History Franchise / RWBY

In 2024, Rooster Teeth was shut down by Warner Bros., putting the ''RWBY'' franchise on permanent hiatus following the conclusion of the original show's ninth volume unless a third party takes interest in/acquires the rights. The final released product of the franchise was ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueXRWBYSuperHeroesAndHuntsmen''.

* WebAnimation/RWBYVolume9Beyond [[note]]One of Rooster Teeth's last ''RWBY'' projects before shutting down[[/note]]

On April 1, 2016, the spin-off series ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' was announced on April 1, 2016; it premiered a month later, with episodes being released during the hiatuses between volumes. It gives the franchise a more [[LighterAndSofter lighthearted and comedic]] spin, originally providing mood-changing LightmareFuel after the original show's third volume dramatically increased the villains' threat level, [[CerebusSyndrome considerably increasing the show's maturity]]. Further spin-off series include the miniseries ''WebAnimation/RWBYFairyTales'', released in late 2021, and the anime series ''Anime/RWBYIceQueendom'', which aired for 12 episodes in 2022; produced by Studio SHAFT, [=GoodSmile=] Company, and Creator/{{Nitroplus}}, the anime tells a "canon-adjacent" story taking place during Volume 2.

''RWBY'' has been adapted into three separate manga stories. [[Manga/RWBY2015 The first]], written by Shirow Miwa (released across 2016, localized in 2018), adapts all of the Volume 1 character trailers and some additional miscellaneous arcs.[[note]]Miwa's adaptations of the prequel trailers are considered loosely canonical.[[/note]] Following this was the ''Manga/RWBYOfficialMangaAnthology'', one for each member of Team RWBY, released in 2017 and then in English in 2018-9. They feature fan artist adaptations of Beacon Academy side stories that are [[https://www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/wiki/wordofgod#wiki_the_rwby_manga_anthologies_are_canon mostly compatible with canon]]. Finally, there is Bunta Kinami's ''Manga/RWBYTheOfficialManga'' (released 2018), which adapts Volumes 1 and 2 of the show and is released monthly as part of ''Shonen Jump.'' Kinami's manga has a loosely canon reputation of "canon till it's not" by the showrunners.

Two ''RWBY'' spin-off series currently exist. The first, ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'', was announced on April 1, 2016 and premiered a month later, with episodes being released during the hiatuses between volumes. It gives the franchise a more [[LighterAndSofter lighthearted and comedic]] spin, originally providing mood-changing LightmareFuel after the original show's third volume dramatically increased the villains' threat level, [[CerebusSyndrome considerably increasing the show's maturity]]. The second, an anime series titled ''Anime/RWBYIceQueendom'', was announced to air in 2022, produced by Studio SHAFT, [=GoodSmile=] Company, and Creator/{{Nitroplus}}, as a "canon-adjacent" story taking place during Volume 2.

There also exist several games based on ''RWBY'' or including its characters. [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/07/04-1/rooster-teeth-making-rwby-video-game The first one]], ''VideoGame/RWBYGrimmEclipse'', was released on July 5, 2016 after [[Platform/{{Steam}} Steam Early Access]] for the game began the previous December[[note]]It was originally [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_A116ynks0 a fangame]] before the creators eventually [[PromotedFanboy teamed up with Rooster Teeth to make it official]] after the company found out about the game[[/note]]; a second console game, ''VideoGame/RWBYArrowfell'', was released in November 2022. The show also received several mobile phone games: ''VideoGame/RWBYAmityArena'', released in October 2018; the ''RWBY Deckbuilding Game'', released on Valentine's Day 2019; and ''RWBY: Crystal Match'', released in August 2019. ''RWBY'' has additionally become part of the Creator/ArcSystemWorks MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'', which also features representatives from ''Franchise/BlazBlue'', ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' and ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth''.

In the lead-up to the original show's sixth volume, Rooster Teeth struck up partnerships with Scholastic and Creator/DCComics to make licensed ''RWBY'' books. Scholastic began publishing a series of [[YoungAdultLiterature YA]] books in the summer of 2019, with the first book titled ''After the Fall''. It focuses on Team CFVY studying at Shade Academy a year after the events of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Volume 3]]. A sequel called ''Before the Dawn'' was announced at RTX 2019 and released in July 2020; its focus is on teams CFVY and SSSN. In August 2019, DC Comics began making a ''RWBY'' comic set during the TimeSkip that occurs between Volumes 3 and 4. DC Comics also made two sets of crossover comics with the two franchises, ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague and [[ComicBook/{{DCRWBY}} DC/RWBY]], released in March 2021 and February 2023 respectively.

In 2024, Rooster Teeth was shut down by Warner Bros., putting the franchise on permanent hiatus following the conclusion of the original show's ninth volume unless a third party takes interest in/acquires the rights. The final released product of the franchise was ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueXRWBYSuperHeroesAndHuntsmen.''

Oum's [[DiedDuringProduction sudden death]] in early 2015 during the development of the show's third season (or "volume", as all seasons are referred to) left the future of the show in question until its creative team confirmed they had the required information to continue and complete it. From that decision onward, the show has spawned a range of merchandise and spin-off works to become a multi-media franchise.

This began when an official export to Japan (via Creator/WarnerBrothers Japan) was announced at RTX 2014, with the first four seasons getting home video releases with a Japanese dub. Those curious about the Japanese dub can order the Volume 1 and 2 Japanese home video releases from [[https://store.roosterteeth.com/collections/rwby#filter:ss_hierarchy:Blu-ray$2520$252F$2520DVD Rooster Teeth's US store]]. There is also [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/07/04-1/rooster-teeth-making-rwby-video-game a video game]], ''VideoGame/RWBYGrimmEclipse''. Originally [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_A116ynks0 a fangame]], the creators eventually teamed up with Rooster Teeth to make it official after RT found out about the game. Steam Early Access for the game began on December 1, 2015 and the full game was released on July 5th, 2016.

On April 1, 2016, the spinoff series ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' was announced; it premiered a month later, with episodes being released during the hiatuses between volumes. It gives the franchise a more [[LighterAndSofter lighthearted and comedic]] spin, originally providing mood-changing LightmareFuel after the original show's third volume dramatically increased the villains' threat level, considerably increasing the show's maturity.

Three separate manga stories have been released. [[Manga/RWBY2015 The first]], written by Shirow Miwa (released across 2016, localized in 2018), adapts all of the Volume 1 character trailers and some additional miscellaneous arcs. Miwa's adaptations of the prequel trailers are considered loosely canonical. Following this was the ''Manga/RWBYOfficialMangaAnthology'', one for each member of Team RWBY, released in 2017 and then in English in 2018-9. They feature fan artist adaptations of Beacon Academy side stories that are [[https://www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/wiki/wordofgod#wiki_the_rwby_manga_anthologies_are_canon mostly compatible with canon]]. Finally, there is Bunta Kinami's ''Manga/RWBYTheOfficialManga'' (released 2018), which adapts Volumes 1 and 2 of the show and is released monthly as part of ''Shonen Jump.'' Kinami's manga has a loosely canon reputation of "canon till it's not" by the showrunners.

''RWBY'' has since become part of the Creator/ArcSystemWorks MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'', which also features representatives from ''Franchise/BlazBlue'', ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' and ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth''.

In the lead-up to the original show's sixth volume, Rooster Teeth struck up partnerships with Scholastic and Creator/DCComics to make licensed ''RWBY'' material. Scholastic began publishing a series of [[YoungAdultLiterature YA]] books in the summer of 2019, with the first book titled ''After the Fall''. It focuses on Team CFVY studying at Shade Academy a year after the events of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Volume 3]]. A sequel called ''Before the Dawn'' was announced at RTX 2019 and released in July 2020; its focus is on teams CFVY and SSSN. In August 2019, DC Comics began making a ''RWBY'' comic set during the TimeSkip that occurs between Volumes 3 and 4. DC Comics also made two sets of crossover comics with the two franchises, ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague and [[ComicBook/{{DCRWBY}} DC/RWBY]], released in March 2021 and February 2023 respectively.

The show also got its first mobile phone game, ''VideoGame/RWBYAmityArena'', released on October 2018, and a deckbuilding game, named the ''RWBY Deckbuilding Game'', was released on Valentine's Day 2019 for Android, Steam and iOS.

An anime series, titled ''Anime/RWBYIceQueendom'' was announced to air in 2022, produced by Studio SHAFT, [=GoodSmile=] Company, and Creator/{{Nitroplus}}, as a "canon-adjacent" story taking place during Volume 2.

In 2024, Rooster Teeth was shut down by Warner Bros, putting the franchise on permanent hiatus following the conclusion of the main show's ninth season unless a third party takes interest in/acquires the rights. The final released product was ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueXRWBYSuperHeroesAndHuntsmen.''

Oum's [[DiedDuringProduction sudden death]] in early 2015 during the development of the show's third season (or "volume", as all seasons are referred to) left the future of the series in question until the creative team confirmed they had the required information to continue and complete it. From that decision onward, the show has spawned a range of merchandise and spin-off works to become a multi-media franchise.

On April 1, 2016, the spinoff series ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' was announced; it premiered a month later, with episodes being released during the hiatuses between volumes. It gives the franchise a more [[LighterAndSofter lighthearted and comedic]] spin, originally providing mood-changing LightmareFuel after the original show's third volume dramatically increased the villains' threat level, considerably increasing the show's maturity level.

* ''LightNovel/RWBYTheSession'' [[note]]Light novel set during Volumes 1 and 2 of the original show.[[/note]] (2017)

In the lead-up to the original show's sixth volume, Rooster Teeth struck up partnerships with Scholastic and Creator/DCComics to make licensed ''RWBY'' material. Scholastic began publishing a series of [[YoungAdultLiterature YA]] books in the summer of 2019, with the first book titled ''After the Fall''. It focuses on Team CFVY studying at Shade Academy a year after the events of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Volume 3]]. A sequel called ''Before the Dawn'' was announced at RTX 2019 and released in July 2020; its focus is on teams CFVY and SSSN. In August 2019, DC Comics began making a ''RWBY'' comic set during the TimeSkip that occurs between Volumes 3 and 4. DC Comics also made two sets of crossover comics with the two franchises, ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague and [[ComicBook/{{DCRWBY}} DC/RWBY]], released in March 2021 and April 2023 respectively.

In the lead-up to the original show's sixth volume, Rooster Teeth struck up partnerships with Scholastic and Creator/DCComics to make licensed ''RWBY'' material. Scholastic began publishing a series of [[YoungAdultLiterature YA]] books in the summer of 2019, with the first book titled ''After the Fall''. It focuses on Team CFVY studying at Shade Academy a year after the events of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Volume 3]]. A sequel called ''Before the Dawn'' was announced at RTX 2019 and released in July 2020; its focus is on teams CFVY and SSSN. In August 2019, DC Comics began making a ''RWBY'' comic set during the TimeSkip that occurs between Volumes 3 and 4. DC Comics also released two sets of crossover comics with the two franchises, ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague and [[ComicBook/{{DCRWBY}} DC/RWBY]], released in March 2021 and April 2023 respectively.

In the lead-up to the original show's sixth volume, Rooster Teeth struck up partnerships with Scholastic and Creator/DCComics to make licensed ''RWBY'' material. Scholastic began publishing a series of [[YoungAdultLiterature YA]] books in the summer of 2019, with the first book titled ''After the Fall''. It focuses on Team CFVY studying at Shade Academy a year after the events of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Volume 3]]. A sequel called ''Before the Dawn'' was announced at RTX 2019 and released in July 2020; its focus is on teams CFVY and SSSN. From August 2019 onwards, DC Comics began making a ''RWBY'' comic set during the TimeSkip that occurs between Volumes 3 and 4.

* ''WesternAnimation/Justice LeagueXRWBYSuperHeroesAndHuntsmen'' [[note]]A two-part animated film adaptation of ''ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague''.[[/note]] (2023)

* ''Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen'' [[note]]A two-part animated film adaptation of ''ComicBook/RWBYJusticeLeague''.[[/note]] (2023)

->''"Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, by-products, of a forgotten past. Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness — creatures of destruction — the creatures of Grimm - set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void. However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change and, in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds."''