Rooster Teeth

Rooster Teeth began in Austin, Texas, in 2003 as an internet-native entertainment company created by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman. Its first major production, Red vs. Blue, premiered in April 2003 and used machinima, voice acting, and video-game environments to create a comedy series about two rival groups of soldiers. The program became one of the defining early successes of episodic online video and gave the company a durable creative identity built around genre parody, gaming culture, improvisational humor, and close audience participation. The company developed from a small community website and podcast operation into a diversified digital studio. Its output eventually included scripted live-action series, animated productions, comedy shorts, gaming and Let's Play videos, entertainment news, podcasts, reality formats, video-game projects, feature films, branded programming, merchandise, and live events. Major properties included Red vs. Blue, RWBY, Camp Camp, Achievement Hunter, Funhaus, Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures, Gen:Lock, and the broader Let's Play network. The company also operated RTX, an annual fan convention held in Austin from 2011 through 2023, with additional events in London and Sydney. Rooster Teeth's early business model emphasized direct contact with its audience. It maintained its own website and community infrastructure, distributed programs through its own platforms and later YouTube, and introduced paid Sponsorships, subsequently renamed FIRST. FIRST offered earlier or exclusive access to programming, discounts, and other membership benefits. Revenue also came from advertising, licensing, merchandise, branded productions, feature films, subscriptions, and events. This hybrid model helped Rooster Teeth remain comparatively independent during the formative period of online video, although it later had to compete with much larger platforms and studios. The company was acquired by Fullscreen in 2014. It subsequently operated through corporate structures associated with Otter Media, WarnerMedia, and, after the 2022 merger, Warner Bros. Discovery. Under corporate ownership, Rooster Teeth expanded its production slate and recruited programming, development, animation, and partnership executives, while continuing to present itself as a creator-led community brand. In 2015 it released Lazer Team, its first feature film. It also used large charity livestreams, particularly Extra Life events supporting Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, to reinforce its community orientation. Rooster Teeth faced increasing pressure from changes in digital advertising, platform distribution, audience behavior, and subscription economics. The company announced layoffs in 2019 and underwent leadership changes. In March 2024, general manager Jordan Levin announced that the company would shut down. The FIRST service, website, and apps were scheduled to end in May 2024; most employees departed during the wind-down, and the site published a final farewell message on May 15. The Roost Podcast Network was sold to Night, while the RWBY franchise was sold to Viz Media in July 2024. In February 2025, Burnie Burns announced that his company Box Canyon Productions had acquired the Rooster Teeth brand and some remaining intellectual property. The revived brand was associated with plans for returning productions, a reimagining of The Schedule, and a new audio adventure titled Again. This post-closure ownership means Rooster Teeth is best understood as a revived entertainment brand and intellectual-property portfolio rather than the same operating company that existed before the 2024 shutdown.

Rooster Teeth grew out of a group of Austin-based creators who had worked together on independent film, game commentary, and online comedy. Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Joel Heyman, Geoff Ramsey, Gus Sorola, and Jason Saldaña were among the central founders. Before adopting the Rooster Teeth name, members operated projects including drunkgamers.com and an associated podcast. The brand name was selected as a more commercially usable euphemism derived from an insult in an early Red vs. Blue trailer. The company's breakthrough came with Red vs. Blue, which premiered in April 2003. Produced with video-game imagery and recorded voice performances, the series demonstrated that a small internet production could attract a large recurring audience without traditional television distribution. Its popularity encouraged the founders to continue beyond the initially planned short run and to develop a community-driven publishing business. To offset hosting expenses and fund production, Rooster Teeth introduced Sponsorships, later known as FIRST. The membership system gave subscribers early or exclusive access to content, merchandise discounts, and other benefits. The company combined this income with advertising, licensing, merchandise, branded work, events, and studio partnerships. It remained committed to its own community site while gradually expanding onto YouTube and other platforms. During the 2010s, Rooster Teeth broadened its production range. It developed animation through Rooster Teeth Animation, introduced RWBY in 2013, expanded the Let's Play family through Achievement Hunter and related groups, produced podcasts and animated adaptations, and created live-action and reality programming. RTX, launched in 2011, became a major physical gathering for its audiences. In 2015, Lazer Team marked the company's move into feature filmmaking. Fullscreen acquired Rooster Teeth in November 2014, providing capital and operational resources for expansion. Subsequent corporate restructuring placed the company within Otter Media-related operations, then WarnerMedia, and finally Warner Bros. Discovery after the 2022 merger. The brand retained substantial creative autonomy for periods of this transition, but leadership and organizational structures changed. Ezra Cooperstein became president in 2018, while Jordan Levin became general manager in 2019 after several founders moved away from day-to-day executive roles. The company announced a workforce reduction of approximately 13 percent in September 2019. Rooster Teeth also became associated with large community fundraising efforts. Its annual Extra Life streams raised substantial sums for Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, including more than one million dollars in each of the cited 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 events. These activities reflected the company's broader strategy of turning audience loyalty into participation, membership, commerce, and charitable support. The business encountered growing difficulties as online video distribution became concentrated among major platforms and as advertising, subscriptions, and creator monetization changed. In March 2024, management announced that Rooster Teeth would close. The wind-down eliminated the company's main website and FIRST service in May, while the podcast network and valuable intellectual properties were handled separately. Viz Media acquired RWBY in July 2024. In February 2025, Burnie Burns announced the acquisition of the Rooster Teeth brand and selected intellectual property through Box Canyon Productions. The announcement positioned Rooster Teeth for a limited revival, with proposed returning productions and new projects rather than an immediate restoration of the former corporate operation.

• 2025

  Brand acquired by Box Canyon Productions

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Burnie Burns acquired the brand and selected remaining intellectual property through Box Canyon Productions.

• 2024

  Corporate shutdown

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Rooster Teeth announced its closure and ended its main website, apps, and FIRST service during the May wind-down.

• 2023

  Twentieth-anniversary rebrand

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  The company marked its twentieth anniversary with a 20-week retrospective campaign, a revised logo, new colors, and the slogan “Just Playing.”

• 2019

  Workforce reduction and management transition

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Rooster Teeth announced a workforce reduction and appointed Jordan Levin as general manager.

• 2015

  Lazer Team released

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  The science-fiction comedy became Rooster Teeth's first feature film.

• 2014

  Acquisition by Fullscreen

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Fullscreen acquired Rooster Teeth to provide additional resources for expansion.

• 2013

  RWBY debuts

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Monty Oum's CG-animated series premiered and became one of the company's most important franchises.

• 2011

  RTX begins

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  Rooster Teeth launched its annual Austin convention for fans and creators.

• 2003

  Rooster Teeth founded

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  The Austin-based founders established Rooster Teeth as an internet entertainment venture.

• 2003

  Red vs. Blue premieres

  [1]Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org

  The machinima comedy series became the company's foundational hit and an early landmark of episodic web video.

A creator-led, community-centered digital entertainment brand combining genre comedy, animation, gaming culture, podcasts, participatory fandom, and direct-to-audience distribution.

• Machinima web series · 2003

  Red vs. Blue

  Rooster Teeth's first major production is a science-fiction military parody centered on two groups of soldiers stationed in an isolated canyon. Built from video-game environments and character performances, it became the company's signature early property and one of the longest-running episodic web series.

• Animated web series · 2013

  RWBY

  Created and initially directed by Monty Oum, RWBY is a CG-animated fantasy-action series set in the world of Remnant. Its success expanded Rooster Teeth's animation business and generated merchandise, spin-offs, and a large international fan community.

• Gaming entertainment

  Achievement Hunter

  Achievement Hunter was a Rooster Teeth gaming division known for cooperative gameplay, challenge videos, achievement hunting, comedy, and live content. It formed a central part of the Let's Play network and helped define the company's gaming-oriented audience offering.

• Digital subscription

  Rooster Teeth FIRST

  FIRST evolved from Rooster Teeth's original Sponsorship program. It offered members early or exclusive access to programming, merchandise discounts, and other community benefits, creating a direct subscription relationship between the company and its audience.

• Fan convention · 2011

  RTX

  RTX was Rooster Teeth's annual fan convention and live community event. It began in Austin and later expanded with events in London and Sydney, bringing together talent, audiences, panels, performances, gaming activities, and merchandise.

• Feature film · 2015

  Lazer Team

  Lazer Team is a science-fiction action comedy and Rooster Teeth's feature-film debut. It extended the company's internet-native production model into theatrical and home-entertainment filmmaking.

• 2023Rooster Teeth twentieth anniversary campaign

  International digital markets

  A 20-week retrospective revisited older episodes, one-off productions, and fan favorites before the 2023 RTX finale. The anniversary also introduced a new logo, color system, and “Just Playing” slogan.

  Outcome. Completed as part of the twentieth-anniversary program.

  Source
• 2020Extra Life shortened livestream

  United States

  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rooster Teeth shortened its Extra Life stream while retaining the charitable format.

  Outcome. The cited event raised US$1,163,801.

  Source
• 2019Extra Life fundraising stream

  United States

  Rooster Teeth again directed proceeds from its gaming stream to Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.

  Outcome. The cited event raised US$1,222,371.

  Source
• 2018Extra Life fundraising stream

  United States

  The company's annual Extra Life broadcast used gaming content and community participation to support the Austin children's hospital.

  Outcome. The cited event raised US$1,417,288.

  Source
• 2017Extra Life fundraising stream

  United States

  Rooster Teeth conducted a gaming charity livestream supporting Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas through Extra Life.

  Outcome. The cited event raised US$1,209,970.73.

  Source

• 2025

  Acquire the Rooster Teeth brand and selected intellectual propertyM&A

  Background

  After the corporate shutdown, Burnie Burns pursued control of the brand and some remaining properties.

  Action taken

  Box Canyon Productions acquired the Rooster Teeth brand and selected intellectual property.

  Aftermath

  Burns announced plans for returning productions and new projects under the revived brand.

  Source

• 2024

  Shut down the Rooster Teeth operating companyStrategy

  Background

  Management cited structural changes in consumer behavior, advertising, platform distribution, and patronage, alongside prolonged lack of profitability.

  Action taken

  Warner Bros. Discovery began winding down Rooster Teeth; the FIRST program, website, and apps closed in May.

  Aftermath

  The podcast network and major intellectual properties were handled separately, with The Roost sold to Night and RWBY sold to Viz Media.

  Source

• 2019

  Leadership restructuring and workforce reductionStrategy

  Background

  The company reorganized its executive structure amid changing digital-media economics.

  Action taken

  Jordan Levin became general manager, while several founders moved into creative positions; Rooster Teeth also announced a workforce reduction of approximately 13 percent.

  Aftermath

  Operational responsibilities were redistributed across general management, content, production, and creative functions.

  Source

• 2014

  Accept Fullscreen acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Rooster Teeth sought additional resources and tools to compete with larger digital and entertainment companies.

  Action taken

  The company agreed to be acquired by Fullscreen for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath

  Rooster Teeth expanded its production operations and continued developing film, animation, gaming, and event businesses within a larger digital-media structure.

  Source

• 2020-11-03

  Rooster Teeth launches new smart TV apps[2]Rooster Teeth推出智能电视应用tubefilter.com

  Reported: 2020-11-03

  Rooster Teeth announced the launch of new smart TV apps and updated versions of its existing Amazon Fire TV and Xbox One apps.

1. 1Rooster Teethen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rooster Teeth推出智能电视应用tubefilter.com