The Amazing World of Gumball
The Amazing World of Gumball | |
---|---|
File:GumballLogo.jpg Title card | |
Genre | Comedy Surreal humor Fantasy Slapstick |
Created by | Ben Bocquelet |
Written by | Ben Bocquelet Jon Foster Mic Graves James Lamont Sam Ward Andrew Brenner David Cadji Newbi |
Directed by | Mic Graves |
Voices of | Logan Grove Kwesi Boakye Kyla Rae Kowalewski Teresa Gallagher Dan Russell |
Composer | Ben Locket |
Country of origin | Ireland |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 38 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Ben Bocquelet Michael Carrington Daniel Lennard |
Producer | Joanna Beresford |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production company | http://www.bouldermedia.tv |
Original release | |
Network | Cartoon Network |
Release | May 2, 2011 - | –
The Amazing World of Gumball (sometimes referred to simply as Gumball) is a Irish animated television series created by Ben Bocquelet .It was created in Dublin Ireland by the Irish animation company Boulder Media, which is located in Dublin Ireland. It first aired on May 2, 2011 in the United Kingdom as a sneak preview and officially premiered on September 5, 2011. In the United States, a sneak peek aired on May 3, 2011 and premiered in full on May 9, 2011. The series is rated TV-Y7-FV.
Production
When Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe was created in 2007, Ben Bocquelet was hired in order to help people pitch their projects to the network. However, when the studio decided to have its employees all pitch their own ideas,[1] he decided to take some of the rejected characters he had created for commercials and put them all in one series, with a school setting.[2] Daniel Lennard, the Vice President of Original Series and Development at Turner Broadcasting UK,[3] liked the idea and the series was ultimately greenlit. There were twenty half-hours worth of episodes written for the first season, but only eighteen were actually created.[4] A second season was announced on March 17, 2011 and it will consist of an additional twenty half-hours worth of episodes, bringing the total to thirty-eight.[5]
Cast and Characters
Main Characters
- Gumball Watterson (voiced by Logan Grove): He is the main protagonist of the series. A male 12-year-old trouble-making cat who repeatedly does idiotic things but never learns his lesson. He can get really angry at some points. He has an unbearable crush on Penny, the antlered peanut. Despite his rambunctious behavior, he can be loyal, serious and often kind-hearted. He has hugged Anais in one episode. He is often victim of circumstance.
- Darwin Watterson (voiced by Kwesi Boakye): Formerly Gumball's pet goldfish, he grew legs one day and became fast friends with Gumball. He subsequently became a member of the family. Due to his sudden introduction into the world, his world view is somewhat skewed and he tends to be more naïve than other characters. Although his best friend can sometimes be a negative influence on him, he is very loyal to Gumball and is smart at times. He often helps Gumball out of any sticky situation.
- Anais Watterson (voiced by Kyla Rae Kowalewski): A prodigy at four years old, she is a rabbit who is considered to be the youngest and smartest character on the show, often being called a genius and attending school with her much older brother. Gumball resents the fact that she is always telling him what to do, but deep down, he actually loves her, and knows she's always right, there was also one time they hugged each other. Although impatient with her brother, she often tags along with him on his misadventures as a voice of reason. She also helps Gumball out of any situation.
- Nicole Watterson (voiced by Teresa Gallagher): A workaholic cat mother, who also works long hours cleaning the house, she is the only responsible member of the family aside from Anais. She has a short temper and can get quite angry, and is also competitive by nature. She often acts like a guide when Gumball and Darwin get in a tough spot with their misadventures. She often gets over-stressed. She is extremely strong. It's seen in the last segment she fights with Tina's father in a warehouse. In the end, the warehouse collapses on Tina's father.
- Richard Watterson (voiced by Dan Russell): A massive rabbit stay-at-home dad, he does not appear to have any degree of responsibility or intelligence. He usually just spends all of his time sleeping, occasionally not even bothering to get dressed. He has a large appetite and is a voracious eater. He often serves as a third-wheel to his son's misadventures and cares for his family very much. His favorite child in the family is Darwin.
Episodes
A total of 36 segments have been made for season one, which is 18 half-hours worth. It premiered on May 2, 2011 in the United Kingdom at 10:00 AM BST, with encores having aired throughout the day. The United States was the first nation to get the full series premiere, beginning on May 9, 2011, at 7:30 PM ET/PT. Season two is currently in development, with an additional 40 segments having been ordered, which is 20 half-hours worth. Because the segments were meant to be aired in pairs, the total number of episodes that have been made or ordered is 38, although Cartoon Network US has opted to split the premieres and only air one new segment a week beginning June 6, 2011. The series airs in its intended pairs when it fully premiered in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2011.[6] The series premiered on October 1, 2011 at 9am on Cartoon Network Asia along with the unveilling of the CHECK it Era theme. On January 8, The show moved from Mondays to Tuesdays to bring in Total Drama: Revenge of the Island premiering in the beginning of Summer 2012.
Critical reception
Brian Lowry of Variety gave the show a favorable review. His review calls it "mostly a really clever spin on domestic chaos" and says that it "qualifies as first-rate silliness."[7] The special preview that aired on May 3, 2011 scored 2.120 million viewers and premiere on May 9, 2011 scored 1.937 million viewers.[8]
Awards
Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 Annecy International Animation Film Festival | Best Television Production[9] | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
2011 BAFTA Children's Award (United Kingdom) | Animation 2011[10] | Animators of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
Writer 2011[10] | Writers of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
39th Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Production Children | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
Directing in a Television Production | Mic Graves and Ben Bocquelet | Nominated | |
Music in a Television Production | Ben Locket | Nominated | |
Voice Acting in a Television Production | Logan Grove | Nominated | |
2012 Kidscreen Awards | Best Animated Series (Kids category) | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
Best Animation (Creative talent category) | Animators of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
Best Kids Program (Viewer's choice category) | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
Broadcast Awards 2012 | Best Children's Programme | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
9th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards | Children's/Youth Programme | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
2012 British Animation Awards | Best Children's Series | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won |
Children’s Choice | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Won | |
Royal Television Society Awards 2011 | Children's Programme | Production Staff of The Amazing World of Gumball | Nominated |
References
- ^ Kidscreen "Ready To Roll"
- ^ toonzone "Toonzone Interviews "The Amazing World of Gumball" Creator Ben Bocquelet"
- ^ Animation Insider "Cartoon Network Europe Promotes Daniel Lennard"
- ^ Annecy "Annecy 2011 Official Selection / Film Index
- ^ Turner Media Innovations "The Amazing World Of Gumball Machine Gears Back Into Action"
- ^ Turner Media Innovations Sponsorship Information
- ^ Lowry, Brian (3 May 2011). "Cartoon Net Charms With Clever Import 'Gumball'". Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
- ^ Tuesday's Cable Ratings: TNT Rides NBA Doubleheader
- ^ Turner Media Innovaitons
- ^ a b "Awards Database". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 28 November 2011.