Understanding who made Rick and Morty requires looking beyond a single creative room and examining a chaotic, decade-long evolution from an underground parody short to a multi-billion-dollar global franchise. The sci-fi animated sitcom was co-created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim.
The show's creation started long before its 2013 television premiere. Roiland originally developed an edgy, unauthorized animated short titled The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti in 2006 for Harmon's Channel 101 short film festival. When Adult Swim approached Harmon about developing a new primetime or late-night series, Harmon tapped Roiland to evolve those crude characters into something viable for network television. The result was a structurally tight, high-concept sci-fi comedy anchored by deeply flawed characters.
The Core Creative Partnership and Early Development
The foundational dynamic of Rick and Morty relied entirely on the contrasting strengths of its co-creators. Dan Harmon brought narrative rigor, famous for developing the storytelling framework known as the Story Circle, alongside his experience running live-action sitcoms like Community. Justin Roiland brought unhinged improvisational comedy, unique vocal delivery, and a penchant for absurd, sci-fi concepts.
Adult Swim ordered a pilot in 2012, and the series officially debuted on December 2, 2013. Production duties involved several key entities:
- Harmonious Claptrap: Dan Harmon's production company.
- Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card: Justin Roiland's production banner used during his tenure.
- Starburns Industries: An independent animation studio that handled early visual development and production.
- Adult Swim / Williams Street: The primary network production arm and subsidiary of Cartoon Network that finances and distributes the series.
Production Evolution and Behind-the-Scenes Shifts
As the show grew from a cult hit into a massive commercial engine, the production pipeline expanded significantly. Rick and Morty moved away from its reliance on smaller indie studios as Adult Swim secured massive multi-season orders. In 2018, Adult Swim signed Harmon and Roiland to a historic 70-episode renewal deal, ensuring the show's production runway for years.
Animation is handled through a collaborative pipeline involving storyboard artists, layout designers, and overseas animation houses like Bardel Entertainment, which translates the script and storyboards into final polished episodes. Scott Marder stepped in as showrunner for later seasons, helping manage the day-to-day writing rooms and production schedules alongside Harmon.
The 2023 Creative Transition
A major turning point in the history of the franchise occurred in January 2023. Following legal controversies and domestic violence charges, Adult Swim severed ties with Justin Roiland.
This shift meant that Dan Harmon became the sole credited creator, while a search was conducted to recast the title characters. Voice actors Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden were selected to voice Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith beginning in Season 7, maintaining vocal continuity while separating the franchise from its former co-creator. Despite the behind-the-scenes upheaval, the writing infrastructure and production pipeline kept the show moving forward on Adult Swim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the rights to Rick and Morty?
The intellectual property rights are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through its subsidiary Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Neither creator owns the underlying rights outright, which is standard for network-commissioned animation.
Did Justin Roiland write every episode?
No. While Roiland co-created the show, voiced the leads, and contributed to writing early seasons, Rick and Morty uses a traditional writers' room. Writers such as Tom Kauffman, Ryan Ridley, Jane Becker, and Heather Anne Campbell have penned dozens of episodes.
Who voices Rick and Morty now?
Since Season 7, Ian Cardoni voices Rick Sanchez and Harry Belden voices Morty Smith. They were chosen through an extensive audition process to match the iconic vocal signatures established in earlier seasons.
How many seasons of Rick and Morty have been ordered?
Adult Swim locked down long-term renewals. Following the massive 70-episode order, subsequent pickups have kept the production team funded well into the late 2020s.
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