The Amazing World of Gumball season 1
| The Amazing World of Gumball | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 Cover art for The Party, the most recent home video release containing episodes of the first season | |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Cartoon Network |
| Original release | May 3, 2011[1] – March 13, 2012 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of the British-American animated comedy children's television series The Amazing World of Gumball originally aired from May 3, 2011, to March 13, 2012, on Cartoon Network, and was produced by Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe, in association with Boulder Media and Dandelion Studios. Consisting of 36 episodes, the season premiered with the episode "The DVD" and concluded with the episode "The Fight". The season premiere was watched by 2.120 million viewers in the United States.
Development
Plot
The season focuses on the misadventures of Gumball Watterson, a blue 12-year-old cat, along with his adopted brother, Darwin, a 10-year-old goldfish. Together, they cause mischief among their family, as well as with the wide array of students at Elmore Junior High, where they attend middle school. In a behind-the-scenes video documenting the production of the second season, creator Ben Bocquelet expanded on the development of some of the characters, and how they are based on interactions from his childhood.[2]
Production
The first season began filming on November 2, 2010, and ended filming on September 13, 2011. The first season premiered in the US on May 3, 2011, with the episode "The DVD" and ended March 12, 2012, with the episode "The Fight" almost a year later. The world premiere of the show was on May 11, 2011, on Cartoon Network UK with the episode "The Mystery". Episodes for this season were written by Bocquelet, Jon Foster, James Lamont, Andrew Brenner, Mic Graves, Sam Ward, David Cadji-Newby, and Tommy Panays, and storyboarded by Ben Marsaud, Celine Gobinet, George Gendi, Dave Smith, Philip Warner, Chuck Klein, Chris Garbutt, Aurelie Charbonnier, Amandine Pécharman, Rob Latimer, Kent Osborne, Darren Vandenburg, Jacques Gauthier, Dave Needham, Tom Parkison, and Michael Gendi. Two episodes, entitled "The Mom" and "The Pizza", were written for this season, but never produced.[3] However, the concept of the former was reused in the show's third season's episode "The Mothers"; and the concept of the latter was reused in the show's second season's episode "The Job" but then, it became an episode of the show's third season with the same name "The Pizza" and the second was later produced (but with some changes) in the show's third season.[citation needed] Two episodes more never produced like the aforementioned, but their plots and titles are still unknown.[3]
Reception
Ratings
The season premiere "The DVD" was watched by 2.120 million viewers in the United States, and received a 0.4 rating in the 18–49 demographic Nielsen household rating.[4] Nielsen ratings are audience measurement systems that determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States, which means that the episode was seen by 0.8 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds at the time of the broadcast. This season had an average of 2.00 million viewers per episode in the United States. "The DVD", the first episode of the season, was broadcast on a Tuesday night at 8:30 pm. All episodes of the season from "The Responsible" to "The Club" were broadcast on Monday nights at 7:30 pm. All remaining episodes of the season, starting with "The Wand", were broadcast on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm.
Critical reception
The A.V. Club's Noel Murray graded the DVD release of the series' first 12 episodes a B+, writing that "what sets [The Amazing World of Gumball] apart from the many other super-silly, semi-anarchic cartoons on cable these days is that it features such a well-developed world, where even with the eclectic character designs, there are recognizable traits and tendencies."[5] "Z." of GeekDad gave the first volume DVD a positive review; he praised the season for having "genuine heart even as the plots themselves transition from well-worn TV tropes to all out madness."[6] He panned the lack of extra features on the disc, but said "[the disc] at least gives viewers the opportunity to experience the show's delightful theme song, ... often truncated during television broadcasts".[6] Tyler Foster of DVD Talk gave the first season a lukewarm review.[7] In reviewing the first DVD volume, he praised the "knockout" visuals but felt the animation was "relatively simple, even when it's going exaggerated for a gag."[7] He was weary of the morals presented in the premiere, and found the comedy throughout the volume "anemic".[7] He criticized the lack of extra features on the disk, saying the single character gallery "was so anemic I can't even give it half a star."[7] DVD Verdict reviewer Paul Pritchard gave the first volume 88 out of 100.[8] He praised the season for its visuals, which he felt complemented the series' "anarchic nature".[8] He stated that while the moral lessons aimed toward family audiences, he stated that, "in something of a twist, such lessons are completely lost on Gumball and his pals—something I personally took great delight in."[8] However, he wrote that the lack of a selection extras was "pretty poor."[8] Mac McEntire of the same website also applauded the season's visuals but stated "laughs are hit or miss", and that the randomness of the humor was "its biggest detriment"; he gave the second volume 75 out of 100.[9] Nancy Basile of About.com favored "The Ghost" out of the third DVD volume; she praised the series as a "smart, fast-paced, hilarious cartoon."[10]
Episodes
 | This article needs an improved plot summary. (September 2024) |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date [1] | Prod. code | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The DVD" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster, and James Lamont | Ben Marsaud | May 3, 2011 | GB120 | 2.12[11] |
|
Gumball and Darwin accidentally destroy a late rental DVD and attempt to avoid the consequences, but fail when Nicole finds out. | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Responsible" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Andrew Brenner, Jon Foster, Mic Graves, and James Lamont | Celine Gobinet | May 9, 2011 | GB111 | 1.39[12] |
|
Gumball and Darwin attempt to show their responsibility by babysitting Anais while their parents are at a school meeting. | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Third" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster, James Lamont, and Sam Ward | George Gendi | May 16, 2011 | GB109 | 1.96[13] |
|
Gumball and Darwin grow bored of one another and seek out a third friend to make their lives more exciting. | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Debt" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster and James Lamont | George Gendi, Dave Smith, Philip Warner, and Chuck Klein | May 16, 2011 | GB110 | 1.96[13] |
|
Believing that his life has been saved by Mr. Robinson, Gumball vows to repay his debt by saving Mr. Robinson's life. Song: I Want to Be Free | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The End" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster and James Lamont | Ben Marsaud | May 23, 2011 | GB135 | 1.89[14] |
|
Gumball and Darwin think that the world will end in 24 hours. | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Dress" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Mic Graves, and David Cadji-Newby | Chris Garbutt | May 23, 2011 | GB112 | 1.89[14] Song: Fine Lady |
| 8 | 8 | "The Spoon" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster, James Lamont, and Mic Graves | Ben Marsaud | May 30, 2011 | GB106 | 1.90[15] |
|
While buying a last-minute gift for their mom, Gumball and Darwin become unwitting accomplices in a stick-up at a gas station. | ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Laziest" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster, James Lamont, and Mic Graves | George Gendi, Ben Marsaud, and Amandine Pécharman | June 20, 2011 | GB121 | N/A |
|
Gumball and Darwin challenge Richard to a laziness competition, with the loser having to do the winner's chores. Songs: Sugar Rush Song, Please Do It Larry!, We Won! | ||||||||
| 12 | 12 | "The Ghost" | Mic Graves | Ben Bocquelet, Jon Foster, James Lamont, and Mic Graves | George Gendi and Phillip Warner | June 27, 2011 | GB108 | N/A |
|
When Carrie possesses Gumball's body in order to eat, he must learn to say "no" to her. | ||||||||
DVD releases
| Volume 1: The DVD (Season 1 Volume 1) | |||||
| Set details | Special features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| DVD release dates | |||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| August 28, 2012[16] October 7, 2014 (reissue) |
N/A | October 9, 2015 (complete season) (currently unavailable) | |||
| Volume 2: The Mystery (Season 1 Volume 2) | |||||
| Set details | Special features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| DVD release dates | |||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| January 15, 2013[17] | N/A | October 9, 2015 (complete season) (currently unavailable) | |||
| Volume 3: The Party (Season 1 Volume 3) | |||||
| Set details | Special features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| DVD release dates | |||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| August 13, 2013[18] | N/A | October 9, 2015 (complete season) (currently unavailable) | |||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Amazing World of Gumball Season 1 episodes". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ↑ Behind the Scenes of Season 2. London: Cartoon Network. July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bocquelet, Ben [@benbocquelet] (September 16, 2012). "@LiamMillay there was The Mom, The Pizza and a couple more that didn't have any names yet" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: TNT Rides NBA Doubleheader". The Futon Critic. May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ↑ Murray, Noel (August 29, 2012). "The Amazing World Of Gumball: The DVD". A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Z. (September 2, 2012). "Be Amazed By The Amazing World of Gumball". GeekDad. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Foster, Tyler (August 28, 2012). "The Amazing World of Gumball: The DVD". DVD Talk. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Pritchard, Paul (September 9, 2012). "The Amazing World of Gumball: The DVD". DVD Verdict. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ↑ McEntire, Mac (January 18, 2013). "The Amazing World of Gumball: The Mystery". DVD Verdict. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ↑ Basile, Nancy (August 6, 2013). "The Amazing World of Gumball: The Party DVD". About.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: TNT Rides NBA Doubleheader". The Futon Critic. May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ↑ Broadcast TV Ratings: Cartoon Network (May 9–15, 2011) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. May 22, 2011.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Broadcast TV Ratings: Cartoon Network (May 16–22, 2011) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. May 28, 2011.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Broadcast TV Ratings: Cartoon Network (May 23–29, 2011) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. June 3, 2011.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedQuestSpoon - ↑ Lambert, David (May 3, 2012). "The Amazing World of Gumball – DVD Announced for the Cartoon Network Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
- ↑ Lambert, David (September 26, 2012). "The Amazing World of Gumball—Volume 2: The Mystery DVD Announced for January". TVShowsOnDVD.com. TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
- ↑ Lambert, David (May 15, 2013). "The Amazing World of Gumball—Volume 3: The Party on DVD: Date, Cost, Extras, Artwork". TVShowsOnDVD.com. TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.