Rick and Morty’s Pokemon crossover has lawsuit written all over it
Rock and Morty just delivered a Pokemon crossover for the ages, but with Nintendo being notoriously protective over the IP, will it land the cartoon in some hot water?
11th Dec 2023 13:16
Images via Adult Swim
Rick and Morty’s Pokemon crossover has lawsuit written all over it
Rock and Morty just delivered a Pokemon crossover for the ages, but with Nintendo being notoriously protective over the IP, will it land the cartoon in some hot water?
11th Dec 2023 13:16
Images via Adult Swim
It took seven seasons, but those crazy kids did it. Rick and Morty finally did what we'd always wanted it to - delivered a Pokemon crossover. Adult Swim's X-rated cartoon has parodies everything from Game of Thrones to Die Hard, with the titular Rick and Morty being a homage to Back to the Future's Doc Brown and Marty McFly.
The booze-guzzling grandpa and his nervous grandson have been on some amazing adventures across time and space, with Rick and Morty only growing each season. Part of the fun is the animation's meta take on real-world pop culture, so it was only a matter of time until Pokemon got the recognition it deserves.
Rick and Morty delivers a Pokemon crossover
Rick and Morty Season 7's "Mort: Ragnarick" takes our titular team to Valhalla. Opening with a Flatliners parody, Rick is experimenting on Jerry to unlock the secrets of the afterlife. Realising the Norse gods have the power he needs, Rick and Morty attempt to hop over to Valhalla by killing themselves.
You might be questioning how this links to Pokemon, but trust us, it gets even weirder. A convoluted plot involving killing clones means Rick has trapped Bigfoot in a Pokeball, even directly referring to its new home as a Pokeball. He later catches the Pope in a "Pope-yball"...and cue the Nintendo lawyers.
The episode's post-credit scene feels like a nod to the live-action Detective Pikachu movie, but here, Rick and an Ash Ketchum-inspired character duke it out in a massive arena. The Ash-a-like throws out a dragon creature that is a clear wink to Charizard, while Rick unleashes the Pope - yes, THE pope.
This scene is accompanied by some 8-bit music, making it feel like we're back booting up Pokemon Red and Blue on our old Game Boy. It's a classic Rick and Morty parody, but it's far from the first time we've seen Pocket Monsters appear in the series.
Watch out for Nintendo
Rick and Morty has referenced Pokemon many times before, with Season 4's "Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri" having a blink-and-you'll-miss-it nod. Adult Swim's Pocket Morty game is also a clever riff on the classic Game Freak formula, but apart from the odd mention of Pokemon, the series hasn't given us a full-blown crossover.
We all know that Nintendo is particularly protective over its IPs, meaning Rick and Morty will likely be in its laser sights. Although it's possible Adult Swim sought permission for "Mort: Ragnarick", it probably sits just enough in the realms of parody to escape an actual lawsuit.
Then again, with a pretty obvious copy of Ash and Charizard, that ever-vigilant Pokemon legal team could be standing by. Still, if Rick and Morty got away with it this time, are we one step closer to a whole Pokemon episode where the dynamic duo try to catch 'em all?
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
