It's already been almost a year since we saw the last of the science fantasy anime-like show by Rooster Teeth. Now, after the intense cliffhanger that was Volume 8, fans can't wait for answers. So, here's everything you need to know about RWBY Volume 9's release date, trailer, and more!
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What Is RWBY About?
RWBY is a science fantasy American animated series that was originally created by the late Monty Oum and produced by Rooster Teeth Productions.
Set in a fictional world called Remnant, a combination of futuristic and fairy tale aesthetics, the story focuses on a group of young people who train to become warriors known as "Huntsmen" and "Huntressess" to protect the world from monsters called Grimm.
The anime-influenced show derives its title from the initials of its four main characters; Ruby; a very young Huntress-in-training with unseen-before powers, and her teammates; Weiss; a privileged heiress trying to forge her own path; Blake; a bookish girl with a dark secret; and Yang; Ruby's older half-sister.
What starts as a mostly light-hearted magical school tale about young people defeating monsters in beautifully choreographed battles soon turns out to be a much darker story you won't be able to stop watching.
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What Is RWBY Volume 9 All About?
RWBY Volume 9 is expected to take up the story where the previous volume left off. The bad guys have achieved victory once more, with Cinder having stolen the lamp relic and planning to use it for her own benefit.
Ironwood has descended into full paranoia and authoritarianism, while Winter -- now the Winter Maiden -- tries to stop him.
Atlas is on the verge of destruction, while Ruby and her crew have fallen into the unknown and are now stranded in a strange world dominated by a massive tree.
Volume 9 will likely feature the main characters' attempts to get back to their world and protect the last remaining relics.
The official teaser suggests that the world Ruby and her friends found themselves in is more whimsical than initially suspected.
While it's clear that they'll still fight to get back home, it appears that they'll first have to grapple with their own identities and how they've changed after the endless battles and losses.
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RWBY Volume 9 Release Date
After a longer-than-usual wait, it has finally been announced that RWBY Volume 9 will premiere on February 18, 2023.
So far, new volumes -- as the seasons of RWBY are called -- premiere either in summer or autumn, so this is going to be earlier in the year than usual.
However, given the long gap between Volumes 8 and 9, the new episodes can't come soon enough.
Here are the release times for different time zones:
- Pacific Time: 7:30 AM
- Central Time: 9:30 AM
- Eastern Time: 10:30 AM
- British Time: 3:30 PM
RWBY: Volume 9 and Ice Queendom
Meanwhile, a Japanese anime spinoff by studio Shaft known as RWBY: Ice Queendom has finished airing. Ice Queendom is not a reboot as such, as it recaps events we've already seen in the original while featuring a canon-adjacent adventure.
Is this what pushed Volume 9 of the Rooster Teeth original even further back?
While the show has now finished airing, this is still not entirely clear, as Ice Queendom ended up not expanding the RWBY universe in very significant ways.
It's not only that RWBY: Ice Queendom isn't better than the original, but it's also that its main events unfold in a dream realm, so it is a bit unlikely that they'd end up altering any of the events to come.
Of course, it's too early to tell. RWBY Volume 9 might still find something to do with the nightmare-inducing dream and the enigmatic new character introduced in Ice Queendom.
Already, Volume 9 seems wonderfully weird, but let's hope that it won't unfold only in a parallel world.
RWBY Volume 9 Premiere COUNTDOWN
RWBY Volume 9 Premiere COUNTDOWN
Please note that the countdown above is set for the release date and time of RWBY Volume 9's premiere in PST.
What Studio Is Producing RWBY?
RWBY Volume 9 is being produced by Rooster Teeth Productions. It was originally written and animated by web-based animator and writer Monty Oum. Following Oum's death, Rooster Teeth continued producing RWBY.
Production issues and the ongoing pandemic have caused the newest episodes to be delayed, but we expect the same team of writers, animators, and voice actors to return for Volume 9.
Where to Watch RWBY Volume 9
Unlike previous seasons, RWBY Volume 9 is going to be available exclusively on Crunchyroll for the time being.
Subscribers to Rooster Teeth's own platform, Rooster Teeth FIRST, can watch all past episodes of RWBY there, with the first few seasons compiled into several-hour-long movies instead of separate episodes.
Some fans are disappointed that the newest season isn't going to be on Rooster Teeth FIRST until a year later, in February 2024.
This was likely because of funding issues, but the team encourages viewers to keep supporting the show through Crunchyroll.
RWBY Volume 9 Trailer
Apart from the official teaser, Rooster Teeth released a short video with Ruby's first experiences in Ever After, the strange world she fell in.
True to its fairytale name and the series' fairytale theme in general, the video features Ruby -- who doesn't yet know what happened to all her friends -- befriending a talking mouse.
This video is much more colorful and whimsical than the dystopian vibes of Volume 8. This could mean a welcome break in Volume 9, as long as the plot also kicks off at some point.
For the time being, everything we've seen of Volume 9 is frankly adorable!
Following the announcement of the release date and distribution of RWBY Volume 9, the official trailer was released via Crunchyroll:
The new trailer shows a gorgeous, lush fairy tale setting that fans are already in love with.
Not much is currently known about it, but we do know that there are talking animals and sentient plants, and fans can hardly contain their excitement!
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