It’s not often we get to say this now, but there is some great news: Lisa Hanawalt’s animated comedy series ‘Tuca & Bertie’ that was unceremoniously canceled after its critically-acclaimed first season on Netflix has now received a second life. Adult Swim has greenlit a second season of the series, ordering a ten-episode run!

“I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to bring my beloved fowl to the party and be a new voice for a fresh decade of absurd, irreverent, yet heartwarming adult animation,” said Hanawalt.

The anthropomorphic animated series follows the lives of the two eponymous birds (voiced by Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong) who are unlikely friends as they navigate through their thirties, juggling relationships, aspirations, careers, sobriety and more. It was essentially a well-written story of female friendships, set in a universe that’s a lot like that of ‘BoJack Horseman’; incidentally, Hanawalt was the production designer and a producer on the animated tragicomedy series. 

‘BoJack Horseman’ ended earlier this year after a six-season run. And whether or not you consider the ending an apt one (there have been a lot of debates on that), it’s hard to deny that the show has left a gaping hole in our hearts. The show is about a washed-up television actor’s journey through his middle age, as he deals with alcoholism, emotional abuse, and existential crises. And it has, for the better or for worse, impacted many who have found characters in the show painfully relatable and realistic.

In terms of story, ‘Tuca & Bertie’ is a lot different from ‘BoJack Horseman’. But there are startling similarities, especially if you consider Hanawalt’s touch in both. Both shows are immensely compassionate. Both have a surrealist vibe to them, and not just in terms of the visual aesthetics. Both deal with misfits navigating through emotions and social norms and constructs, and both, appeal to people through its characters. 

Though both shows appeal to audiences differently, it would not be unfair to say that both have had a tremendous emotional impact on its viewers, even if ‘Tuca & Bertie’ has had only one season to do so. Both shows depict mental health in a compassionate and patient manner, tackling sensitive issues with care, giving viewers an unlikely outlet to their own problems. Both shows made its viewers realize that in their problems, they weren’t alone.  

When ‘Tuca & Bertie’ was canceled in July last year, Hanawalt had said, “‘Tuca & Bertie’ is everything I wanted it to be: beautiful, funny, fresh, loving, horny, weird, experimental, comforting, and deep. The whole team put our hearts and a**es into this show, and I’m so proud of it… Everyone is still glowing over the reviews and articles and feedback. T&B is critically acclaimed and has repeatedly been called one of the best new shows of the year… None of this makes a difference to an algorithm, but it’s important to me and the way I want to continue making art in this world.”

Hanawalt finally has a way to continue making her art. As for us, we will finally have something that will fill both, the ‘Tuca & Bertie’ and ‘BoJack Horseman’ shaped holes in our hearts.