Gravity Falls and Avatar: The Last Airbender are arguably two of the best animated series ever created. They appeal to and are appropriate for viewers of all ages, have interesting characters, tell exciting and entertaining stories, and both managed to end when they should have!
Perhaps all of these factors are exactly why fans have been arguing for years trying to decide which of the two is better with some even claiming that the shows are the best animated series in history. Well, here are five reasons why Avatar: The Last Airbender is better than Gravity Falls, and five more why it's the other way around.
10 GRAVITY FALLS: It Reimagines Classic Paranormal & Supernatural Elements
Gravity Falls has a seemingly simple premise: Two kids visit their kooky grandpa/uncle for the summer and discover that the town he lives in is full of paranormal/supernatural beings and/or creatures that are sometimes friendly and other times nefarious.
But what makes it all the more interesting is that the show takes these classical monsters and deconstructs or reimagines them. Gnomes? Nope, it's Mabel's new boyfriend. Loch Ness Monster? Nah, it's a robot. Illuminati? Are you kidding? It's a terrifying flying triangle named Bill Cipher, no big deal!
9 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: There's More Detailed World-Building
Avatar takes a completely different approach to its world-building which is, in part, why it is way more detailed than the one in Gravity Falls. Even if it clearly has some basis on our history, the world of the Avatar is different from our own with its numerous locations, races, creatures, powers, and more.
There is a long history to this world, and we only get to see a tiny bit of it. To understand what the show is about, you already need to learn a certain amount of information that includes bending, races, the concept of the Avatar, who the main characters are, and the latest events before the beginning of the show including the war and Aang's disappearance.
8 GRAVITY FALLS: It Has A Charismatic & Unique Villain
Gravity Falls seems to be more lighthearted than Avatar, but its villain is way more terrifying than anyone in the latter. While every villain in Avatar is human, Bill Cipher is a supernatural entity who managed to gain access to the real world. Upon arriving, he decided he had to bring chaos and destruction into this new realm.
Bill is nearly unstoppable. He is a master manipulator, which is why he easily finds gullible human pawns who can be used to complete his plans. He also destroyed his original world and everyone who was in it, including his own parents. He is sarcastic and charismatic, making him a fan favorite despite the fact that he wants to pretty much destroy reality itself just for kicks.
7 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: It's A Deep Examination of War & Its Effects
One of the reasons why Avatar is considered such a great show is that it explores such difficult topics as the ethics (or lack thereof) of war. Moreover, the show does it in a way that is complex yet understandable for its young demographic, with a clear anti-war message built into its core.
Different characters react to and are affected by war in various ways. Aang runs away from his responsibilities out of fear, inadvertently bringing war onto the world. Katara and Sokka lose their mother and don't see their father for a long time, forcing them to grow up quicker than a child should. And in what may very well be the most famous redemption arc of recent memory, Zuko has to unlearn everything he absorbed when he lived among people who believed that war is normal and invading other lands is the only aim in life.
6 GRAVITY FALLS: It's Not Afraid To Show Dark Imagery
Similarly, Gravity Falls also explores some pretty dark topics, though its horrors are more literal than the psychological trauma examined in Avatar. Gravity Falls features some really disturbing visuals, which is quite unusual for a Disney cartoon aimed at kids.
Bill literally alters reality, numerous monsters that the twins encounter are straight out of a horror movie, and even Mabel's imagination is so wild that you start wondering whether she is fine mentally. Perhaps, these dark elements are exactly why the show is so appealing to many viewers of different ages.
5 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: It Makes Serious & Mature Topics Approachable
War, expansionism and imperialism, racism, spirituality, patriotism, family relationships, PTSD and trauma, disabilities, responsibility, coming of age, morality, justice, vengeance -- these are just some of several themes and topics that Avatar explores.
By diving deeper into the series and analyzing its characters and events, you realize that it's actually not as simple as it may seem on the surface. There are different layers to it with every scene, fight, and dialogue being used to illustrate a certain point.
4 GRAVITY FALLS: The Vibrant Animation Style
Both shows have their own distinct animation style, but Avatar has one downside: the characters will often only have their mouths animated when they talk (as is common in such shows to make the animation easier), which can be a little distracting.
Gravity Falls, however, doesn't suffer from this. The backgrounds are always beautiful while the characters' moves are consistent. The colors are also very vibrant making the animation a feast for the eyes.
3 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: The Action Sequences
Where Avatar truly excels in is its action. All the fight scenes are so well-choreographed and the battles are so impressive that you sometimes forget that you are watching what's essentially an animated show for kids. Moreover, not every movie can show off such action sequences that mix martial arts with superpowers this cohesively.
The reason why the fight sequences are so good is that the creators hired a specialist to give them advice about various martial arts. Every bending style is based on a real-life martial arts field, making the characters' movements in the show even more realistic and believable.
2 GRAVITY FALLS: It's Filled With Unexpected Plot Twists
Though Avatar has plenty of plot twists, Gravity Falls has the ones that are most unexpected. After all, a show that takes so many familiar clichés and flips them over is bound to have numerous plot twists that can't be anticipated easily.
For example, the time when Bill Cipher gave Dipper the password he needed in exchange for one of Mabel's puppets turned out to be completely unexpected. Keen fans knew that Bill will do something bad, but they don't suspect he would possess Dipper's body, with him considering it a puppet.
1 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: It One Of The Most Brilliant Examples Of Storytelling Ever Seen
Cool plot twists are not everything when it comes to storytelling. There are many small details that have to come together to form a coherent story and plot that also has layered characters and recurring themes. That being said, it's hard to argue against the claim that Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best examples of brilliant storytelling.
Even its "filler" episodes like "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" are widely considered by fans to be the best episodes in the series. This may not sound like much but it's high praise when the contrary is true for most shows similar to Avatar. Flashbacks, multiple storylines, even action sequences all have a purpose in Aang's overall quest.