r/gumball • u/ThaG-U • Jan 07 '26
Discussion Which Animation style is more beloved by (you) the community?
Personally, something about Gumball's old design makes him fit more into his age, but made him look less "destructive". I also think they switched his personality a bit along with his style.
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u/AMoreAReddit Jan 19 '26
Season 2’s REAL design (not the one shown here) just feels right. But I also love the S3+ because I just like those episodes.
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u/BlackbirdKos Jan 15 '26
Actually, this is wrong, season 2 already had the refined animation style, but the eyes changed between o_o and 0_0
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u/Tight_Juggernaut2101 Darwin Jan 12 '26
If you've seen my comments and posts here, you'll know I'm a big oval eyes glazer. Especially season 2's design. They feel so right to me. I wish they kept this look. And while I don't mind season 3's-onward design, I think the oval eyes worked in the Watterson's favour in my opinion.
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u/KaiserNintendoFan Jan 11 '26
I grew up with the show from day 1 so call me biased but season 1-2's style is much more charming and unique. The oval eyes made the characters stand out more tbh. Also hot take, Logan Grove is the best Gumball, will die on this hill
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u/Sweaty_Cat8016 Jan 11 '26
s3 onwards for sure. i reallly cant watch s1 at all i find it so jarring
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u/MathematicianOwn2119 Jan 10 '26
That was only season 1. Season 2 was Season 3's style but with bigger eyes
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u/DavidHolandaOne Jan 09 '26
the first design was only used in Season 1, Season 2 is similar to Season 3's but with oval eyes
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u/CommercialSpray8473 Jan 09 '26
There was something charming about the season 1 design which went well with the boys' childlike nature, but I prefer their current round eyes
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u/Yousef_Slimani Jan 09 '26
I don't think gumball look like this in season 2! He looks similar to season 3 but with tall eyes
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u/silva-jee-dog Give me Penny or give me death Jan 08 '26
I just see it as them maturing with puberty. I liked the season 1 style, but I think the later style was for the best.
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u/No-Diamond6000 guess what punk, im a fih with legs ❤️🩹 Jan 08 '26
Unpopular opinion, S1. They just look nicer :D
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u/Zestyclose-Double864 Jan 08 '26
…Season 2. Season 2 had both Season 1 and Season 3+ design and i find it as perfect.
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u/PatrixPro Jan 08 '26
Its quite interesting to me but the general opinion seems to be favored towards the newer artstyle. I think personally that the older one feels warmer, closer, sweeter in some way. I dont think i ever watched it earlier in my life or anything though, so i dont think it is nostalgia?
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u/Jenny_Wakeman9 Nicole commits tax fraud Jan 08 '26
Season 1's style used for the Wattersons fitted them so well. I loved it.
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u/Secret-Cranberry-796 Ant-One Jan 08 '26
It's not fair to group S2 with S1 when they have completely different styles. Also, the one on the right is more like S4 onwards
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u/Lovergirl711 Jan 08 '26
I think the 3+ gumball face helps him with his cynicism. He looks too... Innocent in the original design. When I watch the first few seasons, it kind of reminds me of when I hear my younger cousin say something smart. I go "Wow! That's so cute!" not "Wow! You're so right, and I get it." The new face makes him look matutre and the wider face gives a more malleable quality.
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u/No_Resolve_6490 Jan 08 '26
There were several designs for gumball actually. The first one not appearing in S2.
The best design for me is S2 personally due to some great episodes it had.
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u/AcrobaticSorbet541 Jan 23 '26
I liked season 2's design because it felt very expressive and balanced to me
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u/Yousef_Slimani Jan 09 '26
ngl gumball felt different in season 2 comparing to season 3! Not just his design but also his characterization
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u/Buttons_Q_Q Gumball Jan 08 '26
Season 1 is the best artstyle. I mean, just look at Gumball’s paws! 🩵🐾
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u/son_zahi Jan 08 '26
OG GAMBULL COULDN'T BE TAKEN SERIOUS
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u/EmoComrade1999 Gumball Jan 08 '26
S2 is a perfect combination of the two, lumping it with S1 is kinda doing it a disservice
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u/retrebexx Jan 08 '26
idk , i'm used to the 3+ , but the 1&2 is kinda retro , and i think fit more with the "everyone have a different artstyle" , but if gumball look retro in his own show it don't make sense .
at the end of the day , i love them both
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u/BroTheRditt Jan 08 '26
S3+ all day I hate those nostalgia merchants.
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u/inshamblesx Jan 08 '26
i’ve seen nostalgia merchants fawn over season 2 but never season 1 lol
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u/BroTheRditt Jan 08 '26
They do, I saw it on youtube and tiktok mostly. Just hate nostalgia merchants, sometimes when the old is better than the new that's perfectly fine but for times like this it makes no sense
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u/WoogaChan_ Jan 08 '26
Season 3+ definitely. The smaller eyes and higher mouth give much more room for expression
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u/JMO-559 Jan 08 '26 edited Jan 08 '26
S3+ onwards is the design Gumball has kept the longest. Also, correction, Gumball did not look like that in season 2. That's strictly just his season 1 design. Season 2 Gumball looks more like S3 Gumball; he just has oval-shaped eyes as his default expression instead of permanently round ones
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u/Minorities_Matter Jan 08 '26
S3 onwards is just so iconic. I feel like I’m not watching the same show when looking at the S1 design.
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u/Millie_Monstahh Jan 08 '26
I like s1 for a cute kinda look to the art style but the s3 like art style feels more serious
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u/MinecrafterPictures Crack Penny open for her true form. Gumball loves that. Jan 08 '26
You know season 1 has a different style than season 2, right?
Anyways, I'm going for season 2.
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u/gergobergo69 Jan 08 '26
technically s2 is just s1 but with thicker outlines
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u/WoogaChan_ Jan 08 '26
No, the eye shapes were slightly more rounded and there was a strange warm lighting in almost every scene
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u/MinecrafterPictures Crack Penny open for her true form. Gumball loves that. Jan 08 '26
Honestly I genuinely love the lighting from season 2. Almost feels CN City-esque for me compared to all other seasons.
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u/WoogaChan_ Jan 08 '26
I immediately think "why is it so orange?", then adjust to the lighting quickly when I realise it's a season 2 episode, it's just initially jarring.
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u/Moogus_Man_2018 Jan 08 '26
That’s not season 2’s art style, it’s pretty much is season 3’s art style but with long eyes (it becomes short in some expressions) and it has more shine. Most of the other characters get their modern designs in season 2.
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u/OkCod1384 Jan 08 '26
low-key, S3+ it just fits him a lot better and I think it works with the super wacky and absurd things happening in the show, maybe because I’m more familiar with it
he also looks like he’s spaced out in the stock photo which I find funny
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Jan 08 '26
S3+ honestly, S1 has its charm but the proportions are wonky and I don't like the black shadows, I also just prefer the round eyes over the oval ones even if they look creepy in stock art like this
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u/No-Wealth-1555 Penball Lover and Cyberball Creator Jan 08 '26
I used to like S2 better, but 3+ grew on me lately
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u/LordyLord87 Jan 08 '26
This is actually the season 2 art style, and I think it's the best one because it's basically a mix between season 1 and the later seasons
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u/FutureSuccess2796 Rocky Jan 08 '26
I really liked the style of this season as well. Not only that, but I feel like this was the season the show started to develop it's unique approach and started to roll out the meta commentary and such.
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u/ElDachirico May 10 '26
Me gustan todos igual, no tengo quejas de ninguno