Takashi Sano’s Rick and Morty: The Anime, A Leap Without a Safety Net
The Rick and Morty phenomenon has turned a rebellious series into one of the biggest franchises born in the last decade, securing a prominent place in the competitive pop culture market. Like other modern IPs, it draws from nostalgia (after all, it started as a parody of Back to the Future and continues to blend countless references), but it would be unfair to say that it relies solely on nostalgia, unlike contemporary series like Stranger Things. Rick and Morty has gone further than anyone expected.
Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland (both of whom, coincidentally, have faced some rather unfortunate accusations) created the show with a punk and underground spirit. It started with a crude animation style, provocative energy, and a terrible taste, but the success they had in their careers led Adult Swim to greenlight Rick and Morty. Despite a more professional look, the show never lost its subversive edge. It was a breath of fresh air as it combined meta-concepts that broke the boundaries of all genres. It’s as if South Park was made by a hyperactive kid hyped up on Monster energy drinks (and with an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture) after watching the wildest science fiction movies halfway through.
After seven seasons, countless references, a deconstruction of narrative forms, purely nihilistic and deterministic philosophical reflections, incredible yet unexpected success, and the firing of one of its creators, the rest is history… though, truthfully, the series had been declining. It had become somewhat repetitive, which is understandable for a project with such longevity.
That’s why any franchise that wants to survive for a long time needs constant reinvention. The latest season, following Roiland’s departure, proved that the show still has much to offer. It returned fresher than in previous seasons. But this year, there was no Rick and Morty. Or, at least, not the one we expected.
With the mission to innovate, we got Rick and Morty: The Anime. The production team took a bold leap to expand the franchise’s lore. It’s not a product aimed at anime fans but instead seeks to appeal to its existing fan base, which is a harder task. Either way, the reins were handed to Takashi Sano, the mastermind behind the Tower of God anime. However, unlike that project, he wasn’t tasked with adapting something preexisting but creating original content.
He had previously worked in the Rick and Morty franchise with the short films Rick and Morty vs. Genocider and Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil). Both had a very peculiar lens through which they interpreted this universe. So, launching this project is a rather unique choice… but after watching all the episodes, I have to say that the result is mixed.
On one hand, it’s a series heavily influenced by Japanese culture. It’s clear that Sano was given creative freedom to infuse his own sensibilities. Those expecting just another season of Rick and Morty will not get it. The iconic tone of the original series hasn’t been retained either. Instead, philosophical reflections remain, along with an emotional honesty that distances itself from the show’s usual cynicism. The treatment of science fiction still revolves around ideas of parallel universes, exploring familiar themes, though with a slower, more pretentious approach (and I don’t mean that negatively).
In this way, the anime introduces familiar characters but delivers something that couldn’t be more different. The result is somewhat contradictory. It has a structure that works better for standalone episodes than when it tries for more horizontal and ambitious narratives. There are some inconsistencies that could have been smoothed out with further script revisions. However, it does manage to pack a dramatic punch.
The animation is decent, though it never becomes spectacular at any point. There are noticeable steps backward compared to the main series. The designs are clearly derivative, but the shift to a purely anime perspective makes them feel fresh. The series even dares to introduce new concepts and characters that could be interesting additions to the original show. It delivers what its explicit title promises, for better or worse.
That said, it’s commendable that they tried to do something different. Rick and Morty has always had great potential, and this anime proves it. While it might fade into obscurity as an autonomous project that didn’t quite work, it shows that serialized storytelling needs to remain alive and constantly evolving. This anime will be remembered more for exemplifying that point than for its own merits.
Rick and Morty: The Anime is a project that has divided audiences. That’s the risk you take when you step out of your comfort zone and try something different. In the end, it’s not the creator’s job to give the audience what they want, but what they really need. There are countless market factors that prevent creators from achieving that goal. If you overcome those obstacles, some of the audience may turn their back on you in the short term, but in the long run, they’ll eventually thank you.
