YOLO is an adult animated television series created by Michael Cusack for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim, and streaming in Australia on Stan as an exclusive.[1] The series is loosely adaptated from Cusack's web series of the same name. The first season, entitled YOLO: Crystal Fantasy premiered on August 10, 2020; the pilot was aired on April 1, 2020 as a part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' Day event alongside another project of Cusack's, Smiling Friends.[2][3] A second season titled YOLO: Silver Destiny was slated to air on January 16, 2023 on Adult Swim but was delayed to January 23, 2023.[4][5][6][7] On October 12, 2023, it was announced that the series was renewed for a third season titled YOLO: Rainbow Trinity.[8]

YOLO
Title card for season 1
Also known as
  • YOLO: Crystal Fantasy (season 1)
  • YOLO: Silver Destiny (season 2)
  • YOLO: Rainbow Trinity (season 3)
GenreComedy
Surreal humor
Created byMichael Cusack
Directed byMichael Cusack
Starring
  • Sarah Bishop
  • Todor Manojlovic
  • Michael Cusack
Composers
  • Brendan Caulfield (season 1)
  • Todor Manojlovic (season 2-present)
Country of originAustralia
United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
  • Michael Cusack
  • Greta Lee Jackson (season 1)
  • Mike Cowap (season 2-present)
  • Emma Fitzsimons
  • Keith Crofford (season 1)
  • Ollie Green (season 2)
  • Walter Newman (season 1-2)
Producers
  • Mike Cowap (season 1)
  • Ollie Green (season 1)
  • Laura DiMaio (season 2-present)
Running time11 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseAugust 10, 2020 (2020-08-10) –
present

The series follows the adventures of friends Rachel and Sarah as they travel through Australia.

Voice cast

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Main

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  • Sarah Bishop as Sarah Dale
  • Todor Manojlovic as Rachel / additional voices
  • Michael Cusack as Sarah Dale (2 Pilot Episodes Released on YouTube in 2012 and 2014) / Lucas the Magnificent / additional voices

Guest

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  • Michael Cusack as Sarah Dale's Daughter / Sarah Dale's Parents / Sarah Dale's Grandmother
  • Michelle Brasier as Miki
  • Jarrad Wright as Pink Wizard
  • Naomi Higgins as Maddison
  • Greta Lee Jackson as Donna
  • Flying Lotus as himself

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonTitleEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1Crystal Fantasy8August 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)August 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)
2Silver Destiny8January 23, 2023 (2023-01-23)March 6, 2023 (2023-03-06)
3Rainbow Trinity8TBA

Season 1: Crystal Fantasy (2020)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [9]US viewers
(millions)
11"Maddison's Birthday Party"Michael CusackMichael CusackAugust 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)[a]0.51[10]
Rachel gets an invite to Maddison's birthday party, and brings along Sarah as her "plus-one." Rachel climbs a tower to get a selfie with Maddison, while Sarah is banished to the Plus-One Mines.
22"The Dusty Truck 'n' Donut Muster"Michael CusackMichael CusackAugust 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)0.45[10]
Rachel and Sarah head to the "Dusty Truck 'n' Donut Muster" in Goondiwindi, but Rachel is unaware she's walking into a trap. Meanwhile, Sarah forgot to buy a ticket and follows a shaman around the area to get in.
33"A Very Extremely Very Yolo Christmas: Reloaded"Michael CusackMichael CusackAugust 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)0.48[11]
Sarah and Rachel go on a Christmas cruise organized by Sarah's nan. Shortly after arriving, Sarah's nan self-destructs and the cruise ship is bitten in half by a large crocodile. After washing ashore at The Beach, Sarah and Rachel try to find the crocodile that sunk them for different reasons. Flying Lotus appears as himself in this episode.
44"The Terry Cup"Michael CusackMichelle Brasier & Michael CusackAugust 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)0.41[11]
Sarah and Rachel go to the Terry Cup, a dance competition where dancers try to please a giant floating head named Terry. Rachel quickly gambles herself into 8 Million "Terry credits" of debt, while Sarah gets jealous at her ex-boyfriend's new fling: a garbage bin.
55"Bush Doof"Michael CusackMichael Cusack & Nina OyamaAugust 24, 2020 (2020-08-24)0.44[12]
Rachel steers Sarah's car off a cliff after hearing about the nearby Bush Doof. Soon, the party escalates into a war between two Bush Wizards.
66"Planet Horoscope"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Greta Lee Jackson & Lena MoonAugust 24, 2020 (2020-08-24)0.35[12]
Sarah decides to take a solo vacation to Planet Bali, but falls through a wormhole and crash-lands on Planet Horoscope, where she meets her star-sign Capricorn. Meanwhile, Rachel tries to follow her in a rocket built and captained by Lucas.
77"Enter Bushworld Part One"Michael CusackMichael Cusack & Anca VlasanAugust 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)0.52[13]
A drunken Rachel tries to pee on a crystal tree and falls into another dimension where a Ute Party is happening. Meanwhile, years pass on Earth as Sarah gives up Rachel for dead, gets married, and has a daughter.
88"Enter Bushworld Part Two"Michael CusackMichael Cusack & Anca VlasanAugust 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)0.47[13]
Sarah becomes a widow, but finds her new passion in pottery. Rachel continues wandering through the other dimension, looking for a party, and later has an epiphany after speaking with An Elderly and Frail Sarah while sinking in quicksand.

Season 2: Silver Destiny (2023)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [14]US viewers
(millions)
91"Sausage Sizzle"Michael CusackMichael Cusack & Anca VlasanJanuary 23, 2023 (2023-01-23)0.17[15]
After a wild night of partying, Sarah and Rachel stumble into a spiritual commune for a free sausage sizzle and encounter the Purple Fire God, who tells them their destiny.
102"Planet Bali"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan & Greta Lee JacksonJanuary 23, 2023 (2023-01-23)0.15[15]
Sarah, Rachel and Lucas head to Planet Bali for Sarah's sister's wedding and are surprised to discover the identity of the groom; while waiting on the beach to guard Rachel's sword, Lucas encounters a mermaid who sets him on a new quest.
113"High School Reunion"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, & Greta Lee JacksonJanuary 30, 2023 (2023-01-30)0.19[16]
Sarah throws a Wollongong High School reunion to show off her blossoming new garden, but the success of her old school mates only deepens her crisis of self-worth; Lucas must face a mysterious muscled bat boy to compete for Sarah's attention.
124"Chaise in the City"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, Michelle Blasier, & Jillian BassFebruary 6, 2023 (2023-02-06)0.12[17]
The girls watch an art house flick starring a hot young actor; this leads to a wild romantic dream for Sarah; Rachel is determined to sabotage Sarah's dream.
135"Jamberoo"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, & Nina OyamaFebruary 13, 2023 (2023-02-13)0.20[18]
The gang travel 300 million years back in time using Lucas's time machine, where Sarah tries to rescue the Australian megafauna from a comet using skills she's learnt from a self-help guide; Rachel finds a special connection with a rugged Mega-Bilb.
146"The Parents Episode"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, Michelle Braiser, & Todor ManojlovicFebruary 20, 2023 (2023-02-20)N/A
On a quest for a tale of familial lore, Lucas seeks out the story of how Sarah's parents met; he hears a ripping yarn of fair maidens and reckless bravery set in Ye Olde Wollongong, where Dad needs to save Mum from an arranged marriage to a boulder.
157"Journey to the Chasm of the Bees"Michael CusackMichael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, & Nina OyamaFebruary 27, 2023 (2023-02-27)0.18[20]
Sarah is kidnapped by bees whilst tending to her flowering garden and taken to their honey castle, where she becomes their empress.[19]
168"This is LITERALLY the Finale"Michael CusackMichael Cusack & Anca VlasanMarch 6, 2023 (2023-03-06)0.16[21]
Sarah and Rachel set off in pursuit of their destinies as a gardener and a dark empress.

Release

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The series premiered on Adult Swim in the United States on August 10, 2020. It later was acquired by Australian streaming service Stan as a "Stan Exclusive"[22] In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on E4 on September 10.

References

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  1. ^ "Michael Cusack's animated series Koala Man is now streaming on Disney+".
  2. ^ Joe Otterson (March 30, 2020). "Adult Swim Orders 'YOLO: Crystal Fantasy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (March 30, 2020). "Adult Swim Charges Up 'YOLO: Crystal Fantasy' from Michael Cusack". Animation Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (September 27, 2022). "Adult Swim's Down Under Party Girls Return in 'YOLO: Silver Destiny'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Princess Pictures Acquires Irish Animation Studio Boulder Media". Animation Magazine. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Valdez, Nick (September 27, 2022). "YOLO: Crystal Fantasy Season 2 Announced With New Title". Comicbook.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (December 8, 2022). "Trailer: Adult Swim Offers First Look at 'YOLO: Silver Destiny'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (October 12, 2023). "NYCC: Adult Swim Greenlights Spanish-Language 'Women Wearing Shoulder Pads,' Re-Ups 'YOLO'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "YOLO: Crystal Fantasy – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.9.2020". Showbuzz Daily. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.16.2020". Showbuzz Daily. August 18, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.23.2020". Showbuzz Daily. August 25, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.30.2020". Showbuzz Daily. September 1, 2020. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "YOLO: Silver Destiny – Episode Guide". zap2it. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 24, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 1.22.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  16. ^ Salem, Mitch (January 31, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 1.29.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  17. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 7, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 2.5.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  18. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 14, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 2.12.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "YOLO: Silver Destiny (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  20. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 1, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 2.26.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 7, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 3.5.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  22. ^ "Watch YOLO Season 1: Crystal Fantasy Online | Stream TV Shows | Stan".

Notes

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  1. ^ This episode had an advanced stealth premiere on April 1, 2020 as part of Adult Swim’s annual April Fools' stunt.
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