The future of several animated series loved by millions of fans around the world is in danger, as Warner Bros. has announced the definitive closure of Rooster Teeth. Among those affected are the acclaimed Gen:Lock, Network vs. Blue and RWBY.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rooster Teeth is being shut down after numerous failed attempts to sell the company. Rooster Teeth general manager Jordan Levin confirmed the news on March 6, unleashing uncertainty for its approximately 150 permanent employees, content creators and voice actors associated with its series.
A statement from Warner Bros. Discovery expresses its gratitude to the innovative creators and partners of Rooster Teeth, as well as the solid management team, for their many years of success. However, an internal memo obtained by Variety adds Levin’s message to employees, stating that “It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Rooster Teeth is closing due to the challenges facing digital media as a result of fundamental changes in consumer behavior and monetization across platforms, advertising and sponsorship.“.
Rooster Teeth has left an indelible legacy with series like RWBY, considered one of the greatest tributes to what is now called “western anime.” Although the future of the franchise is uncertain, the company is actively seeking buyers along with Gen:Lock and Red vs. Blue.
This closure of Rooster Teeth is just the latest in a series of layoffs in the entertainment industry. Warner Bros. is not alone in this trend, with Epic Games laying off 800 employees late last year and concerns growing over Sony’s deal to handle Disney’s domestic distribution.
And of course, the news did not go without comments:
- «End of an era. Rooster Teeth had its share of problems, undeniable, but I hope all the talent can find new, stable work after this. They are good people who are passionate about what they do. I don’t know to what extent this is Warner Bros.’ fault or a consequence of Rooster Teeth’s own internal problems (which could very well be tied to WB anyway), but either way, Zaslav sucks.».
- «Part of me thinks this should have happened a long time ago given all the horror stories from the workers there and the revelation that RWBY was never profitable, part of me thought they would release that last season of RWBY before closing. As things stand, the IP is for sale and whoever buys it will probably be better off restarting it from scratch».
- «Normally I would totally agree, as I’ve always thought Red vs Blue was their only claim to fame, but Discovery has been a cancer when it comes to mismanagement, purchasing, and subsequent cancellation of everything it touches. If you’re a content creator or don’t give a shit about your company/workers/projects, it’s been clear for a decade that you run the risk of having the rug pulled out from under you as soon as you start dealing with Discovery».
- «Unfortunately, the problems that killed Rooster Teeth existed long before Warner/Discovery acquired them. I can’t speak for the current employees, but I have worked with and know several who started in the mid-2000s and left around 2015. At that point they were already well into creating videos for the twittersphere and not what the fansbase wanted. The rest…well it’s history».
- «It may be officially over now, but Rooster Teeth died a long time ago».
- «Warner Bros. was on a downsizing spree a few years ago I would assume this was part of it. I’m surprised it took so long».
- «What does this mean for RWBY? Are they going to have to sell the IP to another company to continue with the program? I don’t want to see my favorite show canceled. RWBY».
- «Variety’s article about the closure states that Rooster Teeth had not been profitable in a decade. It goes without saying, but that suggests his problems predate Zaslav. This is an example of a company that grew beyond its means. Rooster Teeth started as a couple of friends recording silly voiceovers for video game sequences. Died as a serious attempt to be a media production/distribution company».
- «I think the most chilling thing about this news is that supposedly the people who work in Rooster Teeth He found out through social media. At this point, whether you liked RWBY or not, or think that it is the worst thing that has happened to anime in America or any other stupidity, people have lost their jobs and I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened due to a mix between bad management by part of RT, and David Zaslav’s obsession with canceling and deleting a bunch of WB media for tax relief».
- «Those first seasons of Red vs. Blue were absolutely seminal in my Internet neophyte days. The group no longer exists except in name, but it is a shame to see it disappear.».
- «I haven’t watched RWBY since season 3 and the series went downhill. Outside of that, the only other thing I remember watching was Red VS Blue when it first aired and then it also went downhill over time as Rooster Teeth became more corporate and less “some friends getting together and making videos”».
Fountain: deadline
