China, IL

China, IL – meaning "China, Illinois" – is an animated television series for the cable network Adult Swim. The series is created by Brad Neely, and features Neely's existing characters from the China, IL web series and special. Characters include Frank and Steve Smith, aka "The Professor Brothers," and Mark "Baby" Cakes. Neely provides the voice for all three characters. The series is produced by Williams Street and animated by Titmouse, Inc. China, IL has been renewed for a second season with the possibility of a new half-hour runtime. On May 25, 2008, Adult Swim ran The Funeral, an 11-minute special which was streamed on the now defunct Super Deluxe website. The special combined Brad Neely's Professor Brothers and Baby Cakes webseries, which were also streamed at Super Deluxe, and established a larger environment for the characters. The special, as well as Brad Neely's other videos, can be viewed at Neely's YouTube page.

Animation

Seasons

1. Rewind, Pause, Pay!

Air Date: 2011-10-02

Ronald Reagan wants revenge on the unstable Steve in the premiere of this animated comedy chronicling the hijinks of a pair of brothers who teach at a state university.

2. Dean vs. Mayor

Air Date: 2011-10-09

The Mayor is tired of the riots sparked by UCI, and challenges The Dean to an arm wrestling contest for control of the school.

3. Baby Boom

Air Date: 2011-10-16

A giant baby destroys the campus, and the faculty is split on how to handle the situation.

4. Coming Out Of The Casket

Air Date: 2011-10-23

Student registration for the History Department sinks to an all-time low after the death of Harold, one of the faculty's best professors. Steve must come up with a plan to save their jobs while Frank becomes convinced that he's getting unsolicited attention from a paranormal being.

5. Secret Society

Air Date: 2011-10-30

Steve realizes life after tenure isn't as exciting as he suspected, and Pony finds out that the Dean has a secret that he'd do anything to keep hidden.

6. Prom Face/Off

Air Date: 2011-11-06

The Staff-Only Prom is thrown in a condemned building formerly used by Professor Cakes who experimented on hippies there.

7. Chinese New Year

Air Date: 2011-12-26

The professors join together to build robotic replicas of themselves to take their place.

8. Frankensteve

Air Date: 2012-02-19

After both Frank and Steve sustain life-threatening injuries during a wrestling match, Dr. Falgot performs surgery on them turning Frankensteve into a super brother.

9. The Dream Reamer

Air Date: 2012-02-26

Baby cakes accidentally meets his old imaginary friend one day, and must travel into his own mind to defeat the beast before said friend destroys his real body.

10. Dean's List

Air Date: 2012-03-04

Different departments on campus are selected for The Dean's List, an annual scavenger hunt that is much more dangerous than it sounds.

1. The Perfect Lecture

Air Date: 2013-09-22

Frank wants to give a perfect lecture on the first day of school.

2. Is College Worth It?

Air Date: 2013-09-29

Pony must take drastic measures to afford a recently raised tuition.

3. Do You Know Who You Look Like?

Air Date: 2013-10-06

The history department hires a new professor who looks just like Steve. Pony reveals she can't speak Spanish.

4. The Diamond Castle

Air Date: 2013-10-13

Frank discovers that Thomas Jefferson's mythical Diamond Castle is real.

5. Kenny Winker Rules

Air Date: 2013-10-20

Kenny Winker is giving away a ticket to hang with him on his tour bus.

6. China-Man Begins

Air Date: 2013-10-27

Frank bets that he will be the focus of the "Person of the Day" news segment.

7. Total Validation

Air Date: 2013-11-03

Total Validation, China, IL's newest counselling service, will determine who is right or wrong in any relationship.

8. Surfer God

Air Date: 2013-11-10

9. Prank Week

Air Date: 2013-11-17

10. Wild Hogs

Air Date: 2013-11-24

1. A Gentleman's Bet

Air Date: 2015-04-05

2. Best Face Forward

Air Date: 2015-04-12

Frank learns how to speak and becomes a world-famous stand-up comic.

3. Charlize

Air Date: 2015-04-19

Steve, Frank and Baby Cakes start a band in order to gain the attention of a beautiful celebrity.

4. Crow College

Air Date: 2015-04-26

Since crows have the intelligence of 4-year-old humans, the dean enrolls a murder of them as new students.

5. Bi-Topping-Ality

Air Date: 2015-05-03

The Mayor bans eating anchovies in town; Trump's child is the newest student at UCI.

6. Parent's Day

Air Date: 2015-05-10

Baby Cakes cannot attend the faculty Parent's Day at UCI because he must visit his mother for the weekend.

7. Displays of Manhood

Air Date: 2015-05-17

In order to prove his masculinity, Frank challenges a boxing legend to a fight; Baby Cakes and Pony compete in a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

8. Life Coaches

Air Date: 2015-05-31

Steve, Frank, Baby Cakes and Pony all become life coaches for each other.

9. Gummie World

Air Date: 2015-06-07

Steve and Baby Cakes strike it rich; Frank falls in love with a piece of a movie star.

10. Magical Pet

Air Date: 2015-06-14

Baby Cakes wants a magical pet; Frank learns why women find him unattractive; Pony and Steve try to prove they are good people.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.9/10

Release Date

2011-10-02

Episodes

30 (3 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

Working For Monsters

Neely Comics

Titmouse

Williams Street