The show Gravity Falls is a cartoon masterpiece that outranks many other animated shows. The reason for this is a build up of many factors that carry Gravity Falls on their shoulders through the crowds of mediocre and flopped shows. This is how Gravity Falls succeeded where so many others failed.
Gravity Falls had much competition with other popular shows of the time that had a tight grip over young audiences. Shows like Adventure Time, Regular Show, and the Amazing World of Gumball had been out for more than a year before Gravity Falls hit the scene. The show was required to meld with longstanding shows like Spongebob Squarepants and The Simpsons while also amassing its own audience. The perfect execution of these factors allowed Gravity Falls to succeed.
While the iconic theme song and subtle messaging make the show perfect, the most important aspect of the show is its character and story development. All the characters are likable and many of them have the chance to arc out. The characters are designed to let audiences become attached, thus solidifying their urge to watch upcoming episodes just to see their favorite characters. The story follows what Rick and Morty does best: anything that happens in the show does not go away in the next episode. Instead, it adds to the story, drawing the viewer in. Every episode has the potential of a canonical adventure. The draw happens after every episode where the audience wants to see the fate of their beloved characters.
Although many popular shows were running up to 8 years at this point, Gravity Falls hit 4 years and called it quits. Why was this? Well the show revolves around the fleeting nature of summer, so to take this into stride they let time take its course and then left the scene. Unlike shows such as Phineas and Ferb where a nearly endless summer continues to pass to make young audiences feel as if their happiness will last forever, Gravity Falls takes a different approach and emphasizes Dipper and Mabel growing up. When the summer canonically finishes, the show mimics this behavior and ends after only the second season. This is the reason why the show is so addictive; it entices fans with its limited supply of content. The relatability of the show is not lost on audiences either. It takes the wild, fantastical town of Gravity Falls combined with the real fears of the kids who watch the show and mixes them for a beautiful escape from reality.
This show was expertly handled and did not overstay its welcome in the spotlight. Although Gravity Falls has been shelved for a few years, in my book it is always one of the best candidates for a rewatch. The show may be filled with mysteries, but Gravity Falls is a one-of-a-kind anomaly.