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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”).

“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.

Previously announced, the Adult Animation panel which appears to be a general panel of WBD heads for Max, WB Animation, and Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. Additionally there will be a “making of” panel featuring last year’s announced Common Side Effects by creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely as well as a general Adult Swim panel featuring Primal’s Genndy Tartakovsky as well as Smiling Friends’ Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel.

There’s no telling at this point what could be announced. Besides the previously announced Common Side Effects, the previously announced shows are Season 3 of Primal and Yolo, the Rick and Morty shows, Spanish-Language Women Wearing Shoulder Pads. It’s anyone’s guess as to what else they may announce.

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Here’s the Press Release:

ADULT SWIM TO PRESENT WORLD-PREMIERE SCREENING OF “COMMON SIDE EFFECTS,” NEW SERIES ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES AT ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL Genndy Tartakovsky, Joe Bennett, Steve Hely, Michael Cusack, And Zach Hadel To Join Adult Swim Network Showcase at This Year’s Festival

BURBANK (May 28, 2024) – The global leader in adult animation, Adult Swim returns to Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a robust slate of first-looks, breaking news and special appearances that will spotlight what’s to come in the world of Adult Swim. “Common Side Effects” Making-of Panel – Adult Swim will screen the entire first episode of the highly anticipated new series “Common Side Effects” exclusively at Annecy. After the world-premiere screening, co-creators Joe Bennett (“Scavengers Reign”) and Steve Hely (“Veep,” “American Dad!,” “The Office”), will join Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen, Head of Adult Animation Suzanna Makkos and Bandera Entertainment President Dustin Davis, for an in-depth conversation and Q&A about this special new series. From Executive Producers Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, “Common Side Effects” follows Marshall and Frances, two former high school lab partners who share a secret: Marshall has discovered the world’s greatest medicine, a mushroom that can heal almost anything. But getting it out into the world won’t be easy – the DEA, big pharma, and international businessmen are all on the chase to stop them. The half-hour serialized comedic thriller is produced by Bandera and Green Street Pictures. (Wednesday, June 12 at 5pm, Bonlieu – Petite salle)     Adult Swim – Defying Expectations – Featuring appearances by Emmy-winning creator Genndy Tartakovsky (“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal”) and “SMILING FRIENDS” co-creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, this can’t-miss panel will offer first-looks at a collection of forthcoming Adult Swim content that will continue to defy expectations. Ouweleen and Makkos will join Adult Swim Head of Production Kelly Crews for a show-stopping panel filled with first looks and breaking news that will underscore the network’s global dominance in adult animation.  (Thursday, June 13 at 2pm, Impérial Palace – Salle de la Volière) Adult Animation at Warner Bros. Discovery – Studio Focus – Adult Swim, Max, and Warner Bros. Animation spotlight their strategy and efforts in the booming adult animation space. Ouweleen, Makkos, and Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Warner Bros. Animation Peter Girardi will preview current and upcoming projects and share their team’s strategies to ensure Warner Bros. Discovery remains the destination for adult animation. (Friday, June 14 at 12pm, Impérial Palace – Salle de la Volière)  On the heels of its sophomore season debut on Adult Swim, the quarter-hour comedy “SMILING FRIENDS” was selected for official competition at this year’s festival as well.

Adult Swim had already ran the Samurai Jack series that originally aired on Cartoon Network from Feb. 1, 2014 – Jan. 24, 2015. This probably left a few people, self included, confused on what to be expected from the show next year, possibly hoping it meant new episodes. Well, new episodes are exactly what to expect and to top it all off, the creator, Genny Tartakovsky, himself will be returning to literally finish what he started.

About the series: Samurai Jack (voiced by Phil LaMarr), tells the story of a young prince from medieval Japan whose father’s empire is destroyed by the demon Aku (voiced by the late Mako Iwamatsu). Jack escapes the destruction, traveling the world in search of justice and the chance to battle the evil Aku and his robot minions in the world of the future. (via Hulu)

2016 pic.twitter.com/C5udeSJ8tP

— [adult swim] (@adultswim) December 2, 2015

It was only a week ago when VP/Creative Director, Adult Swim On-Air (and of course Toonami) Jason DeMarco mentioned on his twitter about the upcoming year for Toonami and responding to some Twitter followers that we wouldn’t be able to even guess what was ahead. He certainly knew what he was talking about as this news caught everyone by surprise.

The news had fans flocking to his ask.fm account asking all types of questions from if it will be replacing currently airing show Michiko and Hatchin to how did this whole thing even happen. He answers as many as he can with as much information as he can provide.

Told you guys NO ONE would guess! And there’s going to be more news to come, later down the line. Hee hee https://t.co/t03tbuxgSb

— LICH KING DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) December 2, 2015

If you have never seen Samurai Jack (which I highly recommend you do) or just want to relive it again while waiting for the new episodes, the whole series is available on hulu for you viewing pleasure.

What are your thoughts on the return of Samurai Jack on Toonami? Let us know in the comments below.