Smiling Friends: Hit animated cult sitcom set to be axed after three seasons in major shock as fans left 'devastated'

Smiling Friends creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel confirmed the news that the series would be concluding with its third and final season.

In an announcement video on social media, Hadel said: “I’m gonna cut right to the chase. This is not a bit, this is not a joke. Michael and I are here to announce that ‘Smiling Friends’ will be ending after Season 3 is done.”

Cusack said: “To be perfectly honest, after we finished Season 3, Zach and I just both had the same feeling where we felt pretty burnt out after putting years and years into this, but also pretty accomplished. We just came to this feeling where we were like, ‘I think that could just be it,’ after Season 3.”

He also revealed that the decision to call time on the show was taken as a mutual decision with network Adult Swim, adding that the channel has been “very supportive”.

Cusack added: “When we told them exactly this, they said, ‘If you’re not feeling like making a cartoon, we’re not going to stop you. Go have a break. Either come back or don’t.’

“That’s the other thing, we could come back in the future and make more episodes if we want, if we feel like it. And they’ve been super cool and said they would let us do that. But maybe not. Who knows?”

Smiling Friends first hit screens in 202, when a special pilot was screened on Adult Swim as part of the network’s annual April Fools’ Day event. The success of this saw the show picked up for a full season which hit screens in 2022.

A second series aired in 2024. The third season began airing in autumn 2025 and two bonus episodes are set to air soon.

Smiling Friends originally had a two-season renewal before Cusack and Hael announced that the series would be ending. The news of the sudden end to the show has shock dedicated fans.

One fans said on social media: “I can't think of a time when a show was already renewed for 2 additional seasons and then they said "nah nevermind" after the fact.”

Another viewer added: “I haven't been this devastated about a show ending in as long as I can remember. Totally unexpected and out of nowhere.”