Buffy Meets Twin Peaks In Disney's 2-Part Fantasy Masterpiece

Published Aug 30, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once.

Disney is home to a two-part masterpiece TV show that’s a perfect combination of the best things about Twin Peaks and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although Disney is mostly associated with animated movies with a family-friendly tone, it has also found great success on TV. Surely, most of Disney’s TV content is aimed at young audiences, but its best shows appeal to viewers of all ages, such as live-action shows like Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana, and animated ones like Phineas and Ferb.

Disney has brought some of the best animated TV shows of all time, all of them with different styles, such as Gargoyles, Kim Possible, and DuckTales. Also found on that list, and one of the Disney shows widely regarded as a masterpiece, is Gravity Falls. Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD from 2012 to 2016 for a total of two seasons. Gravity Falls was a success with critics and general viewers, building a loyal following and quickly becoming one of Disney’s best TV works.

Gravity Falls brings together the best elements of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twin Peaks in a fun animated format. Gravity Falls features various fantasy and horror creatures like Buffy does, and it’s set in a town hiding many dark secrets and conspiracies, as happens in Twin Peaks. Gravity Falls is unlike any other Disney show, and no other show has surpassed or even matched its greatness yet.

Gravity Falls Is Disney's Most Successful Kid-Friendly Horror Show

Gravity Falls introduces viewers to 12-year-old twins Dipper (voiced by Jason Ritter) and Mabel (Kristen Schaal), who are sent to spend the summer with their great uncle (or “Grunkle”) Stan Pines (Hirsch) in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. Once there, Dipper and Mabel discover that the town hides many dark and disturbing secrets, some of them involving their family. With the help of new friends, Dipper and Mabel investigate the mysteries of Gravity Falls, taking them on a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Gravity Falls perfectly blends fantasy, horror, sci-fi, mystery, and comedy, and unlike other animated shows that are aimed at a young audience, Gravity Falls is a show for viewers of all ages. While Disney has other kid-friendly horror shows, both live-action (like So Weird) and animated (like The Owl House), none of them had the same impact, quality, and reach as Gravity Falls, thus being the studio’s most successful kid-friendly horror show.

On top of that, Gravity Falls also has character development, emotional depth, and relatable characters, along with many hidden clues and more to bring the audience into the town’s mysteries and make it an immersive experience. The endearing dynamics between Dipper and Mabel, their growing bond with Grunkle Stan, and their connection to their new friends further add to Gravity Falls’ greatness, along with its one-of-a-kind villain.

Will A New Season Of Gravity Falls Ever Happen?

Despite its success, popularity, and having a lot more to cover, Gravity Falls only has two seasons. While this was enough for Hirsch to tell a complete story, it definitely leaves the door open for a continuation. In 2017, Hirsch shared that there were talks to make a Gravity Falls movie, but Disney passed on it, arguing it wasn’t big enough to warrant a movie (via The Mary Sue). In 2024, Disney Television Vice President Meredith Roberts hinted at the possibility of a Gravity Falls return (via The Direct), but there have been no updates since then.

Gravity Falls has expanded to other media since the show’s end, most notably with books, with The Art of Gravity Falls releasing in September 2026. A third season of Gravity Falls seems unlikely, even during the era of reboots and revivals, and there isn’t much hope for a continuation as a movie, either. Surely, Disney could still surprise fans of Gravity Falls with a new season, movie, or a spinoff, but until then, it remains a must-watch masterpiece.

Sources: The Mary Sue, The Direct.

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  Jason Ritter

  Dipper Pines (voice)

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  Kristen Schaal

  Mabel Pines (voice)