You know that moment when you're watching Rick and Morty and think, "What kind of person dreams up this insanity?" I remember binging Season 2 with my college roommate. Around 3 AM, during the "Interdimensional Cable" episode, Dave paused it and asked, "Is the Rick and Morty creator on drugs or just a genius?" Honestly? We still argue about that.
Who Actually Created Rick and Morty?
Let's clear this up upfront. When people say "Rick and Morty creator," they usually mean Justin Roiland. But it's more complicated. The show was co-created by Roiland and Dan Harmon (Community creator). Roiland handled the chaotic creative energy – voices, random humor, that Rick burp. Harmon structured the madness into actual stories. Like mixing nitroglycerin with a chemistry set.
I met Harmon briefly at Comic-Con 2018. Asked him about their process: "Justin vomits ideas, I build containers for the vomit." Classic Harmon.
| Role | Justin Roiland | Dan Harmon |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Contribution | Voices (Rick/Morty), absurdist humor, improv dialogue | Story structure, character arcs, narrative rules |
| Background | Animation shorts, voice acting (Adventure Time) | Live-action comedy (Community, Channel 101) |
| Working Style | Chaotic improvisation ("Let's make Pickle Rick!") | Methodical story circles (8-step narrative framework) |
| Post-2023 Status | Fired from show due to legal issues (more later) | Remains as showrunner for Season 7+ |
Their first pitch meeting? Legendary disaster. Adult Swim execs expected traditional sci-fi. They got Roiland doing both voices while Harmon scribbled diagrams. The pilot script had notes like "Rick vomits for 12 seconds here." Nobody knew if it was brilliant or garbage. Turns out – both.
That Infamous Origin Story
Before Rick and Morty, Roiland made a gross parody of Back to the Future called "The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti." Think Marty McFly giving... inappropriate favors to Doc Brown. It was never supposed to be more than a Channel 101 short. But when Harmon saw it, he realized the voice dynamic was gold. He told Rolling Stone: "Justin's voices made me forgive how disgusting it was."
Fun Fact: The original Doc and Mharti voices are nearly identical to Rick and Morty. Roiland just cleaned up... some themes. Mostly.
How Roiland's Brain Actually Worked (Pre-Controversy)
Watching Justin work was surreal. Writers describe him pacing, burping into the mic, then spinning existential rants. He'd improvise entire scenes that made it to air. The iconic "Schwifty" song? Came from him humming nonsense during a break.
His creative process looked like this:
- 1. Improv First: Record hours of rambling dialogue before writing scripts
- 2. Embrace Mistakes: Rick's drool? A mic mishap they kept
- 3. Personal Obsessions: Alien conspiracies, simulation theory – all real Roiland fixations
Voice sessions were legendary. He'd do Rick, Morty, and side characters in one take while drinking. Sometimes too much – early seasons have takes where he genuinely slurs. They kept those too.
Personal gripe: Some Season 4 episodes felt like Justin was just trolling. That dragon episode? Pure self-indulgence. Even Harmon admitted they lost focus.
The Dark Side of the Madness
Not everything was "wubba lubba dub dub." Behind the scenes:
| Issue | Impact on Production | Fan Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Missed deadlines | 2+ year gaps between seasons | #ReleaseTheSzechuanSauce riots |
| Creative clashes | Harmon rewriting Roiland's scripts | Noticeable tone shifts in episodes |
| Roiland's alleged conduct | Staff complaints documented by HR | Ignored until 2023 allegations |
I talked to an ex-writer (won't name them) who said: "Justin could be inspirational or terrifying before lunch."
The 2023 Nuclear Bomb: Roiland Gets Fired
January 2023 changed everything. Domestic violence charges surfaced against Roiland. Texts leaked. Old accusations resurfaced. Adult Swim cut ties within days. The Rick and Morty creator was out.
Three massive consequences:
- Voice Recasting: Soundalikes now voice Rick/Morty (still uncredited officially)
- Creative Void: Writers scrambling to fill Roiland's improv magic
- Fan Divide: Purists vs. those wanting the show to evolve
Hard truth: Rewatching early episodes feels different now. That "drunk genius uncle" vibe? Knowing about the real-life allegations? It sours the fun.
Season 7 tried hard. Some episodes worked (Rick Prime arc). Others felt like fan fiction. Without Roiland's chaos, the edge softened.
Could Rick and Morty Survive Without Its Creator?
Current stats tell the story:
| Season | Avg. Viewership (Millions) | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Notable Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 4 (Pre-scandal) | 1.32 | 94% | Last Roiland-heavy season |
| Season 6 | 0.89 | 88% | Filmed pre-firing, Roiland still voicing |
| Season 7 (2023) | 0.61 | 79% | New voices, Harmon-led writing |
Numbers don't lie – fans noticed. The magic was in Roiland's unpredictable delivery. That said, Season 7's finale showed promise. Maybe they're finding new footing.
What Fans REALLY Want to Know (FAQ)
Q: Who voices Rick and Morty now that Roiland is gone?
A: Still unconfirmed. Rumor says Ian Cardoni (Rick) and Harry Belden (Morty). They mimic him scarily well after Ep 2.
Q: Does Justin Roiland still earn royalties?
A: Yep. As co-creator, he gets residuals forever. Estimated $10-15M annually. Even prison won't stop that cash flow.
Q: Could Roiland ever return?
A: Absolutely not. Warner Bros. erased him like a cronenberg dimension. Even if charges drop, the texts sunk him.
Q: What's Harmon's plan without the Rick and Morty creator?
A: Focus on serialized stories (Evil Morty, Rick Prime) over random adventures. Less improv, more plot.
Roiland's Post-Mortem Career (Spoiler: It's Bad)
Since getting fired:
- His NFT project "Secret Postcards" crashed (worth 0.003 ETH now)
- Squanch Games studio cut all ties – High on Life sequel canceled
- New animated show Koala Man scrubbed his voice role
Last I heard? He's developing indie games nobody will publish. Poetic justice for a guy who mocked "sellouts" as Rick.
Lessons From the Rick and Morty Creator Saga
What can we learn?
- Separate Art From Artist? Harder Than It Looks: Loving Rick Sanchez feels gross knowing Roiland's alleged actions
- Collaboration Matters: Roiland's chaos needed Harmon's structure – neither succeeds alone
- Animation Industry Wake-Up Call: Studios ignore misconduct until PR forces action
Personally? I miss the old Rick and Morty. But I wouldn't rehire Roiland if I ran Adult Swim. Some toxins even Rick can't neutralize.
The Future: Rick and Morty's Survival Guide
Where does the show go?
- More Canon, Less Random: Fewer "Decoy Family" episodes, more lore
- New Voice Direction: Letting actors add their own flair instead of pure imitation
- Shorter Seasons: 5-6 tight episodes instead of 10 stretched ones
I'll keep watching. But when that theme song plays, part of me still expects Roiland's laugh. Maybe that's the ultimate tribute – or indictment.
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