What Is Rick And Morty Based Off Of

Ever watched Rick and Morty and thought, "This feels strangely familiar, but with, like, ten extra layers of weird"? You're not alone! The show's DNA is a hilarious, twisted remix of something you probably watched as a kid: Back to the Future.

Doc Brown and Marty...Meet Rick and Morty!

Think about it. You've got an eccentric, genius scientist dragging a somewhat clueless, often unwilling teenager on crazy adventures. Sound familiar? That's practically Doc Brown and Marty McFly with a healthy dose of nihilism and interdimensional travel.

Rick Sanchez is basically Doc Brown if Doc Brown drank a lot more, burped constantly, and had a portal gun instead of a DeLorean. And Morty? He's definitely got that wide-eyed, "What's going on?" Marty vibe, just with a little more existential dread sprinkled in.

But It's Not Just a Copy-Paste Job!

Now, Rick and Morty doesn't just stop at being a Back to the Future clone. Oh no, that would be way too boring! Instead, they took the core concept and blasted it into the stratosphere with a healthy dose of adult humor, sci-fi craziness, and surprisingly deep philosophical questions.

Imagine if Back to the Future had alternate realities where your family could be giant shrimp people, or where your dog could become super intelligent and demand to be called "Snuffles". That's the kind of delightful madness we're talking about here.

More Than Just a Nod: The Show's Origin

The creators, Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, actually started with a short animated parody called "The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti." Yep, that's not a typo! It was a super crude, super short take on Back to the Future.

Clearly the parody was successful because that short was what landed them the series on Adult Swim that we all know and love! So if you’re a fan, you can thank the original.

So, Why Is This Important?

Understanding the Back to the Future connection isn't just trivia. It gives you a peek into the show's comedic toolbox. They're playing with familiar tropes and expectations, then subverting them in the most unexpected and hilarious ways possible.

It’s like knowing the punchline to a joke before it’s even told – but then the joke takes a sharp left turn into a dimension filled with talking squirrels and you're suddenly laughing even harder.

Beyond Back to the Future

Of course, Rick and Morty isn't just Back to the Future on steroids. The show also draws inspiration from a whole galaxy of other sci-fi classics, like Doctor Who, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and countless others.

It's a giant love letter to science fiction, wrapped in a cynical, burp-filled package. And that's exactly why we love it. It's taking all the things you love and making them even more absurd and entertaining.

The Magic of Remixing

Ultimately, Rick and Morty is a masterclass in taking something familiar and turning it into something completely new. It's about finding the humor and the heart in the chaos, and reminding us that even in the face of infinite possibilities, family (and maybe a little bit of booze) can help you get through it all.

So next time you're watching Rick and Morty, remember Doc Brown and Marty. But also remember the talking pickles, the alternate realities, and the sheer, unadulterated brilliance of a show that's not afraid to get weird. Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!