A list of my favorite Gravity Falls animation flexes, in not particular order:
(Also I don’t know anything about animation, this stuff just seems really hard)
- Integration of mixed media into a normally 2D show
Most commonly with the 3D modeled boats, cars, mechas, etc during action scenes (which are almost indispensable form the 2D, wow), but also the pixel art of Rumble and GIFany, the claymation parts of Gift Shop of Horrors, the actual irl puppets for Sock Opera (just for the credit scene! Not even the real episode!), AND the brief flash of live action for part one of the finale!
That’s such a creative way to spice up the art style now and then!
- Literal animated sleight of hand
The glasses in Carpet Diem, the journal 2 grab, pushing the vending machine closed in Scaryoke, and of course the switcheroo in the finale where all fingers, chins, and hair streaks are exactly where they should be if you look closely enough. I have watched too many reaction videos and the ratio of people catching these on a first viewing to being completely fooled is pretty even, which is exactly what you want with this kind of foreshadowing!
- Blink and you’ll miss it visual storytelling
The amount of detail packed into every interior room background in this entire show is unbelievable, especially with the flashbacks to the 60’s/70’s/80’s. Every prop is so carefully chosen to enhance the setting and characterization.
Not to mention the emotional nuances single-handedly communicated by small changes in character’s faces!
I also have to mention the swing set from Stan’s mind, because I have so many feelings about that thing. It’s in a grand total of four scenes, across four episodes, and that is all the time it needs to be one of the most potent and efficient visual metaphors I’ve ever seen.
The lighting guys. Just… the lighting. Those muddy, dim crimsons that tell you shits about to go down, leaving everything is silhouette??? The pallid, sci-fi blue-whites that wash everything out and usually juxtapose against the red, to an equally unnerving effect??? The faux lens flares from the theater spotlights in that iconic shot from Sock Opera??? The zombie-green and black light-purple that permeate the climax of Scaryoke??? I’m sure there’s more examples too, but those are the ones that really stick out to me
This show is just so cool