RWBY: Hope you're ready for a revolution

Hello friends, 

Long time no see! I survived my first semester of graduate school and pulled off a perfect 4.0 across the board. I've been rewarding myself this winter break by catching up on a backlog of games, working on cosplay projects, and watching lots of anime. Aside from making costumes, I barely have to leave the couch! I'm hitting new levels of laziness and it is just wonderful.

Rooster Teeth logo

In the midst of this geekery, I finally got the chance to watch a new anime that one of my friends introduced me to earlier this fall - RWBY. The web series was created by Rooster Teeth animator Monty Oum. I wasn't very familiar with Rooster Teeth prior to learning about RWBY. The production studio specializes in various web-based content including videos, animated series and podcasts. Rooster Teeth is most widely known for Red vs. Blue, an award-winning comedic scifi series that uses the machinima technique of production with game footage from Halo.

The premise of RWBY is pretty simple. We initially follow the life of Ruby Rose, a young warrior who dreams of being a huntress. Following an interesting turn of events, Ruby gets the opportunity to attend the prestigious training school Beacon and join a team of fellow ambitious and feisty ladies. The show mainly focuses on the unique powers and abilities of Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang as they prepare to protect the world of Remnant. The single biggest downside to RWBY is the episode length. Most episodes are five to ten minutes, while the premiere, middle, and finale portions usually extend to 12 or more. 



However, the writers at Rooster Teeth still manage to pull of an amazing amount of character development. It is very refreshing to see such a diverse and engaging female cast. Of course, it's not just about the main cast consisting of primarily female characters. I find it much more important that the show portrays both sexes in a positive light without being stereotypical or demeaning. Jaune Arc is a great example. He is not the traditional male hero. In fact, he is a clumsy and goofy underdog. We often find that his female team member, Pyrrha, must come to the rescue in times of need and teach a few lessons along the way. Through interactions with his team and other students at Beacon, the writers are able to create an impressive amount of growth for Jaune without resorting to a cliché archetype involving masculinity or aggression. 

Fan art via UntoldMage

I also find that RWBY presents an interesting sister relationship that you just don't see within a lot of mainstream anime. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the brother dynamic is pretty popular in the medium (case in point, Blue Exorcist, Fullmetal Alchemist, Naruto, etc) and tends to promote positive ideals of friendship and camaraderie (although it is noteworthy that some of these themes originally emerge from sibling-based conflict). As the youngest of three sisters, I love to see that Ruby and Yang genuinely encourage and support each other. While the show could easily rely on stereotypical plot lines involving competition between the two young girls, RWBY handles their relationship in a much more natural way. You can easily argue that this also extends to all members of the RWBY team.

I think we can attribute RWBY's unique approach in character diversity to the show being created and distributed by an private entity. The move toward online content allows for greater freedom in programming and production. Creative minds can call the shots when they aren't at the mercy of a larger network. I simply can't stand this whole notion of a network defining who the audience should be and dictating which individuals should enjoy and consume their content. A shocking example comes from writer and television producer Paul Dini. In an interview with Kevin Smith, Dini notes that TV executives aren't interested in female viewers, because they believe that girls and women won't buy toys associated with animated shows. 

I can't even come close to understanding this logic, especially when it comes to the money aspect. RWBY has been incredibly popular among all different types of anime fans. If you don't believe me, just take a look at the ridiculous amount of RWBY cosplay and merchandise this convention season. People will buy products associated with the shows that they love, regardless of gender. Honestly, these executives are missing out on huge financial opportunities by casting off the female demographic as irrelevant. Still, I'm hopeful that shows like RWBY will set an example for the mainstream television community. It's just going to take a little longer than many of us might want. 



Overall, RWBY is off to a fantastic start. I am confident that the show has a whole lot more to offer, and I'm pretty sure that Rooster Teeth is just getting started :) 

This will be the day we've waited for.
This will be the day we open up the door.
I don't wanna hear your absolution;
Hope your ready for a revolution.

-This Will Be The Day 
RWBY opening theme

Until next time,
-Girl Informer