China, IL

China, IL is an off-kilter animated comedy that follows the faculty and students of a failing university in the small town of China, Illinois. The show centers on the Smith brothers, Frank and Steve, two professors whose crude behavior and petty rivalries undercut any notion of academic dignity, and on Mark "Baby" Cakes, a burned-out student with a bizarre home life. Episodes toss together surreal gags, sharp satire of higher education, and loose, often absurd storytelling that favors wild one-off jokes over linear plots. Settings shift from classrooms to seedy local haunts, and supporting players like Pony Merks, The Dean, and Professor Cakes add unpredictable energy. Pacing is loose and episodes often jump without warning, which keeps the tone unpredictable.

Created by Brad Neely, China, IL premiered on Adult Swim in 2011. It adapted Neely's web shorts and a 2008 special called 'The Funeral.' Williams Street produced the series and Titmouse, Inc provided the animation, with Neely voicing main roles.

China, IL didn't receive major industry awards, but it did attract attention for its unconventional cast and approach. While it wasn't a mainstream awards contender, the show built a dedicated niche audience and earned respect from fans of experimental adult animation for taking creative risks.

The series helped move Neely's internet characters into cable TV, showing that oddball web shorts could find a home on Adult Swim. Clips, fan art, and references circulated online, and the show reinforced Adult Swim's taste for surreal, boundary-pushing comedy that appeals to a smaller, enthusiastic crowd.

Audience reaction was mixed but lean positive, reflected by a modestly favorable user score around 7.0 out of 10. The show skewers academia and small-town malaise through absurd humor and crude character work, favoring shock and weird scenarios over clear resolutions, so it rewards viewers who like oddball, satirical animation.