La Linea ("The Line") is an Italian animated series of about 150 episodes created by Osvaldo Cavandoli in 1969. Due to its short duration (usually 2 minutes 30 seconds), it is often used as an interstitial program.

The cartoon features a man (known as "Mr. Linea" or, in some parts of Europe, "Balou", as well as "Linus på linjen" (Linus on the Line) in Sweden, "Badum badum" in Slovenia, "Złośniczek" in Poland, "Menő Manó" in Hungary, "Mar Kav" in Israel, "Bajram" in Kosovo, "Streken" in Norway, "Stregen" in Denmark, "Bay Meraklı" (Mr. Curious) in Turkey and "Lineman" in the U.S

drawn as a single outline around his silhouette, walking on an infinite line of which he is a part. The character encounters obstacles and often turns to the cartoonist to draw him a solution, with various degrees of success. One recurring obstacle was an abrupt end of line.

The character would often almost fall off the edge into oblivion and get angry with the cartoonist and complain about it.