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THE EPIC SAGA CONTINUES AS EMMY® AWARD WINNING SERIES  “GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY’S PRIMAL”  RETURNS TO ADULT SWIM JANUARY 11

BURBANK (November 20, 2025) – From the mind of visionary creator Genndy Tartakovsky (“Dexter’s Laboratory,” “Samurai Jack,” “Star Wars: Clone Wars,” “Sym-Bionic Titan,”), the five-time Emmy Award winning series produced by Cartoon Network Studios that follows a caveman at the dawn of evolution, “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,” returns for a third season Sunday, January 11 at 11:30pm ET/PT on Adult Swim, next day on HBO Max. 

Combining artistry and pulse-pounding action, the first two seasons followed Spear as he formed an unlikely bond with an almost extinct dinosaur and later made the ultimate sacrifice after a final standoff turned fatal. The third season of “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal” opens with a shocking twist that resurrects Spear in a new form—stripped of memory and humanity—and forces him to roam a brutal, untamed world as a shadow of his former self. As Spear battles savage landscapes and deadly foes, faint echoes of his past begin to stir, leading him toward an emotional and explosive reunion that will test the limits of survival. 

Tartakovsky said: “After two seasons, I was ready to move on until an idea surfaced that was pulpier, bad-ass, and undeniable. Everyone agreed and Season Three was born.” 

“I mean, not everyone can kill off their main character and then go ‘on second thought…’ and pull it off!” said Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim. “But Genndy tends to not make things easy for himself, and what we get as a result is a season three that is more bonkers than the decision to kill Spear off in the first place! You thought there was emotion to the main character dying in season two, wait till you see what’s in store for season three.”

“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal” is created by Tartakovsky with art direction from Scott Wills (“The Ren & Stimpy Show,” “Samurai Jack”) and music composition from Tyler Bates (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Samurai Jack,” “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”) and Joanne Higginbottom (“Salem,” “Samurai Jack,” “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”) and sound effects design from Joel Valentine (“Samurai Jack,” “Big City Greens,” “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”).

OFFICIAL TRAILER RELEASED FOR FORTHCOMING SERIES
HAHA, YOU CLOWNS

New comedy “Haha, You Clowns” debuts Sunday, October 19 at 11:45pm ET/PT on Adult Swim, next day on HBO Max.

Created by Joe Cappa, “Haha, You Clowns” is an unexpected new series from Adult Swim that celebrates wholesome family programming. Join the Campbell boys, three doting teenagers and their tenderhearted dad, as they live, laugh, love their way into your living rooms. They’re big dudes with big feelings who are learning to navigate life in the wake of their mother’s death, sensing her presence in everyday adventures.

Both shows will also be available next day on HBO Max (or whatever they call it that week). More news and info below.

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ADULT SWIM SETS OCTOBER RETURN OF HIT SERIES “SMILING FRIENDS” AND PREMIERE OF ANIMATED COMEDY “HAHA, YOU CLOWNS”

BURBANK (August 28, 2025) – “SMILING FRIENDS,” the fan-favorite series about a company dedicated to lending a helping hand to anyone needing to smile, returns to Adult Swim for its third season on Sunday, October 5 at 11:30pm ET/PT. Also joining the lineup is a new comedy “Haha, You Clowns,” debuting Sunday, October 19 at 11:45pm ET/PT. New episodes of both quarter-hour adult animated series will be available to stream the following day on HBO Max. “We love shows that make you smile and go ‘haha’- and that’s what you’ll get with ‘SMILING FRIENDS’ and ‘Haha, You Clowns.’ It’s right there in the titles.” said Michael Ouweleen, president, Adult Swim. “While totally different from each other, these two shows are united in that they’re hilarious, gently unnerving, and sometimes even profound.” Season Three of “SMILING FRIENDS” finds Pim, Charlie, Flint and the whole gang going absolutely bonkers once again, diving headfirst into their ultimate quest to spread joy upon the land. We’ll see a bunch of unexpected stuff here such as Mr. Frog running full speed at the camera, the team finally collecting all the spirit gems they need, and a totally epic showdown spectacle with an Ancient Witch of some sort. AHHHHH!!!! One of Adult Swim’s top-performing shows on HBO Max outside of “Rick and Morty,” “SMILING FRIENDS” ranked among the platform’s top 10 series during its Season Two premiere. Adult Swim has also renewed the series for a fourth and fifth season. Created by Joe Cappa, “Haha, You Clowns” is an unexpected new series from Adult Swim that celebrates wholesome family programming. Join the Campbell boys, three doting teenagers and their tenderhearted dad, as they live, laugh, love their way into your living rooms. They’re big dudes with big feelings who are learning to navigate life in the wake of their mother’s death, sensing her presence in everyday adventures. Originally an Adult Swim SMALLS short series, a first look at “Haha, You Clowns” debuted to a packed house at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Both “SMILING FRIENDS” and “Haha, You Clowns” are produced by Williams Street, Adult Swim’s in-house production company.

During Friday’s Rick and Morty panel, it was announced that a spin-off would be happening… now first, you’re probably asking yourself… is it for Mr. Poopybutthole? Squanchy? Morty Jr? Mr. Nimbus? Ants-in-my-Eyes Johnson? None of the above…

Legendary voice/actor Keith David (Gargoyles, They Live, countless others) who voices President Curtis on the show will be getting a spin-off, “set in the ‘Rick and Morty’ Universe” co-starring Jim Rash (Community, Mike Tyson Mysteries) and Stephani Beatriz (Twisted Metal, Bob’s Burgers).

No further info besides the below press release, but if any previous R&M episodes featuring President Curtis are any indication… expect crazy stuff.

More info:

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Premieres on August 17th at Midnight on [adult swim] – next day on HBO Max.

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The new quarter-hour comedy Women Wearing Shoulder Pads will premiere globally beginning Sunday, August 17 at midnight ET/PT.

Created by Gonzalo Cordova (Tuca & Bertie, Adam Ruins Everything) and produced in partnership with Mexico City-based studio Cinema Fantasma (Frankelda’s Book of Spooks), the stop-motion series follows Marioneta, a proud wealthy Spaniard living in 1980s Quito, Ecuador. There she encounters a diverse group of eccentric and ambitious women navigating the complicated worlds of love, family, and cuys. Featuring an all-woman cast, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is produced entirely in Spanish with English subtitles.

Today, however, brings word that the series will be making a return in the form a 20th anniversary type special set for July 20th at 11:30pm East (next day on HBO max/Max/HBO max…. maybe?)

Deets and trailer below:

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EMMY® WINNING POP CULTURE PARODY SERIES TAKES ON REALITY TV WITH “ROBOT CHICKEN: SELF-DISCOVERY SPECIAL,” PREMIERING JULY 20 ON ADULT SWIM BURBANK (June 30, 2025) – Adult Swim’s long-running stop-motion comedy series returns with a brand-new special that takes aim at iconic reality shows and personalities from across Warner Bros. Discovery networks. “Robot Chicken: Self-Discovery Special” premieres Sunday, July 20 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim, and will be available to stream the following day on Max. From co-creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, the fan-favorite parody series delivers a half-hour of rapid-fire sketches that spotlight Discovery, Food Network, and TLC. In “Robot Chicken: Self-Discovery Special,” the ever-awkward Robot Chicken Nerd embarks on a journey of self-discovery the American way—by going on reality TV. Will he find a 90 Day Fiancé… or end up as Shark Week chum? “For years we’ve been keen students of pop culture, and nothing is more pop than reality TV,” said Green and Senreich. “Now that Discovery Global Media is Robot Chicken’s corporate daddy, we knew it was time for meaningful and loving exploration.” “‘Robot Chicken’ has always found new ways to surprise and entertain, and this special is no exception,” said Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim. “By turning the lens on reality TV, the team delivers a sharp, hilarious take that feels both timely and completely unhinged—in the best way possible.” Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, “Robot Chicken” has garnered 23 Emmy® nominations and six wins, the most recent in 2022 for “Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.”“Robot Chicken: Self-Discovery Special” is executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green and Senreich also serve as writers and voice talent for the special. John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner, partners at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, direct and executive produce.

The Quinta’s Ghost is an animated horror short that dramatizes the twilight years of Francisco Goya, as he paints his Black Paintings in his house, the Quinta del Sordo (House of the Deaf Man). In a novel twist, the story is narrated from the point of view of the Quinta itself, responding to what Goya paints on its walls. The short, done in computer animation, brings the demons and other nightmarish imagery of Goya’s work to life, incorporating state-of-the-art techniques such as VR painting. It’s a hellish depiction of an artist suffering through grief, madness, and issues of identity.

Chile has had some top-notch adult animation, especially in the horror genre, but Petra and the Sun is better filed under morbid humor, and it was an especially effective example of it too. In the Andes, 71-year-old Petra lives a lonely life until hotter-than-usual weather reveals the frozen body of a century-old mountaineer. Petra takes the body home, thaws it, and spends some uncomfortably in-depth quality time with his preserved corpse…the disappearance of which the police are aware of. Despite its premise, this was one of the funniest films they showed, though it’s definitely not for the squeamish. I felt that the ending could’ve been handled better, but overall, this one I really enjoyed. This short also won a Special Jury Mention.

How is River is Born was definitely one of the more mature shorts in the set. A woman has a sensual experience with what appears to be a nature goddess, but ultimately ends up being something less yet significantly more. This one’s pretty simple in terms of story, and is mostly carried by the beautiful animation.

Ovary-Acting is a comedy short about a 34-year-old woman who is pressured by her family and motherly friends to have children. As the stress gets to her, she unexpectedly gives birth her talking ovaries, leading to a musical argument about the pros and cons of motherhood. The animation style, which uses knit puppets with 2D-animated mouths, brings to mind something out of an R-rated version of KaBlam! This was definitely a fun one to watch, and it has a great sense of humor and heart to it.

Still Moving follows a divorced mother having a stressful car ride with her daughter as they head to their new home. The strength of this short is in the animation, which is probably one of the best depictions of anxiety I’ve seen in recent memory. It’s really experimental, though it definitely seems to be the main focus of the short over the story.

A Night at the Rest Area is an anime short in which a group of anthropomorphic animals on a bus stop at a rest area. There’s really not much to say about this one in terms of story. However, what it lacks in plot it makes up for with gentle yet effective comedy about everyday life. There’s a real appreciation of the mundane, where even the jingle playing as the nearby vending machine heats up your meal is given focus. Obviously, the use of animals adds to a lot of the humor, and the sketchy character designs are great. One of my favorite jokes in this involves a convenience store employee who is anything but convenient, and the punchline being obvious doesn’t make it any less funny (or relatable). This one doesn’t have much but in a way it also has a lot.

The Piano is a hand-drawn short in which a young girl discovers her father playing the piano late at night, creating a bond that lasts into adulthood. The animation is amazing, the music is beautiful, and the ending will warm your heart, if not open the tear ducts. It’s another short with a simple idea done extremely well.

As mentioned before, Best Animated Short went to Playing God, which I definitely feel could’ve fit into either of the shorts programs. This also qualifies it for the Oscars, and I guess I’ll find out if it gets nominated (though the short that won Sundance might be tough competition). Hopefully I’ll get to see it at some point, but overall, the 14 shorts I saw (if we’re only counting the competition) were for the most part highly enjoyable and I loved a lot of the styles used.

Tribeca, while certainly a star-studded affair, typically features films that don’t receive as much of the prestige attention awarded to the output of festivals like Sundance or Cannes. I’m come to accept that, but there are occasionally exceptions. There are always animated shorts, but year’s event comes off of a major achievement for the festival, in that the film awarded Best Animated Short last year, In the Shadow of the Cypress, eventually found it’s way to the stage at this year’s Academy Awards after winning for Best Animated Short there as well. (I don’t think that Tribeca was the reason for the short getting Oscar-qualified, but it was one of them.) Clearly motivated by this, Tribeca programmers not only featured the biggest short film selection yet, but an animated shorts program twice as large as previous years. Not one, but two programs of shorts were needed to fill the space of the selections this year, split into family-friendly and adult-oriented sets. Yet as I learned, that apparently still wasn’t enough. This year’s Best Animated Short winner went to Playing God, a short that was in competition but not included in the two shorts programs and put in the Midnight-themed shorts instead. Unfortunately, I was unable to see it, though I did hear good things. (I do believe that Playing God could’ve easily been included in the shorts blocks, but that’s another tangent.) Anyway, here are the short films that I did get to see, starting with the family-friendly offerings:

Linie 12 follows a conductor on a surreal train journey, whose rhythmic precision is interrupted by the arrival of a chaotic musician. I liked the scruffy linework in this a lot and the imagery in this is absolutely beautiful at times.

From Aardman Academy comes Awaiting the Lightning Bolt. Told in stop motion, an inventor tries multiple times to capture lightning, but his comic attempts hide a more heartwarming purpose. This one’s short, sweet, and really funny.

Actor Kate Siegel is mainly known for her work in horror. The short she directed, Lily, is a more family friendly take on the genre, even with the fact that it was written by Stephen King. Told in scratchy, Edward Gorey-esque pencil art, a young boy needs to go to the bathroom but is embarrassed in front of the class by his sadistic teacher. When he finally gets there, he makes a frightening discovery. I absolutely loved the animation for this, and the story is really fun.

Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II follows a superhero who, after losing a battle against a villain, finds himself on the receiving end of social media backlash and the taunts of a depression demon (expertly voiced by Keith David), ultimately finding himself in therapy. The anime-styled animation is superb, and I always enjoy genre fiction about mental health. It’s pretty clear this is intended to be a pilot for a series of sorts (in addition to being the second installment, it ends on a cliffhanger), and I hope the filmmaker finds the means of making more. Another thing I liked was his use of worn VHS as a visual aesthetic.

Ostrich takes an avian look at social media body image. A pudgy bird goes through extreme measures to be like the ostrich pop star plastered over the media. I liked the art style for this, which felt like something out of Adult Swim, and while the ending was pretty obvious the punchline was genuinely funny.

Tigre is, according to the festival site, “the animated story of a friend’s grandfather, a refugee from Laos, living in Thailand,” and “a narrative full of uncertainty and curiosity, where a young man who goes deep into the jungle without understanding that not everything is as it seems.” I liked the animation style, which is seemingly modeled after shadow puppetry, but to be honest I genuinely had no idea what was going on in this short. Maybe I needed more context.

Finally, the environmental-themed short Snow Bear follows a lonely polar bear who, unable to find others like him, builds a snowbear to spend time with. Unfortunately, it can’t stay cold forever. The short is directed by Aaron Blaise, a veteran animator who did the character animation for the Beast in Beauty and the Beast and directed Brother Bear among working in other Disney projects, so it’s no surprise that this has the best animation of the entire set. What is surprising is that Aaron apparently animated this himself, while still looking like the professional-grade work he did for the House of Mouse. (I asked him how long it took to make the film after, and he said three years, which is still less than I expected.) This was a beautiful short that will warm your heart.

In my next article, I’ll spotlight the adult animated offerings at the festival.

“Annecy, with its unique and global mix of industry professionals and passionate fans, is the perfect place for us to share what we are up to and most excited about,” said Michael Ouweleen, president, Adult Swim. “We’re not just announcing new series, but also new ways of creating – from Adult Swim SMALLS to a special done in an unconventional way – all that hopefully help push the boundaries of animation. As always, we will be creator-driven and chance-taking until such time someone puts us in handcuffs. Literal ones.”

The upcoming projects announced include…

The Elephant, a special in three parts by Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe), Ian Jones-Quartey (OK KO!), Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time) and Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall). Not many details aside from the power hour team behind it were announced but we expect to learn more in the coming months. The Elephant will be produced by Titmouse for Adult Swim

Keeping Up with the Joneses is a new half hour animated comedy from Hugh Davidson, Rachel Ramras and Larry Dorf that focuses on the Newberry family as they try to “keep up” with their staggeringly wealthy Dallas neighbors – including the one next door, Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Keeping Up with the Joneses is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Adult Swim.

Heist_Safari is a new offering from celebrated creator and director Genndy Tartakovsky. Pitched at Annecy in 2024, Heist_Safari tells the story of three Frog brothers robbing a bank. Seems simple enough, but the execution is special as ****??!!! Heist_Safari is currently in development with both Adult Swim and Cartoon Network Studios.

Along with the announcements involving new programming, Adult Swim also announced the renewal of both Smiling Friends and Ninja Kamui, each for two additional seasons.