‘The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball’ Creator Talks About Animated Series Disney Plus Revival
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball is now streaming on Disney Plus and Hulu, bringing back Ben Bocquelet’s weird vision with fresh excitement on July 28, 2025.
What You Need to Know…
Premiere: Kicked off July 28, 2025, on Hulu and Disney+ with 20 episodes, with an international debut on October 6, 2025.
Creative Continuity: 40 episodes build on Gumball’s legacy with new tales, thanks to Matt Layzell.
Collaborative Effort: Ben Bocquelet leans on teamwork with Erik Fountain and Matt Layzell.
Animation Innovation: Erik Fountain loves the show’s mix of animation styles.
Global Reach: Airs on Cartoon Network and HBO Max internationally.
The excitement is palpable as The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball landed on Hulu and Disney+ yesterday, July 28, 2025, reviving the magic of The Amazing World of Gumball. This 40-episode spinoff, shaped by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, started with 20 episodes, welcoming back 12-year-old blue cat Gumball Watterson, his goldfish brother Darwin, and their quirky Elmore crew with a joyful blend of 2D, 3D, CGI, puppetry, and live-action. With an international rollout set for Cartoon Network and HBO Max on October 6, 2025, the buzz is growing, thanks to the warm insights from creator Ben Bocquelet and his team.
These behind-the-scenes chats, shared with Animation Magazine, show the heart poured into this revival. It’s a chance to revisit what made Gumball special while adding new stories, offering a treat for fans who’ve missed the Elmore antics.
How does Ben Bocquelet keep the Gumball revival true to its roots?
Ben Bocquelet, the heart behind Gumball’s worldwide appeal, is focused on staying connected to its origins. He told Tell-Tale TV, “We’re trying to sort of have this time capsule of what the fans were trying to do with their original creations,” weaving in fan-inspired moments like “The Shippening” in select episodes to keep the past alive.
He’s also looking ahead with hope, saying, “I hope it’s massive… I’m already writing new episodes for potential season eight, but it’s not greenlit just yet,” per Tell-Tale TV. It’s a sign he’s eager to keep the story going, depending on how fans take to this new chapter.
What does Matt Layzell bring to Gumball’s storytelling evolution?
Matt Layzell, an executive producer, wants to build on the foundation fans adore. He shared with Animation Magazine, “We really wanted this to be kind of a continuation of where the show left off… trying to elevate things and tell new stories with the characters we already had,” giving old favorites a new shine.
“We really wanted this to be kind of a continuation of where the show left off. So we wanted more of the same great Gumball stories, like returning to some of our favorite characters. Really doing more of the same and trying to elevate things and tell new stories with the characters we already had.”
He also mapped out a storytelling approach, noting in Tell-Tale TV, “The episodes of Gumball kind of fall into three categories… a real kid place, social commentary, or an experimental episode.” This variety pulls from everyday kid experiences, timely topics, and creative risks, keeping things fresh.
How does Erik Fountain capture the magic of Gumball’s animation?
Erik Fountain, a key part of the team, is excited about the show’s visual charm. He told Animation Magazine, “The fun thing about Gumball is it’s a bit of a love letter to animation… uses every single technique,” celebrating the mix of stop-motion, 2D, live-action, and CG that makes it unique.
“The fun thing about Gumball is it’s a bit of a love letter to animation in a way, because it uses every single technique and medium. And so you can have a stop-motion character standing next to a 2D character standing next to a live-action character or a fully CG world.”
He also gave a nod to the Studio Soi crew, saying in Tell-Tale TV, “Just from a production standpoint, it blows my hair back… the animators care, the designers care.” Their passion brings Bocquelet’s quirky ideas to life with a personal touch.
Why should fans look forward to this Gumball comeback?
The teamwork shines through, with Bocquelet telling Animation Magazine, “With Erik and Matt working it over… it’s nice to have two super talented people to rely on and share the load.” It’s a collaborative effort that feels like a warm hug to longtime viewers while inviting new ones.
Layzell adds to the appeal, describing it as “a beautiful world in which you can just kind of go crazy,” per Animation World Network. With 40 episodes full of laughs and heart, it’s a playground for fans to lose themselves in Elmore’s weird and wonderful world.
What’s the backstory of The Amazing World of Gumball and its cliffhanger?
The Amazing World of Gumball first aired on Cartoon Network on May 3, 2011, born from Ben Bocquelet’s creative spark with a fun mix of 2D, 3D, CGI, puppetry, and live-action. It ran for six seasons and 240 episodes until June 24, 2019, following Gumball Watterson, his goldfish brother Darwin, and their Elmore family, winning hearts with its offbeat humor.
The story wrapped up with “The Inquisition,” leaving fans on edge as a glitchy, reality-warping force threatened Elmore, with Gumball and Darwin’s fate hanging in the balance. That cliffhanger has kept the excitement alive, paving the way for this 2025 revival to pick up where it left off.
Reported and Edited by Ivy Adams for Pirates & Princesses. Catch the Pirates & Princesses Podcast on Spotify and other platforms. Subscribe for the latest on Disney, animation, travel, entertainment, and more!
Sources:
Animation Magazine: “‘The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball’ Creator Ben Bocquelet Dishes on His Critically Acclaimed Show’s Comeback,” July-August 2025, No. 351
Tell-Tale TV: “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball Creators Interview: Ben Bocquelet & Erik Fountain,” July 2025
Animation World Network: “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball: Animation Without Rules,” July 2025
Wikipedia: “The Amazing World of Gumball,” accessed July 2025
Wikipedia: “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball,” accessed July 2025