- For other uses of "RWBY", see RWBY.
RWBY (pronounced ruby)[1] is an American multimedia franchise created by Monty Oum and currently produced by VIZ Media, originally by Rooster Teeth Productions. It originated as an anime-style web series.[2]
Summary[]
Plot[]
The plot is centered around the four members of the titular 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. Eventually, they learn of the existence of an ancient witch named Salem and her inner circle that plot to destroy the Kingdoms, and that their Headmaster Ozpin opposes her with his own group.
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 while facing her father, Blake remains haunted by her past as a member of the White Fang and is forced to face some of her old friends, and Yang searches tirelessly for her mother, who left when she was a child while trying to overcome her trauma from the Fall of Beacon.
While the series continues, both the main show and its spin-offs start portraying darker themes about the world of Remnant. Many of these include corruption of military, corporate, and political power, abuse of workers and family, racism, criminal organizations starting gang wars, and terrorism.
Setting[]
- Main article: Remnant
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. However, not all Huntsmen and Huntresses are good people with many usually only doing it for their own gain.
Characters[]
- Main articles: Characters, Minor Characters
Protagonists[]
Huntsmen[] |
Antagonists[]
Supporting Characters[]
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Show Content[]
Trailers[]
- Main article: Trailers
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. However, the Red and White trailers were made before Ruby and Weiss' backstories were fully conceptualized and have some differences between the main show. For example, the Beowolves shown in the Red trailer lacked the masks shown on all Grimm in subsequent appearances.
Episodes[]
- Main article: Episodes
Episodes of the series are watchable in their entirety on Rooster Teeth's website and YouTube in the Volumes' completed forms as Youtube Movies. The series is also simulcast concurrent with the public release of the show on anime streaming website Crunchyroll. The first two Volumes were previously available on the internet streaming service Netflix prior to being taken off the platform.[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]
Sometime prior to the release of Volume 8, all episodes of RWBY besides "Ruby Rose" on the main Rooster Teeth YouTube channel were removed from both the main YouTube channel and the Rooster Teeth animation channel. In a later Q&A that happened the same day the Volume 9 Trailer was released, it was stated that due to Rooster Teeth's monetization being greatly diminished from what it previously was, they had no plans to release RWBY content on the platform in the foreseeable future.[7]
On July 1st, 2024, all available episodes of the show were removed from Crunchyroll.
RWBY Complete[]
- Main article: RWBY Complete
"RWBY Complete" are 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.
Prior to Volume 8's release however, the RWBY Complete videos were removed from the Animation YouTube channel. Because of this, the only way to watch them is either in the Rooster Teeth website or on the Blu-Ray versions of each Volume.
Development[]
- 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[]
Animated Series[]
RWBY: World of Remnant[]
- 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[]
- 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.[8][9] 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.[10]
On January 16th, 2018, it was confirmed that a third season of RWBY Chibi would air on January 27th, 2018.[11]
RWBY: Fairy Tales[]
- Main article: RWBY: Fairy Tales
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."[12] It was later revealed that the series has the title "RWBY: Fairy Tales" and it would premiere in 2021.[13]
It was later announced that the series would premiere during the First Night event at RTX at Home 2021. [14]
The series officially began on October 30th for First Members with the release of the episode The Grimm Child with the episode released on YouTube on October 31st.
RWBY: Ice Queendom[]
- Main article: RWBY: Ice Queendom
On January 31st, 2022, Warner Brothers of Japan revealed that they were working on something they were calling the Team RWBY Project.[15] Beside launching the project's website, no further information was provided at the time.
On February 1st, 2022, it was announced on their Twitter account that RWBY: Team RWBY Project will reveal more information at AnimeJapan 2022 on March 26th, 2022.[16]
On March 24th, 2022, both the main and Japanese version on their Twitter has been renamed "RWBY: Ice Queendom". The main visual was revealed to be anime series that was released in 2022.[17]
RWBY VTubing[]
- Main article: RWBY VTubing
At the Achievement Hunter RTX 2023 panel, it was revealed that a "Ruby V-Tubr Project", a spin-off of RWBY featuring Ruby Rose doing a V-tuber vlog series, was in development. [18] The first episode was released on August 4th, 2023, with the show given title RWBY VTubing.
RWBY Volume 9: Beyond[]
- Main article: RWBY Volume 9: Beyond
On February 12, 2024, alongside the announcement of the release of Volume 9 on the Rooster Teeth website, an animated anthology series was announced titled RWBY Volume 9: Beyond. This series will focus on stories taking place in Remnant during Volume 9, as well as beyond.[19]
Other media[]
Books[]
- Main article: RWBY Books
There have been a number of novels and a world companion book release for RWBY.
Comics and Manga[]
- Main article: RWBY Comics and Manga
There have been a number of different manga and comic series released for RWBY.
Soundtracks[]
- 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[]
- 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[]
- 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.[20]
Live-Action Specials[]
- 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[]
- 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[]
- On April 29th, 2012, Monty posted a cryptic RWBY-related tweet - the first time the show was alluded to online.[21]
- 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.[22][23]
- Promotional material at NYCC 2012 has indicated that Rooster Teeth has been teasing RWBY since October 10th, 2012.[24]
- 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".[24] Following this statement, the Rooster Teeth Twitter account posted a short message "RWBY Day".[25] October 10th was thus dubbed "RWBY Day".
- Miles Luna and Kerry Shawcross have admitted that they have been trying to get the five original founders of Rooster Teeth Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Joel Heyman, Geoff Ramsay, and Gustavo Sorasola into the show to voice characters for a long time.[26] As of the end of Volume 8, only Matt and Geoff have yet to voice a character in the show.
- 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.
- On March 6, 2024, it was announced that Rooster Teeth will be shut down by its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. While the fate of the series was originally uncertain, it was later revealed on April 24th, 2024 during the stream "RWBY: 10 years later" that they already found another backer for the series and would keep the original crew on as well.
- On July 5, 2024, an announcement was made at Anime Expo by Kerry Shawcross and Barbara Dunkelman that the series has been picked up by Viz Media.
Videos[]
Short Trailer[]
Volume 1 Trailer[]
Volume 4 Trailer[]
Volume 8 Trailer[]
Volume 9 Trailer[]
RWBY: Ice Queendom[]
RWBY: Arrowfell[]
Links[]
- Rooster Teeth RWBY Page
- RWBY Theatrical Release Site
- RWBY Japanese Official Site
- RWBY Official Facebook Page
- Official RWBY Twitter Page
References[]
- ↑ Rooster Teeth Podcast #191
- ↑ RWBY Crew Chat (at 9:02)
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ TeamRWBY.com
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Tugg - RWBY Volume 2
- ↑ Rooster Teeth Q and A
- ↑ Trailers: RWBY Announcement!
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Entertainment Weekly
- ↑ RoosterTeeth Twitter
- ↑ RoosterTeeth Blog
- ↑ Rooster Teeth: Bring on 2021
- ↑ RTX 2021 First Night event description
- ↑ Official Japanese RWBY Twitter
- ↑ TeamRWBYPrj_en Twitter
- ↑ TeamRWBYPrj_en Twitter
- ↑ Achievement Hunter on Twitter
- ↑ Official RWBY Twitter
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Monty's Twitter
- ↑ Monty's Twitter
- ↑ RWBY Naming Rules
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Monty Oum's Twitter
- ↑ Rooster Teeth's Twitter
- ↑ Volume 3 DVD Directors' Commentary Chapter 12
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