It’s been over eight years since Gravity Falls ended, however the fandom is experiencing a mini renaissance. It’s all because of The E-book of Invoice, a brand new companion textual content (if a e-book with a web page devoted to mad straws, a straight excerpt of The Nice Gatsby, and a two-page commercial for demonic Treasured Moments-inspired tchotchkes will be thought of “textual content”) penned by the present’s creator Alex Hirsch. It’s the primary meaty piece of Gravity Falls content material shortly, and due to that, I’ve seen extra Gravity Falls fan artwork throughout social media previously few weeks than previously eight years. Judging by the near-month-long stronghold that Gravity Falls and Gravity Falls-associated phrases have had on Tumblr’s weekly fandom breakdowns (and anecdotal proof from my buddies on TikTok), I’m not the one one.
A number of the fan artwork is centered round Invoice Cipher, the triangular demonic entity who narrates the e-book, and Stanford Pines, the mysterious paranormal researcher great-uncle of the 2 fundamental characters. The e-book actually leans into their relationship, and all however confirms that they have been romantically concerned. Naturally, followers have taken that and run with it, actually relishing the poisonous exes vibe that the e-book reveals.
However it’s not simply Invoice and Ford having their huge second: There’s a basic resurgence of Gravity Falls, and all of the characters are in on the motion. (It additionally helps that Dipper and Mabel’s birthday is canonically on Aug. 31, which suggests the same old annual refrain of followers wishing them a contented birthday was much more amplified this 12 months.)
Persons are poring over the pages of the e-book and zoning in on tiny particulars in the identical method they used to dissect screenshots to attempt to predict the place the present was going. There may be plenty of thought — and to not point out background gags — in each body and web page of Gravity Falls materials, and I like to see individuals decide up on the little bits that I missed out on the primary time via.
However past these clues and hints and Alex Hirsch’s over-the-top trolling, I’m simply glad to recollect what an exquisite present Gravity Falls is. It began merely, with a monster-of-the-week premise as Dipper and Mabel confronted off new paranormal encounters, however finally followers started to choose up on a larger overarching thriller. I wasn’t essentially one to pore over every new screenshot with my very own theories, but it surely was at all times nice enjoyable to observe others do this. And since I got here into the present a bit after it began airing, I might preserve looking out for the hints that I already knew about. (What can I say? I’m pro-spoiler.) Seeing individuals strategy the e-book with the identical fervor jogs my memory of how enjoyable it was to learn individuals discussing Gravity Falls: not simply the theories, however the character relationships and all of the wacky world-building that made it shine.
One of many present’s biggest strengths was simply how bizarre it might get, placing enjoyable spins on typical paranormal tropes. The bar was set within the first episode: Mabel spawned a crush on a brooding, pale boy, which Dipper assumed was a zombie. However he was really a bunch of gnomes in a hoodie. There’s all types of enjoyable twists and subversions to supernatural antics, however on the identical time, the present might get fairly dang scary. It’s only a pleasant and zany time, bursting to the brim with humor and creativity. Gravity Falls actually set the bar for what Disney Channel animation may very well be. Sadly, individuals at Disney Channel don’t appear to understand that, and different exhibits that adopted in its footsteps, like The Owl Home, proceed to get shortchanged.
However we’ll at all times have Gravity Falls. And the fandom continues to be there — and stronger than ever, because of The E-book of Invoice. Generally revisiting an previous favourite generally is a bit bittersweet, like trying again on childhood summers and never fairly greedy the identical pleasure. However the renewed ardour proves to me, a minimum of, that there was one thing so particular about this quirky present.
Gravity Falls is out there to stream on Disney Plus.
