Things are about to get a little more schwifty over at Adult Swim. The network has ordered an anime spinoff of the popular Emmy award-winning Rick and Morty series. Tower of God director Takashi Sano will handle the new project, aptly titled Rick and Morty: The Anime. Ten episodes have already been greenlit.Per The Hollywood Reporter, this new series will work as a standalone work, meaning you don’t necessarily need to be familiar with the original series. However, Sano will be adapting the themes, events, and concepts from the main series into this new anime. The anime director is no stranger to the universe created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. He is responsible for two anime shorts based on the show; Rick and Morty vs. Genocider and Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil). Both shorts have earned a total of over 10 million views through Adult Swim’s digital services. This new anime is being handled by the folks over at Telecom Animation Film, the same studio responsible for Sano’s Tower of God.
In a statement concerning the series, Sano shared his excitement at tackling the project and why Rick and Morty is such a popular series: “The multiverse-straddling exploits of Rick and the gang pose challenges to the family bond, but they always rise to the occasion…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!”
Along with the Rick and Morty spinoff, Adult Swim announced another anime series titled Ninja Kamui. This new project, from Sunghoo Park, follows a former ninja who escaped his clan and is on the run from his violent past with his family. However, he cannot hide forever and is soon discovered. After revenge is taken, the ex-ninja rises from the ashes as the Ninja Kamui to avenge his family. This puts him on a path against trained assassins, combat cyborgs, and other ninjas.
For now, a release date for either project has not been announced.