RWBY has a new home following the closure of Rooster Teeth earlier this year.
Showrunner Kerry Shawcross and Yang Xiao Long voice actress Barara Dunkelman gave fans the news they’ve been waiting to hear since the company was shuttered in March in a post on X/Twitter. The duo says that a new deal with Viz Media will allow the anime-inspired series to live on under the company’s umbrella, which includes anime hits like Bleach, Death Note, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and more.
The former Rooster Teeth crew say they’re excited to work with Viz on the future of its beloved series.
“In talking with Viz, they’re also very excited about this,” Shawcross said. “They obviously care about where the show is now, but they also care about where it came from. And they want to make sure that we can continue this story.”
Greetings, FNDM! 👋 @bdunkelman and @kerryshawcross just shared some VIZciting news at the VIZ panel at AnimeExpo #RWBYxVIZ pic.twitter.com/TrmAQiINTX
— RWBY (@OfficialRWBY) July 5, 2024
Dunkelman adds that the RWBY team is currently in talks with Viz about how the show will transition into the future, adding that they are “very hopeful for what’s to come.” In its own post, Viz notes that its relationship with the RWBY brand doesn’t start with the new deal. It previously handled a series of manga based on the show and also released The World of RWBY compendium book.
“We are grateful to the Rooster Teeth team for entrusting us with RWBY,” Viz said, “and we are excited to carry forward the legacy of the series.”
Viz will oversee production, distribution, licensing, consumer products, and more for the RWBY franchise. In the FAQ section of its post, the company outlines how the series will live on under its new roof. For starters, social media pages on X and Facebook will remain active while it explores the possibility of new chapters in its story. Shawcross will be involved in what comes next for RWBY, and as for RWBY Volumes 1-9, Viz says to “stay tuned for updates” on where it will be available to watch.
The breaks were pumped on Volume 10 when Rooster Teeth parent company Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it would shut down the 21-year-old business in March. In addition to RWBY, Rooster Teeth was responsible for a range of fan-favorite shows, including Red vs. Blue and gen:LOCK.
Rooster Teeth’s demise brought an end to a pioneering entity in the gaming content creation space, but RWBY, at least, will live on. For more, you can check out the trailer for the Red vs. Blue movie, which released in May.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
