Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Rick and Morty: The Anime Episode #2!!The new Rick and Morty anime has officially hinted that it may be canon to the main series, but some evidence suggests that the two shows are still separate from one another. Since its announcement, Rick and Morty: The Anime was viewed by fans as a fun alternate-universe take on the hit Adult Swim series. Its trailers promised everything that fans loved about the main show, but in an anime style. While the show ended up disappointing long-time viewers, the second episode of the series has hinted this may not be the case.

In episode 2 of Rick & Morty: The Anime, titled “Fighting Mother,” Rick comes face-to-face with a different version of himself after maneuvering through a time paradox. He pulls out the mysterious Entropy Device, figuring that this variant of himself is the inventor behind it. However, the alternate version of Rick shakes off the question, telling his counterpart he figures this is Rick C-137.

This is a major lore drop for fans of the series as C-137 is the number given to the main show’s Rick to signify that he’s the main variant they follow in the series. By giving this anime version of Rick the same designation, it hints that he’s the same character, just in a new style.

Is Rick From Rick and Morty: The Anime Really Rick C-137?

Evidence from Episode #2 Suggests So, but the Galactic Federation Says Otherwise

When diving into the episode itself, there’s a plethora of evidence that suggests that this truly is Rick from the main series. For starters, Space Beth plays a major role throughout the episode, hinting that every event beginning with season 3’s “The ABCs of Beth” actually happened in this universe. Plus, with the return of BirdPerson and his daughter as they come face-to-face with a resurrected Tammy in a post-credits scene, there’s plenty to suggest that the anime is canon to the main show.

“[The Galactic Federation’s] existence is the biggest problem with the idea that this Rick really is C-137.”

However, there’s also some complications in this theory. The biggest hole in this possibility is the return of the Galactic Federation. Die hard fans of the series know that Rick destroyed this major empire in season 3’s “The Rickshank Redemption” after toppling their economy by making their currency worthless. Since then, the Federation has not been present in the series. However, they’re clearly a major threat in the anime. Their existence is the biggest problem with the idea that this Rick really is C-137. However, the creators have provided a separate theory to this idea.

Rick and Morty: The Anime is Likely in a Separate Multiverse

The Only Explanation for Two C-137s

In a Screen Rant interview with the people behind Rick and Morty: The Anime, including creator Takashi Sano, executive producer Jason DeMarco makes it very clear that the hiring of different actors for the show’s iconic characters was to make the anime “separate in every way from the flaship show.” This ultimately brings into question how it can be different from the main Adult Swim series until he points out that “it’s just supposed to be Sano’s version of Rick and Morty.” This suggests that the anime is actually taking place in a completely different multiverse entirely crafted by Takashi Sano. It’s a whole new omniverse full of rules that none of the main show’s cast can interact with.

This ultimately concludes that another Rick C-137 is possible when the main C-137 isn’t there to begin with. It’s a completely different version of the same character, just in a separate Central Finite Curve than the one crafted by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. It’s an interesting idea to hint that this version of Rick and Morty could be canon to the main show, but in the end, it’s still very much its own thing.

Watch

Rick and Morty: The Anime

Thursdays at Midnight on Adult Swim, Next Day on Max

Sources: Adult Swim, Screen Rant Plus