Smiling Friends
Smiling Friends
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Smiling Friends

8.5
Yr 2020
Status Ended
Animation Comedy Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Series Brief

Overview

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.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 75 /100

Critical reception for Smiling Friends highlights its unique ability to balance dark, surreal humor with surprising emotional resonance. Reviewers frequently describe the series as a chaotic and unsettling blend of bizarre antics, noting that its unpredictable storytelling keeps the audience off-balance through its jarring, experimental presentation.

While some critics view the show as a refreshing balm for cynical viewers, others note that the series remains an imperfect production. Despite its success, several commentators have suggested that the show’s sudden conclusion left it with untapped potential and room for further growth as it explored its eccentric world.

“This unsettling animated series delivers a blend of jarring, chaotic storylines filled with dark humor and bizarre antics.”

“The dark and funny Adult Swim show about a team of professional happiness bringers is the perfect thing to watch when you don’t feel like smiling.”

“An imperfect series, one that still had room to grow to fully reach its potential.”

“Smiling Friends is often a program full of chaotic gibberish.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

HBO Max
US • UK
fuboTV
CA
YouTube TV
US
Show 5 more
HBO Max Amazon Channel
US • UK
Global TV
CA
StackTV Amazon Channel
CA
Now TV
UK
Adult Swim
US
Why fans love it

Premiering in 2020, *Smiling Friends* takes the basic framework of a workplace comedy and pushes it into surreal, absurdist territory. The adult animated series centers on a unique small business dedicated to a single corporate objective: helping troubled hotline callers find happiness and smile. That straightforward mission rarely goes as planned, as seemingly simple requests quickly unravel into chaotic situations that test the limits of the company's employees.

Much of the appeal lies in the friction between the core duo. Pim brings cheerful optimism to every assignment, while Charlie counters with lazy, grounded cynicism. Featuring voice talent such as Zach Hadel, the show blends sci-fi and fantasy elements with deadpan humor. Fans appreciate how the series turns the mundane mechanics of running a small business into an unpredictable, wildly strange effort to bring joy to an indifferent world.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 45
Regulars 6
Longest run 8 eps
Michael Cusack
Michael Cusack
as Pim Pimling / Allan Red (voice)
Zach Hadel
Zach Hadel
as Charlie Dompler / Glep (voice)
Marc Moceri
Marc Moceri
as Mr. Boss (voice)
Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried
as God (voice)
1 episode
James D. Rolfe
James D. Rolfe
as Screamer
1 episode
Jim Knobeloch
Jim Knobeloch
as Horror Host
1 episode
Jane Badler
Jane Badler
as TV Host
1 episode
Perry Caravello
Perry Caravello
as Simon S. Salty
1 episode
Show 37 more
Clyde Boraine as Policeman 1 episode Chills as Patron (voice) 1 episode Finn Wolfhard as Man Living in Wall (voice) 1 episode Nick Wolfhard as Graham Nelly / Bliblie (voice) 1 episode Tom Fulp as Alpha (voice) 1 episode Mike Stoklasa as Screamer 3 episodes Rodrigo Huerta as Devils / Jombo (voice) 3 episodes Mick Lauer as Guy at the Gym / Crazy Cup / Elf (voice) 4 episodes Harry Partridge as William Worm (voice) 5 episodes Lyle Rath as Mr. Man / Warren Buffett (voice) 2 episodes Monica Franco as Zoey (voice) 3 episodes David Dore as Party Bro / Forest Demon (voice) 4 episodes Hans van Harken as Priest (voice) 5 episodes Mike Bocchetti as President Jimble 1 episode Chris O'Neill as Guy in Line (voice) 3 episodes David Firth as Mole Man (voice) 3 episodes Doug Walker as Daniel the Demon Slayer 1 episode Joel Haver as Doug (voice) 1 episode Edson Matus as Spanish Charlie (voice) 1 episode Marc Winslow as Spanish Pim (voice) 1 episode Jay Bauman as Police Alien (voice) 1 episode Rich Evans as Brown Alien (voice) 1 episode Joshua Tomar as Officer Brule / Centaur (voice) 8 episodes Erica Lindbeck as Jennifer / Mustard / The Princess (voice) 8 episodes Abed Gheith as Tyler 1 episode Dana Snyder as Rotten the Snowman (voice) 1 episode Conner O'Malley as Silly Samuel (voice) 1 episode Creed Bratton as Mr. Frog's Father 1 episode Rodrigo Huerta as Fireman (voice) 1 episode Bob McLean as Old Man 1 episode Todor Manojlovic as (voice) 1 episode Jim Norton as Moth Man (voice) 1 episode Dave Willis as Blart / Grand Strategy IV Player (voice) 1 episode Bill Butts as Mr. Ice Cream (voice) 1 episode Brian O'Halloran as Brian O'Halloran 1 episode Qurban Ali as Bob 1 episode John DiMaggio as Uncle Bilbert (voice) 1 episode
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Smiling Friends overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

adult animation workplace comedy absurdism small business smile small business owner happiness surreal
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
April 01, 2020
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
462