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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Everything is all fun and games with Smiling Friends until a representative of Death comes to play. Smiling Friends‘s third episode of its first season is titled, “A Silly Halloween Special”. It is written and directed by series co-creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel.
In this review, I will be discussing Smiling Friends Season 1 Episode 3. There will be no spoilers here, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any possible revelations.
Plot Synopsis
According to the Adult Swim press site, here is the logline of Smiling Friends Season 1 Episode 3, “A Silly Halloween Special”.
Pim gets an upset stomach.
Adult Swim
The Cast of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends
As usual, Zach Hadel voices Charlie and Glep, while Michael Cusack voices Pim and Alan. Marc M. voices the Boss of the Smiling Friends.
Clyde Boraine and Jim Knobeloch make on-camera appearances, while David Dore and Monica Franco have guest roles in the episode.
The Crew
Michael Dockery serves as the storyboard supervisor, with Jason Kruse joining him on the storyboards. Cusack, Hadel, and Alice Wang work on storyboard revisions. Hans Van Harken serves as the staff writer of the series.
Brendan Caulfield works on the music of the Adult Swim series, with Todor Manojlovic and Chris O’Neill working on additional music. Manojlovic also works on the dialogue record and edits. Meanwhile, Keith Thomas designs and mixes the episode’s sound.
Scott Henry and Lukas Xuereb are the editors of the episode, with Tristan Mulcahy as the edit assistant. Phil Jennings is its sole compositor, with Cusack and Hadel as the art directors. Robert Fino serves as the design supervisor. Sally McAteer serves as the character design lead, Scott Baxter as the prop design lead, and Rick Sweden as the background design lead.
Cody Dematteis, Chiyoung Lee, Chadwick Parks, Jocelyn Shelton, and Zach White are the Williams Street production staff of the show.
Jesse Maskell returns as the cinematographer from the first episode of Smiling Friends, while Georgia Kriss returns as the animation lead. Nick Cross and Daniel Peacock serve as the episode’s concept artists, while Glen Hunwick joins as the stop-motion artist.
Designers and Animators
Alice Wang joins Greg Bartlett, Ethan Basset, Sandra Chiang, Cusack, Dockery, Catriona Drummond, Hadel, Paula Hatton, Sam Knight, Sylvie Le Couteur, Dylan Rattenbury, and Nick Simpson are the designers of the episode.
Mark Sheard joins Charlotte Bird-Weber, Scott Collopy, Cusack, Jack Grayson, Hadel, Michael Harris, David Hootselle, Zoe Johnson, Kathy Sarpi, Laura Stitzel, Marta Tesoro, and Jasmine Veljanovski as the animators of the episode.
Discussion
“A Silly Halloween Special” is the episode that I was waiting for other audiences at home to see. I was lucky enough to see this episode about a month ago. The “silly” adjective of the episode title can be a little misleading once you learn how the narrative ends. Simply put, it begins silly, yes. However, the main middle part of the episode gets dark and goes so far as to put the viewer in an Evil Dead-like scenario. It’s creative, well-thought, and yet, terrifying… Then, while you are in some state of revulsion — which is unprecedented in the episodes that come before it — the story pushes you back into “silly”. That combination then leaves you disturbed.
While Dockery, Kruse, Cusack, Hadel, Wang, and van Harken put the story together, I have to give huge props to Hunwick’s stop-motion artistry to a certain aspect of the episode. It’s what really drives the plot forward and keeps it on its toes.
The entire animation team is to be commended for how the end product is presented. From the beginning to the end, something present is revolting. From the appearance of The Boss as a Peanuts character to the death of a certain character to the “silly” twist of reality.
Additionally, this episode of Smiling Friends further defines what gives Adult Swim its essence.
Performances and Character Developments
The episode focuses primarily on Cusack’s character, Pim. His sanity is challenged when The Boss sends him out across the street to gather some wood for a fire. Cusack puts his all into this character, which I’m proud to call my favorite of the company.
Also, The Boss continues to be as creepy as ever… This time, he’s more terrifying due to the Halloween backdrop.
Final Thoughts
This episode of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends is what Cusack and Hadel have been teasing for a little while. Although, the craziness does not stop there. The co-creators said that the series only gets better in the season’s latter half.
Overall, “A Silly Halloween Special” is both a trick and a treat. It’s unfortunate that this specific episode releases in January, thus the appeal to kairos can be rather weak. In spite of that, this might be my favorite episode so far. I have no doubt that the series will top this in later episodes, but who knows for sure?
Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel’s animated comedy series Smiling Friends is now available to watch on Adult Swim!
Also, read our interview with the series co-creators of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends!
Have you seen this television series? If so, what are your thoughts? Let us know! For more animation and comedy-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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