The films in “Frame by Frame” still hold charm for children like Gemma, suggesting that the medium maintains its wonder. —Staff writer Alex E. Traub can be reached at [email protected].

Yet at the same time, there’s a skewed logic behind Smiling Friends’ riotous, rapid-fire surrealism. The Season 2 premiere follows a washed-up video game mascot named Gwimbly (Hadel).

Smiling Friends was created by Zach Hadel (former Newgrounds and YouTube animator) and Michael Cusack (YOLO) for Adult Swim. The animated show, which consists of episodes that last around 11 ...