In April 2011, I stumbled across a clip from an upcoming Cartoon Network show. Two siblings of two different species forcefully dilate their eyes to persuade one another into retrieving a doll from a T- Rex. The older brother gives up and gives in, if only his sister and by-standing brother joins him. Ever since then, I have watched every episode of The Amazing World of Gumball and Thursday night was anticipated for years.
Before "The Shell", Gumball was a child-oriented series involving visual gags and slapstick, retro pop culture references, some cutesy banter between the characters. With this episode being aired during a time when the shtick was getting stale and uninteresting, a change of voice actors for the two main characters, and the show slowly becoming a softer Regular Show, it was a breath of fresh air, as well as setting new standards for Gumball. This episode touched me in a certain way more than a two-parter episode of some male- infested Equine Circus for Girls, or any other television series, in a little under 11 minutes.
We finally get to see a certain character's true form, after the much liked fan theory of this lass being a deer, or doe-nut, kept us tided over, then proved to be completely wrong. I won't say, but it's very Miyazakian, so much that it made me watch Spirited Away again the next night. There are elements of comedy, but under its shell is a drama that reaches Toy Story 3-level tenderness.
I was very glad I kept following this show for about 3 and a half years. Maybe that's why it resonated with me so much, I cared about these adorable characters for as long as I can remember. I am eagerly waiting for the next episode and follow the continuity.