed by Rooster Teeth through their online store. Merchandise includes shirts, posters, action figures, plushies and more. Some RWBY merchandise is also sold at the alternative clothing retailer Hot Topic.[12]
Live-Action Specials[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY Live-Action Specials
Over its run, RWBY has had several live-action series and specials. These specials provided behind-the-scenes looks into the show's production as well as promotions for the series and its content. These specials were usually exclusive to Rooster Teeth First members, though some were later released for public viewing via the Blu-ray releases or on the Rooster Teeth Animation YouTube Channel.
RWBY in Other Media[edit | edit source]
- Main article: RWBY in Other Media
RWBY and its characters have made a range of crossovers and appearances into a large range of other shows, games and other media.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- On April 29th, 2012, Monty posted a cryptic RWBY-related tweet - the first time the show was alluded to online.[13]
- All character and team names, excluding Ozpin, follow Monty's color naming rule. This means that each character's and team's name is either a color; means a color; sounds like a color; or makes people think of a color.[14][15]
- Promotional material at NYCC 2012 has indicated that Rooster Teeth has been teasing RWBY since October 10th, 2012.[16]
- On October 10th, 2013 Monty stated on Twitter that "The first RWBY anything to ever go public was handed out exactly one year ago at NYCC".[16] Following this statement, the Rooster Teeth Twitter account posted a short message "RWBY Day".[17] October 10th was thus dubbed "RWBY Day".
- On December 31, 2019, Crunchyroll's editorial team released an article featuring the most-viewed anime series on the Crunchyroll website during the 2010s decade. RWBY was found to be the most watched series of the decade in Japan, and one of the four most popular animated series of the decade in the entirety of Asia, along with Black Clover, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
Links[edit | edit source]
- Rooster Teeth RWBY Page
- RWBY Theatrical Release Site
- RWBY Japanese Official Site
- RWBY Official Facebook Page
- Official RWBY Twitter Page
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Rooster Teeth Podcast #191
- ↑ RWBY Crew Chat (at 9:02)
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ TeamRWBY.com
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Tugg - RWBY Volume 2
- ↑ Trailers: RWBY Announcement!
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Entertainment Weekly
- ↑ RoosterTeeth Twitter
- ↑ RoosterTeeth Blog
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Monty's Twitter
- ↑ Monty's Twitter
- ↑ RWBY Naming Rules
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Monty Oum's Twitter
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
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