Veteran Rooster Teeth animator Ian Kedward recently announced that he would be leaving the company after seven years, seemingly referencing recent behind-the-scenes frustrations as a reason for his departure.
On January 10th, Kedward, who served as a lead animator on Red vs Blue, RWBY Chibi, and the core RWBY series, tweeted that his time at Rooster Teeth was “all wrapped up and done” while also alluding to “all the bad” that had apparently defined his last days with the company, stating that he was “going to be taking the longest, deepest sigh and just relax.”
7 years
1 Season of X-Ray & Vav
1 Caboose’s Guide
3 Seasons of RWBY Chibi
4 Seasons of RvB
6 Seasons of RWBY (didn’t work on S5)
All wrapped up and done. Last day at RT. Some good. Then there was all the bad. I’m going to be taking the longest, deepest sigh and just relax.— Keddy (@Kedward_art) January 11, 2020
With many outlets referring to Kedward solely as the sole animator on RWBY Chibi, Kedward followed up his tweet by clarifying his roles, playfully declaring that he “demand[s] recognition!”:
People have made some assumptions about my tweet I wanna clear up.
I WAs a LEaD oN IT aLl!
Chibi! (seasons 2-3)
RvB! (the previous 2-3 seasons)
RWBY! (Since 6?)
Caboose’s Guide! (Dir, anim dir and lead…)
Not X&V tho
THERE! Ego successfully intact.
GJ team.— Keddy (@Kedward_art) January 13, 2020
I mean, I just saw people saying I was only lead for chibi. I demand recognition!
— Keddy (@Kedward_art) January 13, 2020
Kedward’s departure is the latest in a series of personnel shake ups that have plagued the company in the last year.
In September 2019, Rooster Teeth saw both major changes to their executive personnel and 13% of their staff laid off.
Former Head of Rooster Teeth animation Gray Haddock departed from the company, stating that he was “upset with where some company strategy and messaging went”.