User blog comment:SelenaZephyr/Monty Oum - A Eulogy/@comment-7838080-20150203053426

Before Monty and RWBY came along, and before I met this mismatched bunch of people that I've grown to like, respect, and even brainstorm with, I wasn't all that interesting to begin with. I was just this kid in Kansas who had little to no friends, a sputtering creativity longing for a spark, and a one dimensional set of interests.

But then I saw Haloid, and then RvB Season 8, with animations that blew my mind by this guy I never even heard of. Then, I felt something come back a bit. I felt my creativity spark to flickering life one again, and I felt that sense to write characters that I never even dreamed of.

And, years later...a trailer comes along showing a girl wearing a little red cloak evicerating a pack of lupine monsters. Once again, that mad genius had gotten me hooked once again. And little did I know what it would lead to.

In the years since Monty first hooked me with his spectacular animation skills, and with this creative genius called RWBY, I've felt that he's helped me grow up.

He helped me light that creative fire that has served to spawn a litany of characters from my head, and a joy of writing that has become even more so. And, also because of him...I finally got a bit out of my shell.

I've become a lot more outgoing and social than I was as a kid, I've learned to fall in love with anime again.

Most important of all...I got to meet this bunch of people that I've grown to laugh with, cry with, bond with...

And yes, even love them.

Rest In Peace, Monty.

And may the spark of your genius never die.