Courtesy of the Disney Channel

Let’s go back to early 2012, a time when many of us were children glued to our TV screens. If you were anything like me, you were probably watching The Disney Channel. During the commercial breaks, a promo for a new series pops up that piques your curiosity. The promo featured what seemed to be video entries of two unseen characters trying to get footage of a creature. Despite the lack of on-camera characters, we can hear them and get an idea of their personality traits. This promo promises fun but also mystery – of course, I’m talking about “Gravity Falls.”

“Gravity Falls” officially premiered in June 2012 and instantly became a hit. Created by Alex Hirsch, the series follows 12-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, who spend their summer in the little town of Gravity Falls with their great-uncle, Grunkle Stan. The town is filled with many cooky characters and places, but underneath the layer lies mystery, whether it be the cryptid monsters roaming around, or paranormal activities. The series’ biggest mystery kicks off when Dipper finds a crimson journal cataloging these supernatural phenomena, the author’s true identity being the final piece of the puzzle.

In its span of 2 seasons, “Gravity Falls” earned a massive following thanks to its well-crafted and hilarious characters while having elaborate mysteries that the fans desperately wanted to answer, and some of these fans even did answer these questions before the series itself revealed it. With a series like this, it was no surprise when Disney announced that a new book, primarily catered towards an older audience, was being written that would expand the “Gravity Falls” universe. “The Book of Bill,” a book based on the character Bill Cipher, was published in July of this year, and many fans were getting their hands on it and looking for more clues, along with fun tidbits and easter eggs. Of course, Hirsch knew his fanbase and decided to upload a mysterious website that made everyone go full-on Sherlock Holmes mode. This led to a resurgence of the series on social media platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.

Now, not a day goes by without my Twitter timeline or TikTok’s For You Page featuring posts of “Gravity Falls,” whether it’s fan art, memes, or easter eggs I’d never noticed before. I find it incredible how even after the show ended over a decade ago, “Gravity Falls” is still a hot topic and is regarded as one of the best animated TV series from the 2010’s. Some would even say it’s one of the best TV series, period! 

Its sudden popularity on social media demonstrated a key factor in this resurgence of “Gravity Falls.” The fanbase that this series had back in the day is now older and is looking back to their childhoods.  The young children who were laughing and trying to solve the mysteries of the show are now in their 20s. Yet, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of blinded nostalgia. It is genuine care that the fandom is still devoted to this series. Fans still discover new details and connections about “Gravity Falls.” Hirsch himself gives out new information and funny tidbits about the show, such as concept artwork along with funny images and memes, primarily based on Bill Cipher. It’s clear that twelve years after its premiere and 8 years since we last saw them on our TV screens, what was left is a legacy; a mysterious, yet fun legacy that many of us will look fondly upon.