On Feb. 15, 2016, fans of "Gravity Falls" like myself joined as Mabel and Dipper Pines' summer came to an end, watching their bus drive away. Fans everywhere believed that the mystery was over, just as summer was. But at the end of the credits of the final episode, as we were wiping away our tears, a split-second picture stunned fans everywhere:
Michelle Jaworski in her article, "'Gravity Falls' creator sends fans on a worldwide scavenger hunt" states that: "Hirsch took credit for setting up the scavenger hunt, an unofficial fan tribute, and stressed that Disney has nothing to do with it. He also quickly tweeted out rules that asked fans not to trespass while searching for clues — they’re all located in public places — and to keep an eye on their surroundings so they don't walk into traffic or other hazards."
The hunt for the Bill Cipher statue is on, but as Alex Hirsch states in his hidden message, "Don't forget it's all for pleasure, the hunt itself's the real treasure." Even actor Jason Ritter, the voice of Dipper Pines, and Ariel Hirsch, the inspiration for Mabel and Alex Hirsch's twin sister, joined in on the hunt.
The community surrounding "Gravity Falls" left me stunned. Everyone is live-streaming the hunt and working together to decipher codes. It's such a rich family to be a part of, and as Hirsch stated in the past, we are all "honorary members of the Pines family." As a family, this adventure is for all of us, as clues are being found all across the globe. The adventure began in Russia, and is currently in Los Angeles!
Even though the summer had ended, the mystery and adventure extends into real life. And, just as Mabel and Dipper weren't alone, neither are we.
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