Drue Langlois is not your typical animator. His work exists somewhere between the absurd and the profound, blending crude yet deliberate visuals with darkly funny storytelling. Over the years, Langlois has built a following among fans of unconventional animation and outsider art, with his work standing out for its originality and raw creative energy.
Langlois first made his mark as a founding member of The Royal Art Lodge, an artist collective based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Known for their collaborative approach and quirky, sometimes unsettling artwork, the collective became a key player in Canada’s contemporary art scene in the early 2000s. During his time with the group, Langlois contributed to various projects that combined humor, innocence, and strangeness—traits that would come to define his later work in animation.
After his time with The Royal Art Lodge, Langlois turned his focus toward animation, developing a style that was unmistakably his own. His characters often look roughly drawn, with exaggerated features and jittery movements, but there’s an intentionality to the roughness. It’s a visual style that mirrors the absurd worlds his characters inhabit.
One of his most well-known projects is “Staying Positive in the Apocalypse,” a series that follows a character named Plague Roach as he tries to host a TV show in a bleak, post-apocalyptic wasteland. The series is equal parts bleak and hilarious, capturing Langlois’s knack for finding humor in the strangest places. His use of rotoscoping—a technique where animation is traced over live-action footage—adds a layer of realism to the bizarre events unfolding on-screen, making the experience all the more unsettling and captivating.
Langlois’s work often explores themes of isolation, societal decay, and human absurdity. Yet, there’s an undercurrent of optimism, however twisted it may be. Plague Roach’s determination to keep his show running, despite the crumbling world around him, feels oddly inspiring—a reminder that even in the worst of times, people cling to their routines, their art, and their sense of humor.
Beyond “Staying Positive in the Apocalypse,” Langlois has created several other animated shorts that have gained attention online. Pieces like “Dudes in Hazmat” showcase his gift for mixing the mundane with the absurd, turning everyday conversations into surreal comedic experiences. His collaborations with the YouTube channel “The Minute Hour” further highlight his ability to complement offbeat, dark humor with his distinct visual style.
Langlois’s work also extends to music, which often features in his animations. His soundtracks, like his visuals, have a DIY quality—simple, strange, and perfectly suited to the worlds he builds.
Though he maintains a relatively low profile compared to mainstream animators, Langlois’s work has resonated deeply with those who appreciate art that pushes boundaries. His Instagram serves as a platform to share his latest pieces, offering fans a glimpse into his creative process and the constant evolution of his style.
In a media landscape dominated by polished, corporate content, Langlois’s work stands as a reminder of the power of unfiltered creativity. His animations are weird, often unsettling, but always memorable. They challenge viewers to embrace the strange, laugh at the absurd, and find beauty in the rough edges.
For those looking to escape into a world that is both bizarre and oddly relatable, the work of Drue Langlois is well worth the dive.