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Throughout the production of a series, a lot goes on behind the scenes in regards to planning and design, which often go through multiple stages before resulting in the final version that is seen on screen. Some concepts and ideas can affect the show and characters, and unexpected occurrences during production can also lead to changes and additions to the plans for the show.

Character Basis[]

Ozpin alludes to the Wizard of Oz, from the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

  • The initials of the Wizard's name, Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs,[1] spell OZPINHEAD, which may be the origin of Ozpin's name, as well as his position as headmaster of Beacon Academy.
  • The Wizard lived in Emerald City (which Beacon Academy may allude to), and Ozpin's green motif likely comes from this.
  • In "Known by its Song", Raven Branwen states that "Old Man Oz has a great and terrible secret". This alludes to the Wizard's title, "Oz, The Great and Terrible."
  • Ozpin has the ability to reincarnate into different people. In the original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book, the Wizard appeared to Dorothy and her friends in several different forms all claiming to be the same person.
  • Ozpin revealing how he had no plan to defeat Salem alludes to how the Wizard was revealed to be a fraud with no magic to Dorothy and her friends.

Role For Another Character's Allusion[]

Some characters stand in as a certain role for another character's allusion, separately from their own. Ozpin stands in as Odin for Raven and Qrow's allusions to Huginn and Munin:

  • Huginn and Muninn are ravens to whom Odin gave the ability to speak. Huginn and Muninn both traveled the world to gather information and report back to Odin, just as Qrow and Raven gathered information for Ozpin.

Emblem[]

Ozpin Emblem

Ozpin's emblem is a gear within a larger gear. This emblem appears on two of Ozpin's possessions:

  • A metal circle on the front of his desk.
  • Above the elevators in his office in Beacon Academy.

Image Gallery[]

Appearance[]

Vol1op storyboard 00025

In the original Volume 1 Opening storyboard, the pair of glasses Ozpin is wearing are differently shaped and larger than the ones he wears in his final design.

Anime Original Outfit Changes[]

In RWBY: Ice Queendom, his original design is the same except his shirt is navy instead of green, his blazer jacket has green trimmed, and his eyebrows are the same color as his hair.

Production[]

  • In Vol. 5: Shine, Ein Lee comments on her various contributions to the series. There, she mentions she had designed Ozpin.
  • Ozpin was originally going to be voiced by Monty Oum.
    • Matt Hullum also auditioned for Ozpin before the part went to Shannon McCormick.[2]
  • In the original Volume 1 Opening storyboard, Ozpin is shown sitting in a chair with Glynda standing nearby. A glint on his glasses turns into a flash of light, which acts as a transition.
  • During Volume 4, the original plan with Ozpin was to not reveal that he had anything to do with Oscar Pine until the very end of the Volume.[3]

Image Gallery[]

References[]

Characters
BRIR
RWBY/Justice League
Super Heroes and Huntsmen
Other
Minor Characters
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