The year was 2012. On the TV, an animated gnome was barfing rainbows, and I was laughing so hard I was about to hurl myself. Four years later, I was crying in the lobby of my former music school as the same show’s series finale played on my phone.
What could possibly inspire such a wide range of emotions? None other than Disney’s Gravity Falls (2012-2016), a cartoon about twins Mabel and Dipper, who are sent to the fictional town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. There, they encounter a multitude of oddities, uncover hidden secrets, and solve mysteries beneath the town’s quirky surface.
Now, 10 years after the show ended, creator Alex Hirsch and producer Rob Renzetti have released The Art of Gravity Falls (2026), a book documenting the show’s creation from its earliest concept art to the final designs seen on screen.
On Sept. 22, 2026, Barnes & Noble hosted an event at the University of Washington in Seattle. There, Hirsch and Renzetti spoke to a largely cosplay-clad crowd (myself included) about the book and the work that went into writing it. By the end of the event I had a signed copy in hand.
With that in mind, I want to delve back into the world of Gravity Falls and try to understand how this cartoon has connected with so many people. And how, over a decade later, its art book is still drawing massive crowds.
My initial thoughts on the book are that it’s gorgeous, but what stood out the most was the glimpse it offers into the real-life inspirations behind the show.
Against the backdrop of supernatural events and strange happenings, Gravity Falls is ultimately a story about childhood. This is no accident. Multiple elements of its core story and characters were inspired by Hirsch’s own childhood with his twin sister, Ariel.
Hirsch explained that every Summer, the pair were sent to Northern California to stay with their great-auntie (“Grantie”) Lois. Away from the comforts of TV and video games, they were forced to spend time outdoors. The wooded cabins where they stayed each year had a fundamental impact on the sheltered city slickers.
“In the absence of all my favourite medias, something happened, which is I grew an imagination! … Touching grass did wonders for me. I highly recommend it to anybody!”
Hirsch attributes Gravity Falls’ longevity to the many personal details of his life and upbringing that he wove into the series. The intellectual Dipper and sparkly Mabel are directly inspired by Alex and Ariel. The wise-cracking Grunkle Stan derives heavily from both the aforementioned Grantie Lois, and the Hirsch twins’ grandfather, Stan. The Mystery Shack, Stan’s home and the place where Dipper and Mabel spend their summer, is an amalgamation of numerous cheesy tourist attractions in Northern California and Oregon.
We see this in the book through side-by-side photos and stories of the real people and places that shaped the show. Next to concept art of Dipper and Mabel are pictures of a young Alex and Ariel. The description of Hirsch’s grandfather sounds so much like the swindling Grunkle Stan it’s practically a copy-and-paste.
Although the setting and characters are mainly based on Hirsch’s life, he also encouraged the production team to draw on their own memories — recalling that he told the artists to “remember your favorite summer? Make it look like that somehow!”
I agree with Hirsch’s assessment of why the show remains so beloved. Gravity Falls perfectly captures the nostalgia of childhood: the awkward moments, the growing pains, the moments of bonding with family, and the laughter that accompanies it all. The result is a cartoon that speaks not just to kids, but to people of all ages who long for adventure and mystery.
This book is not only a visual feast, but also a testament to the care that went into creating this show. Alongside the official artwork are the production sketches, behind-the-scenes photos, and even a few inside jokes. With every page of The Art of Gravity Falls, you can see the love and sentimentality that the production team poured into the series.
If you’re looking for a deeper look into what I consider one of the most heartfelt cartoons of our generation, I highly recommend this book. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure I’m properly equipped for the apocalypse and “buy gold, byeeeeeee.”
