In the fantastic world of Remnant, fifteen year old Ruby Rose (voiced by Lindsay Jones) is excited beyond belief to be accepted as a student at Beacon Academy. It is an ancient school that trains young monster-slayers known as Huntsmen and Huntresses. Along with her bubbly blonde older sister Yang Xiao Long (Barbara Dunkelman), klutzy, hyperactive Ruby is paired with two other girls: flighty, silver-haired rich girl Weiss Schnee (Kara Eberle) and the soft-spoken, cat-eared, Goth Lolita-styled Blake Belladonna (Arryn Zech). As team RWBY, named after their individual colour coordinated outfits (Red, White, Black and Yellow) they must settle their differences and learn to work together to uncover the secret of a mysterious element called Dust and fight the evil creatures of Grimm.
Created by animator and video game fight sequence designer Monty Oum, RWBY is an American-made anime pastiche. Produced by Rooster Teeth, a collective based in Austin, Texas that specialize in online games and comedy viral videos, the computer-animated web series (released on DVD and Blu-Ray with an option to view as either individual episodes or feature length) mimics the distinctively baroque, dewy-eyed art style familiar from countless Japanese magical girl shows. Tragically the talented and ambitious self-taught animator Oum died in 2015 as result of an allergic reaction during a medical procedure. Yet his creation went on to amass a significant fan-following, spawning four volumes so far.
Although RWBY crafts a fairly vivid world with an interesting mythology that clearly resonates with a lot of young viewers and newcomers to anime, seasoned Japanese genre fans may well find it a strange viewing experience. The series lifts almost every distinctive beat and motif from Japanese SF and fantasy anime yet presents them via somewhat lifeless, stiff and awkward computer graphics that dilutes both characterization and the effectiveness of the gags. Which is a shame because the script, co-written by Oum, Miles Luna and Kerry Shawcross (both of whom also voice characters in the show) is often genuinely witty. Despite carefully mimicking the character designs, story beats and visual tricks familiar from countless anime shows the series lacks the cinematic bravura and psychedelic imagination found in a regular two-dimensional anime. The visuals have a regrettable antiseptic quality.
As a self-conscious facsimile of anime RWBY is not without its charms. To their credit, in the course of hitting all the familiar beats of a maho shojo or training academy anime (the plot focuses on forging friendships, overcoming personal failings, and growing both as individuals and a team) the creative team tackle some interesting issues: bullying, prejudice, political differences, attitudes to women. Strangely ostensible lead Ruby Rose emerges the least developed character and, despite foregrounding the four heroines the more interesting drama happens away from team RWBY and involves side characters. Given a number of Japanese magical girl anime of late have expanded their thematic preoccupations to encompass heady philosophical ideas, RWBY cannot help but come across as lightweight by comparison. Still given the strength of the performances and sincerity of the creators in crafting a compelling, multifaceted storyline it will be interesting to see where things go from this awkward yet promising first installment.
