Summary
Rick and Morty: The anime lacks the dark humor and sharp satire that made the original series so popular with fans. The anime simplifies the relationship between Rick and Morty, with Rick portrayed as an eccentric genius and Morty reduced to a reactive character. While the anime introduces new visual styles and premise, it still struggles to live up to the complexity and character development of the original.
Rick and Morty: Anime received mixed reviews from fans upon its release. The anime introduced a new visual style and an interesting premise in its first episode, “The Girl Who Manipulated Time,” by exploring the theme of time travel, an aspect that the original Rick and Morty deliberately left out. Despite this, the anime still struggled to live up to its counterpart, lacks aspects that keep fans hooked.
The original Rick and Morty thrived on its use of dark humor and sharp social commentary amidst the absurdity of the show. The original characters are complex and have shown signs of maturity and development, however subtle. Yet so far, the anime seems to have avoided what made the original shine, and that makes anime seem bland in comparison with Adult Swim's Rick and Morty.
Rick and Morty: Anime lacks dark humor and sarcasm
The anime is missing the uniqueness that made the original series stand out.
This TV show is known for its use of Dark humor is often interwoven with serious themes. such as nihilism, social norms, and trauma. A perfect example of this is shown in “Pickle Rick,” where Rick goes so far as to turn himself into a pickle just to avoid attending therapy with his family. When he finally joins them at the end of the episode, Rick is filled with skepticism, leading to sharp and witty dialogue between characters.
Meanwhile, this anime opts to use more direct jokes as its main premise, disrupting the balance that Adult Swim's anime created, allowing fans to both laugh and be challenged to think. New Chapter Instead use exaggerated expressions and strange moments instead of dark humor, like many of the realities Morty faced in the first episode. While this may appeal to a different audience, it takes away from the clever satire that made the original series stand out.
This version of Rick and Morty has simpler dynamics
Character relationships lose depth in the anime adaptation
Rick's actions are unpredictable and sometimes done out of anger, making him a toxic character, but his behavior is usually balanced by Morty's moral compass and insecurities. This creates a dynamic between them that is both unusual and fascinating to the viewer. This is best illustrated in “The Vat of Acid Episode,” where Rick takes advantage of Morty by exploiting his weaknessesleading Morty down an immoral path and causing harm to many others. However, despite often being exploitative, Rick consistently shows deeper feelings for Morty and his family than he is willing to show.
Meanwhile, Morty becomes a character who reacts to insecurities and moral issues being pushed aside.
In the anime, however, these motivations are radically simplified. Rick is portrayed as an archetypal eccentric genius, lacking the sharp commentary and existential dread that makes his character so compelling. Morty, meanwhile, becomes a reactive character whose insecurities and moral dilemmas are relegated to the background.
In “The Girl Who Controls Time,” Morty remains unusually calm and unconcerned with the virtual world around him. Rick and Morty: Anime shows a completely different side to the characters that audiences love, but the anime still finds time to honor and adapt the unique tone of the original series.
