Age of The Nerd
Adult Swim is gearing up for a major return to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2025, bringing fans a treasure trove of live events, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. Anchoring the festivities is an outdoor fan activation dubbed the “Pirate Purrrty on the Green”—a feline-forward twist on last year’s pirate-themed installation outside the San Diego Convention Center.
“Continuing our long tradition of being on the green at SDCC, last year we introduced a pirate ship motif because we’ve always viewed ourselves as media pirates,” said Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen. “We’ve also always used cats in our iconography… so this year, it’s cats and pirates. Expect owls next year.”
Outdoor Fan Activation: Pirate Purrrty on the Green
Open Thursday through Saturday (1–7 p.m.), the activation promises an all-out sensory experience for fans—no badge required. Located at 5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way, this year’s themed event includes photo ops, giveaways, and live entertainment. Highlights include:
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“SMILING FRIENDS” Break Room: A life-sized recreation of the series’ quirky break room complete with exclusive merch.
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“Rick and Morty” Buttworld Bounce House: Step inside the infamous dimension, now inflatable.
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Adopt-a-Cuy Station: Inspired by the upcoming series Women Wearing Shoulder Pads, fans can take home their own plush cuy.
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“Common Side Effects” Mushroom Hunt: A scavenger hunt for fans to collect exclusive plushies.
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Games, Photo Ops, and Nightly DJ Sets: The party goes on with interactive elements and live music each evening.
The Pirate Purrrty also features the DIRECTV Face Painting Zone, where guests can select custom face paint inspired by Adult Swim hits. DIRECTV will also sponsor giveaways during Saturday night’s screening event.
As an added bonus, the first 750 fans to arrive each day at 1 p.m. will receive an exclusive SMILING FRIENDS vinyl figure.
Special Evening Events at the Purrrty
Each night brings a new can’t-miss event to the green space:
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Thursday (July 24, 7:15 p.m.) – “Robot Chicken” – A Celebration 20 Years in the Making: Creators Matt Senreich and Seth Green look back at two decades of stop-motion hilarity.
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Friday (July 25, 7:15 p.m.) – Adult Swim Presents: Live Table Reads: Casts from Rick and Morty and SMILING FRIENDS read scenes live, delivering chaos and laughs.
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Saturday (July 26, 7:15 p.m.) – Adult Swim’s Night of New: An outdoor screening debuting fresh, unaired content from across the Adult Swim slate, including a preview of the Rick and Morty Season 8 finale and new series like Haha, You Clowns and Women Wearing Shoulder Pads.
SDCC Panel Lineup at Hilton Bayfront
Inside the convention center, Adult Swim is hosting three high-profile panels at the Hilton Bayfront’s Indigo Ballroom on Friday, July 25:
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12 p.m. – “Haha, You Clowns” Series Premiere Preview
Creator Joe Cappa joins EP Carl Faruolo and Adult Swim’s VP of Development Cameron Tang to debut the emotional new series and talk about its heartfelt roots. -
1 p.m. – “Rick and Morty” Season 8 Panel
After a two-year absence from SDCC, the hit series is back. Creators Dan Harmon and Scott Marder, along with the voice cast, will offer a sneak peek into upcoming episodes, answer fan questions, and reveal exclusive insights. -
2 p.m. – “SMILING FRIENDS” Season 3 Preview
Co-creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel unveil what’s in store for Pim, Charlie, and the gang in the upcoming season, including exclusive clips and behind-the-scenes stories.
With a mix of nostalgia, innovation, and offbeat humor, Adult Swim’s presence at this year’s Comic-Con promises something for everyone—from longtime fans to curious newcomers. Whether you’re diving into the pirate-cat chaos on the green or catching world premieres indoors, SDCC 2025 just got a whole lot weirder—and a lot more fun.
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