#rwby in retrospect

[crimsonxe]

I love several animation people mentioning the BB bridge scene as their fav to work on/proud to work on and Mel even saying how she teared up when doing it. Once again CRWBY showing the love for BB that is basically universal. Wonder why? Almost as if everyone but the bigoted incel crowd saw it building and knew where the romance was.

[almea]

As funny as it is that Blake and Yang have both been like "We didn't get along at first" and the whole fandom is like "What are you talking about? Do you mean the literal first five minutes after you met?", I really love how it kind of implies they both think a lot about how their introduction to each other went and how they could have easily given up on each other right then and lost the most precious relationship in their lives before it even began.

[thuskindlyshescatters]

I finally know who to thank for Salem's hair crystals clinking, and now I can die peacefully

[amiizuki]

it amuses me how RWBY Beyond was advertised as "see what was happening in Remnant during V9, while RWBYJ were in Ever After", and yet the 2nd episode out of 4 of the series is about what Jaune was doing after V9. yeah, he talks about stuff that happened during V9 (or, technically, before, since it's about events from when he was with Alyx and Lewis), but the whole thing still takes place post V9, with him telling all those stuff to Oscar.

and then there's the 1st episode, which, while indeed taking place during V9, is just comedy filler, that supposedly continues with detectives joke from RWBY Chibi (I never watched RWBY Chibi, I only heard from other people that that show also had Sun and Neptune act like detectives) with no actual relevant info about what was happening with Vacuo, or the Atlas and Mantle refugees, or how people and the ruler of Vacuo were handling a whole ass nation of people just suddenly dropping onto their doorstep, or anything like that. the only sort of plot relevant info was showing that Summer Maiden is in Vacuo, but then again, her identity was still hidden from us and Kerry quickly jumped off from that plot point as soon as it was introduced with his """hilarious""" "nuh-uh, no more new characters lmao XD" line.

this 2nd episode isn't really that bad, it's kinda alright, certainly better than the 1st one, but, again, when I read that the series will be about what people of Remnant, who aren't RWBYJ, were doing during V9, I kinda thought it'll be about Atlas and Mantle citizens trying to get used to their sudden new life in Vacuo, or Oscar/Ozpin talking to Theo and all 3 maidens to figure out what to do next, or, hell, maybe even focus on Tai's feelings on everything that happened, with him thinking if he did the right thing by letting Ruby and Yang leave, since now he doesn't even know if his daughters, his last remaining family, are even alive, assuming he knows about the fates of Vale, Atlas and Mistral. (yeah, Tai's still at his house I think, but the description did say that it's about "what was happening in Remnant", not just Vacuo. yeah, Vacuo is a more important location right now, with everything except Menagerie and Mistral literally getting nuked just so the writers wouldn't have to go back to those places, but then change the description to "see what was happening in Vacuo during V9" if your only gonna focus on that location).

but no – the 1st episode is basically useless (and also very unfunny, but that's just my opinion) and the 2nd one, while okay on its own, takes place after V9 and doesn't focus on other people of Remnant, focusing on Jaune instead.

if the next episode is gonna be about bumbleby going on a date in Vacuo and telling everyone about how they got together in Ever After I'm gonna eat my own chair

and if the last episode will be the only one with any actual plot relevance, useful into or big reveal I'm gonna eat another

[onceuponalegendbg-rwby]

RWBY Retrospective - Volume 2

With Volume 1's success, the team now had proof that there was an audience for this show. They just had to see if they could keep the momentum going.

Volume 2 is in an interesting position because it basically works as a middle chapter of a prologue, meaning it's meant as a connection point for V1 and 3. Not to say nothing happens, quite the contrary, but that it feels even more open ended than V1's finale. Our team even mentions that there's still so many questions and things to solve. However, V2 is a step forward for the series regardless.

From the first shot the show is letting us know that things have improved. The textures for the buildings look better, no longer just flat images. The first real shot we see of Beacon is grand and a far cry from episode 2 of V1's. Same can be said for the NPCs. Gone are the Shadow People and their comedic potential, now we have actual models. The coloring is also so much better, saturation levels seeming to have evened out enough to where characters like Weiss with her mostly white color scheme no longer hurt your eyes to look at.

This volume also does a better job at expanding on characters that didn't get much focus previously - characters like Yang and Pyrrha. It's not flawless in this department but there's an attempt made to give these characters depth past their initial impressions and I'd say that they succeed.

The show still carries over some of it's pacing issues from before, but they don't feel nearly as distracting as V1, most likely due to the episodes all being a more consistent and longer length than V1's four-six minute two parters. There's also just the lingering problem of not having the time to properly explain some mechanics of the world, which is no doubt why the World of Remnant videos that started up in this volume felt necessary to the crew.

Some General and Unfiltered Thoughts

While I know people have some issue with the whole Neptune - Weiss - Jaune part of the season, it doesn't really bother me, personally. It's just kind of there. I mostly just end up feeling bad for Pyrrha the whole time until Jaune gets his head on straight.

I find that the season's humor has improved. There's a few jokes that don't work for me, but over all I found myself laughing more. It feels like they're finding their footing a little better in that department here.

The foreshadowing is through the roof this volume, and given what happens in V3... Well. Let's just say it was warranted. Our trio of baddies take the stage and set us up for the inevitable fall.

While I love the Food Fight and the RWBY vs Roman fight I think the fights during the Mountain Glen arc (before and after the train) are kind of meh? A lot of it is split screen shots, and while CFVY's entrance is cool the rest feels... anticlimatic. Which I understand is a little bit of the point in regards to episode 12 but when viewed in a vacuum it's... not my favorite.

Genuinely the Burning the Candle Bee scene still remains one of my favorite scenes in the entire show. The lighting is gorgeous for early RWBY, Barb and Arryn do a great job, and the music is on point. There's just something so warm (heh) about that entire interaction and I will fight anyone who says this wasn't some of the best stuff in the first three volumes.

Music, as always, fantastic. Though I still cannot stand the rap in Caffeine.

[cometblaster2070]

i am well aware about how strange of a show rwby is and how it honestly declined badly after Volume 3 BUT i am a sucker for how after team RWBY got separated and finally reunited again in Volume 5, Weiss is way more affectionate with her team.

and it makes me just SOB i find it so cute.

like her reunion with yang??? all her interactions with rwby in volume 6??? her sticking up for blake im sorry???

like yk even in volumes 1-3 she had growth and she very clearly cared sm for her team but it's just sm more obvious afterwards AND I EAT THAT SHIT UP

[dragynkeep]

Am I the only who thinks that a significant development in the protagonist's semblance being discovered by having it casually explained to her that "it's not all you could do, actually", instead of culminating towards it herself, is kind of silly?

Why actually let Ruby develop naturally towards her skills and develop anything about her when we can just have some new rando tell her that something about her is different and special?

And then carry that same shit on next volume where Ruby doesn't even understand how her own Semblance works?

Fun times.

[s0merand0midi0t]

So I got my hands on some Rwby Fnf Chroms and learned how FL studio Mobile works aaaand-

[malewifehenrycooldown]

If I had a nickel for every time I came across a video game series where the main protagonist has a sibling (usually a brother) that wants to kill him, but said murderous brother may or may not be under mind control, then I’d have three nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened three times.

[cream-and-five-sugars]

Summary:

They're still in talks to make Volume 10 happen (they seem to still be looking for partners)

Volume 9 will be available for all members on the Rooster Teeth website starting March 30th

FIRST members will get the opportunity to experience (weekly) exclusive bonus content, including: > retrospective of Volume 9 one year after its release > RWBY Volume 9 Beyond, a "storybook style anthology series"

also, new Grimm Campaign

[crimsonxe]

From the retrospective live stream (currently as live on RT site as of 4:12 EST, 4/24):

Conversations are going VERY well with MULTIPLE potential partners AND with the CRWBY members being retained/brought back!!!!!! I swear if they're available I stand by what I said before in Arryn Trouche deserving to come back, after they're championing v9. They can't/won't mention WHO but just that there's multiple potential partners.

They also frame this as talks having gone one more step forward from before, so progress being made with more news coming down the line.

Also once again if this does get RWBY a new home (or really even if it doesn't), everybody including fucking piece of shit rw/de need to put some damn respect on Kerry's name for fighting for it so damn hard.

[averagemrfox]

Kara Eberle sending in a ton a pictures for the rwby retrospective is so funny. She doesn’t use social media much but you damn well know shes out there documenting it all

[matt0044]

Might we get a Volume 10 Chapter Zero?

Part of me feels like we're likely to get a recap special of RWBY so far. Maybe go the extra mile with it being framed as an interview of the girls with their arrival of Vacuo, many reporters wanting to strike while the iron is hot.

I can see each girl giving accounts of what came before. Maybe even justifying it as the interviewer wanting to know what happened during the Fall of Beacon. I also think that it would be interesting to hear the characters speak for themselves of their journey.

I know clip shows are reviled but some of the better ones have characters actually talk about the moments in retrospect, giving us new appreciation for what came before.

Like Blake and Yang explaining how they fell for each other.

Weiss speaking of her family troubles and finding solidarity with Team RWBY and JNOR.

Maybe even a JNR section where they honor Pyrrha's memory by talking about her and how she did all she could to the very end.

This would be a primer for those who follow Viz Media's releases and liscenses but aren't sure about this RWBY business. Maybe even give a more legitimate overview of the story compared to certain videos with an incentive towards the negative.

[diezmil10000]

hello. i'm trying to see something here, so please try to make an estimate if you don't remember!! i've mentioned what fandoms i've been into during each year under the cut, for those of you who are war veterans.

you can vote the last option if you don't know me and this poll somehow reached your dash, or if you really aren't sure. if we're friends and we didn't meet because of my art you can just vote the year we met :)

this timeline goes backwards and i used to go by the username chisiuwu until late 2022, for reference.

2024: dungeon meshi, little goody two shoes

2023: fire emblem three houses, revue starlight, gundam the witch from mercury, homestuck, revolutionary girl utena

2022: rwby, revue starlight, project sekai colorful stage, love live sunshine

2021: i did a full huevember of many different characters, deltarune, houseki no kuni, love live sunshine, omori, project sekai colorful stage

2020 - love live nijigasaki, danganronpa, various k-pop groups but mostly iz*one

2019 - fire emblem three houses, various k-pop groups but mostly iz*one and loona

2018 - various k-pop groups but mostly loona

2017 - rwby, love live sunshine

2016 - love live sunshine, love live

you can also send me an ask if you remember why you followed me, but you don't have to. i want to know about dates rather than fandoms, i'm writing a very long retrospective about my own art.

[onceuponalegendbg-rwby]

RWBY Retrospective: The Four Color Trailers

-- The four color trailers started out as a proof of concept for an idea for a web series about four girls by the series creator, Monty Oum. The Red Trailer, which Oum animated by himself before bringing in others to help with the rest, was his pitch to the company, one that obviously worked out for him. This project in and of itself holds very little story relevance. There’s, of course, the little red hooded girl and her sniper scythe, the Grimm which will be revamped for the series proper, and the mysterious grave marker Little Red was visiting during her stroll through the snowy woods.

Even the song playing over it all gives us very little at first glance. We have the lyrics:

Red Like Roses fills my dreams,

And leads me to the place you rest,

White is cold and always yearning,

Burdened by a royal test,

Black the beast descends From Shadows,

Yellow beauty burns Gold

 In hindsight, this is hinting at our other leading ladies, giving us a glimpse of what they’re like before going into the full instrumental. The music, along with Monty’s amazingly kinetic action, becomes the real star of the show here.

-- The White Trailer does give us a little more to work with, opening with the quote “Everyone is entitled to their own sorrow, for the heart has no metrics or form of measure. And all of it… irreplaceable.” The quotes are something that will carry over to the rest of the trailers and they do a good job of setting the tone for each one.

We’re also treated to our first small taste of voice acting as the disembodied announcer introduces us to ‘Weiss Schnee’ who will be the focus of this trailer. From here we have a similar set up to the first time out. A lone girl fighting off a threat while Jeff Williams’ amazing composition and Casey Lee Williams’ lovely vocals lead us through. And once again the color scheme is predominantly made up of black, white, and a splash of red outside of Weiss’ use of “magic.”

This character is encased in imagery of mirrors and reflection, not only in their use of the song Mirror Mirror but also in how we transition from her performing on stage to her fight against the giant suit of armor. All of this comes together to create the cold loneliness hinted at in Red Like Roses.

-- Now we move on to the Black Trailer which I feel actually stands out the most among its peers, at least in terms of its presentation.

The first two trailers had a real fairytale feel to them. We had Red Riding Hood fighting a horde of Big Bad Wolves and Snow White using “magic” to best a towering knight in shining armor. The music was eerily beautiful and haunting. Here we’re treated to a heavy rock duet while our two leads slash through robots during what seems to be a train heist. This will also showcase the first of many of Jeff’s signature guitar solos to come.

Throughout this trailer our two leads show off their incredible synchronicity as they make their way through the train, alluding to a long, shared history between them. They’re partners. At least, that’s how it appears. As the sequence progresses, however, the feeling of Adam overshadowing Blake in her own trailer becomes more obvious. He’s the first voice we hear. He’s the one that gets in the first shot against the enemy. He saves Blake at one point. He is clearly giving the orders on this mission. He’s the one that gets to have the super ultra cool finishing move against the boss. The trailer properly opens with Blake set against the vibrant red tree line.

The quote that this trailer opens with is “Your hopes have become my burden. I will find my own liberation.” And at the very end, that’s exactly what Blake sets out to do as she literally and figuratively cuts ties with her partner. This is the moment that the trailer finally, finally becomes about her as her black silhouette stands out starkly against the pure red backdrop and she leaves Adam behind.

-- And with that, it’s time we talk about the fourth and final trailer, the Yellow Trailer. “Scathing eyes ask that we be symmetrical, one sided and easily processed. Yet every misshapen spark’s unseen beauty is greater than its would be judgement.” This is the first thing we are shown in Yang’s trailer. This quote is asking its audience to not take everything they’re about to be shown at face value. It’s something that’s highlighted not even two minutes later when Junior of all people underestimates Yang as she enters the club.

Yang plays her part at first, strutting into the club and lowering Junior’s guard with some banter so that she can extract information out of him. What transpires from here is an all-out brawl, once again showing off some of Monty’s excellent choreography which at points does look like the combatants are dancing. In the end it all culminates in one final punch from Yang as, surprise, Little Red makes an appearance. It feels almost like a full circle moment, bringing together the first and last trailer.

Yang’s trailer has some interesting choices on display. Throughout most of it we hear remixes of Red Like Roses, Mirror Mirror, and From Shadows before we get into Yang’s own anthem I Burn. And it’s not even the actual version of the song but another remix. This does suit the club setting, but it still feels like a choice worth noting.

This trailer also significantly breaks away from the others’ black, white, and red color scheme. Those colors are still prominent in the trailer, but Yang’s golden mane is hard to ignore, as well as the brown and orange present in the rest of her design. This trailer also comes across as the most grounded, or at least as close to grounded as baseball bat rocket launchers and shotgun gauntlets can be. Instead of fairytales and sci-fi we have a girl beating down thugs in a night club.

-- The four trailers work well as a hook into the series for newcomers. They show off our four leads, provide some mystery, as well as present us with some excellent spectacle in the colors and action. While they aren’t entirely necessary for the viewing experience of the show, most would say they’re worth a watch as there are some callbacks.

Some General and Unfiltered Thoughts

I genuinely enjoy the trailers. Not only is it just fun to go back and compare where the show started to how it is now, but they are truly just a joy to watch. The music and action really are the highlights of these videos. Not surprising.

I was shocked that Blake’s trailer was the one I had the most to say about and the one I had a more thorough storyline I wanted to discuss because of the four trailers hers is admittedly my least favorite. Or at least it was when I first got into the show back in 2016. Meanwhile, I had the hardest time really getting my thoughts gathered about Yang’s trailer despite her being my favorite character in the show. Period.

There really is a lot of symbolism to work with when regarding the Black Trailer though so perhaps it isn’t that surprising.

All in all, while a little clunky in some areas this is the show’s starting point and it’s such a special and memorable one.

[unofficialadamtaurus]

Fans who love the character Adam could’ve been 🤝 fans who love the character Blake could’ve been

I literally started watching RWBY explicitly because someone told me I was exactly like Blake (this was when volume 2 was wrapping up) and I connected to her so much. I have complicated feelings about Adam (ie I saw him as Blake’s abusive ex from the get go even before it was confirmed due to coincidental similarities to a real life situation and projection but retrospectively love his character and want so much more from it) and I feel great kinship with Adam fans like you because of how mishandled these two characters were

I will maintain until the day I die that Adam’s weak writing also weakened Blake’s. Like sure, who’s gonna argue against a “kill the stalker abuser ex” story (ignoring the racism with Herculean effort)…but it could’ve been so much more. Breaking cycles of abuse while recognizing the humanity in the monsters that cycle creates, not boiling down solving racism to just “kill the crazies and nicely ask your oppressors to stop,” giving Blake a moral and physical challenge to overcome that would likewise flesh out her backstory, the list goes on.

Instead he dies a pathetic hate sink’s death and she becomes arm candy. Stellar stuff, no notes 🫠