Even so, the announcement today that the network was giving a greenlight to Rick And Morty: The Anime was a bit of a noodle-twister. Some nifty short films? Sure. A full episode? We can see it. An entire 10-episode series? Huh.
And yet that’s exactly what Adult Swim announced today, as part of its portion of Warner Media’s upfronts. Specifically, Takashi Sano—whose credits include both Tower Of God and also the two extant Rick And Morty anime shorts, “Rick And Morty Vs. Genocider” and “Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil)”—will be helming the series, which will operate in its own continuity, distinct from the mothership show. (Which just began writing on its eighth season this week, apparently, because Adult Swim knows where the money is.)
Sano is apparently a big fan of the series, stating that “The multiverse-straddling exploits of Rick and the gang pose challenges to the family bond, but they always rise to the occasion.” (Yes, he clarified, even Jerry.) It’s not clear yet whether Roiland and Harmon will have any creative involvement in the show. The series will run on both Adult Swim and HBO Max.
The Anime is just the most eye-catchingly weird reveal from today’s Adult Swim upfronts; the network also announced a new series called Ninja Kamui, revealed that The Eric Andre Show is coming back, and announced that Sacha Baron Cohen, Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Michael Koman are teaming up for a new animated special called Chelm.