Gravity Falls is an American animated television series created by Alex Hirsch for Disney Channel and Disney XD. The series revolves around the various antics of two fraternal twins, Dipper (voiced by Jason Ritter) and Mabel Pines (voiced by Kristen Schaal), who were sent to stay with their great-uncle (or "Grunkle") Stan (voiced by Hirsch) in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, for the summer. They soon realize that the town holds plenty of secrets, after Dipper comes across an old journal which documents the anomalies of the town.[1]
A pilot for Gravity Falls was pitched to Disney Channel in 2010 which led to the series being green-lit. The series premiered on Disney Channel on June 15, 2012. On March 12, 2013, the series was renewed for a second season.[2] However, Disney did not officially confirm the renewal until July 29.[3] The second season premiered on August 1, 2014, on Disney Channel, and on August 4, on Disney XD. On November 20, 2015, Hirsch announced that the second season would be the series' last;[4] the season and series concluded on February 15, 2016.[5]
Prior to the creation of Gravity Falls, Alex Hirsch was helping to develop the Disney Channel animated series Fish Hooks, when Disney contacted him and asked him if he would like to pitch his own animated series to the network, which Hirsch accepted.[6] Disney commissioned Hirsch to create an eleven-minute low-budget animated pilot for Gravity Falls which he later described as "a short version of Tourist Trapped". In December 9, 2010, it was announced that Disney Channel had green-lit Gravity Falls for a full series based on the pilot which was originally slated to premiere in spring of 2012.[7]
The pilot was never broadcast on television and for many years Hirsch had no intention of releasing it to the public.[8] During the Cipher Hunt in July 2016, Hirsch promised to release the pilot as a reward for completing a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, which was a clue in the hunt.[9] [10] The puzzle was completed on August 1, 2016,[11] [10] and Hirsch published the pilot online on August 3.[12]
See main article: Gravity Falls season 1.
See main article: Gravity Falls season 2.
The short series, Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained, Mabel's Guide to Life, Fixin' It with Soos, TV Shorts and Mabel's Scrapbook, aired between the two seasons of Gravity Falls.