Last month, fans of the long-running series, Rick and Morty, got a special treat when Rick and Morty: The Anime premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami Block and Max. Written and directed by Jdirector, storyboard artist and animator Takashi Sano (best known for Tower of God, Lupin the 3rd: Crisis in Toyko). The 10-episode season features the same premise and characters as the popular series, but it offers a Japanese art style and voice cast. It’s an extension of four previous anime-style shorts released years earlier which featured the duo transported to feudal Japan and fighting monsters.
Animag: Thank you so much for taking the time for our questions! Can you tell us when and how you got involved with this clever new take on Rick and Morty?
Takashi Sano: In 2020, I was approached with an offer to create an anime short for Rick and Morty. The main reason I accepted was because Rick and Morty was such an intriguing show. I had just finished directing a TV series at the time and was eager to work on something shorter in length. That’s how Rick and Morty vs. Genocider came to be. After that, I received another request to make another anime short for Rick and Morty. Since the production of vs. Genocider was such an enjoyable experience, I happily accepted. That one was Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil). Thanks to the recognition of these two anime shorts, I was given the opportunity to create this anime series that consists of 10 episodes. I consider myself pretty lucky, the timing of the first anime short,vs. Genocider, worked out so well that it ultimately let me here today.
What was it about this show and characters that drew you to the project?
I think the real charm of Rick and Morty lies in its blend of humor and science fiction. The sense of humor in particular is something not often seen in Japanese animation. So I saw it as a unique opportunity to create a story within this world. I was drawn to the idea of producing a story full of American sensibilities from a Japanese perspective, so that’s another reason why I decided to join the project.
When did you start working on it and how long did it take to complete?
We began working on the script in January 2022, and around April of the same year, we started working on the storyboards and animation in parallel with the script. The final episode was completed in March 2024. During that time in 2023, we also produced the opening sequence.
What would you say was the biggest challenge about bringing this established American show to the anime world?
The fact that we had to create it without altering the setting of the Rick and Morty world. If we simply created a copy of the American version, there would be no point in making it in Japan. So the challenge was to add in new interpretations while making sure the character designs remained consistent but to also create something with a slightly different flavor from the original. This brought out the creative juices in us!
How many people worked on the show with you?
In addition to myself, my main staff includes Kojima san, who was our color designer, Matsuzawa san and Shimizu san, who were the art directors, Noguchi san, who was the director of photography, Kobayashi san, who handled special effects, Kasahara san, who did the editing. In the sound department, there’s Iizuka san the sound director, Furuya san who worked on sound effects, and Hayashi san who did the sound mixing, along with our musical composer, Takahashi san.
In Episode 2, we incorporated 3D animation so we worked with a 3D studio, Souki Productions. For episode 5, Yoda san was our animator and assistant director. From Episode 6 onward, we had the following animation directors join in; Watanabe san, Miyajima san, Takeda san, and Kitagawa san. Additionally, there are all the voice actors and in-between animators and finishers. If you take a look at the end credits, you’ll see that this was created with the efforts of many people. In total, I believe there were close to 100 people involved. Also, there were about eight producers and the production staff just within the Japanese production company side.
Do you plan to do more episodes in the future?
I have a lot of ideas, so I would love to do more. But maybe would like to change the approach a bit. Although this series has ‘The Anime’ in the title, that doesn’t mean it was intended to be made in a Japanese anime style. The title ‘The Anime’ was added later. Originally we had considered ‘Take Me To The Other Side’ as the subtitle. But in the end, that idea was used for the ending theme song. Next time, it could be interesting to try placing 3D effects and camera work that are popular Japanese anime-style elements. That might be fun to do. Either way, how we approach it would depend on the reception of the series.
Do you have any favorite moments in the show?
I have many moments I love, but I think one of my favorites is the epilogue in episode 2, where Tammy reunites with her family. It’s just a beautiful scene. I also enjoyed the beginning of episode 4, in which you see the suburban streets of Tokyo; the Japanese pubs, cramped apartments, and a packed train. It was interesting to place Rick into everyday life in Japan.
What do you think of the reception to the anime version?
Whether the feedback is positive or negative, I’m very grateful and appreciative of receiving honest opinions. It’s disheartening when there is no response at all. I’ll take in any negative feedback, and use it for making improvements next time. If the viewers understand my intentions for the show and give me good feedback, that will be my strength so then I can refine that further for the next time. The season has just started airing, but the series was created with the idea that all 10 episodes of the season form into one complete story, so I’m looking forward to seeing how people respond after the final episode.
You can currently watch Rick and Morty: The Anime Thursdays at midnight on Adult Swim and Fridays on Max. The show was created and developed by Takashi Sano and produced by Studio Deen, Sola Entertainment and Telecom Animation Film for Adult Swim.
Watch “The Escape” episode below:
