In recent years, the quality of animated shows for children and adolescents seems to have dipped considerably. With the exception of a handful of gems like "Steven Universe," "Gravity Falls," and "Adventure Time" among a sea of otherwise forgettable and shallow series, it seems that the medium's golden age has long since ended.

However, there exists a show that, despite not aired on a major network like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Disney, is popular and well-received enough to be available on streaming websites such as Netflix and Crunchyroll. From Rooster Teeth and visionary creator Monty Oum, the series is none other than "RWBY" — a story that follows four young women as they embark on a journey to discover themselves and ultimately save the world.

Concept

In the world of "RWBY," humankind is constantly threatened by monsters called "Grimm." In response, academies are established in every kingdom in order to train students into becoming the next generation of huntsmen and huntresses—heroic individuals capable of slaying the monsters.

Character Designs

From the genius of creator Monty Oum and the talent of the show's concept artists, many characters have fascinating and unique designs. From a Neapolitan-colored villain to a scythe/sniper rifle-wielding protagonist, "RWBY" is easily distinguishable from other series with similar concepts and/or genres.

Fight Choreography

With motion-capture technology only able to assist the cast and crew up to a certain point, many sequences are animated with only a clear image in mind of how something is to unfold, and the patience to bring it to life. The result is stunning.

Humor

With talented writers at the helm and now in its third season, "RWBY" has carved out its own distinct style of humor that draws from both anime and western animation sources, creating a welcoming atmosphere that is sure to please audiences of all ages.

Music

Jeff Williams, the musical composer for "RWBY," often writes songs to be sung by his equally talented daughter, Casey Lee Williams. Together, the two form a powerhouse duo when it comes to creating a beautiful, catchy, and great original soundtrack.

Message

Because the majority of the characters are adolescents —a large portion of them female— many of the characters' struggles are rather universal, allowing audiences to sympathize and empathize. Themes of honesty, an uncertainty of the future, and the importance of optimism, to name a few, are key throughout the show.

Voice Acting

In the early episodes of its first volume (season), the voice acting for many of its characters definitely needed some more work and practice. However, towards the middle of the first and into the third volume, it has improved immensely.

Community

With a large presence on certain social media platforms like Twitter and Tumblr, both viewers and crew/cast alike enjoy a fairly open dialogue with each other. With the crew and cast listening to the audiences' feedback and constructive criticism, they in turn provide information, updates, and even live-streams where they discuss the show.

Scenery

Throughout the series, the audience catches glimpses of the world of which "RWBY" takes place in, and it's absolutely breathtaking.

Improvement

Now in its third reason, the quality of the show has increased ten-fold. With a dedicated and hard-working crew and a very supportive fan base, it's easy to look back and see just how many aspects of the show have improved: voice acting, running time, choreography, animation, cinematography, editing, music and more.

At the end of the day, there are far more reasons to give "RWBY" a chance, but it is the few key aforementioned that paint the brightest picture. One can find episodes is online for free on the Rooster Teeth channel on YouTube, the Rooster Teeth website, Netflix, and Crunchyroll. But before viewing the first episode, it is highly recommended to view the shows' four trailers first.

Happy viewing!

For those who have followed my articles and I from the very beginning of when I first started writing for Odyssey, July of 2015, I wish to take the opportunity now to thank all of you. Due to time constraints and a satisfying sense of fulfillment of my time here, I have decided to resign and to move on to new projects and endeavors. I sincerely hope that my articles were at least somewhat interesting and a fresh breath of air.

With great pride, I have found it very fitting for my last article to cover my favorite show of all time, and I hope that after reading this that you too, will be interested in discovering the world of "RWBY."

Thank you.