Rick and Morty: The Anime is something that has precedent; after all, the show had some anime shorts previously. This time around, it’s a full series with 10 episodes from Studio Deen, Sola Entertainment, and Telecom Animation Film, and it’s… not great. While the anime has potential to be a fun spin on the irreverent comedy, the first episode isn’t promising enough for fans or casual viewers alike.
(Note: Before I begin, I’d like to share my familiarity with the franchise. I watched the first episode of the original series a long time ago and didn’t watch the rest until much after. However, leading up to season six, I binged the first five seasons in a couple weeks and watched the entire sixth season as it released. I’m also aware of the comics and other representation in games like Multiversus. I plan to watch the seventh season soon, however!)
What is Rick and Morty: The Anime?
Unlike a strict adaptation of the source material, this anime is a loose interpretation of the main points of the original. Rick Sanchez is on the run from the Galactic Federation as he has something that can destroy civilizations (which he nonchalantly keeps). Summer Smith is his granddaughter and helps Rick while on the run, while parents Beth and Jerry are at home. (Also, Space Beth is a “maybe-maybe-not” clone out there). If there’s one thing I did enjoy about this interpretation of the Smiths, it’s that the family mechanic holds together quite well. Rick is less abrasive to his grandkids, and Summer is her usual arrogant self here. For what we see of Beth/Space Beth and Jerry, they seem to be playing their initial roles adequately, but we’ll see what happens in future episodes.
Meanwhile, Morty Smith is stuck in a VR game made by his grandfather, and this is where we experience the b-plot. He experiences life in different timelines, as he becomes a warrior, falls in love with NPCs, and grows old. It’s reminiscent of the Roy: A Life Well Lived episode with the Virtual Reality Life Simulator. Rick warns Summer that Morty might fall in love with the simulation so much that he doesn’t want to leave, so Summer needs to try and pull him out before it gets to that point.
A Rushed Introduction
If the above seems a bit too hasty, that’s because it is. Compared to the original Rick and Morty show (where we see some at-home antics and the rocky relationships of the family at first), we’re plopped into the plot with little to no explanation here. This show spends no time building up any of the character intros, so it assumes you know at least the first few seasons of the show.
This is unfortunate, because I feel like this anime adaptation could have been a great jumping on point for casual fans of the series. Compare this to the DC/Kodansha collaboration manga, which also puts readers into the fray but makes time to introduce characters briefly. Sure, everyone knows Batman or Superman, but giving a few pages of exposition helps immensely.
In regard to pacing, it’s very inconsistent, which is a shame since I feel like Rick and Morty: The Anime is trying to go with traditional anime pacing. Slow, thoughtful scenes mixed with action throughout is something that a lot of great anime have, but here it’s jumbled up. Sure, there are some action sequences, but there’s little to no buildup to them, and the other expository scenes come and go just as quickly.
By the end of the episode, I was shocked to see that it was the end, but then looking back, I realized I didn’t understand what was going on. Characters and plot points are hastily thrown in, and perhaps the next episodes will explain the plot further, but for the first episode isn’t the time to throw in confusing elements in with the rest of the show. It doesn’t help that the VR plotline references an episode from season six, with that having established elements from seasons prior. Without a proper buildup, it becomes an incoherent mess.
An Uneven Art Style
Speaking of which, the art style takes a bit to get used to. Rick and Morty isn’t the prettiest looking cartoon, but it has a unique style that’s been replicated to death ever since its debut. Here, we have a style that’s reminiscent of something like the anime Tekkonkinkreet or the manga No. 5.
It’s something that feels like modern western adult cartoons with an anime spin on it. However, the movement is stiff and doesn’t have the speed to match the goofy antics the source material has. It’s egregious because there are already some anime shorts that adhere to the Rick and Morty style while also making a unique identity (Some of these were made by Studio Deen and Sola Entertainment). Like Tekkonkinkreet or No. 5, it’ll take some time to get used to the style, but it’s not a good first impression for someone looking to try the show out.
Oddly enough, I enjoyed the fact that no one from the show voices their respective characters. It’s an all-new cast for the English dub, and most of the voices match the characters. I thought that Summer was voiced by her original actress. I was surprised to find out she voiced Ai from the English version of Oshi no Ko! The voice direction is also something to get used to, but overall, I liked the performances and they adapted most of the characters well. Interestingly, the dub includes more expletives than the subtitles suggest, which reminds me of how Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt made the dub raunchier to match the zaniness of the English version. It’s a bit jarring to hear stronger language in dubbed anime normally, but it works here oddly enough.
Who is This For?
I think the worst part of Rick and Morty: The Anime’s first episode is that the titular duo didn’t interact with each other the whole time! Yes, a VR Rick talks to Morty during his time in his game, but that’s basically it. I did like Summer and Rick’s grandkid/grandpa dynamic… but considering Rick and Morty don’t have this in the first episode makes me confused. Beth and Jerry are also out of focus, save for a scene in the beginning (as well as Cronenberg Jerry at the episode’s stinger).
Like I mentioned previously, this show should act as a jumping on point for new viewers (especially since we’re already seven seasons deep with the source material), but it instead is rife with references to plot points only seasoned fans will understand. However, it even messes that up, as a lot of elements feel altered entirely to become a new continuity.
To answer the question posed above, I believe that watching at least the first three seasons of the show is a requirement, with the rest if you want to understand the Beth and Jerry variants. Oddly enough, I feel like you need to enjoy both Rick and Morty AND seasonal anime to fully appreciate the efforts here. After all, if you only like one of those, you’ll most likely skip because it’s a jack of all trades for both works. Even then, this debut episode is a middling effort to adapt the popular franchise into a long-form anime series.
Can Rick and Morty: The Anime Improve?
Honestly? I think it’s possible. From the other clips introducing other characters, it seems like an interesting time. (A clip featuring Mr. Nimbus highlights the absurdity of the supporting character perfectly). Rick and Morty: The Anime needs to make itself less of its source material and dive into way more anime tropes as well. Otherwise, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for the next 10 weeks.
In the meantime, if you really want some quality Rick and Morty anime, you should check out the original anime shorts online (which are freely available, by the way)! We’ll keep tabs on this show (alongside the other seasonal ones this time around!) so stay tuned for more anime news here on Miso.
