Rick and Morty may be taking a break at the moment, but fans of the series won’t be starving for content once the show returns for its sixth season, especially now that it’s been confirmed a 10-episode anime series will be released sometime in the future.
This would be far from Rick and Morty's first anime-style adventure for the duo, as two previous shorts have been released so far. The first was 2020’s “Rick and Morty vs. Genocider,” featuring a more traditionally Japanese art style, and the second waslast year’s “The Great Yokai Battle of Akihabara,” which runs for just over 10 minutes and follows Rick and Morty on a brief shonen anime adventure. These are just two out of the five Rick and Morty shorts in total, with both Deen Digital and Sola Entertainment having productions under their belt, all of which feature original Japanese dialogue.
However, for this bigger project, WarnerMedia has tasked Telecom Animation Film (Lupin the Third and Shenmue The Animation) to handle animation and production, as was confirmed by the company this week. At this time, there is still no release date on the horizon. However, the 10-episode run will be in the charge of director Takashi Sano, who not only worked on “Rick and Morty vs. Genocider” but also “Summer meets God (Rick meets Evil),” in addition to having credits in the likes of Tower of God and even Nintendo's Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
"The multiverse-straddling exploits of Rick and the gang pose challenges to the family bond, but they always rise to the occasion,” Sano said. “It’s such a life affirming sight, and Jerry is no exception. I am honored to have been given an opportunity to tell a new story about this amazing family. I hope you enjoy their adventures!” At this time, no specific details about the plot, setting or even art style were disclosed. One thing is for sure, whenever Rick and Morty the anime premieres, the series will find its home on Adult Swim and HBO Max simultaneously.
Last September, Rick and Morty's season 5 finale shook the multiverse with one of the first true confirmations of continuity the series has ever given viewers, hence why so many fans are excited over what Justin Rolland and Dan Harmon could have in store for season 6. As of now, Rick and Morty's sixth season is expected to premiere this year, and a first look teaser is currently on the cards for the Adult Swim Festival Block Party that will take place between August 5-7, a live event held in Philadelphia that is expected to provide plenty of online broadcasts and content.
The last Rick and Morty animated short to be released was “Samurai & Shogun Part 2," which came out on November 12, 2021, a 6-minute continuation of the previous short of the same name, produced by Deen Digital but written by Kaichi Sato. Fans’ opinion tends to be divided over how well these anime shorts measure up, but if anything, they’ll make the wait for new Rick and Morty episodes just a bit more palatable.
Rick and Morty season 6 is expected to premiere in 2022.
Source: WarnerMedia