Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends Will End After Season 3, Creators Cite Burnout

Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel have announced that the animated comedy will end after Season 3, saying they feel burnt out and creatively satisfied. The decision, revealed in a video posted to Adult Swim’s X account, matters because it reverses earlier plans for further seasons and leaves two remaining Season 3 episodes as the last new material for now.

Smiling Friends creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel

In the recorded message, Zach Hadel began by stressing the announcement was genuine, and both he and Michael Cusack explained that after finishing Season 3 they felt “pretty burnt out” while also feeling “pretty accomplished. ” Hadel said from the start the pair wanted to give the show their all—“110%”—and preferred to stop while they were still on top rather than continue half‑heartedly. Cusack described the choice as their decision and emphasized that Adult Swim has been supportive of whatever they choose next.

Adult Swim and the April 12 episode plan

The network confirmed that two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air on April 12 at 11 p. m. The creators emphasized these installments are not intended as series finales but are additional items from the Season 3 order, which Hadel characterized as “little stragglers” or “rogue planets” that didn’t make the initial rollout. Adult Swim also issued a statement praising the creators’ singular vision, saying the network respects their decision to bring the series to a close with those final episodes and looks forward to potential future collaborations.

Renewals for seasons four and five and the reversal

Earlier reports in June had indicated the series had been picked up for seasons four and five, creating an expectation of a longer run. The creators’ announcement reverses that trajectory: despite earlier renewals and work on additional material, Cusack and Hadel concluded they would end the show with Season 3. During interviews timed to the Season 3 premiere in October, the pair had said they had already written two new episodes for a future season and would evaluate how they felt after later seasons—at one point discussing the possibility of ending on a high note similar to how some musical acts conclude their runs. Those plans were ultimately overtaken by the creators’ choice to stop now.

Creative burnout, control and the possibility of return

Both creators framed burnout as the primary impetus: after years of work on the series they felt continuing would risk compromising quality. Cusack said they would not want to hand the project to other creatives, describing themselves as “control freak‑y” about the show. They left the door open to future one‑off projects, specials or a revival if they feel inclined to return, and Adult Swim indicated it would permit them to come back if they chose to do so. What makes this notable is that a network that had backed the show through multiple seasons also signaled readiness to let its creators step away rather than push production forward without their full commitment.

Series origins, characters and timeline

The animated series debuted in 2022 and centers on co‑workers Charlie and Pim—voiced by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, respectively—who attempt to bring positivity into the lives of others. Season 3 launched in October, and in conversations around that premiere the creators discussed both new scripts and long‑term possibilities before ultimately deciding to conclude with the current season. The announcement was described by the creators as difficult to deliver given the fans’ support; Cusack said it had been a ‘‘ride of a lifetime’’ and expressed hope that viewers would understand.

Context from coverage and contributors

Several outlets chronicled the sequence of renewals and the creators’ reversal, and one of the stories included a byline noting Vritti Johar is an Entertainment and Pop Culture writer at Evolve Media who covers a wide range of cinema and pop‑culture topics. The larger implication is that creator‑driven projects can conclude on the terms of their originators: here, a network and its talent agreed to close a chapter after a finite run rather than extend the series beyond the creators’ appetite for continuing work.