Off the Air

A collection of psychedelic and visually complex animation, art, and culture.

Off the Air (2011-present) is an American adult animated anthology series created by Dave Hughes for Adult Swim. Rather than following a single cast through a continuing plot, it presents a rotating collection of short, roughly eleven-minute animated pieces, each a self-contained burst of art and culture built around psychedelic imagery and dense visual invention. Voice work appears sparingly, with Karsten Runquist credited in a small role, so the emotional pull comes from images, rhythm, and mood rather than characters. The series runs across fifteen seasons with new batches of shorts arriving over more than a decade, and its episodes are short enough to be sampled in any order. Its 3D animation leans into surreal, hallucinatory color and layered detail, producing a register that is restless, playful, and sometimes hypnotic. Viewers who enjoy the irreverent experimentalism of Liquid Television and the stylistic variety of Love, Death and Robots will find a kindred sensibility here, along with the offbeat spirit of Adult Swim's broader slate.

• Liquid Televisionshared anthology format of short experimental animated pieces with surreal visual tone
• Love, Death & Robotsshared adult animated anthology with stylized, unconventional visual craft
• Sealab 2021shared psychedelic surreal tone and short-form experimental animation

Created by

Dave Hughes

Release Date

2011-01-01

Episode runtime

11 min

Rating

8.5 / 10 (26)

What is Off the Air about?

Off the Air is an adult swim anthology of psychedelic, visually complex 3D animated shorts exploring art and culture.

What is Off the Air like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Off the Air as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.

Is Off the Air violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Off the Air.

Which shows are like Off the Air?

Shows with a similar feel include Liquid Television, Love, Death & Robots, and Sealab 2021.

How long is Off the Air?

Off the Air: 15 seasons, 55 episodes.

Is Off the Air still running?

Yes, Off the Air is still running.

Where can I watch Off the Air?

In United States, Off the Air streams on YouTube TV, Adult Swim.