Overview History Relationships
Zwei is the pet dog of Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long. He first appeared in the episode "Field Trip", when he was mailed to Beacon Academy from Patch by Taiyang Xiao Long along with a pile of canned dog food and a can opener.
After the Fall of Beacon, he went back to Patch with Yang and Taiyang. He is later seen sleeping at home and later watching the two spar.
Following the destruction of Vale in the "Volume 9 Bonus Ending Animatic", it is unknown if he joined Taiyang on his mission mentioned in "Boba". As such, his current status is unknown.
Quick Answers
What episode does Zwei first appear in RWBY?
Who sent Zwei to Beacon Academy?
What happened to Zwei after the Fall of Beacon?
Is it known if Zwei joined Taiyang on his mission after the destruction of Vale?
What role does Zwei play in the lives of Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long?
Appearance
Zwei is a black-headed tricolor Pembroke Welsh Corgi with gray eyes. Like some Pembroke Welsh Corgis, he has a bobbed tail, which is nowhere near the length that would indicate him as being a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. As of "Of Runaways and Stowaways", he wears a red collar with a gold pendant bearing a vertical black bone and two black dots on either side.
Personality
Zwei exhibits a very cheerful and playful personality, as seen when he licks Ruby and barks happily after Weiss Schnee cuddles him. He also playfully imitates Yang's behavior.
Zwei also attempts to make friends with Blake Belladonna, even though her feline Faunus instincts cause her to react with some nervousness to his presence.
Zwei is shown to be very intelligent for a dog. Not only does he react appropriately to Ruby's commands, he also seems to be smart enough to use mechanical tools. When Weiss wonders how Zwei will eat his canned dog food and a can opener drops out of his tube, Yang cheerfully drops the issue, implying that Zwei can use it.
Zwei immediately forms a close relationship with Bartholomew Oobleck, refusing to leave his side during his fight against White Fang soldiers in "No Brakes".
Powers and Abilities
Zwei is a very intelligent dog, implied by Yang to be capable of using mechanical tools such as can openers and responding correctly to Ruby's questions when needed. As a dog, he has heightened senses of smell and hearing, which allowed him to find the White Fang soldiers in "Mountain Glenn".
Likely due to his Aura, Zwei has been shown to perform feats no normal dog can do. He was first introduced compressing himself into a tube alongside dozens of cans of dog food and a can opener for an undisclosed amount of time without any ill effects on his body.
Later, in "No Brakes", he is shown to be fireproof and extremely durable, as seen when he destroys an Atlesian Paladin-290 by being lit on fire and launched by Oobleck. This is demonstrated once more in "Breach", where he survives the train explosion by taking shelter inside a Paladin, then proceeds to headbutt and defeat a nearby Beowolf.
Trivia
Allusion
- His name is a reference to the Cowboy Bebop character, Ein, who is also a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, though of a different coloring. Eins is the German word for "one" while Zwei is German for "two".
Character & Design
- In the credits of "Breach", Mrs. PennyApple and Penny Layne Matthews are credited as Zwei's voice actors. Said dog is Meg Turney's Dachshund, Penny.[1]
- Kerry Shawcross was very adamant on having Zwei's butthole on the model for RWBY Chibi, due to its comedic value, going as far as to ensure that it was included on Zwei's chibi merchandise.[2] "Zwei Painting", one of the shorts in the 10th episode of RWBY Chibi, "Love Triangle", also focuses on Zwei's posterior.
References
- ↑ Volume 2 Cast Commentary - Extracurricular
- ↑ RTX 2016 RWBY Panel (Saturday)