Rick and Morty: The Anime is set to premiere as a full-fledged spinoff series on Adult Swim in the summer of 2024. The creative team behind this highly anticipated series recently shared insights into how the original viral anime shorts garnered significant attention and praise and ultimately inspired the creation of this new and exciting extension of the Rick and Morty universe.
Rick and Morty initially captured the attention of anime enthusiasts a few years back when it premiered anime-inspired shorts directed by the renowned Takashi Sano. The positive reception of these shorts eventually led to the exciting announcement that Sano would helm an entire series for Adult Swim. This news sparked curiosity among fans about how the spinoff came to be after the shorts. According to those involved, developing the new anime series was simply a natural progression stemming directly from the success and popularity of the original anime shorts.
During the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 weekend, ComicBook had a revealing discussion with Adult Swim executive producers Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou about Rick and Morty: The Anime. They delved into the backstory of how their collaboration with Sano on the anime shorts a few years back set the stage for the creation of the full-fledged series. The concept of anime shorts and Sano’s involvement stemmed from Adult Swim’s quest for inventive creators who could bring unique perspectives to their projects. The anime shorts’ success, largely credited to Sano’s creative input, eventually led to the development of Rick and Morty: The Anime. DeMarco and Chou emphasized that this evolution from shorts to a complete series reflects the network’s dedication to exploring diverse interpretations and expanding the beloved franchise in new and exciting ways.
The seamless transition from shorts to a full series highlights the strong foundation and appeal that Rick and Morty’s anime adaptations have established. Rick and Morty: The Anime was initially announced by Adult Swim in May 2022, revealing key details such as Sano as the director, Telecom Animation Film handling the animation, and production support from Studio Deen and Sola Entertainment. Since then, the anime’s short films have garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube, striking a chord with the dedicated Rick and Morty fanbase and showcasing its global appeal. Recognizing this immense impact, Takashi Sano aims to bring his unique vision to the project while staying true to the original series, making the project’s existing support truly heartening. With Sano’s distinctive style, the exciting teasers released for the anime, and the undeniable popularity of its pilot episodes, fans are naturally curious and optimistic about the anime’s future prospects. While DeMarco has not explicitly confirmed the possibility of a second season, his comments suggest that the potential for continuation is not out of the question, leaving room for hopeful speculation among fans.
DeMarco further hinted at the exciting possibility of more anime spinoffs following the debut of Rick and Morty: The Anime. According to the producer, if Rick and Morty: The Anime performs well, it could pave the way for other Adult Swim shows to get their own anime adaptations. This aligns with Adult Swim’s ongoing pursuit of fresh and innovative interpretations of their beloved characters. Discussing how these potential spinoffs might come to fruition, DeMarco emphasized that Adult Swim aims for an organic development process, where they seek out creators with fresh perspectives, much like the approach that led to Rick and Morty: The Anime. This approach ensures that any future anime spinoffs maintain the unique and innovative spirit that Adult Swim is known for.
Rick and Morty: The Anime is set to premiere on Adult Swim in August 2024.
