The Off-Beats

The Off-Beats
The Off-Beats title card
Created by	Mo Willems
Developed by	Mo Willems Joe Ansolabehere Steve Viksten
Written by	Mo Willems Josh Selig
Directed by	Mo Willems
Voices of	Mischa Barton Mo Willems Mark Wagner Jimmy McQuaid Kathleen Fasalino Dylan Roberts Trisha Hedgecock Tara Ketterer Kevin Seal
Narrated by	Mo Willems (opening only)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	14
Production
Executive producer(s)	Mo Willems Mary Harrington
Producer(s)	Mo Willems
Running time	approx. 4:00
Production company(s)	Curious Pictures
Release
Original network	Nickelodeon
Original release	1996 – 1998
Chronology
Related shows	KaBlam! Sheep in the Big City Codename: Kids Next Door

The Off-Beats is a series of short animations that was created by Mo Willems, best known for the Cartoon Network television series Sheep in the Big City). The first episodes were produced as stand-alone short films for Nickelodeon; but after the series was nominated for a CableACE Award, more segments were produced for KaBlam! The series was initially called The Misfits, but Nickelodeon had Mo Willems change the series' title (and re-animate the intro) at the very last moment before it its broadcast debut. The series was the first to end on KaBlam! after Mo Willems moved to the Cartoon Network to work on Sheep in the Big City; it too was canceled after two years on the air.

The show features a distinct art style, which was mainly a lot of flat, dry colors and characters that moved with clothing patterns. The animation was also similar to UPA, Curious Pictures and Hanna-Barbera cartoons, but mostly, the series itself (especially in story and concept) hearkened back to the classic Peanuts TV specials, especially since the majority of the voice cast are child actors. Each episode is scored with a jazz soundtrack, sometimes featuring big-band music, but mostly featuring a simple combination of a piano, drums and a double bass. Each segment was two to four minutes in length. Most of the soundtracks in the shorts are similar to The Pink Panther cartoon shorts.

After 15 years, the Off Beats Valentine Special, thought to be lost, can now be viewed on YouTube as of February 27, 2014.

The theme introduction to the shorts always consisted of this short poem, spoken by Grubby Groo (voiced by Mo Willems):