We all know – Rick & Morty season 7 premiere Sunday, Oct. 15, at 11 p.m

The R&M shenanigans continue with a major voice actor change. Co-creator Justin Roiland is out as the voice of Rick AND Morty after events that can be searched online. Roiland is being replaced by two different voice actors, one each to cover the characters of Rick and Morty. The names of these actors have yet to be named and kept under wraps for reasons that are unclear.

This new season, number seven, will have the same episode count of ten (10) episodes. And like the past few seasons, it will likely start with some good ‘ol R&M adventures. The mid-season episodes will likely get more into the back-stories, canon, and continuity of the characters, and the last episode is probably reserved for a Rick Prime episode or maybe even another Evil Morty episode.

Rick & Morty, that’s easy, doesn’t everyone watch Rick & Morty at this point? I know one guy who doesn’t and he knows I’m mentally pointing a finger at him right now. Come on man, get with it!

Moving on to – what else is out there?

For the first time in memory we have multiple non-children’s animated series premiering  – possibly for the first time ever, in the history of the world. Or at least in the history of the US and they are definitely worth a deep dive.

Let’s take a look at the most prominent non-children’s animated series coming up in the fall of 2023.

– by order of expected release date –

SCAVENGERS REIGN

 

CHANNEL: HBO MAX
RELEASE DATE: Oct 19, 2023

Synopsis
Follows the crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful but dangerous planet.

Thoughts
Scavengers Reign has an immediate Miyazaki meets Moebius feel to it. The idea of characters stranded on an alien planet would normally give me Gilligan’s Island vibes – but not here. The design work and style of the art just hits a wonderful sweet spot for me. The planet does indeed look both beautiful and dangerous! The big question is whether the heroes of Scavengers Reign are actively trying to be rescued or trying to make this new planet their home.

Based on the very impressive original short (below) that inspired the series – our stranded heroes might be trying to get back home.

Short

Quite the short!

The biologic Rube Goldberg contraptions play out like something Rick Sanchez would love. I wonder if there are any oblique influences between the two? They are both absurd and mesmerizing!

Searching IMDB to better understand the bonafides of the production team behind Scavenger, Joe Bennett and Charles Huettner appear to be the creatives behind the productions – and much like Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Southpark, they appear to be Bennett and Huettner’s sole creative works. And kudos to them for their blazing first start! The jump in animation styles between the short and the series, the tone of both, and the writing credits read as strong voices we’ll see a lot of in the coming years.

 

 

 

 

PLUTO

 

CHANNEL: Netflix
RELEASE DATE: Oct 26, 2023

Synopsis
When the world’s seven most advanced robots and their human allies are murdered one by one, inspector Gesicht soon discovers that he’s also in danger.

Thoughts
Pluto is based on the manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa – considered an old lion of manga – which explains why he was chosen to take on Astro Boy and update the iconic character into a magnificent post-modern noir. The story and the manga are brilliant. I have read the multi-part manga series multiple times and can report that it is brilliant in every respect. The challenge of translating this manga into anime is massive and I wish the creators all the luck in the world.

 

 

 

 

ONIMUSHA

 

CHANNEL: Netflix
RELEASE DATE: Nov 2, 2023

Synopsis
With a demonic, soul-consuming weapon in hand, can a legendary swordsman and a samurai brotherhood defeat a bloodthirsty zombie uprising?

Thoughts
Takashi Miike directing an anime series featuring the likeness of Toshiro Mifune fighting zombie hordes? I don’t know the game. I do not care.

Say no more –

Sign me the fuck up!

 

 

 

BLUE EYED SAMURAI

 

CHANNEL: Netflix
RELEASE DATE: Nov 3, 2023

Synopsis
A mixed-race master of the sword lives a life in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo Period Japan.

Thoughts
I don’t know much, if anything about this series – other than I am thrilled and excited to watch it! Give me samurai sword fights chopping people into chunks and you have me thinking this was a Takashi Miike anime. But this is not Onimusha – we are now given TWO series with beautiful animation, wild Edo Period stories, and crazy bloody sword play – a wealth of greatness!

 

 

 

 

 

INVINCIBLE Season 2

 

CHANNEL: Amazon Prime
RELEASE DATE: Nov. 3, 2023

Synopsis
An adult animated series based on the Skybound/Image comic about a teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet.

Thoughts
Having not read the comics, all I can speak to is the first season of the animated series. Each episode has at least one great “Holy Shit Moment” that makes the episode worth watching. The info I have read indicates there are many more in store from the series – which seems to be lovingly translated from the comics – and that is amazing! Note to other producers – no one wants your fingerprints on genius comics – leave them be and let them reflect the comics they hail from.

 

 

IN THE END

We are finally the winner.

Multiple shows, none of which are child focused. What a wonderful time to be alive!