Adult Swim’s ‘Smiling Friends’ to End After Season 3, Creators Confirm

By Harshit

LOS ANGELES, JAN. 26, 2026 —

Adult Swim’s cult-favorite animated comedy Smiling Friends will officially end after its third season, creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel announced, bringing one of the network’s most distinctive modern cartoons to a close.

The announcement came in a video posted to Adult Swim’s official social media channels, where the two creators spoke candidly about their decision to step away from the show after years of intense creative work.

“I’m gonna cut right to the chase. This is not a bit, this is not a joke,” Hadel said. “Michael and I are here to announce that ‘Smiling Friends’ will be ending after Season 3 is done.”

Creators Cite Burnout and Creative Closure

Cusack explained that the decision came after both creators reflected on their creative journey and recognized they had reached a natural endpoint.

“After we finished Season 3, Zach and I both had the same feeling,” Cusack said. “We felt pretty burnt out after putting years and years into this, but also pretty accomplished.”

The creators emphasized that ending the show was entirely their choice — not a cancellation by Adult Swim.

According to Cusack, the network was supportive and offered flexibility for their future.

“They said, ‘If you’re not feeling like making a cartoon, we’re not going to stop you. Go have a break. Either come back or don’t,’” he said.

This leaves open the possibility that the series could return someday, though no plans have been confirmed.

Leaving on Their Own Terms

Hadel said the goal from the beginning was to give everything to the show and avoid continuing past its creative peak.

“We wanted to put 110% into it and go out on top,” he said. “It’s better to leave people wanting more than to have fans asking, ‘That show is still on?’”

He added that continuing without passion would compromise both the creators and the audience.

“We wouldn’t want to be doing more seasons half-hearted or burnt out,” he said. “That’s not fair to us, and it’s not fair to the audience.”

Final Episodes Still to Air

Although Season 3 marks the end, fans still have more content to look forward to. Two previously unreleased Season 3 episodes are scheduled to air on April 12.

Hadel clarified these episodes are not designed as a formal series finale, but rather additional standalone stories that were not included in the original broadcast lineup.

“They’re not finales,” he said. “They’re just little stragglers.”

A Cult Hit That Defined Adult Swim’s Modern Era

Since its debut in 2022, Smiling Friends gained a devoted fanbase thanks to its bizarre humor, surreal animation style, and unpredictable storytelling.

The series follows Pim and Charlie, employees of a company dedicated to making people smile, as they encounter strange characters and absurd situations.

Its unique blend of internet humor, emotional sincerity, and unsettling comedy helped it stand out in Adult Swim’s lineup and cemented its reputation as one of the network’s defining shows of the decade.

Emotional Goodbye From Creators

Cusack acknowledged that announcing the ending was difficult, especially given the passionate fan support the show received.

“We know this is very disappointing,” he said. “It’s been very hard to say. But we hope you’ve enjoyed what we’ve done. It’s been the ride of a lifetime.”

While the show’s future beyond Season 3 remains uncertain, its impact on modern adult animation is already firmly established.