| The Amazing World of Gumball | |
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| Also known as |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Ben Bocquelet |
| Showrunner | Ben Bocquelet |
| Directed by |
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| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Ben Locket |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 240(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
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| Running time | 11 minutes[6][note 1] |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Release | 3 May 2011 (2011-05-03) – 24 June 2019 (2019-06-24) |
| Related | |
| The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball | |
The Amazing World of Gumball (also known simply asGumball or by its abbreviationTAWOG) is ananimated sitcom created byBen Bocquelet forCartoon Network.[7] The series follows the lives of 12-year-oldGumball Watterson, ananthropomorphic bluecat, and his adoptive goldfish brotherDarwin, who attend middle school in the fictional city of Elmore. They often find themselves in various shenanigans around the city, during which they interact with fellow family members—younger sister Anais, mother Nicole, and father Richard—along with an extended supporting cast of characters.
Bocquelet based several of the series' characters on rejected characters from his previous commercial work while making its premise a mixture of "family shows and school shows", which Cartoon Network was heavily interested in.[8] After Bocquelet pitchedThe Amazing World of Gumball to the network,Turner Broadcasting executive Daniel Lennard green-lit the production of the series. The show is produced by Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe (laterHanna-Barbera Studios Europe), in association withBoulder Media (Ireland; season 1), Dandelion Studios (season 1), and Studio Soi (Germany).
Gumball is noted for its intentional stylistic disunity, with characters designed, filmed, and animated using various styles and techniques, oftentimes within the same scene (stylizedtraditional animation,puppetry,CGI,stop motion,Flash animation,live-action, etc.).[2] Although it is achildren's series,Gumball comments on topics that are often considered serious or mature, includingphilosophy,marriage,cyberbullying,political intolerance,mental illness, and thehuman condition.[citation needed] The series has received critical acclaim and developed acult following, with particular praises for its extensive references topopular culture andinternet culture,sarcasm, subtleinnuendos,dark humor, andmetahumor.[5][9]
On 6 September 2016, Bocquelet announced the series would end after season 6; he reaffirmed his position on Twitter in October 2018.[10] However, Turner Northern Europe was unable to confirm at the time whether the sixth season would be the show's last.[11] Following the season 6 finale, two miniseries were released: the six-episodeDarwin's Yearbook in November 2019 andThe Gumball Chronicles in October 2020.[12][13]
On 17 February 2021, Cartoon Network revealed that atelevision film based on the series was in development.[14] On 21 September 2021, it was announced that anew spin-off series, to be a follow-up for both the show and the movie, had been greenlit forCartoon Network andHBO Max alongside the film.[15] On 22 August 2022, it was reported that the film would no longer be heading to HBO Max, but would be shopped to other outlets instead.[16] At the2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, it was announced that the film was still being worked on, with the story and script being revised.[17][18] On 15 June 2023, it was confirmed at theAnnecy International Animation Film Festival that the spin-off series would instead serve as the seventh season of the show but was later rebranded as arevival series.[19][20] It was released on 28 July 2025.[21][22][23][24]
The series revolves around the life of a 12-year-old cat named Gumball Watterson and his frequent shenanigans in the fictional American city of Elmore,California, accompanied by his adopted goldfish brother and best friend Darwin. Gumball's other family members—his intellectual sister Anais andstay-at-home father Richard, both rabbits, andworkaholic mother Nicole, a cat—often find themselves involved in Gumball's exploits. Gumball attends school with his siblings at Elmore Junior High, where throughout the series he interacts with his various middle school classmates, most prominently his love interest Penny Fitzgerald.
One prominent feature of the series since its third season is "The Void", a dimension inside of Elmore where all the universe's mistakes reside. This includes references to aspects of reality as well as in-series elements. An episode from the revival series, "The Rewrite" establishes that the Void will end the show's universe when the series is cancelled, or if the main characters discover they are fictional. Rob is a background character from the first two seasons who became trapped in The Void after becoming "irrelevant". He later escapes in season 3, after which he becomes Gumball's nemesis and main antagonist. He is shown to be aware of his fictional existence in the season 4 episode "The Disaster", and his hatred towards Gumball is a result of his role as the protagonist.[25]
Seasons 1-3 were originally produced as twenty 22-minute episodes that consisted of two 11-minute segments, although in the U.S., the segments aired separately. Starting with season 4, the 11-minute segments were produced and aired individually worldwide, the same being the case with the spinoff miniseriesDarwin's Yearbook andThe Gumball Chronicles.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| Pilot | May 9, 2008 (2008-05-09) | |||
| 1 | 36 | May 3, 2011 (2011-05-03) | March 13, 2012 (2012-03-13) | |
| 2 | 40 | August 7, 2012 (2012-08-07) | December 3, 2013 (2013-12-03) | |
| 3 | 40 | June 5, 2014 (2014-06-05) | August 6, 2015 (2015-08-06) | |
| 4 | 40 | July 7, 2015 (2015-07-07) | October 27, 2016 (2016-10-27) | |
| 5 | 40 | September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01) | November 10, 2017 (2017-11-10) | |
| 6 | 44 | January 5, 2018 (2018-01-05) | June 24, 2019 (2019-06-24) | |
| Darwin's Yearbook | 6 | December 14, 2019 (2019-12-14) | December 28, 2019 (2019-12-28) | |
| The Gumball Chronicles | 8 | October 5, 2020 (2020-10-05) | June 20, 2021 (2021-06-20) | |
On 17 September 2015, series creatorBen Bocquelet announced on his Twitter page that a crossover episode with an unknown show would air as part of thefifth season. This turned out to be the episode "The Puppets", which features characters and settings fromDon't Hug Me I'm Scared.[26] Additionally, "The Copycats" featured the characters interacting with ones similar to those fromMiracle Star, a Chinese clone of the show.[27][28]
"The Boredom" featured characters fromClarence,Regular Show, andUncle Grandpa making cameo appearances.[29]
Gumball made a cameo appearance on theUncle Grandpa episode "Pizza Eve", along with other characters from other Cartoon Network shows.[30]
Gumball made a cameo appearance on theOK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode and Cartoon Network special "Crossover Nexus", along with other characters from other Cartoon Network shows.[citation needed]
Waiting for Gumball is a series of thirteen shorts featuring Gumball and Darwin and inspired by the episode "The Puppets".[31]
A six-episode miniseries titledDarwin's Yearbook aired on Cartoon Network from 14 to 28 December 2019. The miniseries features Darwin attempting to complete Elmore Junior High's yearbook by examining who he thinks should fill up the best spot.[32] The miniseries predominantly consists of recycled clips from previous episodes of the original series presented in aclip show style.[33]
Another series ofclip show episodes, titledThe Gumball Chronicles, premiered on 5 October 2020, withThe Curse of Elmore.[13] On 2 November 2020, four more episodes (each beginning withVote Gumball...and) themed around the2020 United States presidential election were aired back-to-back, revolving around Gumball's attempts to get a running mate so he can run for school president.[34]
WhenCartoon Network Studios Europe was created in 2007,Ben Bocquelet was hired to help people pitch their projects tothe network. However, when the studio decided to have its employees all pitch their own ideas,[4] he decided to take some rejected characters he had created for commercials and put them together in one series set inside of a school.[1] Daniel Lennard, vice president of Original Series and Development atTurner Broadcasting System Europe, was impressed by the premise and approved production of the series in 2009.[35] Turner officially announced the production of the series on 24 September 2009, of which the series would originally consist of forty eleven-minute episodes.[36] thirty-six episodes were produced for its first season in collaboration with Studio Soi, Dublin-basedBoulder Media Limited,[37][38] and Dandelion Studios.[39] Prior to the series' premiere, ther series was renewed for a second series in March 2011,[40] followed with a third in October 2012.[41]
On 17 February 2021, the Cartoon Network Twitter account confirmed that a film based on the series is currently in development (see#Feature film).[42]
A sneak-peek was debuted onCartoon Network UK on 2 May 2011, one day before the US premiere. The series would debut proper on the British Cartoon Network channel on 19 September. The first two seasons were released onCartoon Network channels in over 126 countries, with the third season rolling out through 2014.[43] Episodes ofThe Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball released onHulu in the United States from 29 July 2025, and released on Cartoon Network and HBO Max internationally from 6 October.[citation needed]
The Amazing World of Gumball is available on video on demand services, and is available to stream. Episodes are available onHulu andNetflix internationally, and was previously available to stream onHBO Max before being removed in September 2024.[citation needed]
The show aired onBoomerang from 1 December 2014 to 23 October 2015, its second run from 30 November 2015 to 25 December 2015, its third run from 1 February 2016 to 2 April 2017, its fourth run from 2 May 2022 to 31 October 2022, and its fifth run from 4 April 2023 to 29 September 2023.[44]
On 3 May 2011, the series premiere ofThe Amazing World of Gumball was watched by 2.120 million viewers in the United States.[45] "The Goons" is currently the highest viewed episode of the series, with 2.72 million viewers. "The Potion" is the lowest viewed episode, with only 0.42 million viewers, approximately 15% of its series high.[citation needed]
The Amazing World of Gumball has received critical acclaim.[46][47] In a favorable review, Brian Lowry ofVariety described the series as "mostly a really clever spin on domestic chaos" and "first-rate silliness."[48]Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weekly was also positive, writing: "There are few examples of mainstream children's programming as wildly imaginative, as visually and narratively daring, asThe Amazing World of Gumball."[49]
The A.V. Club's Noel Murray graded the DVD release of the series' first 12 episodes a B+, writing that "what sets [The Amazing World of Gumball] apart from the many other super-silly, semi-anarchic cartoons on cable these days is that it features such a well-developed world, where even with the eclectic character designs, there are recognisable traits and tendencies."[50]Wired writer Z noted that the series "manages to have genuine heart even as the plots themselves transition from well-worn TV tropes to all out madness."[51]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Annecy International Animated Film Festival | Best Television Production[52] | "The Quest" | Won |
| British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[53] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
| Writer[53] | Jon Foster andJames Lamont | Won | ||
| Royal Television Society Awards | Children's Programme[54] | "The Quest" | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Production for Children[55] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
| Directing in a Television Production[55] | Ben Bocquelet andMic Graves | Nominated | ||
| Music in a Television Production[55] | Ben Locket | Nominated | ||
| Voice Acting in a Television Production[55] | Logan Grove | Nominated | ||
| ASTRA Awards | Most Outstanding Children's Program or Event[56] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
| British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[57] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
| BAFTA Kids' Vote – Television[57] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | ||
| Writer[57] | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster and James Lamont | Won | ||
| Broadcast Awards | Best Children's Programme[58] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| International Emmy Kids Awards | Kids: Animation[59] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
| Irish Film & Television Awards | Children's/Youth Programme[60] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Production For Children | "The Job" | Nominated |
| British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[61] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| BAFTA Kids' Vote – Television[61] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | ||
| Writer[61] | The Amazing World of Gumball writing staff (Ben Bocquelet, Jon Brittain, Tom Crowley, Jon Foster, Mic Graves, Chris Garbutt, James Lamont and Tobi Wilson) | Won | ||
| 2014 | British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[62] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
| BAFTA Kids' Vote – Television[62] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | ||
| Writer[62] | The Amazing World of Gumball writing staff | Nominated | ||
| Hall of Game Awards | Best Cartoon Boogie | Richard Watterson | Won | |
| 2015 | British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[63] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
| 2016 | British Animation Awards | Best children's series and Children's choice Award[64] | "The Shell" | Won |
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Cartoon[65] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[66] | "The Money" | Won | |
| Writer[66] | "The Origins Parts 1 & 2" writing staff (Ben Bocquelet, Mic Graves, Louise Coats, Nathan Auerbach, Daniel Berg, Joe Parham, Tobi Wilson, Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Jones) | Won | ||
| 2017 | British Academy Children's Awards | Animation[67] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
| Writer[67] | The Amazing World of Gumball writing staff | Nominated | ||
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Cartoon[67] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Annie Awards | Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production[68] | Nicolas Cantu | Nominated |
| Promax BDA Global Excellence Award 2018 | Micro Video Content[69] | "Christmas" | Won | |
| British Academy Children's Awards | Comedy[70] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated | |
| Director[70] | Mic Graves | Nominated | ||
| Writer[70] | The Amazing World of Gumball writing staff | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | British Academy Children's Awards | Writer[71] | The Amazing World of Gumball writing staff | Won |
| 2020 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Animated Series[72] | The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
| 2022 | British Academy Children's Awards | Writer[73] | Joe Markham,Mic Graves, Tony Hull | Won |
| Director[74] | Mic Graves | Nominated |
On 18 June 2014,Boom! Studios began publishingThe Amazing World of Gumballcomic book series, which would end in 2015 after eight issues.[75] The series was written by Frank Gibson and illustrated byTyson Hesse.[76] Eight original graphic novels were also released.[citation needed]
| Region | Set title | Season(s) | Aspect ratio | Episode count | Time length | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The DVD[77] | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 28 August 2012 (re-released on 7 October 2014) |
| 1 | The Mystery[78] | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 15 January 2013 |
| 4 | The Amazing World of Gumball: Volume 1[79] | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 3 July 2013 |
| 1 | The Party[80] | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 13 August 2013 |
| 4 | The Amazing World of Gumball: Volume 2 | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 1 April 2014[81] |
| 4 | The Amazing World of Gumball: Volume 3 | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 132 minutes | 6 August 2014[82] |
| 2 | Volume 1 | 1 | 16:9 | 12 | 138 minutes | 6 October 2014[83] |
| 1 | The Amazing World of Gumball: Volume 4[84] | 2 | 16:9 | 12 | 144 minutes | 4 November 2014 |
| 4 | The Complete First Season | 1 | 16:9 | 36 | 396 minutes[85] | 5 August 2015 |
| 2 | Volume 2[86] | 2 | 16:9 | 40 | 449 minutes | 4 November 2019 |
Characters and locations fromThe Amazing World of Gumball are depicted in the crossover video gameCartoon Network: Battle Crashers.[87]
At the 2023Annecy International Animation Film Festival, a seventh season ofThe Amazing World of Gumball was announced to be in production, with no release date confirmed yet.[19][20] AnEIDR listing would reveal that the seventh season would have 40 episodes.[88] At the following year's festival, details on the seventh season were revealed, including the announcement that it was now under full production, and a preview of the episode "The Burger",[89] which would open the season, was showcased.[90] It was announced that the season would release by 2025.[91][better source needed] In May 2025, it was announced that the seventh season would officially be retitledThe Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, and released onHulu in the United States and onCartoon Network in other countries.[92] It was also announced that Alkaio Thiele, Hero Hunter, and Kinza Syed Khan were cast as the new voices of Gumball, Darwin, and Anais respectively, withTeresa Gallagher and Dan Russell returning as Nicole and Richard Watterson.[93]
In June 2025, a release date of 28 July 2025 was confirmed.[94] The show began its international rollout on Cartoon Network and HBO Max on 6 October 2025. Another set of episodes that comprised the second half of the first season[note 2] were released on 22 December 2025 on Hulu.[95][96] Another 40 sets of episodes that comprisesThe Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball's second season[note 3] were ordered in December 2025.[97][98]
In an interview withThe Times newspaper, series creatorBen Bocquelet mentioned plans for a feature film based on the series.[99] However, after Bocquelet announced his departure from the show followingthe sixth season,[100] he stated that he doubted a film would be made.[101]
In March 2018, Bocquelet's interest in aGumball film was seemingly revitalized as he stated that he "might have a good idea" for a film.[102] He later added that he had two ideas, one for a potential theatrical film and one for a potential direct-to-video film.[103]
On 29 September 2018, during a Q&A with the series directorMic Graves at Cartoon Network UK's 25th-anniversary screening, he confirmed that a script forThe Amazing World of Gumball film was in the works. He also said that he hopes for the film to happen. Bocquelet[104] retweeted a tweet which stated that the script for a film based onThe Amazing World of Gumball was being written, however, it was then unknown if the film would actually be made.[105] After the season six finale "The Inquisition", was met with mixed reviews from fans of the series due to itscliffhanger ending, Bocquelet stated it was not his choice to conclude the episode that way, adding that it would be resolved if a film based on the series were produced.[106] Such a plot was teased for the season finale ofThe Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, titled "The Rewrite".[107]
On 17 February 2021,WarnerMedia announced that atelevision film was in development under the working titleThe Amazing World of Gumball Movie.[14][108] On 21 September 2021, Cartoon Network announced that the upcoming film had been greenlit under the titleThe Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie!, with original series creator Ben Bocquelet serving as director and executive producer.[109] The film would focus on Gumball's biggest fan finding a missing episode from the television show and accidentally opening a portal that connects Gumball's cartoon world to his own. After meeting the characters, they will join Gumball, Darwin, Anais, Richard, and Nicole in saving Elmore from a nefarious menace looking to overtake the town. It would act as the "epic conclusion" to the original series and establish the world for a new accompanying show with the working titleThe Amazing World of Gumball: The Series.[15] On 22 August 2022, the film was announced as one of six projects that would no longer be debuting on the streamerHBO Max, but would instead be shopped at a different outlet.[110] Bocquelet later said, in a 1 September 2022 tweet, that the film's fate is "a bit of aSchrödinger's cat question".[111] He still expressed hope that the film will continue at some point.[112] Nothing was heard about the film until almost two years later, when, at the2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Bocquelet was asked about the film during a Q&A session. He confirmed that the film was still being worked on, with the story and script being revised.[17]
