Editing Halo: The Return

{{Title|''Halo: The Return''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Film infobox
|name=''Halo: The Return''
|image={{Pageimage|Kholo 14.png}}{{#widget:YouTube|id=AcGaPUuHrsQ|width=300|right}}
|director=[[Juan Richard Feliz|Juan "ONE" Richard Feliz]]{{Ref/YouTube|Id=YT|AcGaPUuHrsQ|Halo|Halo: The Return|D=13|M=11|Y=2025}}
|producer=Veronica Peshterianu{{Ref/YouTube|Id=making|R3zprvRLbtU|Video Archive|Halo Waypoint - Making of Midlothian/The Return|D=05|M-12|Y=2025|Detail=Originally hosted on Halo Waypoint}}
|writer=[[Kevin Grace]]{{Ref/Reuse|YT}}
|starring=
|music=[[Pyramind Studios]]{{Ref/Reuse|making}}
|studio=
|distributor=
|release date=
*'''Episode 1:''' [[2010#April|April 3, 2010]]{{Ref/Site|Id=April|URL=https://halo.bungie.org/news.html?item=29291|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=The Return, Part 1 - on Waypoint Saturday|D=13|M=11|Y=2025}}
*'''Episode 2:''' April 10, 2010
*'''Episode 3:''' April 17, 2010
*'''Episode 4:''' April 24, 2010
*'''Full cut ([[Halo Waypoint|Waypoint]]):''' May 22, 2010{{Ref/Site|Id=May|URL=https://halo.bungie.org/news.html?item=29827|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Halo Waypoint - full of goodness|D=13|M=11|Y=2025}}
*'''Full cut (YouTube):''' [[2025#July|July 9, 2025]]{{Ref/Reuse|YT}}
|runtime=19:49{{Ref/Reuse|YT}}
|language=
}}
'''''Halo: The Return'''''{{Ref/Reuse|YT}} is a [[Halo: Evolutions motion comics|motion comic]] produced by [[Juan Richard Feliz|Juan "ONE" Richard Feliz]] and adapted from the [[The Return|short story of the same name]] written by [[Kevin Grace]] originally featured in ''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''. The series was originally premiered on the [[Halo Waypoint]] [[Xbox 360]] app in four episodes released weekly beginning on [[2010#April|April 10, 2010]],{{Ref/Reuse|April}} with a full cut released for viewing on May 22.{{Ref/Reuse|May}} It was later released on Waypoint for web on December 20,{{Ref/Site|Id=WPWeb|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/the-return/706d5450-24bc-4904-98d0-a64f69570dbf|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Return|D=20|M=12|Y=2010}} and made available for purchase on the Zune Video Marketplace on [[2012#January|January 28, 2012]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/01/25/The-Halo-Bulletin-12512.aspx|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page= The Halo Bulletin: 1.25.12|D=28|M=01|Y=2012}}

On July 9, 2025, the animation was officially uploaded to the ''Halo'' YouTube channel.{{Ref/Reuse|YT}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFalcFic|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-falcon-fiction-flight|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Falcon Fiction Flight|D=06|M=08|Y=2025}}

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|From the pages of Halo: Evolutions comes the haunting tale of [[Unidentified shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|an Elite shipmaster]] who journeys across the surface of [[Kholo|a shattered world]]—a world [[Battle of Kholo|brought to ruin]] by his very own hand.

“The Return,” written by 343 Industries’ Managing Editor Kevin Grace, is a powerful tale of both introspection and redemption. In the wake of the [[Human-Covenant War|Covenant War]], a lone [[Sangheili]] commander must find his place in [[Milky Way|a galaxy]] that has [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|left him behind]]. Revisiting the charred reminders of his own brutality—a [[Glassing|glassed]] [[Human colonies|human colony]]—this soldier must come to grips with his own dark past in order to survive an even more uncertain future.{{Ref/Reuse|WPWeb}}}}

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
|title-1=Characters|
;San'Shyuum
*[[Prophet of Conviction]]
*[[Prophet of Truth]]

;Sangheili
*[[Thel 'Vadam]]
*[[Unidentified shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|Unidentified shipmaster]]
|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Jiralhanae Minor]]
**[[Captain (Covenant)|Jiralhanae Captain]]
**[[Jiralhanae War Chieftain]]
**[[Jiralhanae Chieftain]]
*[[Kig-Yar]]
**[[Kig-Yar Sniper]]
*[[Lekgolo]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[San'Shyuum]]
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Unggoy]]
**[[Unggoy Minor]]
*[[Unidentified aquatic creature]] {{1st}}
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant]]
**[[Covenant Honor Guard]]
**[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Equinox system]]
**[[Kholo]]
*[[Urs system]]
**[[Sanghelios]]
|title-5=Events|
*[[Great Schism]]
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Battle of Installation 00]]
***[[Battle of the Citadel]]
**[[Battle of Kholo]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|title-6=Weapons|
;Covenant
*[[Akelus Workshop gravity hammer]]
*[[Curveblade]]
*{{Pattern|Eos'Mak|plasma pistol}}
*[[Excavation beam]]
*[[Paegaas Workshop Spiker]]
*{{Pattern|Pelosus|energy sword}}
*[[Type-33 needler]]
*{{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}

;Human
*[[7.62x51mm]] round
*[[M41 Vulcan]]
*[[M41B SPNKr]]
*[[M6G2 magnum]]
*[[M7 SMG]]
*[[MA5C assault rifle]]
|title-7=Vehicles|
;Covenant
*{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}
*{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}
*{{Pattern|Taaku Xur|Spirit}}
*{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}
*{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}

;Human
*[[D77 Pelican]]
*[[Human starship]] {{Mo}}
*[[M12 Warthog]]
**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]
|title-8=Technology and equipment|
;Covenant
*[[Rucksack]]
*[[Jiralhanae power armor]]
**[[Leader power armor]]
*[[Kig-Yar targeting headgear]]
*[[Sangheili harness]]
**[[Arbiter body armor]]
**[[Assault harness]]
**[[Combat harness]]
*[[Anti-gravity chair]]
*[[Unggoy combat harness]]

;Forerunner
*[[Monitor]]

;Human
*[[UNSC Marine Corps Battle Dress Uniform]]

|title-9=Miscellaneous|
*[[Bridge]]
*[[Covenant religion]]
*[[Glassing]]
*[[Sangheili (language)|Glyph of Faith]]
}}

==Differences from the original story==
{{Stub|section=yes}}

==Production notes==
''Halo: The Return'' was the second adaptation of a ''Halo: Evolutions'' short story created by 343 Industries after ''[[Halo: Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]'', and was a more difficult adaptation to pull off because of how the story leaned on introspection instead of action. ONE built on top of an early concept shot of ''The Return'' done by an artist at 343, utilizing flashback scenes to introduce more action into the story, as well as portray more of the human suffering during the Battle of Kholo than Kevin Grace initially envisioned. Sound design was done by Pyramind, who wanted to compose music that both fit in with the rest of ''Halo''{{'}}s music identity at that time, and matched the emotion and themes of ''The Return''. Sound effects were created practically, most interestingly with a piece of celery.{{Ref/Reuse|making}}

[[Halo Waypoint]] won an award for Best Audio in Other for ''Halo: The Return'' at the [[wikipedia:Game Audio Network Guild Awards|9th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards]] held at the 2011 [[wikipedia:Game Developers Conference|Game Developers Conference]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.audiogang.org/awards-archive-old/2011-awards/|Site=Game Audio Network Guild|Page=9th Annual GANG Awards – 2010 Released Games|D=05|M=12|Y=2025}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:TR.jpeg|The Zune Video Marketplace logo for the motion comic.
File:TheReturn - Excavation.png|Human research of a Forerunner Monitor.
File:HTRmc-Destruction-of-Prophets.jpg|A still from the motion comic.

</gallery>

===Official wallpapers===
Official wallpapers from Halo Waypoint.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/post/2011/07/19/The-Return-Wallpapers.aspx|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Return Wallpapers|D=02|M=05|Y=2025}}
<gallery>
File:Kholo 14.png
File:TheReturn - Battle.jpg
File:Glyph of Faith.JPG
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Evolutions}}
{{Navbox/Media/Film}}
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Halo: Evolutions]]
[[Category:Motion comics]]
@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 ==Production notes==
-''Halo: The Return'' was the second adaptation of a ''Halo: Evolutions'' short story created by 343 Industries after ''[[Halo: Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]'', which proved to be more difficult to adapt because the story leaned on introspection instead of action. ONE built on top of an early concept shot of ''The Return'' done by an artist at 343, utilizing flashback scenes to introduce more action into the story, as well as portray more of the human suffering during the Battle of Kholo than Kevin Grace initially envisioned. Sound design was done by Pyramind, who wanted to compose music that both fit in with the rest of ''Halo''{{'}}s music identity at that time, and matched the emotion and themes of ''The Return''. Sound effects were created practically, and most interestingly in one instance, using a piece of celery.{{Ref/Reuse|making}}
+''Halo: The Return'' was the second adaptation of a ''Halo: Evolutions'' short story created by 343 Industries after ''[[Halo: Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]'', and was a more difficult adaptation to pull off because of how the story leaned on introspection instead of action. ONE built on top of an early concept shot of ''The Return'' done by an artist at 343, utilizing flashback scenes to introduce more action into the story, as well as portray more of the human suffering during the Battle of Kholo than Kevin Grace initially envisioned. Sound design was done by Pyramind, who wanted to compose music that both fit in with the rest of ''Halo''{{'}}s music identity at that time, and matched the emotion and themes of ''The Return''. Sound effects were created practically, most interestingly with a piece of celery.{{Ref/Reuse|making}}
 [[Halo Waypoint]] won an award for Best Audio in Other for ''Halo: The Return'' at the [[wikipedia:Game Audio Network Guild Awards|9th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards]] held at the 2011 [[wikipedia:Game Developers Conference|Game Developers Conference]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.audiogang.org/awards-archive-old/2011-awards/|Site=Game Audio Network Guild|Page=9th Annual GANG Awards – 2010 Released Games|D=05|M=12|Y=2025}}
@@ Line 142: / Line 142: @@
 <gallery>
 File:TR.jpeg|The Zune Video Marketplace logo for the motion comic.
-File:Thereturntraining.jpg|The Shipmaster fighting a peer during his training.
+File:TheReturn - Excavation.png|Human research of a Forerunner Monitor.
-File:Thereturntraining2.jpg|The Shipmaster training in his youth.
+File:HTRmc-Destruction-of-Prophets.jpg|A still from the motion comic.
-File:Ritual Glassing.png|The Shipmaster personally etches the glyph meaning "Faith" into the surface of Kholo.
-File:ReturnScreencap18.png|Two Sangheili Honor Guards outside the Prophet of Conviction's chamber.
-File:HTRmc-Destruction-of-Prophets.jpg|The Sangheili kills the Prophet of Conviction.
-File:HTRmc-Conviction-Corpse.jpg|Prophet of Conviction bleeding.
-File:HTRmc-Conviction-Last-Glimpse.jpg|The Prophet of Conviction's body.
-File:EvoMC KholoHorizon.jpg|The Shipmaster sees smoke on the horizon as he wanders the surface of Kholo.
-File:Curveblade01.png|The Shipmaster using a [[curveblade]] in combat.
-File:Returncarbine.jpg|The Shipmaster with a {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}.
-File:TheReturn - Excavation.png|Human research on a Forerunner [[monitor]].
 </gallery>