Pibby and Friends: Apocalypse, also known as Learning with Pibby, has yet to be picked up by Adult Swim and likely never will.
On Instagram, Pibby creator Dodge Greenley made the announcement. "I have sad news to share," Greenley said. "I’m sorry to say that Pibby has still not been greenlit, and it doesn’t look like it will happen in the near future. Making a show is a long, difficult process, and you can never say never, but for now, it looks like Pibby most likely won't become a show. I’m sorry to all the fans. Thank you for all your support."
On Oct. 30, 2021, Adult Swim uploaded the proof-of-concept video for Pibby and Friends: Apocalypse. The video begins as a typical preschool cartoon until a mysterious entity known as the Glitch starts corrupting Pibby's happy-go-lucky world before moving on to some notable animated series from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. The vibe of the Adult Swim pilot was reminiscent of the creepy concept art of Epic Mickey before it became an official video game. By the end of the trailer, a battle-ready Pibby is seen fighting back against the Glitch with his new friends.
Although Greenley didn't say why Adult Swim didn't pick up Pibby, some have suggested the pilot's use of characters from the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim library may have stood in its way. In recent years, Adult Swim has pivoted away from using Hanna-Barbera characters -- memorable or forgotten -- for mockery for its programming. A noticeable example of this was the 2021 Birdgirl spinoff using original characters to flesh out its cast, instead of using the Hanna-Barbera characters that Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law used. Scoob! and the animated Max series Jellystone! show that Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Discovery want to use their classic characters in a more sincere way.
Adult Swim has changed in a lot of significant ways since its 2001 launch. The older-skewing comedy block now airs earlier in the day, taking up most of Cartoon Network's airtime. The early hours are dedicated to airing old but kid-friendly shows like Dexter's Laboratory or Ed, Edd n Eddy on a nostalgia block called Checkered Past, while the typical adult-like Rick and Morty air during their regular late-night hours. Shows like My Adventures with Superman also bridge the gap between the network's younger and older audiences.
Source: Instagram