Gen:Lock | |
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![]() Title card from a January 2018 teaser video | |
Genre | |
Created by | Gray Haddock |
Voices of |
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Opening theme | "Belgrade" performed by Battle Tapes (S1) |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 16 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Rooster Teeth |
Release | January 26 – March 9, 2019 |
Network | HBO Max |
Release | November 4 – December 23, 2021 |
Gen:Lock (stylized as gen:LOCK) is an American animated science fiction television series created by Gray Haddock and produced by Rooster Teeth. It is set in a dystopian future Earth where an international coalition known as The Polity fights a hostile, autocratic invading force known as The Union. The show follows the gen:LOCK program and its members, who participate in the development and testing of an experimental technology which allows for individuals with unique mental make ups to have their minds uploaded to giant suits of mecha armor called "Holons". [1]
The concept for Gen:LOCK originated in 2017 as a cautionary tale about cultural warfare. [4] It was announced with a brief teaser at RTX Austin 2018. [5] A trailer was shown at New York Comic Con 2018, where it was described as, "grounded science-fiction" in the tradition of mecha anime such as Gundam and Tom Clancy novels but with a look and feel reminiscent of RWBY . [6]
Gray Haddock cited several anime titles as inspirations, including Ghost in the Shell , Gundam , Aldnoah Zero , Kiznaiver , and the writing of Gen Urobuchi. [7]
In May 2018, it was announced that Michael B. Jordan would voice lead character Julian Chase, the news of which accelerated the signings of other voice talents. [8] Gen:Lock is Rooster Teeth Animation's first series that allowed SAG-AFTRA members like Jordan, Dakota Fanning, and David Tennant to be involved. [9] Jordan also serves as executive producer through his production company, Outlier Society Productions. [8] In July 2018, Evan Narcisse joined the writing staff of Gen:LOCK. [10]
For the first four months, the team animated the series without the actors’ voices recorded. Haddock performed every voice for the first few episodes himself, hoping his direction would match later. [9]
Initially advertised for release in 2018, the show's final release date of January 26, 2019 was announced at New York Comic Con. [11] It released on Rooster Teeth's FIRST platform. [11] Following a mysterious tweet from Rooster Teeth's Twitter account on December 21, the first episode of the series was broadcast in a surprise screening on the company's live streaming service the next day. [12] [13] [14] On January 9, it was revealed that along with the Volume 6 finale of RWBY, the first two episodes would premiere on the 26th, and that only the first episode would be available for free and all subsequent episodes would be exclusive to Rooster Teeth FIRST members. [15] The remaining six episodes released on a weekly basis. [15]
The first season premiered on TV and aired from August 3, 2019, to September 21, 2019, on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block, with episodes edited down to approximately 23 minutes to fit into a standard time slot. During the period, Gen:LOCK was either the second most viewed Toonami show after Dragon Ball Super , or third after Dr. Stone . Its best performance was Episode 6, which ranked at ninth among all shows on September 7. [16]
At New York Comic Con 2018, Rooster Teeth announced a partnership with DC Comics to publish RWBY and Gen:LOCK comics starting in 2019. The Gen:Lock comic is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, while drawn by Carlo Barbieri. [17]
On October 24, 2019, it was announced that the show had been renewed for a second season set to be released on HBO Max for its first 90 days before it is released on Rooster Teeth for FIRST members. [18] This was confirmed in 2020 by Forbes . [19]
On October 22, 2021, it was revealed that the show's second season would premiere on HBO Max on November 4, and on Rooster Teeth FIRST on March 23, 2022. As of April 1, 2022, all episodes are available on Rooster Teeth FIRST. [20] Animation was handled by Vancouver-based studio Bardel Entertainment. [21]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
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First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
Specials | 4 | January 20, 2018 | November 26, 2018 | Rooster Teeth | |
1 | 8 | January 26, 2019 | March 9, 2019 | ||
2 | 8 | November 4, 2021 | December 23, 2021 | HBO Max |
Prior to release, Rooster Teeth released four "Character Reveal Teasers." These teasers, set during episode one's four-year time-skip, were framed from the perspective of Dr. Rufus Weller (David Tennant) and his continued phone conversations with Colonel Raquel Marin (Monica Rial), discussing the new recruits for the gen:LOCK program.
No. | Title | Length | Original air date | |
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P1 | "Character Reveal Teaser 1" | 1:40 | January 20, 2018 (final version reuploaded November 23, 2018) | |
Dr. Weller runs an experimental field trial operation using test subject Julian Chase. Colonel Marin expresses her concerns about the project and is discouraged to learn that Dr. Weller only found six matches. Dr. Weller reassures her that they are just getting started. Note: This teaser was originally released after the credits of the Volume 5 finale of RWBY , prior to the casting of David Tennant so voice actor Ian Russell played the role of Dr. Weller in the first release of the teaser. The piece was redone with David Tennant's voice after he was cast for the role. | ||||
P2 | "Character Reveal Teaser 2" | 1:55 | August 9, 2018 | |
While observing another field test, Dr. Weller receives another call from Colonel Marin demanding to know why she has a transfer request from the Mesa Detainment Center. She reports that the Vanguard is strictly running defense against the Union and that they are only slowing them down. Dr. Weller announces he's found another pilot for the program: Yasamin Madrani, an incarcerated Iranian combat pilot with significant military training. Dr. Weller requests that she be released into his custody from the Mesa, prompting Marin to hang up on him. | ||||
P3 | "Character Reveal Teaser 3" | 2:02 | September 15, 2018 | |
Colonel Marin admits she is impressed by Yasamin's work with Chase. Dr. Weller expresses misgivings about the new armor sets for the program but is ignored. He then reveals the next two recruits: Cammie MacCloud, a talented Scottish hacker, and Kazu Iida, a former tank driver who was demoted to cook for insubordination. Colonel Marin angrily refuses to approve Dr. Weller's transfer requests, despite his protests that they are "one in a million." Marin reminds him that they would not have to rely on such subpar candidates if they could improve "gen:LOCK compatibility" and orders Dr. Weller to keep looking. | ||||
P4 | "Character Reveal Teaser 4" | 2:36 | November 26, 2018 | |
Colonel Marin contacts Dr. Weller to report that the Union is trying to bring down the whole comms network to find him, and that they need to evacuate him and his work to a safe location. Instead, Dr. Weller reports two more candidates: Ukrainian special ops soldier Valentina Romanyszyn and Vanguard ranger Robert Sinclair. Despite the fact that the integrity of the network is close to being compromised, Dr. Weller refuses to evacuate until Colonel Marin approves the rest of the recruits for transfer. Marin reluctantly complies and orders him to meet her at the Anvil, along with the new recruits. Just as she hangs up, Weller receives a notification that the call was intercepted. |
![]() | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed.(May 2019) |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Length | Original air date | |
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1 | 1 | "The Pilot" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock | 32:07 | January 26, 2019 (premiered December 22, 2018) | |
In 2068, after Vanguard pilot Julian Chase holographically introduces his family to his girlfriend and fellow soldier Miranda Worth, the Union begins its attack on New York, leading both to be dispatched with the rest of the Vanguard forces. Despite their efforts, New York is lost to the Union, and Chase is seemingly killed in a crash. Four years later, a battle-hardened and still grieving Miranda is ordered by Colonel Raquel Marin to meet Dr. Rufus Weller and Yasamin Madrani from the Polity's Experimental Science Unit, who are moving their headquarters into the Anvil. Miranda, along with Chase's former squadmates Unit Leader Leon August and tank pilot Jodie Brennan, are dispatched to pick up some people on the underground railroad but face a Union ambush. Just when Miranda is about to give up hope, she hears Chase's voice over the radio and witnesses two humanoid mechs enter the battle and single-handedly drive back the Union forces. At the debriefing session, the suspicious pilots demand to know who the mechs were. Marin explains the ambush muddled their plans on how to reveal the truth of the Experimental Science Unit, and an apparently still-alive Chase proceeds to materialize in front of the crowd. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "There's Always Tomorrow" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock | 26:16 | January 26, 2019 | |
Chase, Dr. Weller, and Colonel Marin explain the situation to the shocked soldiers: at the ESU Dr. Weller developed new mech technology called "Holons," controlled by a human mind digitized into a computer interface. The system requires very specific candidates in order to achieve what is referred to as "gen:LOCK," with Chase and Madrani being the first two identified. Chase was recovered alive by the ESU and can control his mechs remotely as though they are his own body, and can interact with others via an augmented reality projection he can materialize anywhere nearby. Miguel 'Migas' Garza, one of Chase's friends, visits him in his Holon tank, learning the full extent of Chase's injuries: he lost all of his limbs save for his left arm, and has to be constantly connected to a life support system. He cannot have his limbs regenerated due to the Union's nanotechnology that attacked him, which ironically also kept him alive: until they can develop the technology to remove them, he has to stay confined to the tank. The next day, the other four gen:LOCK candidates arrive: Cammie MacCloud, Kazu Iida, Valentina Romanyszyn, and Robert Sinclair. Chase attempts to talk to Miranda, who angrily rebuffs him for keeping her in the dark for the past four years. Before the recruits can use the holons, Sinclair is revealed to be a Union imposter who replaced the real Sinclair. He kills the guards sent to contain him and takes Dr. Weller hostage. He demands that Weller upload him into one of the mechs or he will release the nano-tech on the base. Dr. Weller complies, but because the imposter Sinclair is not gen:LOCK compatible he is immediately killed while trying to use the Holon unit. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "Second Birthday" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock | 25:05 | February 2, 2019 | |
The recruits are reluctant to continue participating in the gen:LOCK program after witnessing what happened to the imposter Sinclair, further insisting that they were misled as to what the program was for: Valentina, in particular, had retired from active combat and was told the program was a science experiment. Dr. Weller convinces them to at least try the Holon units, and they manage to be uploaded. Afterwards they go to the training ground, where a capture the flag is played opposite Leon, Jodie, and Miranda piloting tanks. None of the recruits fare very well, but Chase shows off the full capabilities of the Holon units by winning easily. A fleet of carrier vehicles carrying injured refugees from the front lines arrives right by where the recruits are training, much to their horror and Dr. Weller's secret strategy. Dr. Weller explains that he created gen:LOCK as a potential solution to the culture war, hopefully bridging divisions between sides and helping them come to an understanding, but the military weaponized it. He tells the recruits that even so, perhaps the six of them can usher in a new way of fighting the war if they all work together to support the military's efforts, be it in battle or through rescue missions. The recruits all agree to continue with the program. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Training Daze" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock & Kerry Shawcross | 24:19 | February 9, 2019 | |
Training for the gen:LOCK program continues, while also revealing that Leon is compatible, but was kept out of the program for his own safety, as he is above the safe age range for upload. Though the recruits show progress, they have a difficult time forming a bond as a team. Chase talks to Miranda, apologizing for not reaching out to her, explaining he knew with his situation that there was a chance he would die on her again before they could be reunited, and she hesitantly raises the possibility of them starting over. Migas lets Cammie know she can overhaul the endoskeleton of the Holon units for a better center of gravity and hints that he's working on some other design modifications. Exhausted from training, the group takes a break in the Ether, a virtual reality hub for recreation. Before they can do anything, however, the Ether starts to glitch. Unbeknownst to Chase, his sister Driana (who he assumed was lost in New York) is also in the Ether, and she spots him just before it shuts down. The Holons are dispatched to Dallas's Data Center for the Ether, which the Union is trying to take down. They manage to defeat several of the Union's tanks, and the grunts are able to secure the data center, but the group is confronted by a giant Union mech - that Dr. Weller and Colonel Marin seem familiar with - that ambushes Cammie and severely damages her Holon, leaving her unable to fight but still alive. The rest of the gen:LOCK team manage to force the mech to retreat and Yaz helps Cammie by mind-sharing with her Holon unit. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "The Best Defense" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock | 23:54 | February 16, 2019 | |
The team continues training, despite Cammie's trauma and eventual frustration leading her to have a psychotic episode during a sparring match with Kazu. The team tries to cheer her up, assuring they will support her in their next fight. Colonel Marin briefs the gen:LOCK team and the Vanguard pilots about a mission to a Union manufacturing base in Atlanta, despite Dr. Weller's concerns about dispatching them so quickly. The team is given additional upgrades by Dr. Weller (a sword for Kazu, a new rifle for Valentina, wrist-mounted lasers for Yasamin, and targeting drones for Cammie), while Migas reveals to Chase he upgraded his Holon to include wings for aerial combat, to Chase's delight. The mission is briefly complicated by the arrival of some Polity scientists taken hostage by the Union. The gen:LOCK team successfully rescues the scientists and destroys the base, but their exit is blocked by the return of the Union mech, which strangely recognizes Miranda and speaks in Chase's voice before targeting him specifically. After a vicious fight, the mech escapes, leaving Chase confused. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "The Only Me I Know" | Gray G. Haddock | Gray G. Haddock | 25:33 | February 23, 2019 | |
The Vanguard is left reeling by the encounter with the Union mech, who to their knowledge is another Chase. Chase tries to talk to Miranda, who is unable to accept the idea that he might not be "her" Chase. Upon returning to the Anvil, Chase confronts Dr. Weller about the mech: Weller admits that the mech is another instance of Chase's brain, his "Nemesis." Contrary to what he had been told, the program had been making back-ups of his mind since the start of the program, uploading copies into one while the other would be deployed into the field. The Union became aware of the gen:LOCK program and ambushed Chase on one of his missions, capturing him and his Holon unit. With no other option, the ESU downloaded the backup into Chase's real body and ended the practice of copying pilots for the rest of the program. Soon after Chase learns all of this, the Union launches an attack on the Anvil spearheaded by the same giant Behemoth mech that attacked New York alongside the Nemesis Chase, who angrily demands that they "kill the copy" and that the Union promised they could return him to his body. The Vanguard's Chase quickly attacks the Nemesis, signaling the start of the battle. The Holon units are dispatched alongside the tank pilots to fight the Union. The Union's droids breach the Anvil in a bid for the gen:LOCK pilots, forcing Kazu, Yaz, Cammie, and Valentina to return to the base so they can escape on a transport with Dr. Weller's android unit Caliban, who is ordered to use the Omega Protocol. In order to buy them more time, Weller sacrifices himself by blowing up the lab with several Union soldiers inside of it. The gen:LOCK units manage to successfully escape on a transport with the help of Migas, and the Anvil is able to down the Behemoth. Unfortunately, this results in the release of a massive nanotech cloud that quickly overtakes the battlefield and the entire base with most of the Vanguard's personnel inside. As Chase loses contact the control center and the ground forces, he goes after the rest of his team. | |||||||
7 | 7 | "It Never Rains..." | Gray G. Haddock | Story by : Gray G. Haddock Written by : Gray G. Haddock & Jason Weight | 24:32 | March 2, 2019 | |
On the run from the Union, the gen:LOCK team deals with the aftermath of the loss of the Anvil and presumably the entire Vanguard. Chase gets into his Holon and patrols, only to hear Nemesis mocking him for no longer being a real human. Union drones soon ambush the group, forcing them to flee. Cammie realizes Nemesis is tracking them because he's still connected to the GL network, and so they cannot use their Holons for the time being. As they contemplate their next move, Caliban initiates the Omega Protocol and starts speaking in Dr. Weller's voice: he delivers a message from Weller, who reveals Caliban is one of the earliest gen:LOCK experiments, possessing an early copy of his neural pattern and everything Dr. Weller knew for gen:LOCK. Caliban then reveals the gen:LOCK program's next destination was the Rogue Technology Aeronautics and Space Administration (RTASA) administration facility for further research and development. Upon arriving at RTASA, one of the scientists rescued in Atlanta, Dr. Henry Wu, introduces the crew to Dr. Fatima Jha, Dr. Weller's ex-wife and one of the earlier collaborators on gen:LOCK, who in turn brings in Marc Holcroft, one of the principal investors in the ESU and RTASA. Holcroft agrees to allow them to stay at RTASA and fix their Holons in exchange for the capture or destruction of Nemesis's Holon. Cammie leads the repairs, and upgrades the armor to give the Holons unique appearances, weapons, and abilities: Yaz is given wings similar to Chase's, Val/entina's is designed to resemble them, Kazu's is based on his favorite manga RoboShogun, and Cammie's is designed to look like a rabbit. Chase upgrades his holographic appearance with the gen:LOCK uniform, accepting the group as his new team. | |||||||
8 | 8 | "Identity Crisis" | Gray G. Haddock | Story by : Gray G. Haddock Written by : Gray G. Haddock, Evan Narcisse & Jason Weight | 31:57 | March 9, 2019 | |
While preparing for their next skirmish, the gen:LOCK team receives a transmission from Migas, who reveals the Anvil and everyone inside is safe: the late Dr. Weller had figured out Union sympathizers were given a chip that could broadcast a signal to nanotech so that it would not affect them and manufactured a copy for the Vanguard that was put into effect when the Behemoth's nanotech attacked. He then reports that the Union is making another move in Chicago, and needs the gen:LOCK team's help. The team touches down at a pier in the South Side to draw Nemesis to them: after taking out some Union forces they are horrified to realize Nemesis has been upgraded with flight capabilities and nanotech that can repair any damage. The team uses mindshare to get an edge on Nemesis, but when this does not completely work they decide to all mindshare at once. When the team is forced to perform the periodic download back to their bodies, Chase chooses to stay in his Holon to buy them time, even if the excessive "uptime" will leave him unable to return to his body. Nemesis and Chase continue their fight, but when Nemesis realizes how important the team is to Chase he heads to where their real bodies are in front of the Museum of Science and Industry. Before he can attack them, however, he is ambushed by Miranda and Jodie in their tanks, and Leon using the Holon intended for Sinclair, despite it being unsafe for him to do so. Chase realizes without the limits of uptime he can mod himself and overclock his Holon without any consequences, and continues his fight with Nemesis until the others are able to upload back into their Holons. The entire gen:LOCK team engages in mindshare, using their combined skills to disable Nemesis's nanotech and damage him beyond repair. Before Chase destroys him for good, Nemesis hints that he was a mere copy of the real Chase's brain, and that the Union made many more. With the battle over Leon tries to download back into his body, however as it was unsafe for him to upload in the first place, the download malfunctions, leaving him in a coma that they cannot confirm he will ever get out of. Colonel Marin congratulates the team on helping them win the battle and offers them a chance to return to the Anvil. Chase has a talk with Miranda, who sadly remarks that the people they were four years ago died in the Battle of New York, but tells Chase not to be a stranger and that perhaps someday they can try things again. The gen:LOCK team decides to move their base of operations to RTASA, with Migas serving as their chief engineer and liaison to the Vanguard, and Leon moving there to aid in his recovery. In a post-credits scene, the real Robert Sinclair is revealed to be alive. His actions and appearance indicate that he seemingly escaped his captors and is now trying to find his way out while disguised as one of the Union soldiers patrolling an unknown Union-controlled city during curfew. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Length | Original air date [20] | |
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9 | 1 | "When the Leaves Began to Turn" | Emi Yonemura | Daniel Dominguez | 27:03 | November 4, 2021 | |
Using an army of Nemesii, the Union overtook most of the continental United States, and keep on approaching the Polity's headquarters in Los Angeles. Once they manage to attack the Polity, an army of Holons drive them away, leading the gen:LOCK crew to wonder who was piloting them. After Cammie hacks into Caliban and enters it with Chase, the memories of Doctor Weller inside reveal to them that 20 days prior to the Battle of New York, the Polity had struck first. | |||||||
10 | 2 | "The First Strike" | George Gipson | Maasai Singleton | 25:03 | November 11, 2021 | |
In a flashback to 2068, Roberta and Driana Chase are saved from the attack on New York because the mother had a Union card and proceed to take shelter in a church. Once Driana witnesses a priest perform a ritual where six zealots are sacrificed by nanotechnology, which is the Union's "Omnifaith" promising a virtual paradise for the disintegrated, she revolts against the Union and leaves. At the same time, at the Union capital Babylon, Yaz argues with her parents who want to perform the nanotech "Ascension" on themselves, and joins an anti-Union resistance. Right as Yaz's group approach the sacred Kabaa to bomb it, Polity jets arrive to do so. The following day, Union leader Brother Tate gives an announcement concerning the recent attack on the Kabaa, calling out the resistance and showing Yaz's parents going through the ascension. The hideout of Yaz's group is raided, with her escaping but falling onto the Euphrates after being shot. Two years later, Chase's mind that was hijacked by the Union has a digital reunion with his mother. Brother Tate arrives, explains about the Omnifaith and how the Ascension could help him overcome his glitching and pain and get a physical body back. Chase is fearful, but Roberta claims he could then live forever, pain free, and sacrifices herself to the nanotech, convincing her son to go through the Ascension. But the result of the process is the creation of Nemesis. | |||||||
11 | 3 | "Buried Pain Grows Poison Trees" | Shaun O'Neil | Evan Narcisse | 25:42 | November 18, 2021 | |
12 | 4 | "Together. Together." | Shaun O'Neil | Kristle Peluso | 25:13 | November 25, 2021 | |
13 | 5 | "The Grand Guignol" | Emi Yonemura | Maasai Singleton | 26:10 | December 2, 2021 | |
14 | 6 | "The Third Way" | George Gipson | Gavin Hignight | 24:58 | December 9, 2021 | |
15 | 7 | "Twilight" | Shaun O'Neil | Evan Narcisse and Kristle Peluso | 24:16 | December 16, 2021 | |
16 | 8 | "Touch What’s in Front of You" | Emi Yonemura | Daniel Dominguez | 31:00 | December 23, 2021 |
Reviews for season 1 of Gen:LOCK were largely positive. Critics praised the series as a clear step forward for the company behind Red vs. Blue and RWBY , highlighting the animation quality and the performances of the lead cast, [22] as well as sharp dialogue by writers Gray Haddock and Evan Narcisse. [23] The series' use of action and spectacle, while praised for its quality, was criticized as taking precedence over storytelling, with Comic Book Resources ' Reuben Baron noting it made the series feel unfocused. [24] Writing for Inverse , Eric Francisco observed that at least for the first five episodes the series lacked a clear antagonist which made the stakes of the story difficult to perceive, but overall praised the series as a much more mature outing for Rooster Teeth than RWBY. [25] Austen Goslin from Polygon observed that the series was at its strongest when the characters were the focus and that the fight sequences, though well-choreographed, took time away from those interactions. However, Goslin conceded that the series was a strong addition to the mecha genre. [26]
Mike Toole of Anime News Network offered a more mixed opinion after Season 1's conclusion. Toole praised the show's casting and use of classic science fiction tropes, but noted that despite enough material to keep audiences engaged the first season lacked a truly compelling conflict to drive the story. Toole expressed that a second season would require a story that matched the ambition of the series' characters and core concept in order for it to become a truly great show. "Until then, gen:LOCK feels just a little bit like a prototype." [27]
Fan reaction to Gen:LOCK prior to release was largely skeptical: potential viewers found the initial trailers underwhelming due to a lack of information on what the series was about, and many expressed fatigue with the show's marketing in the months leading up to release. [28] Some mecha anime fans found the concepts unoriginal, with an opinion piece published on Forbes a few days before the premiere claiming that the designs were generic and encouraging viewers to watch something else. [29] The reception was much more positive following release, with several of the more skeptical fans admitting the first episode was all it took to win them over. [28]
Gen:LOCK was nominated for best animated series at 9th Streamy Awards. [30]
Mark Millen of CBR reviewed the first episode of the show's second season, saying it keeps the spirit of the series intact, even with a different writing crew, and further described the show as a "distinctive animated experience" which has "mental illness, trauma recovery, technological intimacy and identity" at its center. [31] Cassandra Feltus of Black Girl Nerds said that fans would enjoy the second season. She praised the characters for having distinct personalities, who then have to deal with their trauma. Feltus also raised the argument that the series is an introduction to the world of anime due to its inspirations like Ghost in the Shell . Feltus praised the show's design calling the second season "as entertaining and compelling as its first" and was amazed by the action sequences. [32]
On October 6, 2020, a novel based on the series called "gen:Lock: Storm Warning" was released, written by Melissa Scott.
In July 2021, Paladins had a Gen:Lock-themed battle pass, including five skins based on characters from the show.
Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC was an American internet media and production company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman, Rooster Teeth was a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, which is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Michael Justin "Burnie" Burns is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian, host, and director previously based in Austin, Texas. He was a co-founder, former chief executive officer, and former chief creative officer of Rooster Teeth. He is noted for his contributions in machinima, a form of film-making that uses video game technology in its production, and also works with animation and live action. Burns is also known for his work in the hosting and podcasting field.
Aaron Mitchell Dismuke is an American voice actor, ADR director and script writer. He is known for his role as Alphonse Elric in the English dub of the first Fullmetal Alchemist television series, whom he voiced when he was 12 years old. He is also known for his directorial work for the English dubs of Nanbaka, Shomin Sample, Tsugumomo, Cheer Boys, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Black Clover, Dr. Stone and Luck and Logic.
Monyreak "Monty" Oum was an American web-based animator and writer.
Gavin David Free is an English actor, director, cinematographer and internet personality. He is best known for his work at Rooster Teeth—where he formerly served as creative director—featuring in many of their projects, including the Achievement Hunter gaming division. He directed season 7 of Red vs. Blue, as well as its miniseries Relocated.
RWBY is an American anime-influenced 3D computer-animated web series created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. It is set in the fictional world of Remnant, where young people train to become warriors to protect their world from monsters called Grimm. The name RWBY is derived from the four main protagonists' forenames: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, and their respective thematic colors.
RTX was a series of annual gaming and Internet conventions created by Rooster Teeth held primarily in Austin, Texas and for a period of time also Sydney, Australia and London, England.
Barbara Julie Dunkelman (born July 2, 1989) is a Canadian actress and internet personality. She is known for her work with the former production company Rooster Teeth, where she served as a Creative Director and was formerly the Director of Social and Community Marketing and a Program Director for RTX. She also provides the voice of Yang Xiao Long in the web series RWBY and Nerris in Camp Camp, and is a partial owner of the FCF Wild Aces Indoor Football Team.
Michael Vincent Jones is an American actor, podcast host and internet personality who is known for his work with Rooster Teeth's gameplay division Achievement Hunter. He also co-hosted three-time Podcast Award winner Internet Box.
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Lindsay Elise Jones is an American actress, director, gamer and host. They are known for their work with Rooster Teeth, and have provided the voices of Ruby Rose in RWBY and Kimball in Red vs. Blue from 2013–2024.
Gray G. Haddock is an American actor and film producer. He is the former head of animation at Rooster Teeth, a production studio in Austin, Texas, where he created the 2019 mecha web series Gen:Lock. He is known for voice roles such as Locus and Roman Torchwick in the Rooster Teeth productions Red vs. Blue and RWBY, respectively, as well as Sanosuke Sagara in the English dub of Rurouni Kenshin, Oreldo in Pumpkin Scissors, and Yousuke Fuuma from Wedding Peach.
Camp Camp is an American adult animated web series created by Jordan Cwierz and Miles Luna for Rooster Teeth. It revolves around the misadventures of attendants and camp counsellors of Camp Campbell summer camp, in particular protagonist Max and counselor, David. The series premiered on June 10, 2016, as part of Rooster Teeth's Summer of Animation promotion, releasing both to Rooster Teeth's website and YouTube channel, running for four seasons before going on an extended hiatus in 2019. Following a special episode airing in 2023, Camp Camp returned for a fifth season that premiered on March 1, 2024, and consisted of four episodes.
Nomad of Nowhere is an American 2D animated web series released on the website of Rooster Teeth on March 16, 2018. The show, which was created by Georden Whitman, is a western-fantasy hybrid focused on a mute wanderer hunted for being capable of using magic to give life to inanimate objects.
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy is a toyline and transmedia series that is part of the Transformers franchise by Hasbro announced in February 2018.
RWBY: Ice Queendom is a Japanese anime television series produced by Shaft, based on the American web series RWBY created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. The series aired from July to September 2022. A manga adaptation illustrated by Kumiko Suekane began serialization in ASCII Media Works's shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh in June 2022.
Arryn Zech is an American voice actress. She is best known for voicing Blake Belladonna in the original anime-style CG-animated web series, RWBY and Dr. Emily Grey in Red vs. Blue, an American web series also created by Rooster Teeth.
Death Battle is an American independent animated battleboarding web series. Originally published by the website ScrewAttack in 2010, the show has changed considerably over its history. It is the oldest running web series in the battleboarding genre, and has gained a cult following.