The Off-Beats
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Off-Beats (previously known as "The Misfits") was a series of animated shorts appearing on the Nickolodeon television series KaBlam!, featuring the lives of a clique of nerdy individuals, each having their own quirks. The series was created by Mo Willems, who would later create the Cartoon Network television series Sheep in the Big City. One of the similarities between the two shows was the distinct art style, which was mainly a lot of flat, dry colors and characters that moved with clothing patterns that didn't. The animation was also similar to that of early Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
The charecters featured on the series are as follows.
•Betty Anne Bongo - Betty Anne is the realisticly thinking "leader" of the clique. She usually can be found playing her bongo set. Voiced by Mischa Barton.
•Tommy - Tommy loves his plaid coat, so much so that in one episode it is the basis for the plot. On numerous occasions he will break his calm demeanor and get carried away with his emotions, usually startling his friends and himself.
•Repunzil - Repunzil is the youngest in the clique, and at times can be quite naive. She is known for her floor-length hair.
•August - August is the most technologicly inclined of the Offbeats, even though his inventions are most of the time failures. He is also the person who most wants to be liked by the populars. In one episode, he actually did gain respect from them, in the end only to be foiled by his love for paddle-ball.
•September - August's sarcastic talking dog, usually ambivalent to most situations and plot-lines. Despite that, he does enjoy the company of the Offbeats. He is voiced by creator Mo Willems.
•Grubby Groo - The beatnik-looking adult friend to the Offbeats, and the only one who realizes how big of jerks the populars are. He is also voiced by creator Mo Willems.
•The Populars - The Populars are the clique popular kids, usually seen traveling in a huge clump. Led by Tina. Whenever they come across an adult, they all put on phony smiles and pretend to be really nice. But Grubby Groo knows that they're just hiding their evilness.
•Tina - Tina is the mean-spirited leader of the populars. If the Offbeats ever have any [shown] self-esteem, she is there to squash it.
