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IS RWBY an anime?: Anime Essay


Do I consider RWBY as an anime?

I have asked that question ever since I had a marathon six months ago. Five volumes worth of material, all crashing down. And let me tell you what, I ate it up with some OST on the side.

For context, RWBY is an online show produced by Rooster Teeth. It started in 2013, with sequels coming out every year after. At this moment Volume 6 is streaming on Rooster Teeth, which is kicking all kinds of ass.

Back to the topic, is RWBY an anime? Well let me tell you what I think makes an anime.

For me, an anime is mad up of 3 components. ANIMATION, MUSIC AND VOICE ACTING.

And according to me, RWBY has always rode the 66 Wave.

If there is a term for this, im sorry, but I am claiming it for myself.
Now, what is 66 Wave? Out of the three factors which factors an anime, RWBY has always focused on two aspects. Or actually, they tried all three, but one of them didn’t stick. That makes the success rate of 66%. Hence, the 66 Wave.

Again in case of RWBY, Music is spot-on. Voice acting is somewhat better that most of dubs out for conventional anime. In animation, I would say that for what the content is on display, it suits the show. But it has never been the best of the show’s aspect. In that context, it has always come around as a fan project…. That is what I thought until Volume 2. The animation didn’t go up from the next volume on, yet something changed.

One of the underlying aspects that I didn’t touch on before is the dark horse which makes or before any kind of show. That is STORY that it is telling. It comes later because one episode or one season can’t tell the whole story (Except when its episodic show like Death Parade).

In regards of storytelling, I will compare it to another show: Attack on Titan.
Again, no direct comparisons made in animation front, but I can do one in storytelling and music. As of storytelling, AOT doesn’t shy away from killing off important characters if necessary. As of RWBY, it has done that in the end of Volume 3. Now it has been only that character, which I won’t be naming if you haven’t watched the show, but the possibility of other characters’ death still exists. The initial villain is also dead, and you can make the discussion that villians are supposed to be dead, but it was one of the best parts of the show. This also increases the interest factor.

As for animation, AOT takes the cake. As for the dub, RWBY wins as the English dub, but AOT takes the Japanese dub crown. AOT checks all the boxes of making an interesting show, where as RWBY challenges the media with strong OST and solid story, with spectacular Voice acting to fall back on. Addition of Vic Mignogna as Qrow and recently Colleen Clinkenbeard as Jinn was surprising as well as welcome additions.

There are many a shows which can boast powerful visuals and strong Voice actors, but can still fall flat on their face. Others have sloppy writing but interesting visuals and music to back it up (Guilty Crown.) The last one can be Stellar animation with Voice acting to match, but with forgettable music (Hellsing Ultimate). Or the show can have neither good animation, nor noticeable music, but can still stand on its own with VAs (Ghost Stories: English dub).

Again, this is me spouting out facts mixed with biased opinion. And you may agree with me or tell me how much of a try-hard I am. But I still am proud of Rooster Teeth and RWBY for the superb action fantasy franchise it has been. Thus, according to the ’66 Wave’ principle, I hereby announce RWBY as an anime, and a good one at that.

ANIMATION: B

MUSIC: A+

VOICE ACTING: A-

STORYTELLING: A

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