And hey, listen, listen. Rick and Morty doesn’t even belong on the list when discussing Why Adult Animation Looks Like That.
It’s not because I like Rick and Morty that it bothers me, this is my love of animation talking. If you think Rick and Morty is the worst show in history, if you personally find the animation completely unappealing that’s fine, you’re entitled to that opinion.
But categorizing a show that regularly features sequences like this as having the same kind of animation as any given Seth McFarlane clone is just unfair. I know I pay more attention to the animation than many casual viewers of cartoons, but surely anyone can see the difference between that sequence and anything in an episode of American Dad.
There are other adult cartoons that occasionally have lavish or experimental animation sequences–Bojack Horseman has had two of note, even Family Guy in its hideous 16-season slog has tried it once or twice, but in Rick and Morty every episode, even the pilot has extended action sequences or a vast alien landscapes or giant, weird creatures and technology. It’s an integral part of the show.
This isn’t even about it being a good or bad show, it’s just a different kind of show than the more “grounded” exclusively dialogue-centered animation that most adult cartoons are based around.
I’m willing to go ahead and say that it’s more based around action, creative design and visual gags than any other (western) adult cartoon today, possibly ever. (Archer has action scenes, yes, but they tend to be stiff and are mostly a setting for funny dialogue.)
Part of this is because we see dialogue-based humor as more “grounded” and “adult” than sight gags or action sequences. This idea goes all the way back to the early days of animation and is a significant factor in a lot of modern adult cartoons.
That said, I understand why it gets put on that list, especially by people who don’t watch it. Because if all you ever saw of Rick and Morty was a screenshot of the Smiths in their living room:
You’d probably assume it was a McFarlane clone too.
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