Why is Smiling Friends ending? Fans have one hope after shocking Season 3 news

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The third season of Smiling Friends was a hit on Adult Swim, so many fans were surprised to learn the show has been cancelled. Viewers are now seeking explanations for the decision to end the series.

The animated series created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack follows Charlie and Pim, who run a business dedicated to bringing happiness to others. However, despite this cheerful premise, the show is surprisingly unsettling and often features disturbing content.

The show quickly became popular with audiences after its release in early 2022, earning a devoted fanbase and a remarkable 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season. The following two seasons continued this success, receiving similarly high approval ratings of 94% and 91% respectively.

This animated show is considered one of the best of its kind – some even prefer it to Rick and Morty – so many viewers were upset to hear that Season 3 will be its last.

Why is Smiling Friends ending?

The creators of Smiling Friends, Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, have decided to pause production after Season 3 due to burnout. They’re proud of the work they’ve done and prefer to focus on making high-quality content rather than rushing to produce more episodes.

Zach announced on the Adult Swim YouTube channel late Wednesday, February 25th, that Smiling Friends will conclude after its third season.

They then explained that after completing Season 3, both Zach and Michael felt a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. Michael admitted, “We’d put years into the show and were pretty burnt out, but also really proud of what we’d accomplished.”

“We just came to this feeling where we’re like, ‘I think that could just be it after Season 3.’”

Zach explained that from the start, they were determined to make the show the best it could be and give it their all.

‘SMILING FRIEND’ is ending after Season 3

— ScreenTime (@screentime) February 26, 2026

Instead of letting a show fade away unnoticed, creators prefer to end it on a high note, leaving fans excited and with fond memories of its quality.

The two have been working incredibly hard, essentially non-stop, and they don’t want to continue the show unless they can maintain that level of effort. As Zach explained, they wouldn’t want to produce something subpar, as that wouldn’t be fair to either themselves or the viewers.

Michael and Zach both agreed they wouldn’t want to give ‘Smiling Friends’ to other creators. Michael explained it’s a very personal show, deeply rooted in their own creative vision, and Zach added that it simply wouldn’t feel like the same show if anyone else made it.

They emphasized that the decision was entirely their own, and that Adult Swim had been very understanding and supportive.

The creators haven’t dismissed the possibility of making more Smiling Friends episodes, but they’re hesitant to commit to anything right now.

As a fan, it’s tough to hear, but honestly, they explained it in a way that makes sense. They felt like saying they were taking a long break would feel like a promise they might not be able to keep. So, instead of leaving things open-ended, they decided it was better to just say this feels like the right place to finish things up. It’s a cleaner break for everyone, I guess.

We’re open to returning for more episodes or a special, but only if we’re genuinely excited about the ideas and can do it well. It has to feel right for us to do it.

Is Smiling Friends Season 3 over?

Zach and Michael recently announced that Season 3 of Smiling Friends will have two extra episodes, set to premiere on Adult Swim on April 12, 2026.

Michael announced that two additional episodes of Smiling Friends, which were finished last year, will air on Adult Swim on April 12th at 11:00 PM.

He explained that these aren’t season finales, but they are the last two episodes of Season 3, bringing the total number of episodes for the season to ten – two more than the eight that have already aired.

Zach explained that the bonus episodes felt like standalone stories, not major conclusions to the main plot. He hoped viewers would still enjoy these two extra, unconnected episodes.

Smiling Friends fans have one hope

Most fans understand why Zach and Michael made their decision, but they’re puzzled because ‘Smiling Friends’ was already picked up for seasons four and five. Many are hoping the two upcoming specials will act as a strange but satisfying ending to the series.

Someone on Reddit shared that they thought Smiling Friends had enough material for just two more seasons, but were glad the show got three. Another user pointed out that it actually did get two more seasons after all.

The show had already been renewed for seasons four and five, so this news feels very unexpected.

Another person agreed, saying it felt abrupt. While they knew the show wasn’t concerned with established storylines, they hoped the upcoming two episodes would provide a proper conclusion.

Someone mentioned that the video claims these two episodes are leftovers from Season 3, finished last year, and aren’t meant to be a series finale.

Someone else commented that the show has ended previous seasons in a strange way, so hopefully this finale will feel like a good conclusion.

One fan expressed understanding for the desire to maintain quality and protect their creative work, but also noted the current struggles within the animation industry. They suggested that continuing the project could have provided valuable, stable jobs for artists for a little longer.

Many people are wondering what the future holds for the show. One fan expressed hope for a second season, perhaps titled “Smiling Friends 2: Smile Harder,” after the creators take a well-deserved break. However, they also added that they would understand and respect the creators’ decision if they chose not to continue the series.

Someone else added that it will likely take around ten years before we see a ‘Smiling Friends: Brotherhood’ adaptation that’s more faithful to the original manga.

Smiling Friends fans say ‘the cool autistic gamer 774’ final video “makes sense”

After the news that Season 3 will be the final one, fans of Smiling Friends are saying a recent video from YouTuber ‘the cool autistic gamer 774’ suddenly explains a lot. Some even believe this YouTuber is connected to the show’s creators.

‘The cool autistic gamer 774’ is a YouTuber who started gaining popularity in May 2024 by posting edited clips from the show Smiling Friends. He began with simple jokes using watermarks, but quickly started making more complex edits, even adding himself into the scenes. This creative approach helped him build a dedicated fanbase.

As he started making bigger changes – like swapping out characters or creating his own animations – people began to wonder about his connection to the show. Many guessed he was secretly working with, or even was one of the creators, even though there was no proof to support that idea.

As one Reddit user pointed out last year, the buzz around this is hilarious because it’s either a brilliant, cleverly disguised marketing campaign by someone involved with the show – perfectly fitting its comedic style – or it’s the genuine work of a uniquely talented animator with a passionate dedication to making amazing ‘Smiling Friends’ edits.

Is this an account run by Zach? For shits and giggles
byu/Flimsy-Repeat-8848 inSmilingFriends

Interestingly, his latest video, uploaded on December 8, 2025, came out several months before the show was cancelled. It shows new animated scenes of him checking out the Smiling Friends office.

The video shows him walking through the office while sad music plays. He observes himself editing on a television screen, then playfully sits in his boss’s chair, looking at scripts and spinning around.

He appears lost and lonely, but then spots a ladder and manages to escape. He reaches out and touches the outside of the building, simply saying, “Thank you.” This moment strongly suggests a final goodbye, even though the official news isn’t released for months.

Now that the show has ended, a video is getting a lot of attention, with many viewers realizing things suddenly click into place. One person wrote, “Oh my god. It all makes sense now,” while another commented, “Yeah, this definitely explains things after the recent news.”

Someone else said they couldn’t prove it, but they were sure he knew what was happening. Another person shared, “Now I understand how you felt saying goodbye. Thank you.” A fifth commenter joked that it felt like a strange prediction of things to come.

Find out what’s new to stream this month, explore our picks for the best shows ever, and see what’s on the way with our complete TV release schedule for 2026.

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2026-02-26 18:51