You’ve got to tip your hat to the creative team behind Adult Swim’s popular Smiling Friends series: They definitely know how to celebrate April Fools’ Day: This year, they got a big laugh from fans when they released three episodes of the show re-created in various styles of puppetry, followed by an unannounced airing of the season two premiere “Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition DX 4K (Anniversary Director’s Cut!).” It was also revealed that the second season of the show will premiere Sunday, May 12 at midnight on Adult Swim.
If you missed the clever puppet-animated versions (offered in three different styles) of the first season, you can watch them below:
The Season 2 premiere, which is directed by Paul Ter Voorde, centers on efforts made to make a 1990s-era video game mascot (Gwimbly) whose animation is starkly upsetting in the Smiling Friends universes. Adult Swim released a trailer for the episode as well, which you can catch below:
Created by Michael Cusack (YOLO: Crystal Fantasy) and Zach Hadel (Hellbenders), the 15-minute-long show is animated by Princess Bento Studio. Following the the day-to-day lives of two employees of a business dedicated to making people smile, the offbeat and clever show first premiered in January 2022. The guest voice cast includes Mike Stoklasa, Finn Wolfhand, Tom Fulp, David Firth, Jason Paige, Perry Caravello, Jim Knobelock and James Rolfe. The show has the distinction of also being of the late comedian Gilbert Gottfried’s final performances (as the voice of God).
Season 2 of Smiling Friends will premiere on Sunday, May 12, at midnight.
