Adult Swim Marks 25 Years With Star-Studded 'Robot Chicken' Special

Adult Swim, the late-night adult animation block that grew out of Cartoon Network's Atlanta headquarters, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new "Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special," which premiered this week. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, the 22-minute special was pitched five years ago as a kind of "Secret Wars" crossover for the network, bringing together characters from across its history. The plot centers on a courtroom trial over a fictional cruise ship disaster, eventually pinning blame on artificial intelligence. Characters from "Rick and Morty," "Smiling Friends," "Common Side Effects," "The Venture Bros." and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" all make appearances, alongside deeper cuts like "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," "Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil," "Loiter Squad" and "Three Busy Debras." Licensing issues kept "The Boondocks" and "Family Guy" out despite their history with the block. Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen said the brand's identity comes from treating its audience as creative equals rather than talking down to them. Despite cable's broader decline, the network continues to release roughly eight to 10 original series a year, with "Rick and Morty" remaining its flagship hit. Green noted that scheduling voice actors for the special was largely painless thanks to Adult Swim's long-standing relationships with its creative community.