Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction comedy series created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block [adult swim]. Originally, the series was based on Channel101's The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti, a parody of Back to the Future. The first episode was released online on November 27, 2013, and aired on Adult Swim five days later on December 2.
This bizarre series centers around the misadventures of Morty Smith (originally voiced by Roiland, Harry Belden from Season 7 onward), a kind-hearted yet troubled young high school student, and Rick Sanchez (also originally voiced by Roiland, Ian Cardoni from Season 7 onwards), Morty's snarky, morally-unsound and alcoholic Mad Scientist grandfather. Rick constantly pulls Morty and his family out of their normal lives to go on sci-fi acid trip adventures across the multiverse and help him carry out insane science experiments. Morty's parents think of Rick as a negative influence on their son, but they keep Rick around the house anyway just as long as he sort of keeps Morty in school.
In May 2018, after months of contract negotiations following the end of the show's third season (and fears of cancellation), the series was announced as being renewed for an unprecedented 70 additional episodes
. The first five episodes of Season 4 in 2019 aired from November 10 to December 15; after a five-month hiatus, the last five episodes aired from May 3-31, 2020. Season 5 started airing a year later on June 20, 2021. The sixth season started airing on September 4, 2022, and was simulcast in multiple countries.
In May 2022, a ten-episode anime adaptation directed by Takashi Sano, who directed the adaptation of Tower of God as well as two Rick and Morty shorts, was announced.
In January 2023, Adult Swim cut ties with Justin Roiland amid charges of domestic abuse. The series was announced to continue without his involvement, with two new actors to replace him as the voices of the titular characters, and Dan Harmon as the sole creative lead (at least until the 70-episode order is complete). Season 7 premiered in October 2023, revealing the new voice actors to be Ian Cardoni (as Rick) and Harry Belden (as Morty). Season 8 is planned for release in 2025.
For episode-specific summaries and tropes, check out the recap page.
For other works based on the show, see the Franchise page.
Rick & Morty contains *URP* the following tropes, bitch!!:
Rick: Oh yeah, Morty? Wha- What are you trying to say, Morty? You saying what you do on the internet is a more productive use of your time than TV Tropes? Y-You're saying you have better things to do than painstakingly cataloging every trivial storytelling device in every form of fiction ever as a means of studying and analyzing fiction as an entertainment medium? Is that what you're trying to say, Morty?
Morty: N-No, I just-
Rick: Well, t-*URP* too bad, because you'd probably be right.
