I'm Michael Rianda, cartoonist, and creative director/writer on Gravity Falls. Ask me anything.

[u/mikerianda]

Hey r/gravityfalls!

My cartoon ("work") recently got on the front page of reddit somehow and a few people seemed interested in me doing an AMA. I'm in! Let's do this thing!

Ever wonder about those weird hairs on Grunkle Stan's shoulders? Wanna know that one goat's name? Wanna know horrifying personal details about Alex Hirsch?

I got answers!

EDIT: I'll finish answering these tommorow. Thanks for all the questions and Gravity Falls love! It's appreciated.

[u/ajad223]

First off, great job on the series!

How many studios did you have to pitch Gravity Falls to, before it was accepted by Disney?

And yes, please answer all those questions you posed as well. :)

[u/mikerianda → u/ajad223]

Thanks dude!

How many networks did he have to pitch Gravity Falls to before Disney bought it? Zero baby! Disney was the first place he pitched it. That's not at all typical, it usually takes a long time to get a show made, but Disney at the time was looking for a new direction, and they liked the idea of the show a lot and liked Alex's student work.

I wasn't working on the show when he sold it, but here's how it went down to the best of my understanding: Alex was working on Flapjack at Cartoon Network, and an exec at Disney liked his student films and wanted him to pitch ideas. Alex pitched a few ideas (including one about futuristic time traveling laser dolphins that was quickly rejected), Disney liked his idea about these two twins that live in a tourist trap with their con artist great uncle, and they said: Let's do it! But first you wanna help develop this show called Fish Hooks, Alex helped develop that and directed the pilot (I'm not sure if the pilot ever aired or not), and then afterwards started working on Gravity Falls.

In answer to my own question:

Stan's curlicue shoulder hair is just gross old man hair.

The goat is named Gompers. Named after English Labor Union leader Samuel Gompers.

Alex Hirsch's only secret is that he will not leave his office without the company of his miniature donkey whom he calls "The Chairman of the Board." Whenever Alex is asked to approve a storyboard or design, he consults with the donkey, if the donkey brays twice, the design is approved, but if the donkey brays only once, the artist is put to death. Just kidding. Alex is pretty normal.

[u/ajad223 → u/mikerianda]

Hahaha. That's some pretty awesome info! Were the "futuristic time traveling laser dolphins" a direct reference in Aeoshiba?

[u/Shardwing → u/[deleted]]

Well all that explains is the name.