This is going to come as a shock to all you RWBY fans out there, but up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of this anime before. Seriously, I’ve been a fan of anime since the time of Star Blazers, yet somehow this one passed me by. After five seasons have come and gone, I’m finally on the RWBY bandwagon. Rather than talking any further, let’s right dive into the RWBY Volume 5 Blu-ray review.
RWBY Volume 5 Blu-ray Review
Available on June 5th comes RWBY Volume 5 in DVD and Blu-ray formats. The version we received is the Special Edition Combo Product which comes with two Blu-ray disks and a 32-page RWBY official manga anthology sampler. Disc 1 contains the 14 episodes, and Disc 2 includes all the extras.
Season 5 starts off with Qrow Branwen, Ruby Rose, and three other huntsmen and huntress candidates entering the city of Mistral for the first time. They’re in awe of what they see. Soon after, they settle in at the academy.
We meet a kid named Oscar who has reincarnated soul of Professor Ospin within him. And there’s Adam, the leader of a faunas splinter group, who has his eyes on becoming the head of White Fang.
Each of the four main characters is separated from one another, doing their own thing.
Weiss Schnee is flying home when her aircraft is shot down by what appears to be overgrown bees. The actions scenes here are spectacular. Unfortunately for her, the craft is shot down at which point she’s captured by bandits who are loyal to Raven Branwen.
Yang Xiao Long also encounters a bandit at a gas station, and a fight ensues. It’s safe to say Yang kicks some serious butt here. Another terrific action scene with velocity ramps in the fighting for added effect. That metal arm of hers sure packs a punch.
By the time Episode 4 comes to pass, we see Yang at the bandit camp where Weiss is held captive. Like clockwork, Yang kicks even more butt. I think it’s safe to say that she’s my favorite of the four main characters.
On Menagerie Island, home to hundreds of faunas, the Belladonna family including Blake learn of Adam taking over the White Fang. They learn of a plot to destroy the huntsmen and huntress academy in two months time. An attempt to recruit as many faunas as possible and protect the academy is made but falls on deaf ears. Blake and Sun can’t find anyone for their endeavor.
Come Episode 9, Raven makes a pact with Cinder and a few others who represent Salem, the evil witch-like character we saw back in Episode 2. Raven is after the Relic of Knowledge in addition to wanting her brother Qrow dead. Neither side appears to trust one another, so it’s a pact made of convenience, not trust.
In Episode 10, Professor Ospin comes clean to Ruby Rose as to the grand events that have and are currently taking place. The ‘Big Picture’ is revealed. We also see White Fang make an assassination attempt on the Belladonna family. The fighting scene in the burning palace is intense, especially between Sun and Ilia. Hats off to all the animators.
After this attack, Blake is able to recruit dozens of faunas to help protect Haven. Her father couldn’t be more proud.
In the final four episodes, the attack on the huntsmen/huntress academy is in full swing. It’s good guys and gals versus the bad with more terrific action taking place. Weiss gets speared, nearly fatally had it not been for one of the huntsmen recruits. His power finally manifests itself and Weiss is healed in the process.
The double cross I foresaw many episodes earlier between Raven and Vernal versus Cinder takes place in the vault below Haven. The fighting is epic! Simultaneously outside of the academy, Adam and White Fang have set up explosives to destroy Haven. The faunas arrive, defuse the situation, and surround White Fang until they’re defeated and surrender. Adam does not give up so quietly, then eventually escapes when no one was looking.
Yang and her mother Raven duke it out. Yang prevails and retrieves the Relic of Knowledge.
Blake, Ruby, Weiss, and Yang are finally reunited. Salem appears in an illusion setting up the events to take place in RWBY Volume 6.
I did my best to refrain offering up any spoilers.
Press Release
Per Gray G. Haddock, Head of Animation at Rooster Teeth: “We love how passionate the fans of RWBY are. Volume 5 received such a great reaction and we’re really looking forward to be able to provide these episodes along with a behind-the-scenes look at the series through the bonus features.”
INSERT 2×1 PHOTO GALLERY
Bonus Materials on Disk 2
- 5 Years of RWBY
- Weiss Character Short
- Blake Character Short
- Yang Character Short
- CRWBY Photos
- CRWBY Behind The Episodes
- Trailers
CRWBY: Behind The Episodes
If there’s one bonus feature that can’t be missed it’s Behind The Episodes. This feature is comprised of 14 featurettes that span 53 minutes in total, so you know they mean business. Behind The Episodes should have been titled Behind The Departments as it covers each of the departments that make up 150+ person operation known as Rooster Teeth. We see and hear the people behind all aspects of what it takes to produce an episode of RWBY.
- The Start
- Anima Skies Fight
- Another Face in the Crowd
- Setting the Scene
- All of the Lights
- Skin and Bones
- The Perfect Shot
- The Complete Package
- Can You Hear Me Now?
- The One Two Punch
- Drawing Inspiration
- The Pen and the Sword
- No Technical Difficulties
- Fanfare
Blu-ray™/DVD Technical Information
- Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9
- Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD-MA 5.1
- Subtitles: English SCH
- Rating: NR
- Genre: Anime
- Run Time: 244 Minutes
- MSRP: $24.95
- Street Date: June 5, 2018
Final Thoughts
The thing I like most about RWBY Volume 5 is the good qualities exhibited by the main characters. They have integrity and are loyal to each other. Many life lessons can be learned from them.
I wasn’t crazy about some of the character animation. You can barely see their noses. From my viewing experience, the dialogue and pacing are often a bit slow. The plot could have moved quicker.
On the flip side, the majority of the animation is terrific with some fantastic fight scenes. There’s proper character development an overall excellent storyline. Audio and visual effects hit their marks as well.
What do you think of this RWBY Volume 5 Blu-ray Review? Do you agree or disagree that this is one of the best anime sets of 2018? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts. Now, who’s interested in a giveaway?
We look forward to seeing RWBY Volume 6 in one year’s time. The next thing for us is to visit Rooster Teeth on YouTube and watch RWBY Volumes 1-4, which we never saw.
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FTC Disclosure: Cinedigm/Rooster Teeth provided Beantown LLC with one (1) RWBY Volume 5 Special Edition Blu-ray™ Combo for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.
All photographs are the copyrighted property of Rooster Teeth © 2017-2018.