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Trailer

Smiling Friends

2020 – 2026Show3 seasons27 episodesTV-MA

AnimationComedy
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.5Rotten Tomatoes–93%

An eccentric, dreamlike animated series, with standout direction and visual style.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for romance.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 27 episodes · best: S2E3 "A Allan Adventure" 9.0

Episodes

8.3
8.3
8.5

Story

Smiling Friends Inc. is a small company whose main purpose is to bring happiness and make people smile. The series follows the day-to-day lives and misadventures of its representatives, the lazy, cynical Charlie, and the cheerful, optimistic Pim, as they try to cheer up and comfort the troubled people who call their company's hotline. They receive seemingly simple requests but the jobs turn out to be more complicated than they seem, making it difficult to bring happiness to the world.

Feels like

  • Surreal Adult Animation
  • Absurdist Comedy
  • Uncanny Valley Aesthetic
  • Heartwarming Yet Disturbing
  • Fast-Paced Episodic
  • Dark Humor
  • Unique Character Dynamics
  • Visually Chaotic
  • Existential Dread Lite
  • Cult Following Appeal

Cast

24 of 37 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
David Hootselle, Zach Hadel, Michael Cusack
Written by
Zach Hadel, Michael Cusack
Produced by
Ollie Green, Marshell B. Golde, Laura DiMaio
Music by
Brendan Caulfield

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 1, 2020 · April 12, 2026 · Ended

First aired
April 1, 2020
Last aired
April 12, 2026
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 27 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Original language
English
Made in
United States, Australia
Available in
85 countries

Tropes

Ambiguously Absent Parent, Unexpectedly Dark Episode, Black Comedy +9

  • Ambiguously Absent Parent
  • Unexpectedly Dark Episode
  • Black Comedy
  • Former Child Star
  • Police Are Useless
  • Creator Thumbprint
  • Uncanny Valley
  • Gross-Out Show
  • Namedworld and Namedland
  • Chekhov's Gun
  • World of Jerkass
  • Standard Office Setting

12 of 173 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Smiling Friends?"

Questions about Smiling Friends

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Smiling Friends?

HBO MaxAdult Swim

In the United States, Smiling Friends streams on HBO Max and Adult Swim. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 83 other countries.

Is Smiling Friends worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 8.5).

Will Smiling Friends make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly absurd humor (9 of 10) and dark humor (8 of 10).

Will Smiling Friends scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

It's more unsettling than scary: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for uncanny, but 2 for scares.

What tropes does Smiling Friends use?

Ambiguously Absent ParentUnexpectedly Dark EpisodeBlack ComedyFormer Child StarPolice Are UselessCreator ThumbprintUncanny ValleyGross-Out ShowNamedworld and NamedlandChekhov's GunWorld of JerkassStandard Office Settingand 161 more

TV Tropes lists 173 tropes for it, including Ambiguously Absent Parent, Unexpectedly Dark Episode, and Black Comedy.