Released in 2024, Rick and Morty: The Anime series made one surprising choice of replacing the original voice cast. Neither Ian Cardoni nor Harry Belden returned as Rick and Morty. Instead, the anime featured Joe Daniels as Rick and Gabriel Regojo as Morty in its English dub.
For many longtime Rick and Morty fans, it made the anime feel like an entirely different entity. This break in continuity was more than jarring. Executive Producer Joseph Chou explained the reasoning behind this decision in a 2024 interview with Bleeding Cool. He said,
It might have been discussed, but the thing is, [the anime] was standing on its own. We were also of the mindset of, ‘Look, let’s do something that stands alone and see if we can do it.’ Also, with the original show and creators, we made sure they were good with it and happy to give us their blessings and do our own thing. The only thing we were told, because they’re also quite busy producing their own shows, was, ‘These are the themes we are doing, so let’s make sure we don’t cross, so we’re not doing two different takes on the same thing.’
He added that the anime followed a traditional Japanese production model, where the voice actors were recorded in Japanese first and dubbed into English later. This approach was part of the team’s commitment to creating a project that felt authentically anime, even if that meant leaving behind the voice actors fans were used to.
Rick and Morty: The Anime Standalone Never Quite Landed
Rick and Morty: The Anime | Credit: Adult Swim
Debuted in August 2024, Rick and Morty: The Anime follows Rick, Morty, and Summer’s adventures in a pseudo-world between the multiverse. Morty falls for a mysterious girl who can manipulate time, while Summer teams up with Space Beth in battling the Galactic Federation.
The voice casting wasn’t the only hurdle the anime faced. The series boasted stunning visuals and a shift toward serialized storytelling. However, it lacked the humor and sharp writing that fans associate with Rick and Morty. As a result, it earned a poor reception from critics and fans alike. The series currently holds a disappointing 3 out of 10 rating on IMDb and 50% Rotten Tomatoes score.
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Critics described the anime as flat, disjointed, and far removed from the wit and humor that made the original a pop culture phenomenon. Many argued that the project would have been better as a limited-run or anthology rather than a full 10-episode season.
Instead of elevating the franchise, the anime left many viewers disappointed. It’s unclear if it was even meant to be canon or just an ambitious side project gone too far.
Rick and Morty: The Anime Executive Producer On the Possibility of Season 2
Rick and Morty: The Anime | Studio Deen /Adult Swim
Even before the anime’s debut, talk of a second season was already in the air. In a pre-release interview with Screen Rant, executive producer James DeMarco addressed the possibility of Rick and Morty: The Anime returning for more episodes. DeMarco said,
We didn’t make this with the idea that, oh, now we can keep making a different kind of Rick and Morty forever. But if the response is big enough, and people really like it, certainly we all had a great time on the project, and Adult Swim loves it. So I think anything is possible.
DeMarco added that while the creators were satisfied with the first season as a standalone, they would be “real happy to do more” if fan demand and viewership numbers were strong. Ultimately, the future of the series hinges on audience reception, something that became much clearer after the show’s mixed reviews post-release.
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While Rick and Morty: The Anime dared to reimagine the series in a completely new style and structure, it also alienated fans by ignoring the voices that helped define its global success. As the dust settles, Rick and Morty Season 8 of the main show is gaining traction ahead of its season finale.
Now, would you watch a second season of Rick and Morty: The Anime, or should this version be left in an alternate dimension? Let us know in the comments below.
Rick and Morty and Rick and Morty: The Anime are available to stream on Adult Swim (US).
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