After Dark (software)

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After Dark is a family of screensaver programs created by Berkeley Systems. It first appeared in 1989 for Apple Macintosh and arrived on Microsoft Windows in 1991. The software allowed third‑party developers to create extra screensaver modules, and hundreds were made. There were many editions, including More After Dark, Before Dark, and themes based on Star Trek, The Simpsons, Looney Tunes, Marvel, and Disney characters.

The most famous module is Flying Toasters, which shows chrome toasters with wings flying across the screen as pieces of toast. Users could adjust how dark the toast looked, and an updated Flying Toasters Pro added music such as Ride of the Valkyries and even karaoke lyrics. A version called Flying Toasters! added bagels, pastries, baby toasters, and more elaborate animation. The Toasters helped make After Dark popular and led to related merchandise like T‑shirts.

The Flying Toasters were involved in two lawsuits. In 1993 Berkeley Systems vs Delrina concerned Delrina’s Opus 'N Bill module; after a judge ruled against Delrina, they changed the wings to propellers. In 1994 Jefferson Airplane sued over similarities to their album cover, but the case was dismissed because the artwork wasn’t trademarked at the time.

A 3D version of the toasters with airplane wings is available for XScreenSaver. In late 2025, Greg Gant recreated a MacOS version. In 1997, Berkeley Systems was acquired by Sierra On-Line (CUC International). The founders later helped start MoveOn.org, and Ed Fries became a Microsoft executive.

A Bad Dog TV series based on an After Dark module aired in 1999 on Teletoon and Fox Family Channel. An official Mac OS X version for PowerPC appeared in 2003 from Infinisys of Japan. For newer Macs, standalone remakes of Flying Toasters, Mowing Man, and Boris are available as screensavers.

Sierra Attractions and Berkeley Systems released After Dark Games in 1998 for Mac and Windows, featuring titles like Mowin’ Maniac, Roof Rats, Solitaire, Toaster Run, Zapper, Hula Girl, Bad Dog 911, Fish Shtick, Foggy Boxes, MooShu Tiles, and Rodger Dodger. Critics noted its simple, addictive gameplay and enjoyable background themes.