Michael and Zach, creators of Smiling Friends, announced that the show will end after season 3 due to burnout and a desire to conclude on a high note. Adult Swim supports their decision, and two additional episodes will air on April 12. They may return in the future if inspired but want to ensure quality over quantity.
Michael and Zach, the creators behind the popular Adult Swim show Smiling Friends, have made a heartfelt announcement about the future of the series. In a candid and sincere message, they revealed that Smiling Friends will conclude after the completion of its third season.
The creators began by greeting their audience warmly before addressing the main point. They emphasized that this announcement is serious and not a joke. Both Michael and Zach expressed that after years of dedicated work on the show, they feel burnt out but also accomplished. They have decided that season 3 will be the final chapter for Smiling Friends.
They explained that from the very beginning, their goal was to put their full effort into making the show as good as possible and then end it while it was still beloved, rather than dragging it out until it lost its charm. After several years of non-stop work without breaks, they felt it was the right time to conclude the series.
Michael and Zach addressed potential questions about why they are not continuing or handing the show over to others. They shared that Smiling Friends is a very personal project, with both creators being very hands-on and control-oriented about every aspect, from scripts to production. They feel that the show is not built to be run by others and that continuing without their full passion would not be fair to themselves or the audience.
Adult Swim has been very supportive of their decision, encouraging them to take a break or return in the future if they feel inspired. The network respects their creative process and does not want to pressure them into producing content they are not passionate about.
While Smiling Friends will end after season 3, Michael and Zach made it clear that this is not the end of their collaboration or creative endeavors. They plan to continue working on other projects individually and together. They also left open the possibility of returning to Smiling Friends in the future if they feel inspired to create more episodes or specials, but only if it can be done right and with the same level of quality.
There is some good news for fans: two additional episodes of Smiling Friends have been completed and will air on April 12 at 11:00 p.m. on Adult Swim. These episodes are part of season 3, bringing the total number of episodes for the season to ten. These episodes are described as "stragglers" and are not connected to a larger finale storyline, but they offer more content for fans to enjoy.
Michael and Zach expressed deep gratitude for the fans and the incredible support they have received. They reflected on how the show grew beyond their expectations, with fan art, costumes, memes, and enthusiastic engagement from viewers. They also praised their crew, calling the project "insane" and crediting the team for bringing the show to life.
They acknowledged that making this announcement was difficult but felt it was important to communicate honestly and directly with their audience rather than through impersonal messages.
In closing, Michael and Zach reiterated that ending Smiling Friends now feels like the right decision. They want to leave the show on a high note, ensuring that the content remains fresh and enjoyable for fans. They thanked everyone for the incredible journey and support, promising that while this chapter closes, their creative work continues.
As Zach humorously put it, "That's all, folks."
This announcement marks the end of an era for Smiling Friends, but also the beginning of new creative possibilities for its creators. Fans can look forward to the upcoming episodes and whatever Michael and Zach create next.
