Rest in Peace Monty Oum

When I was in high school, I came across a video on Game Trailers that was unlike anything else I'd seen before. It was an animation piece called "Dead Fantasy I", an animated fight sequence between the female characters of the Final Fantasy and Dead or Alive franchises. Actually, simply calling it an animated fight sequence doesn't do it enough justice. Rather than try to describe what a masterpiece of choreography it is, you can watch it below.

It was then that I first learned of Monty Oum, an incredibly talented and creative individual who sadly passed away on February 1st, 2015. News that he was in critical condition was announced the Friday before, with a link to a fund to raise money to support his wife and family in this very difficult time. The response was phenomenally supportive with the fund receiving many generous donations. It is a testament to his character and the love that so many people have for him. In addition to donating I thought I would just highlight some of the amazing pieces he worked on and showcase what a true visionary he was.

Haloid (2007)

Perhaps the first video that brought him to the limelight, an epic fight between Samus Aran and Master Chief (or in this case Spartan-458) was our first taste of his amazing ability to seemingly do it all.

Dead Fantasy (2007-2009)

Combining amazing combat choreography, sharp animation, and two of the largest gaming franchises of all time, Monty managed to create series of action-packed and thrilling episodes. The series was put on hold after Monty was hired by Rooster Teeth, but even after all these years the fights are still a pleasure to watch.

Red vs. Blue

Monty was hired by Rooster Teeth in 2009 to work as a character animator and choreographer on the hit online show Red vs. Blue. While for most of us the show is about the comedy rather than the combat, his addition to the studio can be seen in the show from Season 8 onward in the series' leap in animation quality for certain segments.

RWBY

As the show's creator and lead animator, RWBY is in many ways the essence of his style and talents. From the show's anime aesthetic to the awesome weaponry, Monty created a vibrant and exciting universe to explore.

Monty had the unique ability to envision the entire film from start to finish, and as you watch his works it becomes all the more clear. Even though he was taken from us far too soon, he managed to create great things and inspire thousands. Obviously everyone is still coming to terms will such a massive loss, and therefore it is all the more important that we remain supportive of his family and friends. The fund is still accepting donations if you're looking for ways to support, you can find that here. As Matt Hullum wrote in his journal on how to honour Monty,

As for honoring Monty, we will do that in our own way. In lieu of flowers or gifts, we ask that you simply do something creative. Use your imagination to make the world a better place in any way that you can. If you know Monty like we do, then you know he would certainly be doing that if he were able to.  

Rest in Peace Monty, You Will Be Missed.