RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie Review

RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut is the revamped version of the action-adventure fantasy. The Final Cut version of RWBY: Ice Queendom is a different version from the original broadcast version that was first produced. The revised Final Cut version features revisions with updates made to the original broadcasts due to a myriad of production factors on earlier versions. From series creator Monty Oum – with original character designs by huke – comes the final cut version for fans.

RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut features series animation produced by SHAFT (Arakawa Under the Bridge, Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl). The series features theme music performances by L (opening), Void_Chords  (opening), and Saori Hayami (ending). Produced by Hideyuki Murata (One Punch Man, Cheer Boys!!), Kaho Yamada (Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet - Far Beyond The Voyage, The Rising of The Shield Hero), Maho Nishibe (Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, Luminous Witches), and Saki Okumura, RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut features voice performances by Saori Hayami, Yōko Hikasa, Yu Shimamura, and Ami Koshimizu.

Ruby Rose (Saori Hayami), Weiss Schnee (Yōko Hikasa), Blake Belladonna (Yu Shimamura), and Yang Xiao Long (Ami Koshimizu) comprise the team known as RWBY. These powerful fighters are part of a brand-new generation of RWBY Huntresses with whole new missions. The stakes are higher than ever. The world that surrounds the RWBY is one full of epic monsters lurking around every corner.

The world depends on the RWBY Huntresses to help fight these enemies and protect those who cannot fight. Working together to fight the Grimm, the four powerful girls go beyond academia to face down nightmares unlike anything ever seen before. Can the RWBY be the elite team everyone needs?

Part of the fun of RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut is the series sense of adventure with the central characters. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are all pivotal lead characters for the production. Hence the title “RWBY” (as it takes the first letter of each of the protagonist character names). The characters have fun personalities and this adds to the charm. Dedicated fans who have been following along with the previous versions of RWBY will appreciate the characters charm and the notable character designs by Nobuhiro Sugiyama (Arakawa Under the Bridge, March comes in like a lion).

RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut features art direction by Ken Naito (Gourmet Girl Graffiti, I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level) and chief animation direction by Hiroki Yamamura (Pretty Boy Detective Club, Maria Holic), Nobuhiro Sugiyama (Arakawa Under the Bridge, Nisekoi - False Love), Rina Iwamoto (Scorching Ping Pong Girls, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story), and Yoshiaki Itō (Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World). The animation is one of the core elements of the series. The design work is something that is a bit better looking with the Final Cut version. The Final Cut version certainly attempts to smooth out some subtle elements in the animation to make the final production stand out more.

The animation on RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut was revised for the new version. The new Final Cut version features animation tweaks and changes that alter the original version. The original version featured animation that wasn’t always complete or in its final form.

The original version had many production problems because of how many animators contributed to the original project. As a result, animation was sometimes left incomplete and without as much attention to detail and care as a normal version. The animators were strapped for time and budgetary constraints put some limitations on the original release version.

A lot of the production is an attempt to remake the earlier versions of RWBY and this is something longtime fans will find interesting as they can compare and contrast the differences between the original volumes and the new Final Cut version. The Final Cut Version is certainly a more polished version with revised animation and details not present in the original animation.

The cinematography by Takayuki Aizu (Gourmet Girl Graffiti, Puella Magi Madoka Magica) is one of the series highlights, too. The cinematography by Aizu is something that helps to showcase the beauty of the visuals. The background animation and line art highlighted with the animation is enhanced by a wondrous cinematographic style. The cinematographer provides a bright and sunny aesthetic when needed while showcasing some darker aesthetic elements, too.

The score composed by Kazuma Jinnouchi (Blue Giant, Suzume) and Nobuko Toda (The Journey Home, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045) is a highlight of the production. The score adds a sense of whimsy and energy to the series. The score is fun and a good backdrop to the action scenes. This is something notable and appreciable about the score.

Written by Tow Ubukata (Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Fafner in the Azure - Right of Left), RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut delves into the series and its history. The first three episodes of RWBY: Ice Queendom help recap events from volume one of RWBY. Then the series explores more of the characters and their journey forward. The series isn’t the best written series out there but it does remember to have fun with some of the dialogue and leave room for the action sequences.

Directed by Kenjirō Okada (Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time, March comes in like a lion) and Toshimasa Suzuki (Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne, Battle Athletes Victory), RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut provides a more polished take on the franchise. RWBY diehards will be the target audience of the new version. The Final Cut series provides a version with more polish to the animation and tweaks designed to bring out the best in the production – things that were missing before due to time and budgetary constraints. RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut might not be perfect but it does offer action, adrenaline, and a return of the characters that fans have come to appreciate.

RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll, RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The high-definition presentation features a solid encode of the series. The colors "pop" with considerable wonder and depth. The animation on the release is crystal clear and the background animation, line art, and character animation is highlighted well on the release. The action scenes are fluid and capably encoded without compression woes.

The Blu-ray release provides an advantage over streaming services. Streaming platforms provide a more compressed video presentation. For the most dedicated home theater enthusiasts and videophiles who are seeking the best possible presentation available, RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut has higher video bit-rates on the physical media format. The difference is sometimes subtle but it makes for a more refined presentation and one that will provide fans something of note.

RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The series features sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, A Lull in the Sea). The lossless audio encoding adds to the series presentation quality with good encoding and detail overall. The series score adds a lot to the presentation quality. Sound effects and the stereo dynamics of the presentation are enhanced. Both lossless options will please enthusiasts.

One of the key differences between the Blu-ray disc format and streaming video services is lossless audio. Blu-ray provides a lossless audio presentation with clearer dynamics and crisper details. An impressive difference and one that allows for a purer audio soundstage with richer sound definition, clarity, and depth. Streaming video services only provide lossy (non-lossless) audio presentation quality. For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles with nice sound systems, experiencing the best audio quality obtainable is a nice benefit of the physical media format.

RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a nicely designed o-card slipcover. The slipcover features compelling key artwork and the art makes a notable impression on the package design. The release also includes another key artwork selection underneath the slipcover. The addition of secondary key-artwork makes the set an even nicer one overall. The package design looks great in hand and will look excellent on a collector's shelf, too.

On disc supplements include:

Promo Videos (HD, 5:14)

Commercials (HD, 00:34)

Textless Opening Songs (HD, 3:03)

Textless Closing Songs (HD, 3:04)

Unfortunately, the release has an almost barebones supplemental package. The bonus features aren't much to celebrate. The extras are sparse and don't offer anything of substantial value. The release is lackluster in this regard. A more well-rounded supplemental package would have added considerable value to the release. The set could have been better with some audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, cast/crew interviews, production featurettes, photo galleries, and more. Alas, the set is underwhelming in this regard and that takes away from the quality of the release on the whole. A nicer assortment of extras would have made the set stand out as a more notable package for collectors who might be considering a purchase.

RWBY: Ice Queendom - The Complete Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut delivers a revised version. Fans of the franchise now have the ultimate "final cut" version with alterations made to the animation to bring out the best in the series production. The original version was more rushed for a myriad of production reasons and had some animation that still needed more tweaks and revisions to make the animation more well-rounded. RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut delivers what fans are hoping for – the "final cut" version.

The presentation features a solid high-definition video presentation and lossless audio encoding. Supplements are on the weak side and aren't as interesting or extensive as one could hope for. Certainly, a more well-rounded bonus features collection with audio commentaries, documentaries, and interviews would have added a lot of value to the release. Nonetheless, RWBY: Ice Queendom Final Cut brings fans a revamped version and a permanent copy for their collection. The set also comes with a nicely designed o-card slipcover and different key artwork underneath the slip. Fans may want to consider a purchase.