12 oz. Mouse was an animated television series on the American channel Cartoon Network as part of the Adult Swim late night programming block. The show centers on the antisocial actions of an alcoholic mouse known as "Mouse Fitzgerald", "Fitz," "Butch," or simply "Mouse". The show was created by Matt Maiellaro, co-creator of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and produced by Williams Street for Adult Swim. blank">Production Credits for 12 oz. Mouse IMDB.com (accessed September 25, 2006)

The series is animated in the style of crude drawings with limited motion. The usage of firearms, alcohol consumption, and indifferent homicidal acts are common activities of the sociopathic lead character Mouse Fitzgerald. A review, including plot description of 12 oz. Mouse About.com (accessed September 25, 2006)

The plot revolves around a bizarre conspiracy which is constantly building on itself and taking seemingly nonsensical twists and turns. At times the narrative becomes obfuscated or nonlinear, but it simultaneously reveals connections that hint at an objective story. Clues and secret messages are hidden throughout each episode, including the credits. Creator Matt Maiellaro has indicated that the development of 12 oz. Mouse was influenced in part by surrealistic films and the _Theatre of the Absurd, such as those by director David Lynch.

The series concluded its initial run on Adult Swim on December 18 2006 with its twentieth episode, leaving the plot unresolved. In February 2007, production began on additional episodes for internet distribution on Adult Swim Video. The first online episode premiered May 16, 2007.

In the pilot, only the letters "oz.MO" appear in the opening title sequence. But it was discovered that "Ozmo" is the name of an educational cartoon character produced by the BBC. To avoid a potential lawsuit, all subsequent episodes have the full title in the opening credits.