The action sequences—particularly a chase scene where Rick’s spaceship transforms into a giant Mecha-Godzilla to fight a Space Pope made of black holes—are fluid and brutal. However, the show is also obsessed with stillness. Long, silent shots of Miss-Space-Waist (a new anime-exclusive character, voiced by Ai Fairouz) staring at a vending machine as reality glitches around her are common. It’s arthouse, not action-adventure. This is where the experiment falters for some. Justin Roiland’s replacements (Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden) do not voice the anime versions of Rick and Morty. Instead, the Japanese voice actors are used for the emotional heavy lifting, with English subtitles.
When the English dub arrives, the original cast sounds wrong here. Hearing Chris Parnell’s Jerry deliver a line like, "My existence is a placeholder for your disappointment," in his usual deadpan tone lacks the raw, Akira -level screaming that the Japanese script demands. You will want to watch this subbed. Score: 3.5 / 5 – "Alienatingly Brilliant" Rick and Morty- The Anime - Season 1
If you watch Rick and Morty for the "I’m Pickle Rick!" catchphrases and the burp jokes, stop reading now. You will hate this. The anime has zero interest in being funny. There are no punchlines. The humor is replaced by existential dread. It’s arthouse, not action-adventure
"I understood none of the plot, but I felt all of the entropy." That might be the best way to describe the experience of watching Rick and Morty: The Anime , the long-gestating, mind-bending companion series from director Takashi Sano (known for Tower of God and The God of High School ). Instead, the Japanese voice actors are used for
However, if you are a fan of Serial Experiments Lain , Neon Genesis Evangelion , or the darker Rick and Morty comics, this is a masterpiece. Episode 7, "The Memory Shogun’s Lament," is arguably the best piece of character study Rick has ever received, exploring why he actually drinks—not for fun, but to silence the versions of himself that succeeded.