'Smiling Friends' Creators Reject Serious Storylines
The third season of Smiling Friends explores jokes with a darker edge, but the creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel have no intention of shifting the tone toward drama or serialized storytelling. Their focus remains on humor rather than emotional depth or moral lessons.
“We’re allergic to messages,” said the creators, emphasizing their desire to avoid turning the show into a platform for heavy-handed life lessons.
In a conversation with Variety writer Jack Dunn, held ahead of the Season 3 premiere and published on October 20th, Cusack and Hadel discussed how they plan to keep the dynamic between characters Charlie and Pim consistent without introducing overtly serious moments. They expressed appreciation for the creative freedom that allows them to prioritize absurdity and comedic spontaneity.
Creative Philosophy
- The creators prefer standalone episodes that rely on humor rather than emotional arcs.
- They resist pressures to serialize the story or introduce deep moral undertones.
- The show’s evolution focuses on broad comedic range instead of dramatic realism.
Industry Contrast
Their stance contrasts with trends in other Adult Swim productions, such as Lazarus, a show originally pitched with similarities to Space Dandy but later developed into a more serious anime by request of the network.
Author’s Summary: Cusack and Hadel affirm that Smiling Friends will always favor surreal, comedic storytelling over serialized drama or moral messaging.