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]
The series follows the adventures of friends Rachel and Sarah as they travel through Australia.
Voice cast
Main
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
Michael Cusack as Sarah Dale's Daughter / Sarah Dale's Parents / Sarah Dale's Grandmother
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12
4
"Chaise in the City"
Michael Cusack
Michael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, Michelle Blasier, & Jillian Bass
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.
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.
14
6
"The Parents Episode"
Michael Cusack
Michael Cusack, Anca Vlasan, Michelle Braiser, & Todor Manojlovic
February 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.
Sarah and Rachel set off in pursuit of their destinies as a gardener and a dark empress.
Release
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.