The minds behind Rick and Morty talk season two, the UK premiere, and way more… it is to steal stuff off the internet.
But theyve done a lot of great stuff in addition to that.
The first six episodes have beencut together here, and the last two can be found onVH1s website.Mr.
Also, I spoil the ending right at the start of this interview.
Sprinkles, the music ofRick And Morty, and the function of the darker elements in all their creations.
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Hey, how are you guys doing?
Dan:Were good.
So, obviously, I want to talk to you guys aboutAcceptable.TV.
Justin:[laughs]
Dan:Awesome.
Dan:[laughs]
Of course I want to ask aboutMr.
Do you guys still getMr.
Sprinklesfreaks or is it just me and my editor?
And Ive seen some talk online about it.
But, yeah, I dont know how many original, like, OG, 2006Mr.
Its unfortunately difficult to find.
Somebody put a compilation of it up but he forgot two of them.
So a lot of people think its over at episode six, which is really annoying to me.
I have them all ready to post.
Justin:I think I mightve stopped right around…
I guess the only otherMr.
Justin:[laughs] Harmon?
Dan:Uh, yeah, I think he did.
Justin:I think that was sort of the arc, right?
I mean, he was a Jesus Christ figure kind of.
Justin:Aside from the being reborn.
I mean, maybe his son, I dont know.
But not literally reborn.
Justin:I guess we could write our way out of it if we wanted to.
Dan:He always just wanted to find a way out of having to take care of his kid.
Justin:[laughs] Yeah.
Oh, that makes it quite likeRick And Morty, really.
Its about child abandonment also.
Which is a perfect segue toRick And Morty, so… Give England a selling point.
Dan:Well, first of all, let me just say cheerio.
Dan:And then lets just say we love the United Kingdom.
Because a lot ofRick And Mortyis descended fromHitchhikers Guide To The GalaxyandDr.
I think those are two huge influences on it.
Theres nothing shielding the audience from mythology.
America doesnt have that much respect for its kids.
We just think that they should be kind of swaddled and coddled and stuff.
Justin:Finally comin home!
Comin home, baby!
So its good for children is what were ultimately saying for British children.
Justin:Its good for British children.
[laughs]
Justin:Yes.
Also, do you think the British are OK with things getting a little dark?
The darkness should play pretty good, I would think?
I mean, everybody likes their stuff dark.
I think its just that when money starts getting involved, things start to get dishonest.
Well, a question off of that.
In terms of the darkness, something I would ask about the tone of the show… And Im wondering, what do you think is the need for pushing limits?
I mean, I think you would say you push limits.
And I wonder what it is that makes pushing limits worth it, maybe occasionally offending people.
Why is that an important thing?
Obviously we want to handle things with kid gloves.
We would never do anything for the sole purpose of bumming people out or upsetting people.
But thats just par for the course when you live in a society with 7, 8 billion people.
Everyones going to have their own experience and perspective on everything.
You just cant even think about it.
I tune it out.
I literally tune it out.
Id agree with that.
Thats what comedy is, thats what action-adventure is, thats what horror movies are.
But I guess Im saying the same thing Justin said.
Because the show is very anarchist by nature.
It sides with chaos.
Its not going to say, Oh, its hilarious that you got punched in the face.
When people get punched in the face on our show, its bad for the face.
And Rick doesnt give a crap but the show isnt saying, Oh, good, that guy suffered.
Thats probably enough on that topic… Dan:The show agrees, yeah.
Justin:I just want to add one more thing really quick to that since you brought upUnbelievable Tales.
All that [Dan just said] is in reference toRick And Morty.
But its the whole dont confuse the art with the artist bang out thing.
Even then I dont think Id ever do anything that was mean-spirited to any one group or targeted.
kindly dont watch my cartoons anymore that I do on the side.
Dan:Im just realizing when youre talking about it.
Theres a really clear example of this in a much more focused media, which is haunted houses.
So if you make haunted houses, you want to upset people.
All kinds of crazy shit happens.
Its interesting when you think about, like, whats the best thing you could do?
Its put a big sign outside your haunted house that says This shit is scary, man.
Like, were gonna go for it.
Rick And Morty, its like a March of Dimes Haunted House.
Because its true terror when you come to his haunted house.
Dan:Itll fuck you up if youre not already fucked up.
Youre communicating something extreme in a way that lets people know you took it seriously.
I guess its context.
You want to keep your haunted house on the right track.
You escort that person immediately out of the haunted house and get them to a place where theyre safe.
And you definitely tell them, c’mon, dont come back.
It doesnt really provide anyone that wants warnings with warnings.
Justin:Hey, sorry, my call dropped.
I dont know if you guys even noticed but Im back.
Dan:Its all right.
I was talking about trigger warnings for another half-hour.
[At this point we were informed there was only time for one more question.]
Oh gosh, okay.
Justin:Well, you got your trigger warning article.
Im sorry, yeah, it became a trigger warning article.
I mean, Im obsessed with this stuff, honestly.
Im worried for the future of art a little bit.
Justin:[laughs] Itll be fine.
Okay, awesome, thats all I needed to know.
I should ask you guys something about process.
The thing thats most interesting to me is the music.
I know Ryan Elder does the score.
Justin:Most of it.
Harmons definitely chimed in on needle drops.
For the most part theres a discussion about like, Hey, what do you feel about this song?
And then when it comes to Elder, honestly, hes kind of autonomous.
Hes a fucking badass.
If anything, Ill just take cues out.
Ill be like Ah, we dont need any music here.
This is hurting a joke here.
Harmon has those kind of notes, too.
More than anything we just kind of remove a few cues.
But thats about as far as it goes in terms of managing him.
Hes pretty self-sufficient in regards to the music on the show.
Justin:Yeah, hes a fucking badass.
Were very lucky to have him on the show.
Hes just really talented.
Hes a great guy.
Okay, well, I just wanted to commend you on the music choices.
Tanya Donnelly is awesome.
Justin:Oh, dude, we both are huge Belly fans, Harmon and I both.
Ive listened to her for forever.
Do you like that first Breeders album,Pod?
Ive followed everything shes done.
Ive followed her entire fucking career, even her solo album.
And I popped out of my office.
Im like, Are you fucking youre a Belly fan?
It was the weirdest thing because its so random.
Such a random thing to like.
This has come full circle because we broughtAcceptable.TVback at the end.
Justin:Yeah, thanks man.
Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, thanks very much!
