Tower of God director Takashi Sano takes on the colossus of Rick and Morty and reinterprets his universe in Rick and Morty: The Anime. Primarily based on the primary two episodes, the anime collection is a refreshing new tackle the decade-old collection. Director Takashi Sano‘s charming designs and fluid animation model breathe new life into Rick and Mortywhich presents a very completely different tackle the franchise, however stays true to the characters and divergent storylines. After seven seasons of the unique franchise, this spin-off faces the uphill battle of unforgiving comparisons to the primary collection.
Somewhat than an addition to the collection of the identical identify, Rick and Morty: The Anime is meant as a very separate collection, emphasised by the recasting of the English voices. Not one of the voice actors from the unique collection reprised their character roles, and Sentai Studios did the English dub. There will probably be a slight adjustment interval to get your ear used to this forged, however the voice performing and path are in line with how the characters are represented within the franchise.
Jason De MarcoPlease from Swimming for adults And Warner Bros. Animationmade it clear in the course of the SDCC 2024 panel that this present was at all times designed to be an extension of Rick and Morty. “This present is slightly unusual as a spin-off of a preferred franchise, as a result of it isn’t designed as a spin-off; it is designed as an extension.” Contemplating the dimension-hopping exploration within the unique collection, the fact that the characters exist in in an anime suits proper in with their canon. “For us, we wished director Sano to have the ability to inform his personal story Rick and Morty present and make it appear as if the Takashi Sano present.”
There may be an instantaneous noticeable tonal shift from the collection’ acquainted chilly opens. There’s a sense of unfamiliar calm as we see the acquainted faces of Galactic Federation Gromflomites getting ready to take over a planet. As a substitute of the witty, gun-slinging jokes, the episode builds pressure and gives exposition, signaling a departure from the standard Rick and Morty episode construction. True to the referential nature of Rick and Morty: The Anime accommodates many references to popular culture and different episodes from the collection.
Other than the plain change in visible model—from the character designs, animation, and complex backgrounds—the dialogue seems like a localized English anime dub script. The “anime” a part of the spin-off’s title is definitely discernible within the emphasis on interspersed sighs, groans, and different sounds inherent to an anime character’s speech patterns. Since Sano additionally labored on the writing, the stream of the dialog is his interpretation of the characters, together with minor ones. The second episode smooths out any obtrusive awkwardness because the overarching story unfolds.
The anime is simple to observe with out having to make amends for all seven seasons. Rick and Morty. Eagle-eyed followers, nevertheless, will discover each little reference and easter egg. Sano can also be a self-proclaimed fanatic, as he confessed to watching each episode a number of occasions throughout his panel. In case you’re a diehard Rick and Morty fan, contemplate this a particular season of Interdimensional Cable.
At SDCC, Sano talked about how the influences of his earlier works will naturally stream into this season. After years of engaged on Lupine IIIit is no shock that one of many Ricks appears to be like like a blue-haired Goemon whereas Rick and Morty run like Lupin and Jigen. His eye for motion and shade permits him to pack an unbelievable quantity of visible data onto the display screen with contrasting traces, shadowless flat shadows, and in as few frames as doable.
“Once I designed the characters, I did not begin with a black define after which shade it in, however with a brown shade,” stated Sano of the Rick and Morty SDCC panel. “I’d then take into consideration how I’d populate the world and the colours. As soon as that is determined, it is a matter of trial and error to determine the artwork path by way of the background and what works with the characters and the colours.”
Sano creates fluid but intricate sequences with out losing a single shot transitioning from one motion to the following. A notable high quality of Sano’s signature line artwork model is the feel, which is commonly buried in different animated collection that depend on shadows to look polished. Whereas he acknowledged that he did not deliberately draw inspiration from any particular franchise he labored on, he did give credit score to the anime’s inherent distortion and stretching motion model.
Given the tumultuous transition between seasons six and 7, naysayers and detached events will possible overlook your complete spinoff. Of those two episodes, Rick and Morty: The Anime appeals to each anime and new Rick and Morty followers. Sano processes his model of the characters as he understands them, whereas adhering to beforehand established canon. Like the primary collection, keep till the tip for some post-credits scenes.
Rick and Morty: The Anime will premiere an English model on Swimming for adults at midnight on August fifteenth, and will probably be streamed on Max the next day. A subtitled Japanese model will then air on August seventeenth at midnight on Toonami‘s programming block.
