IN one of the most unlikely crossovers in cartoon history, Rick and Morty have taken a wild ride to Bendigo.

The 11-minute parody clip entitled Rick and Morty’s Bushworld Adventures – created by Australian animator Michael Cusack – played on US channel Adult Swim overnight instead of a usual Rick and Morty repeat.

It was the show’s annual April Fool’s trick for fans.

And, bizarrely enough, it features the popular cartoon characters making a trip to Bendigo so Rick can “get me green cube”.

The characters’ voices have had an Aussie makeover, the style is more abstract and the content is more obscene and abusive – possibly because it is set in an alternate dimension to the original.

In fact, a content warning should be placed in front of it for those not accustomed to Adult Swim programs. Here’s a link to the clip.

But, nonetheless, the clip has created quite a buzz about Bendigo online.

One Twitter user pointed out that Google searches for Bendigo soared following the airing of the clip.

As for the selection of Bendigo, creator Michael Cusack had a simple explanation.

“Honestly, Bendigo just felt right,” he tweeted.

Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke was among those to watch the full 11 minutes, curious as to what the fuss was about.

She said while she did not condone the content itself, or the way Bendigo was portrayed, it was pleasing that Google searches for Bendigo had risen rapidly.

“I hadn’t heard of Rick and Morty until I heard about this clip,” Cr O’Rourke said.

“I thought it was crass, but that is the show itself I believe, and this was a parody of that.

“Google results have soared which we would definitely see as a positive.

“And when they Google ‘Bendigo’, they will see that we have a beautiful, vibrant city which is completely unlike what was portrayed.”

She hoped people would instead see the online coverage of the Easter Festival, where 60,000 people attended events throughout the city.

“As they always say: Any publicity is good publicity,” Cr O’Rourke said.

The Bendigo mention might even outdo Wodonga’s brush with cartoon fame in 2015, when an Australian character on the Simpsons was named “Wodonga”.

Rick and Morty is currently between seasons and production of Season 4 is yet to begin.