Annecy: Adult Swim Preview Their Upcoming Slate

 Adult Swim are regulars at the Annecy Festival, and they returned to France this year to tease their upcoming slate. “Annecy, with its unique and global mix of industry professionals and passionate fans, is the perfect place for us to share what we are up to and most excited about,” said Michael Ouweleen, president, Adult Swim. “We’re not just announcing new series, but also new ways of creating - from Adult Swim SMALLS to a special done in an unconventional way - all that hopefully help push the boundaries of animation. As always, we will be creator-driven and chance-taking until such time someone puts us in handcuffs. Literal ones.”

The network unveiled the groundbreaking special The Elephant. The project brings together Cartoon Network legends Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe), Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O.!), Patrick McHale (Over The Garden Wall) and Pendelton Ward (Adventure Time).  The special is to be created in three acts, with each created by one team or individual with no knowledge of what the others are creating. Sugar and Jones-Quartey are working as a duo and McHale and Ward are working alone. The Elephant is guided by "game masters"  Jack Pendarvis and Kent Osborne for "a storytelling experiment that unfolds as a collaborative surprise, ultimately merging into a single, unexpected narrative."

The special will be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary. The Elephant will be broadcast in 2026, and is produced by Titmouse.

Also announced was new adult comedy Keeping Up With The Joneses. Created by Hugh Davidson, Rachel Ramras, and Larry Dorf, the series follows the Newberry family as they try to keep up with their ultra-rich neighbours, including Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The series is produced by Warner Bros Animation.

Now in development is Heist Safari, the newest series from creator and director (and all-round animation legend) Genndy Tartakovsky. The series was pitched live on stage to Ouweleen during the Studio Focus at the 2024 Annecy Festival. It follows a trio of frog brothers robbing a bank, and is described as a "high-octane action comedy".

Also announced was a two-season renewal of the hit series Smiling Friends and a two-season renewal of the hit anime series Ninja Kamui. The latter was a big hit following its debut on the Toonami block, going on to win Best Original Anime at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

The new series Ninja Kamui Season Two: Red Vendetta follows Higan as he uncovers a new conspiracy. Ninja Kamui is made by Sola Digital Arts for Adult Swim.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

[source]