Created by Alex Hirsch from June 15, 2012, to February 15, 2016, Gravity Falls is an American animated mystery comedy television series aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD.
The series follows the mysterious adventure of two siblings: Dipper Pines (dubbed by Jason Ritter) and his twin sister, Mabel (dubbed by Kristen Schaal), as they spend their summer in Gravity Falls, Oregon, a town swarmed with supernatural creatures and paranormal forces together with their Great Uncle or Grunkle Stan (dubbed by Hirsch).
With their Grunkle Stan tourist trap, Dipper and Mabel help their uncle run the Mystery Shack while unraveling the puzzle that lies deep in their town.
However, creator Alex Hirsch said on November 20, 2015, that the series has finally come to an end after its second season. He pointed out that they are not stopping its production, but the story has met its conclusion.
With its season finale released on February 15, 2016, titled Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls, this one-hour episode has put the mysteries of Gravity Falls to an end. Yet again, Hirsch said that he is still open to continue his series with extra specials or short series that aired from April 17, 2012, until September 25, 2020.
Because of its excellent storyline, Gravity Falls received exceptional acclaim in writing, characters, and humor that caught multi-generational appeal. Thus, winning three Annie Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a BAFTA Children’s Award together with other nominations and awards.
Gravity Falls became Disney XD’s highest-rated show in 2015 and early 2016 after garnering high viewership not only with kids but also with teenagers and young adults during its run.
By which, the series has become the cornerstone for other animated series that followed it and attracted a broad and passionate fandom. It has also influenced the production of a variety of toys, video games, and books.
And on the second anniversary of the final episode of Gravity Falls in February 2018, Hirsch made a cipher to announce a new graphic novel, Gravity Falls: Lost Legends, the continuation of the Gravity Falls story later released on July 24, 2018. And on August 8, 2020, the Disney Channel show, Amphibia has released a Gravity Falls – inspired episode named Wax Museum.
Plot
One summer in Gravity Falls, Roadkill County, Oregon, the 12-year-old Pines twins, Dipper and Mabel, were dropped off from their home in Piedmont, California, and visited their Great Uncle Stan Pines (or Grunkle Stan). Within this fictitious town lies the Mystery Shack, a tourist trap owned and managed by their Great Uncle Stan.
What seems to be a small town holds a lot of mystery that Dipper and Mabel will soon unravel after finding a mysterious journal deep in the forest. As they come to meet a series of acquaintances such as the Mystery Shack cashier, Wendy Corduroy, and their Great Uncle Stan’s handyman, Soos Ramirez, the Pines twins always have a day full of mysteries.
Characters and Voice Actors
Dipper Pines is a 12-year-old brother of Mabel Pines dubbed by Jason Ritter.
Mabel Pines is the twin brother of Dipper Pines, who loves to wear sweaters dubbed by Kristen Schaal.
Great Uncle Stan (or Grunkle Stan) is the grumpy, greedy, but loving great-uncle of the Pines twins dubbed by Alex Hirsch.
Soos Ramirez is Mystery Shack’s handyman, a 22-year-old boy who always uses the word “dude” in every sentence dubbed by Alex Hirsch.
Wendy Corduroy is Mystery Shack’s part-time employee, a 15-year-old girl whom Dipper Pines had a crush on.
Conception
While growing up, creator Alex Hirsch has found out that an animated version of a story is funnier than that of live-action as he observed in the famous series The Simpsons.
By using a satirical approach, he said that animation series is not just for kids, but, depending on the quality of the storyline used, it will attract multi-generational viewers.
Being a writer and storyboard artist in the famous Cartoon Network series, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, and Disney Channel’s Fish Hooks, the California Institute of the Arts alumna paved his way to green-light by creating his series, Gravity Falls.
Writing
During an interview with The A.V. Club, Hirsch said that each episode is formulated inside a designated room for writers.
A simple synopsis is presented then the dramatic structure is defined. After defining the dramatic structure comes the most intense part, using a character story that gives the thrill of pushing a pivot on the main storyline to create and unravel a mystery for each episode.
Animation
After making the script, Hirsch will personally review the storyboard together with the board artists and make the polishing touch before giving it to the network for review.
Should there be any revisions, the team will come up with a consensus and forward the finished product to the animation studio for production.
Broadcast
Gravity Falls had its regular weekly slot on Disney Channel since mid-2012 with its first twelve episodes.
However, the remaining eight episodes of season one were aired with indefinite intervals until August 2013. A year after, the second season was aired on Disney XD in August 2014 but still with irregular intervals until its finale on February 15, 2016.
Third Season
After airing its first two seasons, Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch said in 2015 that the surreal comedy-adventure series will now come to an end. It does not mean that they will shut-down the program, but the storyline has finally met its ending.
As the animated series garnered positive acclaim for its production, storyline, and humor, Hirsch regretfully disclosed that Gravity Falls came to an end with its season finale on February 15, 2016. It left fans kept posted for a surprise revelation for another season.
However, many speculations around the bush left the fans in wait for a whole new season as Hirsch expressed the openness of continuing the extra short series of Gravity Falls.
Although these were not the continuation of the actual storyline, these fillers still make a good story in unraveling the mysteries of Gravity Falls.
As to the rumors of a third season, fans still lie in wait for an official statement from the production team whether a whole-new season is feasible late this year or the year after.
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