News

Monstrous mayhem abounds for the rock band Sesamoid in the horror comedy pilot Far-Fetched. An eye-catching collaboration from writer Dave Capdevielle and animator Ashley Nichols, Far-Fetched is now on Kickstarter, and we caught up with Dave and Ashley to discuss their exciting new project in our latest Q&a feature!

You can read our full Q&a below, and to learn more about Far-Fetched, visit:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/burrowedalive/far-fetched-the-animated-pilot-that-wouldnt-die?ref=bm05pgKickstarter!

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Dave and Ashley, and congratulations on your Kickstarter campaign for the Far-Fetched animated pilot, which will follow the adventures of the misfit musicians in the band Sesamoid! How did you initially come up with the idea for this show?

Ashley: I created the characters when I was 12 years old actually! They started out as Danny Phantom OCs, haha, but over the last 20 years they’ve evolved A Lot,...

Last year, Ultraman fans were gifted with a new and exciting 3D-animated installment of the franchise. Ultraman: Rising was a fun ride that made fans hungry for more, but sadly it looks like sequels are not on Netflix plans. However, the streamer hasn't overlooked the talent of one of the movie's directors. John Aoshima has landed another massive gig inside the streamer's projects: he will helm one episode of the upcoming — and highly anticipated — Season 2 of the hit animated series Blue Eye Samurai.

The announcement hails from Deadline, which also revealed that the director will keep himself busy. In addition to the directing gig at Netflix, the filmmaker signed an exclusive multi-year overall development deal with Warner Bros. Animation. This means that Aoshima will be in charge of developing several feature animated projects from the studio, and he will also have the chance of directing projects that he feels inclined to.

Exclusive: Hot animation director John Aoshima (Ultraman: Rising) has entered into an exclusive multi-year overall development deal with Bill Damaschke’s Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in feature animation, Deadline has learned. Under the deal, he will develop original and studio projects as Director in Development.

Elsewhere, Aoshima has landed a coveted gig with Netflix, one of today’s preeminent platforms for launching animation directors, as we understand he’s been signed as guest director for the second season of Blue Eye Samurai, the streamer’s Emmy- and Annie Award-winning series from Amber Noizumi and Michael Green.

Boasting over 25 years of experience in both television and feature animation, Aoshima recently made his feature debut as co-director of the Annie- and Ves-nominated film Ultraman: Rising for Netflix. A CalArts grad, he’s also known for directing on series like DuckTales, American Dad!, and Disney’s hit Gravity Falls. His creative contributions...

Publisher and pioneering manga and anime media brand Tokyopop welcomes Amphibia creator Matt Braly for a pair of special in-person events in April to mark the release of The Art Of Amphibia.

Matt Braly is an Annie Award winning Thai/American animator, writer, director, producer, voice actor, and storyboard artist. He is most well-known for creating and showrunning Disney’s Amphibia – a cult classic Emmy®-nominated animated series about three teen girls who get sent to a magical and dangerous world of talking frogs.

Braly will appear with The Art Of Amphibia author, Drew Taylor, for a panel discussion and signing event at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles and at Gallery Nucleus, located in the L.A. adjacent suburb of Alhambra. The Gallery Nucleus event will also feature Amphibia art director Ian Worrel and character designer Joe Sparrow. Admission to the Barnes & Noble event is possible...

At the start of Hayao Miyazaki’s modern classic Spirited Away, the young heroine Chihiro and her parents are exploring a seemingly abandoned theme park when a boy named Haku greets her with a warning: Chihiro must cross back over a dry riverbed and head home before sunset while she still can. She fails to do so, and soon finds the river swollen and her parents turned into pigs, stranded in a new world she doesn’t understand.

Fans of the animation giant will find the parable a little extra relevant these days. As you likely heard, OpenAI on March 25 released a tool that allows any photo to be redone in the style of (among others) Miyazaki and his famed Studio Ghibli. Soon millions of people were doing just that, prodded on by OpenAI’s brash leader Sam Altman, who turned his own grainy X profile picture into a dreamy,...

"Gateway horror" is a hot topic among genre fans. Movies and shows that mixed kid-friendly content with more mature scares initiated many young viewers into the horror world, and for many, such a gateway was found in Eerie, Indiana. Though it only ran for a single season, the 1991 series has since gained a cult following, inspiring horror aficionados like Alex Hirsch, the mind behind Gravity Falls.

Eerie, Indiana may have looked like an ordinary kids' show on the surface, but it offered its young fans dark thrills worthy of The Twilight Zone and The X-Files. Under the creative guidance of Joe Dante, the genius behind modern classics like Gremlins and The 'Burbs, the show blended family entertainment with sharp social satire and considerable spookiness, leaving a lasting impression on its rapt audience. It may only have lasted 19 episodes, but Eerie, Indiana is still a must for fans of Goosebumps and...

March looks like a great month for movie and series lovers, especially for those who are subscribed to Disney+. The Ott platform’s roster is filled with blockbuster movies, highly anticipated TV series, and fresh content for all ages. Whether you’re a Marvel fan, a Star Wars fanatic, or just looking for something to keep your kid entertained while you work or relax, Disney+ has something for everyone.

From brand-new original series to the latest theatrical releases making their streaming debut, March’s lineup has a little bit of everything. By now, you might be wondering what to watch and when—but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve listed all the original Disney+ releases and their premiere dates so you can plan your schedule and take your work leaves accordingly.

1. Daredevil: Born Again A still from Daredevil : Born Again | Credits: YouTube

Starting the list strong,...

The Invincible season 3 finale has earned a major achievement, becoming one of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time on IMDb. Created by Robert Kirkman from his comic of the same name, the Prime Video animated superhero series follows teenager Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) as he inherits superpowers from his father, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), and grapples with the dark realities of being a hero. The Invincible season 3 finale delivered a brutal conclusion as Mark faces the corrupt Viltrumite warrior Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in a battle that devastates entire cities.

Upon its release on March 13, Invincible season 3, episode 8, titled "I Thought You'd Never Shut Up", secured its position as the 12th highest-rated TV episode with an astonishing 9.9-star rating on IMDb. The episode now sits just below Gravity Falls season 2, episode 21 ("Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back the Falls") and above Game of Thrones season 6, episode 9 ("Battle of the Bastards"), cementing its...

Gravity Falls and Kim Possible are two of Disney Channel's most popular cartoons. Though the shows are exponentially different, there are some surprising similarities in certain episode plots. With one show following two twins who aim to uncover the mysteries of the strange town they're spending the summer in and the other following a teen hero who frequently saves the world with her best friend, one would think there wouldn't be much in common.

However, the situations that Dipper, Mabel, Kim and Ron get themselves into share eerily congruent factors that may lead one to think that there was some inspiration drawn from the classic action/coming-of-age series. Even though the shows are from and represent different eras of Disney Channel, it's clear that Kim Possible left an impression for how to create a successful Disney Channel cartoon. Kim Possible concluded its run in 2007 with Gravity Falls premiering on...

The cast of HBO's Lanterns continues to grow. The newest addition to the DC Universe is reportedly Matlock actor Jason Ritter.

The Lanterns casting was reported by trusted insider Jeff Sneider in his TheInSneider newsletter. Ritter will reportedly play Kelly Macdonald's husband in the Dcu drama series, which is currently in production. Macdonald was cast back in October 2024 as Sheriff Kerry, "a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town. Her resilience, shaped by a complex past that’s hardened her resolve, anchors her when the community’s secrets begin to surface." Ritter's reported casting comes less than a week after And Just Like That... star Nicole Ari Parker was tapped to play John Stewart's mother, Bernadette.

The son of actors John Ritter and Nancy Morgan, Ritter is primarily known for his television work, appearing in series such as Joan of Arcadia, Parenthood, Gravity Falls, Another Period,...

The cast of Lanterns continues to expand as The InSneider brings word today that Jason Ritter (Matlock) has joined the upcoming DC Studios series.

He'll reportedly play the husband of Kelly Macdonald's character; she's been cast as Sheriff Kerry, a character described as "a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town. Her resilience, shaped by a complex past that’s hardened her resolve, anchors her when the community’s secrets begin to surface."

There had been rumblings about Kerry being a love interest for Hal Jordan, though this news may go some way in debunking that.

Ritter is best known for his Emmy-nominated role in Parenthood. He also counts Gravity Falls, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and Frozen II among his film and television credits.

Poorna Jagannathan, who is said to be playing a character called Zoe in Lanterns, recently confirmed that the grounded series will...

One of Gravity Falls' greatest strengths is its comedy. The show is undisputedly one of the funniest cartoons ever produced by television, relying on various characters and their personality quirks to turn what should be tense or dangerous situations into absolute gold. Whether it be the side characters like Gabe Bensen having an obsession with puppets or main characters like Mabel acting wacky, certain Gravity Falls characters stand out from the others as being the absolute funniest.

While there is no clear way to measure humor, as everyone has their preferences when it comes to the form of comedy, there are certain characters within the show that have made audiences laugh out loud more consistently than others. This is saying something given that the show as a whole is a comedy and is thus jam-packed with hilarious moments and characters. Nonetheless, the one's that have risen to the top are worthy of recognition.

Gravity Falls has to be hands down the best kiddie show ever made, which even adults can sit and enjoy. When I first came across the show, I was forced to watch it because that’s what the kids wanted to watch. Fine, I thought. The show had great animations, colors, and voice; the kids would enjoy it. It was simple stuff for a good animated show.

However, it was not just the visual and audio aspects that stood out. I started paying attention to the dialogue. And while it was funny and quick, it was quite well written; finally, a cartoon that understands kids can understand more than a two-dimensional world and a bunch of weird noises. By now, I was as interested as the kids watching it before their bedtime, and that’s when the show hit me with some of the best mysteries I have ever seen.

Disney fans born before or during the turn of the century likely associate the studio’s animated films with its iconic two-dimensional style. Beginning with Snow White, these movies became a childhood staple for generations. However, with Tangled, Disney shifted to a three-dimensional animation style. While not new to 3-D — thanks to earlier films like Bolt and Meet the Robinsons — Tangled marked the first Disney princess film in this style, concluding the 2-D princess era with 2009’s ThePrincess and the Frog.

The trend of 3-D animation has continued, with recent films like Encanto earning widespread acclaim. Alongside this, Disney has increasingly favored live-action remakes of its classics, with their first attempt coming via 1994's The Jungle Book. It has since continued this trend, with movies like The Little Mermaid and Snow White getting a live-action remake,further distancing audiences from the charm of 2-D animation. With 3-D and live-action dominating,...

When "Family Guy" first came on the air, it was quick to draw comparisons to other animated adult sitcoms. The dynamics, such as having Peter Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) as the bumbling patriarch against his much more forgiving wife, Lois (Alex Borstein), were certainly similar, but "Family Guy" broke the mold, too. It utilized cutaway gags that were funny even divorced from the context of the episode. Plus, the show leaned far more into pop culture references than many of its contemporaries.

Plenty of shows reference movies and other TV series, but "Family Guy" turned it into a work of art, such as by having an extended sequence ripping off "Amadeus." This can also be found in the way "Family Guy" utilizes its guest stars. Sometimes, a person returns repeatedly to voice a recurring character, but oftentimes, celebrities play exaggerated versions of themselves to hilarious effect.

MacFarlane has already said "Family Guy...

Animation has come a long way since its inception. The meticulous hand-drawn frames of yore have given way to digital techniques, and things like ink and paint have been replaced by Cintiq art tablets. However, one thing has remained the same: every animated work draws inspiration from something else.

Today, there are more remarkable animated shows to see than ever before. Disney and Hanna-Barbera no longer control the narrative. Now, audiences can find something to pique any interest. Shows like Amphibia and The Owl House appeal to the whimsical whims of fantasy fans. Anyone with an itch for something more mysterious can turn to Infinity Train and Gravity Falls. For comedy, Chowder and Regular Show are always available. All these shows seem wildly different, but they’re all connected to the same source. More specifically, their creators were all protégés of Thurop Von Orman and J. G. Quintel’s Cartoon Network show,...

In 1986, one of cinema's most fiercely original auteurs released a film that scandalized the public. At the heart of his dark dissection of the American soul was a stunning performance by an Italian actress who would become an international icon. Isabella Rossellini bore the brunt of the backlash against David Lynch's Blue Velvet, but her Oscar nomination for Conclave is a long-overdue acknowledgment of her extraordinary abilities.

Isabella Rossellini is a true Renaissance woman. The scholarly farmer, filmmaker, and model is most famous for her genre-spanning acting career — which was nearly nipped in the bud by the movie for which she is best known today. Blue Velvet shocked contemporary audiences who were unprepared for its frank portrayal of sexual trauma, but today it is regarded as one of the great American independent masterworks, largely due to Isabella Rossellini's unapologetic creation of an unforgettable character.

Blue Velvet Was Reviled Upon Release,...

One Dune film series brainchild hails another in a touching moment as Denis Villeneuve spares kind words for the late David Lynch. Villeneuve believes Lynch's aura was like none other in Hollywood, though he admits he feels "sad" about how his fellow filmmaker's 1984 adaptation of Dune turned out.

Speaking with Screen Rant at the 52nd Saturn Awards, Villeneuve shared his feelings about Lynch, the legendary auteur who died days short of his 79th birthday in January following emphysema complications. Villeneuve insists Hollywood will never be the same without Lynch's presence, stating he was the closest to making dreams seem like a reality on camera.

RelatedDavid Lynch Set to Posthumously Receive Prestigious Award for Screenwriting

David Lynch's Twin Peaks Is Streaming for Free (But There's a Catch)

"Cinema is probably the closest artform, closest to dreams, awakened dreams. And David Lynch was definitely the master, the one who brought us closest to this dream state.

Quick Links David Lynch Had an Unexpected Acting Career After Inland Empire David Lynch Still Had an Influence on the Voice of Bill Cipher Why David Lynch Would've Been the Perfect Choice For Bill

The film industry was recently hit with another tragic loss with the death of Academy Award-nominated director, David Lynch, and his passing has had fans around the world collectively celebrating the influence of his directorial efforts throughout both film and television. His hit series, Twin Peaks, has been credited for changing the TV landscape and influencing so many of the shows that have since followed. Not many people would have guessed that it would’ve also helped spawn one of the most popular animated Disney Channel series, but Gravity Falls creator, Alex Hirsch, has cited Twin Peaks as a major source of inspiration for his hit series. The influence wasn't just obvious in its setting, mysterious tone,...

In the wake of the recent passing of beloved director/part-time weatherman David Lynch, it's worth remembering that one of his best talents was his acting. He always nailed it in his live-action performances, be it as Gordon Cole in "Twin Peaks" or as John Ford in "The Fabelmans," but he brought his A-game to voice acting, too. Case in point: The 2016, season 15 episode of "Family Guy," "How the Griffins Stole Christmas." Lynch doesn't play a major role, but he does pop up in a cutaway that asks the question, "What if instead of Santa Clause coming down the chimney, it was David Lynch? The result is something that any "Twin Peaks" fan can surely appreciate:

What's nice about this cutaway is that the writers of it clearly seem to have actually watched Lynch's work and can make specific jokes about it. On social media, you'll often see people attempt...

Disney’s general entertainment streamer has a great library, but what’s the ad experience like?

Hulu has a ton of great content to watch. The streamer comes with originals of its own, alongside a huge library of licensed titles, including next-day streams of primetime shows from ABC and Fox, titles from the FX cable network, and a lot more.

Unfortunately, Hulu also has the reputation of having one of the worst advertising experiences of any streaming service. I took a deep dive into the streamer to see what watching ads on Hulu is really like. You can read my thoughts below to see if ad-supported Hulu is the right choice for you.

Everything you need to know about the ad experience on Hulu

What’s the ad experience on original shows?

What’s the ad experience on licensed shows?

How many ads will you see in Hulu original movies?...

For decades, the Disney Channel has been a front-runner in the world of original cartoon series. Multiple generations have grown up in different eras of the channel's history, with each decade seeming to have its own highlights. In retrospect, however, it can be difficult to gauge exactly which series have truly reigned supreme.

From early successes like the original DuckTales series and Recess to more recent surprises like Kiff, the impact of Disney Channel cartoons on pop culture is undeniable. Series like Gravity Falls are still receiving supplementary material and merchandise years after their release, while shows like Phineas and Ferb are receiving sequel series and follow-ups. Although it has had its low points like any network, Disney Channel's cartoon track record is a near-perfect example of how to make timeless and completely original animated series.

Updated on January 19, 2025 by Lauren Younkin: Now that Disney+ has made watching Disney Channel content more accessible than ever,...

The world is a worse place now that we've lost the iconic filmmaker David Lynch. Dead at 78, Lynch quickly was able to establish himself as perhaps the premier and the most famous avant-garde filmmaker of his generation, thanks to such quintessentially off-kilter films as "Eraserhead," "Blue Velvet," and "The Elephant Man." But just as "Blue Velvet" upended an '80s-era vision of American suburbia as an idyll in which the nuclear family could grow and prosper, Lynch was able to fully change the landscape of the small screen during his time as an artist. His chief (but not only) entry into the world of television was "Twin Peaks," a genre-bending drama he co-created with Mark Frost that brought together a massive ensemble cast, used a small-town murder as a jumping-off point into a depiction of man's capacity for good and evil, and ended up inspiring countless shows in the following decades.

Saturday morning cartoons were the pinnacle of most people's childhoods. After a long week of school, there was simply nothing better than racing downstairs and catching up with a beloved show. Plus, with so many options to choose from, these mornings often felt like a wonderland of entertainment.

However, a lot of adult fans still miss the themes and energies of these cartoons but don't want to watch the same shows over and over again. Yet, there's still a plethora of undiscovered shows that still offer the same thrills as nostalgic Saturday morning cartoons. Not to mention, these shows are pretty contemporary, so fans still have a ton of episodes to search through.

A Set of Twins Embark On a Wealth of Crazy Adventures Gravity Falls

Twin siblings Dipper and Mabel travel to Oregon to spend their summer vacation with their Grunkle Stan. Yet, the enigmatic town of Gravity Falls is teeming with surprises,...

From the massive catalog that includes Disney classics, Star Wars, and Marvel, there is never a shortage of great shows to watch on Disney+. Entering into the first month of 2025, January will offer more great viewing options from the platform. This can include some of the most recent and high-profile shows on the platform, such as Agatha All Along and Star Wars: The Skeleton Key, as well as classic favorites, like Alias and The Muppet Show that offer wonderful binge-watching options.

There have been some recent controversies for Disney+ recently, such as the cancelation of The Acolyte after only one season as well as the removal of a transgender storyline from the upcoming Pixar series Win or Lose. However, January also kicks off an exciting new year for the platform as fans will get some new MCU shows, such as Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart. The end of January even...

For the last couple of years, the Australian TV show Bluey has been one of the biggest sensations on the planet. Its endearing characters, incredible life lessons, and touching storytelling make it a series that kids and adults can enjoy. The Heeler family has become an emblem of children's television, as proven by the millions of fans all over the world who tune in every day to join in their adventures.

Yet, it seems as if one of the most iconic anime in history, Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia, has managed to surpass Bluey in popularity in 2024. According to a new report published by Parrot Analytics, Deku’s quest to become the greatest hero in My Hero Academia's history was far more popular than the wholesome adventures of the Heeler clan and their friends.

My Hero Academia Among The Top Shows in the U.S.A. The Show...

In the West, the 2010s are seen as a second golden age of television animation, comparable to the 1990s and early 2000s. From kids' shows to adult animation, cartoons were produced that prioritized strong character writing and hilarious jokes while also taking important steps towards improved representation. Some of the biggest names from this era included Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Bob's Burgers, and Rick and Morty.

Jentry Chau vs the Underworld is an invigorating teen horror series racked with anime aesthetics and eerie paranormal properties, joining the ranks of series like Gravity Falls and The Owl House. Reminiscent of Pixar’s Turning Red, the series boasts bushels of Asian-American excellence with its entirely youthful and energetic soundtrack, and voiceover performances from esteemed Asian-American comedians and actors including Ali Wong, Bowen Yang, and Lori Tan Chinn.

J.K. Simmons has risen to be one of the most prominent and acclaimed supporting actors in recent memory, yet his effective work ethic and vast filmography have been filled with exceptional talent from the very beginning. From effective voice acting roles in the likes of Gravity Falls and Invincible to Academy Award-nominated performances like in Being the Ricardos, Simmons employs an effective range of his wide variety of talents as an actor.

One might assume Disney's animated shows are strictly geared toward younger audiences, but there are several shows that adults can enjoy, too. The shows aren't meant solely for adults and are still tame, as Disney is likely aware younger audiences will still be tuning in. Recent animated Disney shows inspired by movies like Monsters at Work or reboots of older series such as DuckTales can be enjoyed by older audiences for their nostalgic elements, but they aren't necessarily trying to draw in adult viewers.

Animated Disney series aimed toward older audiences are a bit more serious and focus on telling a story that builds throughout a season, rather than simply trying to teach viewers important life lessons. Shows like Tron: Uprising and Star Wars: The Bad Batch are based on characters and stories from popular live-action franchises adult audiences are largely familiar with. Other shows such as Gargoyles and Gravity Falls...

A new Argentine horror film inspired by Harry Potter, The Witch Game, is coming to North America and the U.K. with a twist--it will be dubbed with AI.

According to Variety, The Witch Game was acquired by Miracle Media for distribution in North America and the U.K. some time in the first quarter of 2025. Its story follows a teenage girl, played by Lourdes Mansilla, who receives a VR headset for her 18th birthday that allows her to travel to an occult world and a magical school--see where the Harry Potter inspiration kicks in--so she can save her family from being besieged by the devil himself. It sounds like an interesting modern take on a classic story with a horror atmosphere thrown in. But what has put this film in the headlines isn't so much its intriguing premise as something entirely outside the film itself--its English dub. While the original film is in Spanish,...

Gravity Falls is a beloved animated series that has had tie-in novels and a video game, but not any kind of live-action adaptation. To imagine what that might look like, a fan-made concept trailer has been made for a live-action Gravity Falls movie.

Shared by Multiverse of Movies on YouTube, the trailer was created with the use of AI-generated imagery and voices. They've been used to imagine various celebrities as they might appear as different Gravity Falls characters, including Stranger Things stars Finn Wolfhard and Sadie Sink starring in the respective roles of Dipper Pines and Mabel Pines. Of course, AI technology has a while to go before it's perfect, and some of the imagined casting choices look less convincing than others. In any case, it provides an interesting peek at the kind of film a live-action Gravity Falls movie might be. The video can be watched below..

Related Gravity Falls...

Gravity Falls is a spooky show, but nothing is scarier than AI.

The Atlantic recently released an article revealing that Hollywood scripts are being used to power AI. Writers have long suspected that the LLMs--Large Language Models--powering popular chatbots like ChatGPT have been using Hollywood scripts to train on. They show remarkable fluency in recreating the voices of popular films and television shows (albeit without the wittiness and long-term memory of an actual human writer).

However, there is now clear evidence that these scripts are being used in AI training. Dialogue from a whopping 53,000 movies and 85,000 TV episodes have been scrapped for these LLMs to consume. This data set has been used by AI giants like Apple, Anthropic, Meta, Nvidia, Salesforce, Bloomberg, and more. The Atlantic has created a search engine which can be used to find what scripts have been collected in the training data set.

Oh neat, theyre...

Although one particular Treehouse of Horror Halloween special from midway through The Simpsons 36-season run does epitomize many of the shows biggest structural issues, I still love the outing despite this. Whether The Simpsons is renewed through season 37 or not, it is fair to say that the series has had a good run already. The Simpsons reshaped the landscape of television comedy during its Golden Age from seasons 3-11, and the influential series inspired everything from South Park to Rick and Morty, to Bobs Burgers, American Dad, Family Guy, and Gravity Falls. Its legacy is already set in stone.

Related The Simpsons Season 36 Just Parodied A Movie That Hasnt Even Come Out Yet

The Simpsons season 36 episode 4 parodies '80s neo-noir movies, but the episode's plot also borrows from a movie that has not even been released yet.

However, while The Simpsons season 36s risky experiments keep interest in the series alive,...

Disney has had a long and successful track record of animated shows for television. Beginning in the 1980s with shows like The Adventures of the Gummi Bears, DuckTales, and The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, they were a major force in the renaissance age of American animation. This trend has continued into the 2010s, with shows like Gravity Falls, Amphibia, and The Owl House receiving praise from audiences and critics for their stellar animation, memorable characters, and strong mix of comedy and drama.

Over the years, there have been plenty of incredible animated television series, but only a select few would earn the distinction of being considered masterpieces. To truly be a masterpiece, a show must go further than anything else of its kind and have an undeniable quality in terms of artistry, legacy, longevity, and reception. For a TV show to be a genuine masterpiece, it should tap into something that nothing before it previously had and, whether through its art style, thematic depth, or influence on pop culture, break new ground in the world of animation.

Some of the best animated series ever made have earned this classification and become undisputed masterpieces of television. While art is subjective, and not everybody will have the same opinion, these critically acclaimed series all brought something new to the table and have endured in a way few other animated shows have. While acclaimed series...

Gravity Falls won over so many fans by having some of the zaniest characters ever put into a TV show. Far from being too ridiculous, though, the characters' distinctive personality quirks in just the perfect way for them to be hilarious and likable instead of annoying. However, with so many characters, each having something unique to remember, it is inevitable that not every character is as memorable as others, like Nate or Marius von Fundshauser.

In fact, some of them even get forgotten completely as the overall plot of the story only includes them once or twice. Despite the lack of screentime, many of these more forgettable characters still have well-developed backstories. In fact, a lot of these side characters are far deeper than the personality flaws that make them amusing. Some of them even have full-on character arcs happening in the background, which is why it is important to...

As Agatha Harkness continues to make magic in Disney+’s new “WandaVision” spin-off series “Agatha All Along,” it’s time to countdown the top seven TV shows streaming on the platform. While the streamer’s original programming has so far been dominated by new “Star Wars” stories and Marvel spin-offs, Disney+ is the home of shows from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, ABC, Fox, National Geographic, and more, from the long-running (and often prophetic) “The Simpsons” to the beloved international kid’s show “Bluey.”

Ready for adventures across the space-time continuum, short-lived animated mystery comedies, and puppet-led parties? Here are the top seven TV shows streaming on Disney+!

Sign Up Now $7.99+ / month disneyplus.com

Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $14.99 a month ($12 savings).

Top 7 Shows Streaming on Disney+ Right Now:

No. 7: “The Mandalorian”

No. 6: “Doctor Who”

No. 5: “Star Wars: Andor”

No. 4: “WandaVision”

No. 3: “Gravity Falls”

No.

One film fan's recent experience watching Alfred Hitchcock's influential horror feature Psycho has gone viral , as it highlighted how streaming services and their practices can damage the impact of certain moments. One of the acclaimed director's most recognizable features, 1960's Psycho starred Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, a secretary on the run who has a fateful stay at Norman Bates' (Anthony Perkins) unnerving motel. Suspenseful and atmospheric, Psycho stands out as one of Hitchcock's most influential pieces, daring to set new boundaries and becoming an early example of the slasher subgenre.

Psycho has sparked a new discussion over how audiences are viewing movies after VHSdude on Twitter shared his latest experience streaming the movie on AppleTV+. In the video, one of Psycho's most iconic cuts is interrupted by the service's user interface, zooming out from the feature while the movie is still playing to offer recommendations on what to watch next,...

As soon as Emily arrives in the mysterious town of Bloomtown, she senses something strange is going on beneath the surface. What seems like an ordinary summer vacation with her grandfather quickly takes a turn for the peculiar. Night after night, Emily finds herself pulled into an otherworldly dimension called the Underside, where curious creatures lurk in the shadows. But this is just the beginning of Emily’s adventure unraveling the secrets of this sleepy neighborhood.

With its mix of social interactions and tight turn-based battles, Bloomtown draws obvious inspiration from the beloved Persona series. Yet it carves out its own identity with a charming narrative focused on Emily and her pint-sized crew solving the mysteries of missing locals.

Along with her brother and newfound friends, Emily explores both the quirky townsfolk and spooky supernatural scenarios as clues are uncovered. Everything from farming and studying to strategic combat plays a...

Over its three-season run, which aired on the Disney Channel, Dana Terrace's The Owl House established a sprawling, magical world where its characters could play. Even so, fans of the show have noticed a fair bit of crossover potential. While The Owl House mostly (and justifiably) prioritized telling a self-contained story, it also took the time to canonize a major connection to another fan-favorite Disney cartoon: Gravity Falls.

One of The Owl House's most prominent fan theories has been that the character of Edalyn Clawthorne (Wendie Malick) was once briefly married to Stan Pines (Alex Hirsch), aka Grunkle Stan, from Gravity Falls, the Hirsch-created show that ran for two seasons on Disney Channel and Disney Xd from 2012 to 2016. The theory dates back to February 2020, when it was first presented by Instagram user inlovewithcartoons.

Updated on September 16, 2024, by Christopher Raley: Gravity Falls and Owl House captured the hearts...

Over 15 years after Flight of the Conchords concluded and the American immigration system deported the titular folk duo back to their native New Zealand, Mel is still the biggest Flight of the Conchords fan in the world — poor Doug.

It’s hard to explain to a younger generation who knows HBO mainly for shows like Game of Thrones or Succession that, in the late aughts, the premium cable channel was the exclusive home of the twee generation’s greatest and most beloved comedic music act and its self-named sitcom. With their wit, their catchy songwriting and the slightest sprinkle of novel irony, New Zealand natives Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement turned their touring stage act into a TV show centered around a less-successful version of themselves as they slummed it in New York while playing library music shows and deluding themselves into thinking that their big break was just one catchy,...

Even 8 years after Gravity Falls ended, I still have questions about the show's many mysteries and characters, which is what makes The Book of Bill so exciting. Penned by series creator Alex Hirsch, the tie-in text is written from Bill Cipher's point of view. Although many of us didn't initially realize what Gravity Falls' end-credits cryptograms were teasing, Bill, a triangle-shaped interdimensional demon, was the show's overarching antagonist. The top hat-wearing, one-eyed menace is capable of infiltrating and taking over peoples' minds, which makes him a massive threat even by Gravity Falls standards.

The series finale, "Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back the Falls," Gravity Falls' core characters twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, their Great Uncle "Grunkle" Stan, and Stan's estranged brother, Ford try to thwart Bill Cipher's evil plans. The profoundly unhinged and wildly irreverent Bill Cipher is one of my favorite TV show villains. Although his goals are deceptively simple,...

Disney executive Meredith Roberts shared a surprising update on Gravity Falls in 2024, eight years after the series finale. Created by Alex Hirsch, the 2012 animated show was centered around Dipper and Mabel Pines, young twins who explored the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon and assisted their great-uncle Stan. Along with Hirsch, who portrayed Stan and other characters, the voice cast of Gravity Falls included Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini, and J.K. Simmons.

Despite a large fanbase on Disney Channel, Gravity Falls ended prematurely after season 2. However, despite the cancelation, the fanbase has continued to endure and expand, with the show still being a hit on streaming. This has clearly been noted by Disney, as during a mid-2024 interview with The Direct, Roberts gave an update about the future of Gravity Falls. The Executive Vice President of Television Animation and Disney Branded Television revealed that the studio has talked with...

Although Gravity Falls ended after just two seasons, The Book of Bill tie-in project reveals more about both the strange titular town and the mysterious Bill Cipher. Penned by Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch, who also voices Bill in the TV series, The Book of Bill also serves as a solid continuation of the Twin Peaks-inspired horror-comedy show. Well before Bill Cipher is formally introduced, the show follows twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel Pines (Kristen Schaal), who arrive in the strange town of Gravity Falls to spend the summer with their great uncle, Grunkle Stan (Hirsch).

A grifter of sorts, Grunkle Stan runs a tourist trap called the Mystery Shack, which capitalizes on the Oregon town's string of supposedly paranormal happenings. While Stan is billed as a classic skeptic who's set on swindling people, Dipper wants to believe in the supernatural goings-on, especially after he finds a mysterious journal in the forest.

The best episodes of Gravity Falls exhibit the best of its comedy and world-building seamlessly entwined with character development. Gravity Falls revamped Disney Channel TV, telling a profound story about the challenge of maintaining family relationships and the enigmatic supernatural town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. As twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel Pines (Kristen Schaal) unravel the towns mysteries, audiences are further entertained by the series wickedly clever and random humor.

The highest-rated and the darkest episodes of Gravity Falls tend to be the same because these episodes are when the most is happening. Additionally, the majority of Gravity Falls best episodes are in the second season because this is when the overall plot picks up and the series content becomes more sophisticated. However, Gravity Falls is still one of the last TV shows that makes the case for filler episodes, and certain pieces of season 1 shouldnt be ignored for...

Disney's Gravity Falls presented a universe seemingly filled with queer characters, even though few were explicitly labeled as such. It was no surprise that fans began to read some of the Gravity Falls characters as LGBTQ+. Even 10 years after the Disney series aired, the topic is still discussed. As newer and more openly queer cartoons air, such as The Owl House, fans are even more eager to dive into what could've been in Gravity Falls.

Two of the most heavily queer-coded characters were Dipper and Wendy. Regular viewers questioned if Dipper was transgender, due to a multitude of factors seen throughout the show. Gravity Falls also portrayed Wendy in a fashion that had many fans wondering whether she was heterosexual. As main characters, their status as members of the LGBTQ+ community would mark a significant step for representation in animated television especially for Disney.

Updated on September 4, 2024, by Andrea Sandoval...

Across its 100-year existence, Disney has created many timeless pieces of media that have defined childhoods, especially on the small screen. Series like DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, and Gargoyles have sparked several iconic characters and cemented the studio's reputation as a dominant force. While these older series are often more revered by fans, a relatively recent entry, Gravity Falls, exemplifies what makes Disney special: its ability to appeal to younger and older audiences.

Many fans crossed their fingers and hoped for confirmation that Gravity Falls Season 3 was coming, but those hopes were ultimately shut down.

Despite only lasting for two seasons, Gravity Falls is one of the most influential and beloved shows ever.

Following twin siblings Mabel and Dipper Pines, the show explored its two main characters spending the summer in Gravity Falls, Oregon, trying to figure out the town's darkest histories and secrets.

Read full article on The Direct.

Gravity Falls ciphers add depth to show, thrilling fans with unique puzzles and hidden messages. Each cryptogram requires specific ciphers, such as Caesar or Atbash, making solutions rewarding for viewers. Show's rewatchability enhanced by continuous discovery of ciphers in episodes, books, and tie-in media.

The Gravity Falls ciphers that make up the show's notorious cryptogram have kept many fans coming back to the show looking for solutions - and, when solved, it adds yet another layer of enjoyment to the hit animated series. Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls only ran for two seasons before abruptly ending. This was all by Hirsch's design, though, and not a reflection on how the series was received, especially since the show developed a passionate fan base around a world with a surprisingly rich mythology.

Since Gravity Falls ended, the fandom has only grown. The show is primed for repeat viewings too, with...