Volume 4 Character Short: Ruby
Time erodes everything, except for Ruby's fighting prowess.
Written by Miles Luna & Kerry Shawcross
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
Jaune: Ruby! We saw smoke!
Ren: Heading your way.
Nora: Don't start without us!
Ren: Heading your way.
Nora: Don't start without us!
After witnessing a burning town overrun by Grimm from a cliff, Ruby, being the heroine she is, isn't going to sit back and wait for back-up.
Tropes in this character short include:
- Animation Bump: The short shows that once again Rooster Teeth animation has upped their game.
- Foreshadowing: Some things Ruby is able to do with her Semblance are seen for the first time in this short and then not referenced again until Volumes 7 and 8 where they become plot points.
- Fastball Special: When fighting Ruby, the Beringal picks up Beowolves and throws them at Ruby. When they reach her, the Beowolves try and claw or bite her.
- Magical Eye Streamers: This short introduces eye streamers to the Grimm, giving their eyes glowing red contrails that leave the corners of their eyes whenever they move. It contributes to their strange, unnatural state of being and helps emphasise that they're something supernatural instead of living.
- Maniac Monkeys: This short acts as the debut for the gorilla-like Grimm, Beringel.
- Not Quite Flight: Ruby's Semblance has evolved enough for her to move through the air so fast that she can travel high into the sky and change direction at will. It looks like flying, but it's not exactly, and she can't stay in the air long.
- Super-Strength: The Beringal can pick up Ruby and Beowolves as if they're pebbles, and a single punch sends Ruby flying across the village square to crash into a building. Whatever it punches, shatters — including the ground.
- Super-Toughness: After slicing through Beowolves like they're butter, Ruby's first attempt at slice the Beringal results in the blade lodging in the creature's hip. Its response is to punch her across the square and then carry on like nothing happened.
- Super Window Jump: Ruby could exit the tower through the entrance she was tossed through; instead, she floats up the tower to smash through the huge, round window. Aided by her Semblance and Huntress training, the leap sends her soaring through the air, momentarily silhouetted by the moon, towards the Beringel she's fighting. It signifies the come-back part of the fight, where she finally gains the upper hand and defeats the monster.
- Time Skip: The short sets up a time-skip from the end of Volume 3; Ruby has new clothes, longer hair, her cape is torn, and her weapon is now scuffed and scratched. All this establishes that it's been a while since Beacon and she's experienced a lot of wear and tear along the way.
- Took a Level in Badass: Ruby seems to have taken a few as she is now much faster, more skilled in up-close combat (one of her weak areas), and has definitely upgraded her Semblance in versatility.
"You better hurry."
