'Smiling Friends' Creators Launch Zam Studios in Los Angeles to "Recapture th...

The creative minds behind the surreal and wildly popular Adult Swim series 'Smiling Friends' are branching out on their own. Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, along with producer Aron Fromm, have officially launched Zam Studios, a new independent animation house based in Los Angeles. The announcement, which came on October 3, 2025, positions the new company as a creator-driven force aiming to produce high-quality animation while also offering a suite of services to the broader industry. Zam Studios will handle animation, VFX, production, and post-production for television, film, and commercial projects, in addition to developing its own original content. The new venture is already deeply involved in its flagship series, with Zam Studios handling all specialty and mixed-media animation, live-action, compositing, and VFX for the third season of 'Smiling Friends', which is set to premiere on October 5, 2025.

In a joint statement, Cusack, Hadel, and Fromm articulated a clear vision for their new enterprise, emphasizing a return to fundamentals. "Zam will focus on what matters most in animation – high-quality work made by people who understand the process, are obsessed with craft and have a knack for producing cartoons that recapture the magic of years past," the trio said. This sentiment is echoed more pointedly on the studio's official website, which offers a critique of the current animation landscape. "Animation really was better back in the day," the site states, arguing that modern productions often feel "stiff and sterile" due to being "decentralized and bureaucratized." Zam Studios' stated mission is to counteract this trend, positioning itself as a solution to an industry they see as "overrun with waste, bloat and derivative work." This move represents a significant step for Cusack and Hadel, who transitioned from independent online animators to creators of one of Adult Swim's biggest modern hits.

The launch arrives at a pivotal moment for the animation industry. While 2025 has seen major studios facing challenges, including layoffs and a shift toward outsourcing, there is a concurrent boom in independent animation. Creator-led projects, often born on internet platforms, have demonstrated immense commercial and critical success, fostering a "golden age" for indie creators. Zam Studios, founded by artists who built their careers on platforms like YouTube and Newgrounds, embodies this trend. By establishing their own studio, the 'Smiling Friends' team is leveraging their proven success to gain greater creative and financial control, creating a new hub for talent that shares their passion for bold, artist-driven animation in the heart of the American entertainment industry.

• The Founding Trio and Their Track Record: The studio is led by three key figures from the 'Smiling Friends' team. Michael Cusack is an Australian animator known for creating the Adult Swim series 'YOLO: Crystal Fantasy' and for his prolific work on YouTube. Zach Hadel, known online as psychicpebbles, is a co-creator of 'Smiling Friends' and the popular web series 'Hellbenders', with a long history of creating content on Newgrounds and YouTube. Producer Aron Fromm has an extensive resume that includes work on 'Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus' and serving as a producer and editor on 'Smiling Friends'.
• The 'Smiling Friends' Phenomenon: The success of 'Smiling Friends' is the bedrock of this new venture. The series, which follows the surreal misadventures of employees at a small company dedicated to making people smile, premiered its pilot on April 1, 2020, and quickly became a viral sensation. It has been praised for its unique blend of black comedy, absurdism, and its signature mix of animation styles, including 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and live-action. The show's popularity on Adult Swim and streaming services like Max cemented its status as a major hit, earning it multiple season renewals and providing its creators with the industry clout to launch their own studio.
• A Mission to Fix Modern Animation: Zam Studios' mission goes beyond just creating new content; it's a direct response to what its founders see as the failings of the modern animation pipeline. Their public statements criticize the "bureaucratized" and "decentralized" nature of many current productions, which they believe stifles creative vision. By centralizing their operations and focusing on "bold, high-quality animation," Cusack, Hadel, and Fromm aim to create a studio that prioritizes craft and recaptures the perceived magic of older cartoons.
• The Independent Animation Landscape in 2025: Zam Studios enters an industry in flux. While large, established studios have faced layoffs and are increasingly outsourcing work, the independent scene is thriving. This has been called a potential "golden age" for indie animation, as many artists and creators are choosing to build their own brands and studios to retain creative control. Zam's launch is a prime example of successful creators capitalizing on this trend, moving away from reliance on large corporate structures.
• A Hybrid Studio Model: The studio is not solely focused on its own internal projects. By offering client services for television, features, and commercials, Zam is building a diversified business model. This hybrid approach allows the studio to maintain a stable operational base and work with a wide range of talent and projects while simultaneously developing its own original intellectual property, following a pattern of successful independent creative houses.
• Immediate Projects and Future Outlook: The studio's first official credit will be its extensive work on the third season of 'Smiling Friends', showcasing its capabilities in mixed-media animation and VFX right out of the gate. Beyond that, the team has already produced a number of 'Smiling Friends' shorts and bumpers for Adult Swim. While no new original series have been announced yet, the founders' history of generating prolific, unconventional ideas suggests a pipeline of unique projects is likely in development.
• From Online Creators to Studio Heads: The journey of Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel is emblematic of a new path to success in animation. Both started by creating and sharing their work on internet platforms, building audiences directly. Their collaboration was born online, and their process remains rooted in a hands-on, improvisational style. Their transition from independent YouTubers to the heads of a Los Angeles studio highlights how the internet has democratized animation and created a new generation of showrunners.