Jun 15, 2012

Gravity Falls" Sneak peek tonight

A few weeks ago, I was invited by Disney Television Animation to get an advance look at their new series, Gravity Falls. And tonight, you can get a peek too. Disney Channel will air a special preview tonight (6/15) at 9:55 PM ET/PT.

Disney TV Group is on a roll; I was impressed by "Motorcity" and underwhelmed by "Tron Upsrising," but it is the humor in this show that is closest to my heart. Creator Alex Hirsch (from Cal Arts, previously on "Flapjack" and "Fish Hooks") is a mix of "Goosebumps" and "Jay Ward" (more like "Ward"), very funny, smart, and not for kids. It succeeds in being written and directed in a way that is so subversive that it doesn't need to be. While I'm negative about most new shows these days (Penn Ward's "Adventure Time" is clearly the exception to the rule for this era), "Gravity Falls" turns the kid-friendly stereotype on its head (sometimes literally). The series itself begins regular broadcasts on Friday, June 29 at 9:30 PM. Check out tonight's sneak peek and let us know what you think.

So consider this an unabashed advertisement. Check it out. It's a good "creator-driven" show. It stars a pair of city kids who end up spending the summer with their eccentric uncle who runs a tourist attraction called the Mystery Shack. The cast includes Jason Ritter, Krysten Schaal, and Linda Cardellini. Below are images from the storyboard and a recent meeting with series creator Alex Hirsch, Disney TV's Eric Coleman, and director Joe Pitt (click to enlarge).