An animated series with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score is set to come to an end despite creators confirming two new seasons - which has left fans devastated.
Smiling Friends, created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, hit our screens on Carton Network's channel Adult Swim in 2022.
'In a colorful yet bizarre world, the employees at a small firm dedicated to making its customers smile discover that their jobs are rarely as simple as they seem,' IMDB's synopsis reads.
It has become a huge hit and has even got 93% on review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Over the past six years, 25 episodes have aired across three seasons, and the third premiered in October last year.
When the third series aired at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France last year it was confirmed that not one, but TWO more seasons would follow.
But fans were left heartbroken when they found out that they would no longer be going ahead when they posted a six minute audio clip to Adult Swim's X account on Thursday.
Smiling Friends is set to come to an end despite creators confirming two new seasons - which has left fans devastated
Zach said: 'This is not a joke, Michael and I are here to announce that Smiling Friends will be ending after season three is done.'
Michael added: 'I know that's super disappointing to hear.'
Zach confessed: 'I know people's first question might be why? What's the reason?'
'To be perfectly honest,' Michael chimed in. 'After we finished season three Zach and I both had the same feeling where we felt pretty burnt out putting years and years into this.
'But also, pretty accomplished. We just came to this feeling; we were like that could just be it.
'After season three, yeah, we both felt like it was right.'
Zach then said: 'From the very, very beginning of the show, we always said, "Oh, man, how great would it be to try to make the show as good as it could be, put 110 per cent into it, and then go out what feels like on top, what feels like leave them wanting more"', rather than "That show is still on the air, oh God!"'
They both confessed that they thought that it was a 'good spot to end it' and didn't want to give fans 'slop'.
The pair explained that Adult Swim supported their decision and also teased a return in the future.
'When we told this, they said if you are not feeling making a cartoon we are not going to stop you. Go and have a break, either come back or don't.
'That's the other thing, we could come back in the future, if we want,' they explained.
Zach told fans that if they came back to do a special or more episodes that they would have to be 'done right'.
Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share how upset they were over the news that it would not be returning
Despite Smiling Friends ending, Zach and Michael plan on working together in the future and ended up a positive note by confirmed two extra episodes of Smiling Friends landing on the channel in April.
Many rushed to the tweet and replied in the comments section with their heartbreak.
'Damn this is really sad especially after season 4 and 5 were already announced and has much as I really want more, I'm happy to see the show go out on top because pretty much every other adult cartoon still running should have ended 10-20 years ago.'
'i just fell to my knees in Walmart.'
'I CANT HAVE ST.'
'There's no way this is real. '
'At least we're getting two more episodes. Hoping they give it a proper send-off.'
'You have to be joking man... working 24/7 nonstop on a 10 minute show that only had like 8 episode a season.. and you were only going to do 5 seasons anyways??? This isn't like The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers or Family guy with 100 seasons nobody would be tired of this show...'
'I'm devasted.'
'So wait what about this?'
'It's only been 3 seasons and 8 episodes each and the episodes weren't super long. Mannnnn life sucks right now.'
'This could be the setup to an amazing April fools joke or just my heart being in extreme denial.'
'Honestly can't tell if this is for real or an elaborate bit.'
'I respect the honesty thank you for the laughs Michael and Zach.'
'I understand what they're saying but i wish they at least made season 4 and 5 since they already announced it.'