Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clever sibling story has some spooky stuff for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Gravity Falls
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 89 parent reviews
What's the Story?
GRAVITY FALLS follows the misadventures of twins Dipper (voiced by Jason Ritter) and Mabel Pines (Kristen Schaal) in the rustic, mysterious forest of Gravity Falls, Oregon, where they're sent for the summer to live with their curmudgeonly relative, Grunkle Stan (Alex Hirsch). When they're not poking around in Stan's knick-knack shop, The Mystery Shack, they head for the woods to explore their new surroundings. When Dipper discovers an old journal that holds cryptic keys to the mysteries of the town and its motley collection of residents, he and his sister set out to discover what's behind the strange happenings.
Is It Any Good?
Just when you think cookie-cutter cartoon series have become the norm, out of nowhere comes this slightly irreverent comedy. Gravity Falls is about two fish-out-of-water visitors to an off-the-beaten-path burg that's brimming with small-town secrets and unusual characters. Although Dipper and Mabel take very different views of the nature of their adventures and often have differing opinions about how to proceed, when push comes to shove, their sibling bond makes them a formidable team in the face of whatever this bizarre town throws their way.
As far as the show's content goes, there's not much to worry about, but in many ways, this series is better suited for slightly older audience members who will pick up on the subtleties of the clever Simpsons-esque writing and characterizations that will go unnoticed by youngsters. What's more, there are some tense moments during monster encounters and other mysteries that may frighten kids who are sensitive to that kind of scare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the supernatural questions that Gravity Falls raises. Do you believe in ghosts, monsters, and the other types of creatures that Dipper and Mabel encounter? Are there any "mysteries" in your family or town that you'd like to solve?
What is this show's message about family relationships? Do you think it set out to make a statement about this, or did it just happen? Do the nature of any of the relationships surprise you?
Is stereotyping a concern in this cartoon? Where do you draw the line between characterizations and stereotypes? Are stereotypes always harmful?
How do the characters in Gravity Falls demonstrate curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 15, 2012
- Cast: Alex Hirsch , Jason Ritter , Kristen Schaal
- Network: Disney Channel
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: August 1, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate