10 Years Later, Gravity Falls Remains One Of The Most Influential Cartoons Ever Made
It’s been ten years since Gravity Falls first made its debut on Disney Channel. I was still in school when it premiered, tuning in for the odd episode or two out of curiosity before finding myself immersed by its excellent characters and serialised narrative, drawn in by a show that promised to be something different. Judging by its legacy, it certainly kept that promise.
Even back then, there was something distinct about Alex Hirsch’s creation that helped it stand out above contemporary cartoons. Gravity Falls, The Legend of Korra, Steven Universe, and a handful of others felt like a new generation of creative talent bursting onto the scene. Falls was keen to tell stories that didn’t take young viewers for granted, and hoped to teach valuable life lessons while constantly allowing us to bask in the fantastical.
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The premise itself is a masterstroke, building a foundation where all manner of tales could be explored alongside an overarching tale that was never afraid to lean into heartfelt drama or screwball comedy. We cared about its characters because they felt simultaneously real yet otherworldly, maintaining a balance that would doom most shows to overambition. Gravity Falls received so much critical acclaim for its generational appeal, with children, teenagers, and even adults able to lose themselves in its world for episodes at a time.
If you aren’t familiar with Gravity Falls, here’s a quick rundown - it revolves around twin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines who are forced to spend their summer in the mysterious little town of Gravity Falls with their quirky Grunkle Stan. Like I said, it’s super simple, but it’s used as a springboard to delve
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