Smiling Friends to End After Season 3 as Creators Cite Burnout and Leave Door Open
The adult animated series announced it will stop after its third season as creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel said they felt burned out and accomplished. The news matters now because two previously unreleased Season 3 episodes are scheduled to air on April 12, even as the creators make clear the run will stop for the foreseeable future.
Smiling Friends Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel
Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel personally delivered the decision in a message posted to Adult Swim’s X account; the context is unclear in the provided context on whether that message was audio or video. Hadel opened the announcement by saying he wanted to get straight to the point and made clear the statement was not a joke: the pair will end Smiling Friends after Season 3. Cusack emphasized that ending the series was "our decision, " and that Adult Swim had been "very supportive" when told they needed a break.
Season 3 Run, Episode Count and April 12 Airings
Season 3 concluded its Adult Swim run on Nov. 30 after eight episodes. The creators said there are two extra Season 3 installments—described as "little stragglers" or "little rogue planets"—that were not part of the initial rollout and will air on April 12. Hadel clarified these are not intended as series finales and are not thematically tied to the season’s conclusion.
Why Burnout Led to the Decision
Cusack and Hadel said that after finishing Season 3 they both felt "pretty burnt out" from putting years into the show, while also feeling accomplished. Hadel said from the start they strove to give the series "110%" and wanted to go out on top rather than continue half-heartedly; he added it would be unfair to fans to deliver work they described bluntly as "f*cking slop. " That sense of fatigue directly produced the decision to stop after three seasons and to decline further production for now.
Zam Studios, Producer Aron Fromm and Future Work
While the duo stressed the end of Smiling Friends was their choice, the two will continue working together. In October they and producer Aron Fromm teamed to launch Zam Studios, a Los Angeles–based independent animation studio. The creators said Adult Swim told them to take a break and that they could return to make more episodes in the future if they want, leaving the possibility of additional Smiling Friends content open.
Williams Street Production, Characters and Streaming
The series is produced by Williams Street, Adult Swim’s in-house production company. Season 3 features characters Pim, Charlie and Flint and follows the cast as they pursue their quest to spread joy; the creators described the season as the gang "going absolutely bonkers. " Smiling Friends broadcasts on Adult Swim and is available to stream the day after its airings on HBO Max.
Fan Reaction, Creator Gratitude and Industry Notes
Cusack and Hadel thanked fans for embracing the show, saying it became bigger than they imagined—citing fan art, costumes and memes as markers of that embrace. They urged other productions to hire the Smiling Friends crew as they move on to new projects. What makes this notable is that the creators prioritized the creative finish line over prolonging a successful run, balancing artistic standards against commercial momentum.
The announcement closes a chapter after three seasons while keeping the show’s future intentionally ambiguous: a clear endpoint now, with the technical possibility of more episodes later if the creators choose to return.
