Seth MacFarlane's 'Ted: The Animated Series' Hits Peacock on December 17
The foul-mouthed teddy bear returns in animated form, with the full film cast reuniting for a sequel set 12 years after 'Ted 2' — eight episodes drop December 17, more to follow in 2027.
Peacock has locked in December 17 as the premiere date for 'TED: The Animated Series,' bringing Seth MacFarlane's raunchy talking bear back to screens in a new format — and reuniting the original film cast — for the first time since 'Ted 2' in 2015.
Eight episodes will drop on that date, exclusively on Peacock, with additional episodes already confirmed for 2027. The series is a direct sequel to the two live-action Ted films, picking up 12 years after the events of 'Ted 2,' with Ted and his best friend John now next-door neighbors, both juggling families and dead-end jobs.
Picking up twelve years after the conclusion of the last movie, John and his thunder-buddy Ted are neighbors, both with families of their own and dead-end jobs. Follow these two lovable stoners as they enable each other's bad ideas about marriage, parenting and the challenges of adult life.— Official plot synopsis
MacFarlane returns to voice Ted and is joined by Mark Wahlberg as John, Amanda Seyfried as John's wife Sam, and Jessica Barth as Ted's wife Tami-Lynn — the same quartet that anchored both films. Kyle Mooney and Liz Richman join as series regulars, playing characters named Apollo and Ruth respectively.
The shift to animation is deliberate. According to Peacock, the format allows the show to 'go places Ted's never gone before,' and MacFarlane — whose career launched with animated hits including 'Family Guy' — is back in familiar territory. The series is animated by Rough Draft Studios.
The series is created by MacFarlane alongside Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh, who also co-showrun. Corrigan and Walsh previously executive produced the live-action 'Ted' prequel series on Peacock, which ran for two seasons. Executive producers also include Erica Huggins, Alana Kleiman, Jason Clark, Aimee Carlson, and Claudia Katz. The show is produced by Universal Global Television, Fuzzy Door, and MRC.
The animated series follows two seasons of the live-action 'Ted: The TV Series' on Peacock, which served as a prequel to the films. According to IGN, MacFarlane recently cast doubt on a third season of that live-action show, citing the costly visual effects required to bring the bear character to life — context that makes the pivot to animation a practical as well as creative decision.
Peacock released a first-look teaser on September 30, showing Ted and John against a white background riffing on their move to animation. A full trailer has not yet been released.
Why it matters — Fans of the Ted films get a long-awaited continuation with the original cast intact, while the switch to animation — and the shadow of an uncertain live-action future — signals a meaningful shift in how the franchise will tell its stories going forward.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- MacFarlane recently cast doubt on Peacock greenlighting a third season of the live-action 'Ted' series due to costly visual effects
- The animated series was first announced in May 2025.
Reported by variety.com, peacocktv.com, ign.com, nbcuniversal.com
- Seth MacFarlaneAmerican writer, actor, and producer (born 1973)
- Mark WahlbergAmerican actor (born 1971)
- Amanda SeyfriedAmerican actress (born 1985)
