Smiling Friends fans can rejoice as it’s been announced that the show created by Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel has been picked up for a fourth and fifth season. This is in addition to the third season set to premiere this fall. The news came out of Annecy Animation Festival where Smiling Friends had a dedicated panel.

Cusack had this to say to The Hollywood Reporter about the freedom the multi-season pick up now gives the creative team. “It means you don’t have to make the same episode that the engine of the show relies on, which is the smiling friends go out and help a depressed character. Just like the shows we love and grew up with, the best part is now we can make a whole episode about a secondary character and zoom in on them more and explore the town.”

To hear more, check out the exclusive interview with Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel on The Hollywood Reporter.

YOLO: Rainbow Trinity premieres Sunday, March 9th @ Midnight on the network (next day on Max). Get ready for Rachel, Sarah, Peleeken(s), Lucas, and all the other characters that have been manifested out of Cusack’s brain.

More info below:

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FROM CREATOR MICHAEL CUSACK, “YOLO: RAINBOW TRINITY” PREMIERES MARCH 9 ON ADULT SWIM

BURBANK (January 31, 2025) – Two best friends journey through absurd and fantastical adventures in the quarter-hour animated comedy “YOLO: Rainbow Trinity,” premiering Sunday, March 9 at midnight on Adult Swim. From Michael Cusack, co-creator of “Smiling Friends,” this follow-up to “YOLO: Crystal Fantasy” and “YOLO: Silver Destiny” finds Australia’s famed party duo, Sarah (Sarah Bishop) and Rachel (Todor Manojlovic), encountering more fun and silly characters populating their hometown of Wollongong than ever before “Season three of YOLO is peak Michael Cusack,” said Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen.  “It’s super surprising, fast, and funny, with the types of cheery characters only Michael can do. Plus, I have to say, a lot of great songsmithing from the man himself.  If you haven’t yet experienced YOLO, this is the perfect season to dive in. The series synopsis is below: Here we go again! Another instalment of the YOLO franchise (yippee!), arguably in the top ten Intellectual Properties owned by Warner Bros. Discovery! This season has lots of fun and interesting things happen LOL! Sarah and Rachel are Australian party girls, and they go on crazy adventures! It’s soooo weird, zany and silly!!! The visuals are epic too. I hope you check this DUMB cartoon out 😛 hahaha. This is gonna be SO COOL. There are also other characters that come and go (also owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery conglomerate media company). The weirdness and strangeness is OUT. OF. CONTROL in this new series!! LETS GOOO hahah!! WEE!! ASDNJKISADIAOSD New episodes will stream Mondays on Max. “YOLO: Rainbow Trinity” is produced for Adult Swim by Princess Pictures.

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.