Draft:Bill Cipher

• Comment: none of these sources count for notability, the notability of fictional characters hinges on the non-in-universe content, of which this has little beyond listicles and more general show content PARAKANYAA (talk) 21:57, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: I think this can definitely meet requirements, I'm gonna work on it a bit wherever I have time. BuySomeApples (talk) 00:07, 11 February 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: While I don't believe this character meets WP:NFCHAR, I will acknowledge the discussion that occurred at Talk:List of Gravity Falls characters § Bill Cipher page and reserve judgement on that fact. With that said, notability aside, this article is entirely plot summary and in-universe character information, with very little dedicated to notability in the Reception section that would lead to establishing notability. I suggest the editor review an example page in the same universe to get an idea of what is required for mainspace article of NFCHAR. MicrobiologyMarcus ^{(petri dish•cultures)} 19:42, 12 October 2023 (UTC)

• Comment: This draft is for a title that was previously an article, but was then cut down to a redirect. If this draft is accepted, the history should be preserved. Do not tag the redirect for G6.
  Reviewers should check the history and verify whether there was a consensus to cut the article down to a redirect, or whether the action was taken boldly without discussion. If there was a consensus for the cutdown, do not accept this draft without verifying that the draft improves the article or that consensus has changed. If in doubt, please discuss.
  Robert McClenon (talk) 17:42, 2 July 2023 (UTC)

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Bill Cipher
Gravity Falls character
First appearance	"Dreamscaperers" (2012)
Last appearance	Bart's in Jail! (2021)
Voiced by	Alex Hirsch

Bill Cipher is a fictional character and a primary antagonist in the Disney channel animated series Gravity Falls. The character is voiced by the show's creator Alex Hirsch. He is a "dream demon" that can be summoned and released into a person's mind. Bill first appears physically in "Dreamscaperers". However, many references to him are hidden throughout the backgrounds of the episodes and within the opening of the series. He is also a prominent character in the Gravity Falls book, Gravity Falls: Journal 3.

Bill Cipher has also been featured in the 2021 episode of The Simpsons, "Bart's in Jail!".

A novel centering this character is currently in the works, titled The Book of Bill. This book is set to release on July 23, 2024. Unlike the original series, this novel is marketed as being "for older audiences".

Background

Bill Cipher's name is thought by fans to either a pun on the Beale ciphers (or ciphers in general, considering their prominence in the series,) or a reference to the Eye of Providence that appears on the American dollar bill. Film director David Lynch was asked to voice Bill, as Gravity Falls was inspired greatly by Lynch's series Twin Peaks. However, Lynch declined the offer. Hirsch voices the character with what he calls a "bad impression" of Lynch.

In his standard form, Bill Cipher resembles a one-eyed yellow triangle superficially similar to the Eye of Providence with thin black limbs, wearing a top hat and a bow tie, and often carrying a cane. However, his form is shown as malleable in the series, as he changes his appearance seemingly at will; for example, Bill turns red and grows in size after becoming angered in the episode "Dreamscaperers."

Role in Gravity Falls

Bill Cipher is one of the primary antagonists of Gravity Falls. He is portrayed as smart and focused on getting his way, not caring much for the feelings of others and manipulating them to do his bidding. His primary goal through the series is to be freed from the "Mindscape" and bring about an apocalypse he calls "Weirdmageddon". His attempts at reaching his goals are often thwarted by protagonists Dipper and Mabel Pines throughout the series. However. Mabel unintentionally helps him bring about Weirdmaggedon through her actions in the Season 2 episode, "Dipper and Mabel vs. The Future."

After the credits of the final episode of the series ("Weirdmageddon Part 3: Take Back the Falls"), Bill Cipher's petrified form is shown in live-action, isolated deep in a forest. This marks the beginning of the Cipher Hunt, a real-life scavenger hunt which congratulated winners with a real-life statue of Bill. The statue was eventually found in August 2016 by fans of the series.

Reception

Bill Cipher has been described by Robin Reynolds of MovieWeb as the "Most Relatable Villain Ever", and his relatability has been highlighted by MovieWeb in other articles published by the site. Cipher's character is described as being sadistic but interpreted by some as one who wishes to be recognized. Cipher additionally is noted for his power and his express use of bodily harm on a frequent basis, landing him the designation of among the most terrifying villains from children's shows. His ruthlessness and willingness to make others suffer for his own enjoyment has also been regarded as one of the character's greatest strengths in fiction, and has landed him as a character and the series praise from viewers, noting him as one of Disney Channel's best villains. Bill' interdimensional powers have also led internet theorists to speculate that Bill is secretly the Rick and Morty one-off character Mr. Poopybutthole, especially when considering the friendship between Hirsch and Rick and Morty show runner Justin Roiland.

Critical analysis of Bill by Ars Technica has credited him as being the manifestation of the fear of the unknown, with journalist Cassandra Khaw noting Bill as one of the most prominent incarnations of fear within Gravity Falls. Khaw further uses Bill's relation to fear of the unknown as the most prominent example of fear being a core theme of Gravity Falls.

References

Category:Disney Television Animation drafts Category:Drafts about fictional people Category:The Walt Disney Company drafts