Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch signed an exclusive deal with Netflix yesterday. | Image from Gravity Falls trailer.
Big news was announced yesterday: Animator and CalArts alum Alex Hirsch (Film/Video BFA 07), creator of the Annie and BAFTA award-winning series Gravity Falls, signed an exclusive deal to develop new animated TV series and features with Netflix.
Cindy Holland, vice president of original content for Netflix said in a press release, “Alex is an imaginative storyteller with new ideas who’s quickly developed a reputation as a fresh new voice in animation. We couldn’t be more excited to work with him as we continue expanding our adult animated slate.”
Shortly after graduating from CalArts, Hirsch pitched and sold Gravity Falls to Disney, based on the 11-minute pilot he made during school. The inspiration for the show came from Hirsch’s childhood experiences with his twin sister during their summer vacations. The quirky mystery series received critical acclaim and ran for two seasons from 2012-2016 (40 episodes in total) on Disney and Disney XD. The series continued as a graphic novel, which was released earlier this summer (July 24), and became a New York Times bestseller.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing roster of talent coming to Netflix.” Hirsch said in Netflix’s press release. “Plus it couldn’t hurt to be on The Algorithm’s good side before The Singularity hits. Awesome things are coming!”
Under this new deal I’m expected to
1) Make new TV shows!
2) Make new movies!
3) Get a giant red N tattooed on my face!(#3 is still being negotiated)
— Alex Hirsch (@_AlexHirsch) August 27, 2018