Smiling Friends Cancelled: Creators Opt to End Series After Season 3 — Two Unreleased Episodes Set for April 12

The creators of the animated comedy announced that smiling friends cancelled with a decision to end the series after Season 3, framing the choice as a creative exit rather than a network mandate. Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel said they felt burned out after years on the show, described wanting to leave it “on top, ” and confirmed two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air April 12. The network behind the series has offered support and left the door open for a possible return.

Immediate consequences: a finite run and preserved creative control

The most direct change is finality: the series will stop after its third season by the creators’ decision, rather than continuing under new leadership. The duo emphasized they did not want to keep producing episodes while feeling burnt out or handing the show to other creatives. They framed this as both a personal boundary and a preservation of quality — an attempt to avoid future seasons produced half-heartedly.

Smiling Friends Cancelled — what will air and when

Two previously unreleased Season 3 episodes are scheduled to air on April 12. The creators described these installments as leftover or “straggler” episodes created during the season’s production run and clarified they are not designed as finales. Season 3 itself was an eight-episode set that concluded its run on Nov. 30.

Why the creators stopped after Season 3

Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel said that after finishing Season 3 they both felt burnt out despite also feeling accomplished. Their stated goal from the outset was to put maximum effort into the series and then end it while still feeling energized about the work. They conveyed that the decision was theirs alone and that the network has been supportive of that choice, offering flexibility about breaks or potential future returns.

Background details preserved from the run

The show debuted in 2022 and centers on co-workers Charlie and Pim, with the co-creators voicing those roles. Over its run the series developed a distinct fan culture and an expanded presence beyond initial expectations. Creators said they will continue to collaborate together and have also teamed with producer Aron Fromm to launch Zam Studios, a Los Angeles–based independent animation studio.

• Two unaired Season 3 episodes air April 12; they are not conceived as series finales.
• Season 3 consisted of eight episodes and ended its run on Nov. 30.
• The decision to stop was framed by the creators as voluntary, citing burnout and a desire to leave the show on a high note.
• The creators have formed a new independent studio in Los Angeles with producer Aron Fromm.

Here’s the part that matters for fans and creators alike: the ending is framed as a creative choice, not an absolute death knell. The creators said the network supported their decision and would allow them to return if they chose to make more episodes later.

What’s easy to miss is that the announcement came directly from the creators in a short video posted on the network’s social account, underscoring that this was a message meant to come straight from the showrunners rather than mediated through external outlets. The real question now is whether the pair will revisit the property down the road or focus energy on new projects at their new studio.

Key signals that could clarify the future: any formal revival announcements from the creators, additional releases tied to the franchise beyond the April episodes, or projects emerging from Zam Studios that bear the duo’s creative imprint. For now, fans can expect the two leftover Season 3 episodes and a closed current chapter with the possibility of an open-ended return.