Adult Swim made one of the biggest animation announcements at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, unveiling an expanded lineup that includes a brand-new series from acclaimed creator Genndy Tartakovsky, two special editions of Robot Chicken, a documentary celebrating Cartoon Network’s history, and updates on several upcoming originals.
The studio’s presentation reinforced its commitment to creator-driven animation while highlighting both new projects and beloved franchises. Among the biggest reveals was Heist Brothers, an animated action comedy that has officially received a full-season order after first being pitched live during Adult Swim’s 2024 Studio Focus Panel. The event also featured the world premiere of President Curtis, a first look at My Two Cars, and an early preview of Common Side Effects Season 2.
Speaking about the network’s creative philosophy, Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen emphasized the importance of supporting ambitious creators and continuing the network’s 25-year legacy of original storytelling.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Heist Brothers Officially Gets a Series Order
The headline announcement from Adult Swim’s Annecy presentation was the official greenlight for Heist Brothers, the latest animated project from Emmy Award-winning creator Genndy Tartakovsky.
Known for acclaimed series including Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, Tartakovsky first introduced the project during Adult Swim’s Studio Focus Panel in 2024. At the time, audiences watched him pitch the series live on stage directly to Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen.
Originally announced as Heist_Safari during Annecy 2025 as a project in development, the series has now evolved into Heist Brothers and secured a full-season order.
Currently being produced at Cartoon Network Studios, the series will consist of ten quarter-hour episodes.
Adult Swim’s official synopsis describes the story simply:
“Heist Brothers tells the story of three Frog brothers robbing a bank. Seems simple enough, but the execution is special as !#&$??!!!!”
While the network intentionally kept many plot details under wraps, the announcement suggests viewers can expect Tartakovsky’s signature blend of inventive action, stylized animation, and unpredictable storytelling.
Michael Ouweleen reflected on the announcement by saying:
“Annecy is always a great reminder of what happens when you give talented people the space to take big risks.”
He added that Adult Swim remains committed to giving creators the freedom to develop surprising and original projects, citing collaborations with Genndy Tartakovsky, Joe Pera, Dan Licata, and the team behind Common Side Effects.
Robot Chicken Returns With Adult Swim and Cartoon Network Anniversary Specials
Adult Swim also confirmed that its long-running Emmy-winning stop-motion comedy Robot Chicken will return with two new television specials.
The first, titled Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special, premieres on August 30 on Adult Swim before arriving on HBO Max the following day.
The special celebrates Adult Swim’s 25th anniversary by parodying many of the network’s most recognizable shows and characters. According to the official synopsis, countless Adult Swim icons gather aboard a cruise ship to celebrate the network’s legacy before the festivities descend into disaster.
Characters from series including Smiling Friends, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Metalocalypse, Assy McGee, The Venture Bros., and many others will appear as the celebration turns into a catastrophe worthy of Robot Chicken’s trademark comedic style.
Adult Swim also announced a second Robot Chicken special currently in production that will celebrate Cartoon Network’s 35th anniversary. That special is scheduled to premiere in 2027.
Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, Robot Chicken has remained one of Adult Swim’s longest-running hits, earning 23 Emmy nominations and six Emmy wins throughout its run, including Outstanding Short Form Animated Program in 2022.
Cartoon Network’s 35th Anniversary Documentary Announced
Another major announcement was a new five-part documentary series celebrating Cartoon Network’s upcoming 35th anniversary in 2027.
Rather than simply revisiting classic cartoons, the documentary will explore how Cartoon Network evolved from a library of classic animation into one of television’s most influential creator-driven brands.
The series will feature archival footage alongside newly recorded interviews with artists, producers, animators, and executives who helped shape the network across multiple generations.
According to Adult Swim, the documentary will examine both Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, where many iconic shows were created, and the Atlanta-based teams responsible for developing the network’s distinctive identity and irreverent brand voice.
The project aims to showcase the people and creative vision that transformed Cartoon Network into a defining part of modern animation.
President Curtis, Common Side Effects, and My Two Cars Receive Major Updates
Adult Swim also used Annecy to spotlight several upcoming original productions.
One of the biggest updates centered on President Curtis, the new animated series set within the Rick and Morty universe.
The network confirmed that the show will premiere on July 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim, with streaming availability arriving on HBO Max the following day.
The series stars Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David as President Andre Curtis, alongside Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash. Rather than following Rick Sanchez, the show focuses on President Curtis and his unconventional staff as they tackle interdimensional diplomacy, paranormal investigations, and bizarre global threats that Rick has little interest in solving.
Annecy attendees also received an exclusive work-in-progress preview of Season 2 of Common Side Effects. The presentation featured co-creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely, supervising director Benjy Brooke, and director Camille Bozec, offering fans an early glimpse at the award-winning animated series’ next chapter.
Meanwhile, Adult Swim showcased the pilot episode of My Two Cars during a special first-look screening. Co-creators Joe Pera and Dan Licata joined supervising director Joe Bennett, director Chase Trotto, and Adult Swim Head of Development Cameron Tang to present the project before revealing the show’s opening credits. The series is currently in production.
