The world already has seven seasons of Grownup Swim’s Rick and Morty, with an eighth and more on the best way. And even with the present’s mega reputation, is there actually the necessity for a spin-off? Rick and Morty: The Anime, created by writer-director and Rick and Morty superfan Takashi Sano, is right here to place forth its case—and from what io9 has seen to date, the brand new sequence shortly justifies itself by being removed from redundant.
What’s extra, it has enjoyable doing it. Whereas sure points of The Anime clearly really feel acquainted—it’s, in spite of everything, set in a world we’ve been exploring since 2013—Sano, whose anime background consists of Tower of God and Lupin the third: Disaster in Tokyo, in addition to earlier Rick and Morty shorts, isn’t right here simply to play the hits. He and his workforce craft a novel story whereas making good use of tweaked variations of characters and themes followers will simply acknowledge, in addition to bringing new faces and conditions into the combo.
io9 watched the primary two episodes, “The Woman Who Manipulates Time” and “Preventing Mom,” in each the English dub and Japanese-with-English-subtitles variations, and the way you select to expertise Rick and Morty: The Anime appears like extra of a private choice on this case. The casts are equally interesting, an essential consideration because the most important Rick and Morty sequence has been through the wringer with its personal voice solid. In each languages, Rick (Youhei Tadano in Japanese, Joe Daniels in English) is appropriately gruff and boozy, and it appears like an anime-correct selection that Morty (Keisuke Chiba, Gabriel Regojo) is much more emotionally expressive than he’s within the common sequence.
A giant distinction to date appears to be that The Anime is extra episodic; mainline Rick and Morty does have season arcs and canon parts, but it surely leans extra into standalone tales. “The Woman Who Manipulates Time” begins with Rick on the run from the Galactic Federation, which dearly needs his new system that makes time go backwards. Again within the Smith home, Summer time’s acquired her headset on as Rick’s anxious however useful tether to actuality; Area Beth can be a part of the motion workforce, kicking ass in deep area whereas additionally preserving tabs on her dad. Much less concerned to date are non-Area Beth and Jerry, although from what we’ve seen to date Jerry may be even dorkier in anime type.
In the meantime, Morty is obsessive about a Rick-created VR sport that not solely accommodates his mysterious dream lady, but additionally seems to be a nebulous zone the place actual alt-world timelines have began bleeding collectively. “Actuality is handy on a regular basis, however I at all times get saddled with the job of creating it make sense,” Rick groans, however earlier than “Preventing Mom” is over we additionally see that even Rick doesn’t fairly have a deal with on the present state of area time.
Very similar to the unique sequence, The Anime presents a rapid-fire onslaught of visuals—consistent with its medium shift, the artwork model is acquainted but additionally distinctively completely different—as we zip between universes and variations of the characters. It’s propulsive and feels intentionally complicated at occasions, significantly once we’re following Morty’s trippy, non-chronological journey. Not for nothing is the upbeat theme track, composed by Otonez, titled “Love Is Entropy.”
All through, creator Sano’s deep affection for Rick and Morty is kind of evident. You possibly can see it in The Anime‘s pleasure about inter-dimensional hijinks, outer area battles, and fan-favorite supporting characters that pop up right here and there. Additionally, right here’s a tip: similar to Rick and Morty, The Anime leaves one final scene on the finish of the credit that’s at all times value ready round for.
Beginning at this time, August 15, new episodes of Rick and Morty: The Anime premiere Thursdays at midnight on Grownup Swim; you possibly can stream them on Max and buy them on digital the subsequent day. Then, Japanese encore airings of every new episode arrive Saturday at midnight as a part of Grownup Swim’s Toonami programming.
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