RWBY: Volume 5 (2018) is a continuation of the story of four young women, Ruby Rose (Lindsay Jones), Weiss Schnee (Kara Eberle), Blake Belladonna (Arryn Zech), and Yang Xiao Long (Barbara Dunkelman), who are of the Huntsman academy in the world of Remnant. Volume 5 picks up where the previous volume left off, as the heroes have successfully averted a catastrophic attack on Haven Academy, but not without considerable losses.
The volume begins with the heroes separated and on the run, with Blake heading to her home city of Menagerie to aid her people, while Ruby, Weiss, and Yang seek to regroup with their allies and unite against their enemies. Along the way, they each face their own challenges, with Ruby embarking on a journey of self-discovery, Weiss struggling to earn the trust of her family, and Yang dealing with the aftermath of her traumatic experience in the previous volume.
Meanwhile, the show's antagonist, Salem, and her underlings continue to plot their domination of Remnant, with the introduction of new characters and alliances complicating the situation. Volume 5 sees the return of fan-favorite characters like Qrow Branwen (Vic Mignogna) and Sun Wukong (Michael Jones), as well as the introduction of new allies like Ilia Amitola (Cherami Leigh) and Oscar Pine (Aaron Dismuke).
As the volume progresses, the heroes must grapple with the consequences of their actions and the reality that their problems cannot be solved by fighting alone. Themes of trust, communication, and sacrifice are explored as the characters confront their personal demons and work to build a better future.
Visually, Volume 5 features some of the show's most impressive animation yet, with stunning fight scenes and creative use of lighting and color to convey the story's moods and themes. The show's signature blend of 3D animation and anime-style character design remains as distinctive and eye-catching as ever.
Overall, RWBY: Volume 5 is a satisfying continuation of the story of Ruby and her friends, with plenty of action, drama, and heart to satisfy fans of the series. The volume sets the stage for the show's volumes, promising even more exciting adventures and challenges to come.
RWBY: Volume 5 is a 2018 animated movie with a runtime of 3 hours and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.