'Smiling Friends'
The brainchild of creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel has secured a lucrative two-season extension, exclusively relayed to The Hollywood Reporter. This new acquisition propels the beloved comedy series to its fifth season, with the imminent third season set to debut this autumn.
Joining forces with Adult Swim’s VP of Development Cameron Tang, Cusack and Hadel took to the stage at the Annecy Animation Festival, revealing that production for seasons four and five is underway at Williams Street. As a treat for attendees, an exclusive premiere glimpse of the third season of Smiling Friends was unveiled. The series, which launched in 2022, chronicles the whimsical exploits of co-workers Charlie (voiced by Hadel) and Pim (Cusack) as they endeavor to spread joy and positivity.
“What it means is that you aren’t tied to creating the same episodes centered on the core theme, where the smiling friends uplift a downcast character,” Cusack shares with THR regarding the renewal. “Just as with the shows that inspired us, the best part now is we can dive into entire episodes focused on secondary characters, bringing the town’s dynamics into focus.”
With many secondary characters introduced already, the opportunities for further character exploration are endless, Cusack notes: “There are so many. Mr. Frog, with his chaotic spirit embodying the show’s zaniness, is a character we love revisiting. Secondary characters present a challenge as reintroducing those already helped might suggest running out of fresh ideas. Yet, there exists a select few, like DJ Spit, worthy of recurring appearances.”
Cusack and Hadel fondly regard their show’s pilot and the “Gwimbly” episode, which kicked off season two, as standout favorites. However, some episodes grew on them over time.
“Episodes that initially didn’t meet our standards end up surprising us,” Cusack muses. “‘Frowning Friends’ from season one, initially felt off. We often label such episodes as ‘stress episodes’ crafted under tight deadlines. Despite the panic-induced writing sessions, the results sometimes yield extraordinary and delightfully absurd concepts. The ‘Renaissance men’ piece in the ‘Frowning Friends’ episode is a testament to this frantic yet rewarding process.”
While managing the hustle of scripting on time can be challenging, the duo isn’t planning to enlist additional writers, maintaining control over the creative process: “From the pilot episode onwards, it’s been a dynamic between Michael and myself. We trust in our ability to write and expand on concepts if needed,” Hadel remarks. “Ultimately, each script and idea is incubated by the two of us.”
As is now tradition, the third season will feature a holiday-themed episode, with Cusack teasingly divulging, “This Christmas episode will shine the spotlight on a character deserving of more attention. It’s poised to be an engaging offering.” Adding intrigue to what viewers can expect, he continues, “Experimentation with varying animation styles remains a core delight, and the forthcoming season won’t shy away from this. The opening episode intriguingly bends animation’s boundaries, featuring a guest voice performance we’re quite fond of.”
Upon cultivating a loyal fan following that includes a notable segment of Gen Z viewers, the show’s creators have grown accustomed to feedback surges. “My routine involves absorbing all available commentary within a day of an episode’s release,” Hadel confesses. “After sifting through about 20,000 comments across various platforms, one gains a nuanced perspective of audience reactions.”
With a deal anchoring Smiling Friends through five seasons, conversations surrounding the series’ eventual conclusion are already underway.
“We won’t let the series drag endlessly,” Cusack asserts regarding the show’s lifecycle. “We envision a concise, rewarding collection and have eyed specific seasons we might stop at. Yet such decisions fluctuate frequently. Some mornings, three seasons feel sufficient; other days prolonging the run seems appealing. Nevertheless, we firmly agree on not permitting the series to overextend indefinitely.”
