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In recent years, adult animation has been through a veritable renaissance. From modern classics like Rick and Morty to more experimental projects like BoJack Horseman, it’s a great time to be a fan of animated shows. Especially those with a healthy dose of crass humor.
Few of those shows manage to balance the fun with the serious as perfectly as Inside Job. The Netflix show became an overnight sensation in 2021. Viewed for over 21 million hours, the series quickly became one of Netflix’s most-watched animated shows.
Naturally, the success of Inside Job earned the series a second season. Slated for a late 2023 release, Inside Job Season 2 never came to the platform. Amidst all the theories, why did Netflix cancel such a promising show?
Inside Job Had Disappointing Viewing Figures
While not officially confirmed, Netflix might have seen Inside Job as a failed project, commercially speaking. The series was the first produced in-house by Netflix Animation Studios.
With a 67 score on Metacritic, the critical reception of Inside Job has been “generally favorable.” Fans on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes seem to agree, as viewers have been even more favorable towards the show’s humor and characters.
Netflix hasn’t revealed the budget for Inside Job, but considering the platform’s dwindling numbers in 2022, even the series’ success might have been a threat to the platform’s executives.
Unfortunately, the loss of Inside Job also dealt a considerable blow to the blooming Netflix Animation Studios. Shion Takeuchi, series showrunner and Gravity Falls regular, is well-liked in the animation community. Canceling her first project at Netflix is certainly not a good look for the streaming giant.
There Is a Possibility Inside Job Could Be Revived
Even if Netflix won’t produce Inside Job Season 2, there’s a chance the series might live on in another network. The same happened to Tuca & Bertie, which aired for two seasons on Adult Swim after Netflix swung the axe on it.
Takeuchi, like most fans of Inside Job, has voiced her disappointment with the series’ sudden cancellation. In an X (formerly Twitter) post released in January of 2023, Takeuchi confirmed the series wouldn’t be renewed for a second season after Netflix had already announced it.
“I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job,” Takeuchi posted.
I’m sorry guys, it’s true.💔#insidejob pic.twitter.com/MQZJ3S7gRD
— Shion Takeuchi (@shhhhhionn) January 9, 2023
The showrunner didn’t comment on why the series was canceled, but she thanked her fans for their support.
Alex Hirsch, creator of Gravity Falls, also commented on the post. “Shion had an awesome ending in store for these characters,” referring to Reagan and Brett. With the series canceled after only one season, most character arcs got cut before they even began.
Now, over a year after the news, Inside Job remains canned. With that, the series joins the long list of projects Netflix canceled after only one season. With no indication of a revival in sight or further news from Shion Takeuchi, Inside Job will remain the X-Files animated spoof that never was.