RWBY: Ice Queendom,’ Episodes 1-3

Action/fantasy anime Ice Queendom was created by Shaft. One dream unites Ruby Rose. She aspires to be a Huntress like her mother and contribute to the improvement of her planet by destroying the terrible Grimm. But before she can realise that dream, she still has a long way to go. And if the Grimm doesn’t catch her, her new Beacon Academy classmates just may.

This RWBY retelling does a terrific job of introducing its core group, the world they live in, and plenty of cool, stylish action to the spectator in its first three episodes. The show’s first chapters do a fantastic job of bringing all of these concepts to life, but what really sets this story apart are the four characters who make up the titular team RWBY.

The story of this series revolves around Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang. These girls all have their own unique skills and weaknesses and were forced together during the Beacon Academy entrance challenge. With the exception of Ruby and Yang, who are sisters, the girls all come from quite different backgrounds and have very different outlooks on life. Even though these character conflicts provide RWBY: Ice Queendom plenty of drama, the programme takes care to never take any of the personality conflicts too far. I was pleasantly surprised to see how restrained the series was because I typically find anime angst to border on obnoxious. 

The world-building in these episodes serves as a supporting cast to the main cast of RWBY: Ice Queendom. The background and organisation of the universe the show aims to present the spectator to are intricately detailed. The series is able to avoid any unnecessarily lengthy explanations thanks to the expertly timed introductions, which weave the contents into key periods in the narrative.

The Grimm, the series’ main threats, are introduced in the show exceptionally well. The Grimm presents a range of dangers and difficulties for our heroes to overcome, both in reputation and on-screen appearance. There is a description of what the Grimm are, but it is obvious that there is more to the monsters than has been revealed, adding to their mystique.

Let’s finally discuss the animation. The first three episodes of RWBY: Ice Queendom are filled with various fight scenes that are visually stunning to watch. Shaft’s animation is sure to impress any audience with its lavish use of flair and flourish in the conflicts. The battle sequence never fails to provide a healthy amount of spectacle with its high-flying acrobatics that are reminiscent of the Fate franchise. The action manages to be as varied in its presentation as it is beautiful since each of the main characters uses their own special weapons and fighting techniques.