Rick and Morty is the perfect show for those who like their humor a little edgy and full of existential angst. It joins those other animated series that show that there is nothing inherently childish or immature about cartoons. Have you ever wondered, though, what it would be like if the show were transformed into an anime?
Well, wonder no longer! Here are some fantastic pieces of art that show us what the characters from the iconic show would look like if they were an anime.
Sublime
There’s something both profound and sublimely terrifying about this image. Admittedly, part of what makes the show so enjoyable is the way that it will sometimes randomly insert a horrifying event or character into what is otherwise a funny episode, and this anime captures that dichotomy perfectly. In fact, it looks like a cross between something out of HP Lovecraft, Rick and Morty, and an anime. In other words: it's a perfect distillation of what makes the show great. From Noridoodle on DeviantArt.
A Little Unsettling
Everyone knows that Rick is, shall we say, a bit prone to excesses. He’s someone who basically wants to pursue his own desires and needs above almost anyone else’s, even as he’s always ranting about something. This imagined anime nicely captures this self-indulgence, as we see Rick clutching what is almost certainly a powerful alcoholic beverage, his cheeks flushed with a mixture of both obvious inebriation and a dash of his frantic egotism. By PineappleShiba on DeviantArt.
Rick as a Young Punk
Rick, as anyone who has ever seen the show, is something of a problem. Of course, it’s not easy being a tortured genius, so perhaps one can excuse some of the worst excesses of his behavior. This artist took things in a rather different direction, showing us what a young Rick would have looked like in an anime style.
Looking at him, you can’t help noticing both how attractive he is and imagining what sorts of trouble the young Rick no doubt got into. Credit to spookylolly.
Cool Hand Rick
Say what you will about Rick and his antics, but there’s no question that he is also one of the coolest characters to ever appear in an animated series. It’s sometimes a little hard to see that reflected in his appearance, though, given the series’ unique visual style. This artist, however, has brought out Rick’s inner coolness, giving him a bad-boy vibe that, quite frankly, makes Rick more than a little hot. Is that bad? Credit to Ralunix.
An Enigma
Though we certainly see a lot of Rick throughout the course of the series, there’s always something that remains unknown. He always seems to keep something of him away from us, luring us in with that enigma of his personality. This artist has nicely captured that sense. With his head turned slightly to the side, a sly look on his face, this version of Rick is almost daring us to ask him something personal about him, just so he can enjoy toying with us. By zerorick.
Capturing the Dynamic
A lot of the humor in Rick and Morty stems from Morty’s terror at whatever situation Rick has managed to get them into. In this case, the artist has made the very transformation of the series into an anime into the situation that Morty is afraid of. In addition to capturing the very funny dynamic between these two iconic characters, this piece of art is a bit of meta-commentary on its own creation. By DanchuPichu.
Capturing the Horror
Rick and Morty is one of those shows that, for better or worse, manages to combine horror and comedy into a seamless whole. Admittedly, there are times when the humor overtakes the horror. In this piece of art, however, we see what happens when the bleaker, more terrifying aspects of the show are emphasized. Looking at this image, one gets the sense that these two characters stand on the brink of some cataclysmic and horrific event of cosmic proportions. Credit to JUZAAAN.
Melancholia
Who doesn’t love a little bit of melancholia? While obviously Rick and Morty is meant to be funny, there are some times in the series when, beneath the surface, you sense the profound sadness, the sense that all of the humor is covering up a darker strain of despair.
The artist clearly sensed that as well, and they brought it out in this image, in which Rick and Morty gaze out at us, their eyes filled with an infinite sadness. By NeoNee101 on DeviantArt.
Demented
One of the things that a lot of people like about Rick and Morty is how ably it uses animation’s ability to capture movement and exuberance and to take that and exaggerate it to ridiculous proportions. That is certainly what this image does, showing us how these characters would look if their emotions were exaggerated even more than they already are. There’s a lot to appreciate about this particular piece of fan art, ranging from the detail in which the expressions are captured to the lighting. Credit to luciacastez.
Sinister Yet Oddly Touching
There’s something sinister yet oddly touching about the relationship between Rick and Morty. While it’s true that Rick always drags Morty into danger, you definitely get the feeling that he has genuine affection for the boy. This artist has captured those feelings pretty accurately, though there is also something just a little creepy about the way that Rick is gazing at Morty, almost as if he is a vampire and Morty is his hapless (and wide-eyed) prey. By DoctorPed.