Has there ever been a more self-consciously Canadian show than Super Team Canada? A show that not only skips merrily through fields of distinctly Canadian references, but requires its audience to, as Canadians are said to be uniquely able to do, laugh at themselves for an episode’s entire 10-minute duration?

Within the first two minutes of the episode “The Pooch Pack Goes Wack,” for example, the show manages to poke fun at tax credits, The Guess Who, PAW Patrol, and itself—or, at least, the idea of a Canadian cartoon for adults. “Everybody knows our cartoons are specifically designed to appeal to only children and simpletons,” intones the country’s leader, voiced by Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall).

Certainly, Canada is better known for animated preschool shows featuring anthropomorphic pups than it is for animated shows for adults. But everything else about the show, from its plotlines to its tongue-in-cheek humour to its theme song—sung by Bryan Adams, who else— could not be more slyly patriotic.

Crave’s first-ever original animated series premiered in May, and is the brainchild of Calgary-born, LA-based brothers Joel M. Cohen (“Not the Joel Coen you want,” he jokes) and Robert Cohen. Self-deprecation aside, these Cohen brothers are hardly slouches: Joel is a writer and producer who’s worked on Saturday Night Live; Robert’s long list of writing and producing credits includes The Big Bang Theory. Both have written for The Simpsons. Both have won Emmys—which Robert has also written for.

The show’s concept—a squad of low-rent Canadian superheroes is called in to save the world after all other superheroes have been vanquished—was borne of COVID restlessness, and the script was written on spec. The brothers decided to make it an entirely Canadian production, “because we love the Canadian system so much, and because the normal way of pitching animated shows in the States is not that appealing,” says Joel.

They reached out to their friend Will Arnett (Arrested Development), who quickly agreed to play the concussion-addled ex–minor hockey hero Breakaway. Arnett’s production company, Electric Avenue, also jumped in.

Then Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) signed on to play Niagara Falls, the group’s hydro-powered leader. Atomic Cartoons said yes. Crave said yes. Other voices signed on: Brian Drummond as Sasquatchewan, a nonverbal Bigfoot; Veena Sood as RCM-PC, a sensitive cyborg; Ceara Morgana as Chinook, a preteen First Nations superhero; Charles Demers as Poutine, a French-Canadian crimefighter who blasts curds and hot gravy out of his potato canons; and, of course, Kevin McDonald as the PM who must balance statesmanship with his second job at a big-box store.

And then, after years in the lab, the show was unleashed on the country at an extraordinarily fortuitous moment: a moment in which the American president’s annexation overtures had Canadians shaking off their collective apathy and digging up that old Molson commercial. A show about unabashedly Canadian super-heroes was exactly what the doctor ordered.

“The thing that is absolutely the worst turn of events for the planet ended up being great for us,” deadpans Robert. “We never wanted it to be a political show, but I love the ‘elbows up’ pride that Canadians are feeling. That pride is, in an odd way, kind of what we felt when we were first talking about the idea of the show during COVID.”

“We’re very proud Canadians, and we’ve always tried to do stuff in Canada and with other Canadians,” says Joel. “The timing of the show’s release was a complete coincidence, but great luck for us. Crave was supportive enough to crank out some promos that were tied into the political environment, and I think that helped get us noticed. But, for us, we were just really excited about doing a show in Canada.”

Alex Cichon, producer at Atomic, adds: “It was the perfect storm: looming trade war, the federal election in Canada, and just everything happening around the world. It was perfect timing. Silver lining on the world falling apart.”

The Cohens, long used to working south of the border, are effusive about both their production partners and the collaborative process itself.

“Crave has been phenomenal and really supportive,” says Joel. “When either they or Atomic have notes for us, they’re really smart. It’s actually been a very, very easy process, and much different than it would have been were we doing this in the US.”

From Atomic’s viewpoint, “We just tried to bottle Rob and Joel as much as we could,” says Cichon. “We wanted their voice on screen, and tried to partner them with good people who would deliver on that.”

The partnership is paying off, as Super Team Canada has already begun to win awards—if not yet an Emmy, at least a couple Leo Awards, given to BC film and TV productions. The show won Best Animation Series, and Brian Drummond, who voices Sasquatchewan, grunted his way to a Best Voice Performance award. And it’s just getting started. The show has the go-ahead for season two, which is scheduled for release in 2026. The team of absurdist, unlikely superheroes will live to fight another day.

When asked which of these heroes they enjoy most, the Cohens and Cichon are diplomatic. Joel loves the PM, but appreciates Poutine’s characterization and Drummond’s work on Sasquatchewan. Robert admires Breakaway’s jackassery, but thinks Niagara Falls might be the winner for him. Cichon is “a sucker” for Poutine, but admits Chinook has her moments throughout the season.

“Look at us, just giving the most politically correct answer, covering everybody,” says Joel. After all, what could be more Canadian than refusing to coalesce behind a single strong identity?

“It’s not a melting pot,” affirms Robert. “It’s a mosaic.”