The animated series Smiling Friends is set in a bizarre and flexible version of the United States, deliberately designed to serve the show’s comedy. While clues point to a location in Pennsylvania, the creators have intentionally built a world where geography and cityscapes can change to fit the joke of any given episode.
The show follows the employees of Smiling Friends Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to making people happy. The main characters, including the cheerful pink Pim Pimling and the more cynical yellow Charlie Dompler, work out of a distinctive round headquarters that looks like a smiling face. This building is central to the show’s many misadventures.
The Official Word On The Setting
According to the show’s creators, Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, the setting is meant to be a universal American cartoon city. They have kept details a mystery to maintain creative freedom, allowing the show’s environment to feel surreal and flexible. This approach makes the location resonate with viewers across the country rather than being tied to one specific real place.
The design ensures that the city can transform as needed for the story, making the world of Smiling Friends as unpredictable and absurd as the situations its characters find themselves in.
Clues And Fan Theories Point To Pennsylvania
Despite the intentional vagueness, the series drops several hints that have led fans to believe the primary setting is in Pennsylvania, possibly near Philadelphia.
Architectural and environmental hints: The show’s background art often features a skyline with older buildings and a mix of industrial and commercial structures that feel reminiscent of an East Coast city like Philadelphia. The art has evolved to include more detailed backgrounds, further suggesting a dense, urban environment.
Political and cultural context: In the episode “Mr. President,” one of the characters uses the word “jagoff,” which is slang strongly associated with Pittsburgh and parts of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, a fan theory noted that the character Glep was an electoral college vote for Pennsylvania, a role that requires state residency.
Logical proximity: In one story, the characters take a helicopter to the White House in Washington, D.C. This implies they do not live in the capital but are located close enough for a short helicopter flight, making a state like Pennsylvania a plausible location.
A World Designed For Chaos And Comedy
The setting of Smiling Friends is not just a backdrop but an active ingredient in the show’s humor. The series is known for its wild and often violent misadventures, and its flexible setting allows for maximum comedic effect.
The Smiling Friends headquarters: The company’s main office is a character in itself. The building was constructed illegally by its owner, Mr. Boss, with cheap labor from the Enchanted Forest. A major plot point in a season three episode reveals that the entire structure is held to the ground by a single, loose nail. When this nail is knocked over, the building detaches and rolls uncontrollably through the city like a giant ball, causing chaos.
A mix of locations: While the city seems like a standard urban area, the characters frequently venture into other bizarre locations. Episodes have taken them to an Enchanted Forest, Hell, and even a low-poly video game world. This variety keeps the setting fresh and unpredictable.
Inconsistent geography: The show intentionally features inconsistencies. Some scenes show an urban environment with an older architectural style, while others include palm trees, which are typically found on the West Coast. This blending of elements reinforces the idea that the show exists in its own unique reality.
More Than Just A Location
The setting of Smiling Friends perfectly complements the show’s other unique qualities, such as its mix of animation styles and its realistic, conversational dialogue. By creating a world that is both familiar and completely unhinged, the show provides the perfect playground for its characters’ quest to bring happiness to their deeply troubled clients.
The surreal and shifting city allows for a endless stream of gags and stories, proving that in the world of Smiling Friends, the location is whatever it needs to be for a good joke.
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