The Smiling Friends’ Creators Have Bad News For Fans

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With Rick and Morty being so popular on Cartoon Network, it’s tough for new shows on Adult Swim to stand out. But Smiling Friends has quickly become one of their biggest hits. The show follows Pim and Charlie, two employees dedicated to spreading happiness. Although the creators, Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, didn’t initially plan for a long-running series, they have some disappointing news for fans who thought the show had a long future ahead.

I was listening to a recent interview with the creators of Smiling Friends, and they’re already thinking about how to end the show! It sounds like they’re aiming for five seasons total, which means we only have two more seasons with Charlie and Pim after this one. They said they’ll assess how they’re feeling after seasons four and five, then really map out the future, but they’re pretty firm on not letting it drag on like some other animated series. Even if they have tons of ideas, they don’t want it to go on forever. They won’t commit to a specific number, but they’re hinting that season five is likely where they’ll want to wrap things up. It’s a little bittersweet, but honestly, I respect them wanting to end it on a high note!

The Smiling Friends in The Future

The latest season of Smiling Friends, which finished airing last November, explored the origins of the organization by telling the story of Glep’s past. We learned that Glep is actually centuries old and met Mr. Boss, who helped him start the company we know today. Last summer, Cartoon Network announced that Smiling Friends will be back for seasons four and five, and the creators hope these new seasons will bring the series to a satisfying conclusion.

With a new Rick and Morty spin-off coming soon, the show previously explored a different direction with its own anime. Some fans wondered if the creators of Smiling Friends might follow suit, but Michael Cusack and Daniel Hadel have confirmed they don’t plan to create a full anime series. However, they haven’t ruled out incorporating anime-inspired visuals into Smiling Friends itself.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, the creators of Smiling Friends mentioned they’re considering incorporating more anime-inspired animation into the show, as they are fans of both anime and Japanese culture. The series has already experimented with different animation styles throughout its first three seasons, occasionally presenting characters in unique ways. Even if Smiling Friends concludes after a planned fifth season, it’s expected to remain a memorable Adult Swim program.

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Via Bleeding Cool

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2026-02-18 19:41