RWBY: Ice Queendom - Flashy Action with a Friendly Attitude
- The Weebersons
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
Rating:
RWBY: Ice Queendom is a partial remake of Rooster Teeth’s original RWBY series. It compresses some plot lines to fit into 12 episodes. I remember seeing clips of the original digitally-animated show in the early 2010s when it was still new. I never made the time to watch it, but I had the impression that it was good. With that background, I was happy to watch this true anime adaptation, and it did not disappoint. I have made an effort to avoid spoilers in this review.
Genre and Setting
It takes place in a futuristic fantasy world inhabited by humans, grimms, and faunus. Grimms are shadowy monsters that seem to be bent only on destruction and death. Faunus are animal-human hybrids, such as a man with a lion’s ears and tail.
The humans only manage to survive conflict with the grimms through superior technology and their own mystical “auras”. They have an energy source called “dust” that is incorporated into some pretty cool weaponry.
The humans’ relationship with the faunus is mixed, with tensions sometimes rising to violence. The causes of the tension are only given a cursory explanation in this short series.
Plot Summary
The show throws together 4 girls. Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Blake have all enrolled at a school for grimm hunting. The fight scenes (at least one per episode) display the characters' different weapons and skills, but the real character differences are shown more in conversation and introspective moments.
They learn about each others’ pasts, desires and fears through being forced to work together, as their school administration has placed them on a team together and made the youngest girl, Ruby, the leader. This appointment makes for some tension on the team, as Weiss was hoping to gain the title. Much of the drama comes from Weiss’s relationships with the other girls, and with her family of origin.
When some of the students come under attack from a grimm that infects their minds and bodies, the team and their friends must learn to use their talents to work together.
Messages and themes
The show is upfront about the points it makes about self-confidence, friendship, race relations, and family. It’s unsubtle, but not preachy or obnoxious. The school teachers make brief appearances, but are always portrayed as wise guides. For instance, when Ruby is doubting her own ability to lead, a professor reassures that her being placed in leadership was not a mistake. He tells her to do her best and put thought into how to lead.
Weiss is the catalyst for most of the development of friendship, as the other characters get along well. Weiss’s attitude leads her to butt heads with almost everyone. She has to learn humility as much as Ruby has to learn confidence.
The Faunus also feel the ire of Weiss, as she was reared in a family that stereotyped all Faunus as violent terrorists. The school however, has more open-minded policies. The team’s encounters with normal, helpful Faunus brings a reality check to Weiss’s worldview.
Well developed characters
Weiss’s background as a daughter of a rich, powerful family makes her cold and arrogant. But the show does a good job of showing how her overbearing father and functionally absent mother leave her lonely and crumbling under the crushing weight of perceived responsibility. She shows willingness to make new friends and learn from them.
Ruby and Yang on their other hand, come from a relatively well-adjusted family, albeit without a mother. Both are outgoing and boisterous, eager to become huntresses. Ruby, realizing her inexperience, has some reservations about becoming a group leader immediately upon enrollment. She struggles with self-doubt, but gains confidence as she leads the crew through their battles.
Blake has a mysterious history and seems more mature than the others, despite being of a similar age. She is quietly capable and helps to balance the impetuosity of Ruby. Her struggle is social in nature; she isn’t accustomed to small talk and jokes.
Content warnings:
The girls’ outfits are typical comic-book style; close-fitted but not terribly revealing. There is no sexual content to speak of.
Lots of comic book style fight scenes, minimal blood.
Some may consider the grimms to be frightening.
Pros:
Very cool action and weapons
Wholesome pro-friendship message
Believable worldbuilding and characters
Cons:
Plot may feel rushed due to compressing lots of old material into this shorter format
FAQ:
Q: Is RWBY: Ice Queendom a prequel or a sequel?
A: Neither. It is a remake that uses much of the same material as the original.
Q: Can I watch RWBY: Ice Queendom without seeing the original RWBY?
A: You can do whatever you want. But yes; see above question.
Q: Is RWBY: Ice Queendom available on Crunchyroll?
A: Yes. Also on Amazon Prime.
Conclusion
RWBY: Ice Queendom makes for light, entertaining spectacle for those looking for flashy fight scenes and sci-fi aesthetics, but the compressed format makes me wish for more stories with the characters.
댓글