History YMMV / TheAmazingWorldOfGumball

** Some fans prefer to think that "The Web" never happened, due to Nicole being HopelessWithTech coming out of nowhere and contradicting the majority of the series showing her being able to computers just fine.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: This show has had jokes and subject matter that would be more at home on a sitcom more suited for older audiences (animated or otherwise), such as economic decline, parental favoritism, overzealous censorship, inappropriate romances, death, and discrimination, as well as references to works that most parents wouldn't consider suitable for children (including things like ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''), but puts a child-like/fantastical spin on it. It's one of the few post-2010 Cartoon Network shows to carry a TV-Y7 for fantasy violence (FV) on American TV while similar shows like ''Adventure Time'', ''Regular Show'', and even ''Clarence'' are rated TV-PG, further casting doubt on whether or not the show is strictly for kids. Unlike most Cartoon Network shows, however, ''Gumball'' actually balances kid humor with its dubious content.
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: The entire show can get into some majorly trippy moments due to DerangedAnimation and ToonPhysics, but special mention goes to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No_omXE6TK0 the opening]] that only aired once in America and has since been truncated[[note]]Overseas viewers either can see the opening in its entirety or have a specially-made opening. The ones from Japan and India are just as trippy as the original version that aired in the UK and can only be seen on most digital platforms in America, like Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime [[/note]]. It should be noted that the reason why the show looks the way it does isn't because of drugs. It's because Ben Bocquelet (who rarely drinks anything stronger than hot chocolate) is actually imaginative, works with imaginative people, loves graphic disunity, and wanted to save his rejected mascots (created from different types of art and animation styles) from being scrapped.

** Rob was initially a background character in season 1 and 2, the latter where he had a semi-supporting role in one episode to mock how unforgettable he is. However, the events of the season 3 episode "The Nobody" caused him to explode in popularity where he got a new redesign and a fleshed-out backstory that revealed what happened to him after the events of season 2, causing him to become one of the most tragic characters in the series. The second premiere episode of season 4, "The Nemesis", caused his fanbase to grow even more, as not only did he finally establish himself as a genuine villain, but also becoming the de-facto main antagonist of the series and Gumball's archenemy while maintaining his Darkhorse status due to how rare his appearances are, having the second most major roles of a non-Watterson after Penny and every episode he appears in, especially the season 4 and series finale, being the most serious episodes and having the most impact on the plot. To this date, he's generally considered among the fandom to be one of the most popular characters in the series after Darwin and one of the best villains in CN due to how well-written he is and being a great villain.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: This show has had jokes and subject matter that would be more at home on a sitcom more suited for older audiences (animated or otherwise), such as economic decline, parental favoritism, overzealous censorship, inappropriate romances, death, and discrimination, as well as references to works that most parents wouldn't consider suitable for children (including things like ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''), but puts a child-like/fantastical spin on it. It's one of the few post-2010 Cartoon Network shows to carry a TV-Y7 for fantasy violence (FV) on American TV while similar shows like ''Adventure Time'', ''Regular Show'', and even ''Clarence'' are rated TV-PG, further casting doubt on whether or not the show is strictly for kids. Unlike most Cartoon Network shows, ''Gumball'' actually balances kid humor with its dubious content.

** Sussie chewing the already-chewed gum given to her by [[Main/TheBully Julius]] in "The Weirdo".

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: As mentioned above, this show has had jokes and subject matter that would be more at home on a sitcom more suited for older audiences (animated or otherwise), such as economic decline, parental favoritism, overzealous censorship, inappropriate romances, death, and discrimination (as well as many shout-outs and references to TV shows, movies, and video games that most parents wouldn't consider suitable for children[[note]]such as Dexter dressed as Walter White's Heisenberg alias on ''Breaking Bad'' as seen on "The Bus" or the references to the fungal mutants from ''The Last of Us'' as seen on "The Saint" and "The Parasite"[[/note]]), but puts a child-like/fantastical spin on it, making it all the more outrageous, thanks to Creator/CartoonNetwork's censors being permissive at best and incompetent at worst. It's one of the few post-2010 Cartoon Network shows to carry a TV-Y7 for fantasy violence (FV) on American TV while similar shows like ''Adventure Time'', ''Regular Show'', and even ''Clarence'' are rated TV-PG[[note]](in fairness, the show in its native UK carries a PG certificate on the DVD releases for all the things that net it a TV-Y7, from comic slapstick and mild sexual innuendo to distressing/frightening/upsetting scenes and BlackComedy) and as of 2015, a lot of new shows on the network -- such as the ''Powerpuff Girls'' reboot and ''Mighty Magiswords'' -- are rated TV-Y7, only without the FV descriptor and actually have content that reflect the rating[[/note]], further casting doubt on whether or not the show is strictly for kids. Unlike most Cartoon Network shows, ''Gumball'' actually balances kid humor with its dubious content, even on episodes that feel a bit heavy on either extreme. Compare with most daytime Cartoon Network shows today, which either are too kiddie (i.e., ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'', ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'') or can easily be mistaken for {{bowdlerize}}d Creator/AdultSwim fare (i.e. ''Adventure Time'', ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'', and ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'')

** Clayton, the ball of clay, is loved for his awesome abilities of shape-shifting.

* AcceptableTargets: This show is essentially a G-rated ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', being unafraid to make fun of whatever the writers think is annoying/a problem in this day and age, from serious issues that plague the world today [[note]]like overzealous censorship, financial woes, corrupt businesses, economic decline, bullying, parental abandonment, sibling rivalry, unrequited love, incompetent workers, growing up, the decline in quality in American public schools, discrimination, and even police brutality[[/note]] to lighter, more relatively minor issues [[note]]like [[StrawVegetarian straw vegetarians]], the obsession with comic book superheroes, [[LoonyFan loony fans]] that make fanfiction and fanart of their favorite shows, advertising, the Internet (including memes and viral videos, which some viewers will tell you is a little too late to spoof, [[RuleOfFunny but is still hilarious regardless]]), social media addiction, and awkward/inconvenient moments in life[[/note]] while still being a fun show that kids can watch with their parents.
** Charities and charitable people also get targeted, as seen with the abuse Alan takes (especially in such episodes as "The Saint", "The Storm", "The Question", and "The Traitor"), and the ImagineSpot of Darwin using his share of Grandpa Louie's money to make his own charity, which includes commercial spots where he bullies people into giving and the unfortunately-named Coalition of Really, Really Useful People Together (C.O.R.R.U.P.T) on "The Check".
** People working 9-to-5 jobs are depicted as either slowly going insane because of the grind (as seen with Larry the rockheaded clerk in "The Game" [[note]]where he argues with himself over a pizza delivery he made to himself[[/note]] and "The Question" [[note]]Larry going mad from the revelation that his life has been nothing but working to the point that he steals a car, drives to the beach, and walks out to the ocean as if to commit suicide by drowning[[/note]]) or only tolerating it because of the money (as seen in the vignette on "The Extras" with the office workers realizing that they should be outside frolicking in the woods... until Karen comes by with their paychecks). "The Bumpkin", "The Money", and "The Kids" even imply that Gumball hates that kind of life (though this is justified as he is a kid). "The Boss" took it to extremes, depicting 9-to-5 workers as having their souls taken from them once they're hired and never allowed to retire (not even with a change in management).
** "The Blame" does a ''huge'' TakeThat to MoralGuardians for banning certain media that they think gives kids bad influence like video games or pop music, when it is their parenting that should be only their concern.
** Politicians (or really, politics in general) have been mocked several times throughout the show, such as in "The Vision" [[note]]Alan is depicted with a series of villain faces; one of which resembles UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump[[/note]] and in "The Move" [[note]]Where Darwin states that one of the best jobs Clayton could have is being the president and Gumball says that you have to be a liar to be president[[/note]].
** Fanartists have received quite a lot of mockery in the show, such as Gumball being creeped out after he apparently found fanart of himself online and the character of Sarah being a walking stereotype of {{Loony Fan}}s.
** The episode "The Copycats" is a ''huge'' TakeThat to the show's Chinese bootleg counterpart ''Animation/MiracleStar'' since they're copying the series and Cartoon Network isn't doing anything about it.
** "The Candidate" is a major TakeThat to the year 2016 as a whole, as the things insulted range from UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump's election to [[YouTubeKidsChannel YouTube kids' channels]].

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:
** Granny Jojo and Louie's verse in "Nobody's a Nobody" singing about how they still love each other in their old age was sweet in "The Compilation". After "The Catfish" showed how controlling, obsessive, and insecure Granny Jojo can be, it comes off more as two {{Stepford Smiler}}s trying to mask their issues with a cheerful song.
** In "The Gi", when Gumball says he's going to do the impossible, Jamie says "What, are you gonna get a girlfriend?" Guess who forces him and Darwin to be her boyfriends in "The Girlfriend".
*** This could be also HeartwarmingInHindsight when Gumball does get a girlfriend, [[LoveInterest Penny]], in "The Shell".
** In "The Date", Nicole's credit card expiration date is June 24. Eight years later, that also happens to end up being the date the last episode of the series aired.

** [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender Teri]], given her ButtMonkey status, and her (sometimes extreme) mysophobia and hypochondria. She's even a victim of bullying or the butt of jokes by her hypochondriac condition (mostly by Joan). She is a very friendly and nice girl, though.

** Tina Rex is a hulking dinosaur who plays a BarbaricBully at her school, but [[TookALevelInKindness takes a level in kindness]] and befriends the protagonist, and is also shown to have a rather rough home life. [[VideoGame/{{Deltarune}} Where else have we seen a character like her?]]

** Tina Rex is a hulking dinosaur who plays a BarbaricBully at her school, but [[TookALevelInKindness takes a level in kindness]] and befriends the protagonist, and is also shown to have a rather rough home life. [[VideoGame/{{Deltarune Where else have we seen a character like her?]]

* EpilepticTrees: Is the show's finale a lead-in to TheMovie? Does the movie exist? [[https://twitter.com/benbocquelet/status/1069697615330205707 The movie's been referenced and talked about by the creator,]] [[TrollingCreator but he's dodged answers]] [[ShrugOfGod of the existence of one.]] It is quite odd that the series ends in the weirdest situation of LeftHanging. [[https://twitter.com/benbocquelet/status/773562028489314309 He has said that the series will have its last episode on the finale of Season 6.]] Note how he says this is the last episode, meaning he could be LiteralMinded here, especially with [[https://twitter.com/benbocquelet/status/773572339883794434 the tweet that proceeds this.]] What's really weird is how much of a DownerEnding the show ends on [[spoiler:Rob falls into the void, realizing he couldn't save everyone, as it probably begins to consume all of Elmore. Talk about a BolivianArmyCliffhanger]] that [[WhamEpisode clashes a lot with the typical tone of the show.]] Ben Bocquelet posted after the episode was leaked online, [[https://twitter.com/benbocquelet/status/1134893544815112192 noting that the ending wasn't his choice]]. If it was ExecutiveMeddling, that'd be confusing as all hell. Why would he blame other people for an ending that wasn't his choice, and then choose to end the show there, unsatisfied? As a writer, producer, and the creator, he has more authority than the writers, so what's going on here? Who changed the ending and why? The logical explanation is that it's a tie-in to the movie, but the same tweet seems to question the existence of such a film. Does it exist or not? People theorized more answers should be given after the episode aired on TV, but a commercial played immediately after the episode for reruns. Cartoon Network is treating the series as if it's not ended at all. Gumball is still rerun frequently unlike shows that have ended recently, and advertisements and tweets still prominently feature the characters. What is going on?

** In "The Menu", Richard eats so many burgers that he starts sweating "sward"[[note]] sweat made out of lard[[/note]] and "sweeze"[[note]]sward made out of cheese[[/note]].

** UsefulNotes/SantaClaus, mostly because this version of him is voiced by jolly old '''Creator/BrianBlessed''' in LargeHam overdrive.

*** The Wattersons have Granny '''[[NamesTheSame Jojo]]'''.

* BrokenBase:
** Although you probably won't see very many people debate on it anymore, the [[ArtShift new art-style that the show started using after Season 1]] was predictably divisive. People either embraced the redesigns and more cartoonish look, were turned off at first but got used to it overtime, didn't notice it at all or were just straight-up dismissive of it and preferred the look of season 1 instead.
** Fans were also divided on whether or not Jacob Hopkins and Terrell Ransom Jr. made for good replacements of Logan Grove and Kwesi Boakye in voicing Gumball and Darwin, with some fans claiming that the vocal change has ruined the show while others were put off by the change at first, but now don't notice or care, so long as the rest of the show is still good. The same arguments were used when Nicolas Cantu and Donielle Hansley, Jr. (and later, Christian J. Simon) were hired as replacements for Jacob Hopkins and Terrell Ransom Jr.
** Similarly, some people (mostly fan artists who were used to drawing her as a doe-nut or people who thought she'd be a deer under her shell) thought Penny breaking from her shell hurt the show while others either embraced the new her or were put off with it at first, but now hardly notice or care, since she and Gumball are now a bit more open with their love.
** Opinions are divided on the show's use of internet memes. Either it was funny and brilliantly done or cringy and a sign that the writers were trying too hard to connect to modern audiences.
** The Gumball and Carmen social justice warrior battle in "The Best" has caused a minor controversy among people on whether it was hilarious and an accurate TakeThat moment or cringe-worthy and too much of a strawman.
** Is "The Candidate" a fun, sharp, intelligent and unique spoof of elections and [[ElectionDayEpisode election episodes]] starring the kids of Elmore? Or is it a preachy, condescending, naive and overly-partisan view of American politics (as told by people who aren't even American, as most of the Gumball staff are from the UK and continental Europe) that relies too much on shallow strawmen?
** "The Shippening" immediately became controversial not too long after its premiere. Many fans found the episode hilarious for poking fun at fanfic writers and fanartists who create [[CrackPairing weird]] [[IncestYayShipping ships]], uninspired [[OriginalCharacter OCs]], and {{animesque}} fanart. Others, however, especially the very type of people that the episode was mocking (weird or not), disliked the episode for being a very blatant and somewhat mean-spirited [[TakeThat jab towards the fan works]], with some having [[MisaimedFandom interpreted the episode as making fun of the fandom and fan works in general]].
** Is "The Parents" a heartwarming tale about a woman and her estranged family swallowing their pride and letting go of the past so they can finally reconcile after years of separation? Or is it a lackluster sequel to "The Choices" that sends out a rather bad message about how you should always want to keep your AbusiveParents in your life, no matter how badly they treated you for years, simply because they're family?
** The exaggerated faces made in Seasons 5 and 6, especially the so-called "[[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/285630123518984203/467319983777775626/life_is_lovely_isnt_it.png The Face]]". Are they funny and creative, or just stupid and unnecessary?
** Is "The Inquisition" a good finale to the series using its length wisely, having the entirety of Elmore Jr. High sent off with a fascinatingly menacing villain to boot, on top of still finding a way to be funny despite the darker tone of the episode, and does a wonderful job with [[spoiler:its climax]] hyping up the (maybe) BigDamnMovie or was it so much of a failure that only the (as yet unmade) finale movie can fix it?
** Did "The Inquisition" really end on a disappointing cliffhanger[[note]]especially when compared to the finales of ''Regular Show'', ''Adventure Time'', ''Steven Universe'', and even ''OK KO Let's Be Heroes'', which, at least were advertised as double-length specials and had a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue to tie up the loose ends[[/note]] or (considering how much the ''Gumball'' crew likes to play around with the tropes and conventions of visual media) was this Ben and company trying to give a cynical show a cynical ending and the audience that's used to big finales with conclusive and satisfying endings not understanding it or taking it as a sign that the staff didn't care about the show anymore and just threw an ending together at the behest of the executives (given that Ben Bocquelet tweeted that the finale episode wasn't what he envisioned and that the as-yet unmade movie would fix everything, this may be a possibility)?
** The more cynical and satirical tone of the later seasons. One half of the fanbase feel it improves the show by taking advantage of its [[MindScrew trippy]] [[CrapsaccharineWorld setting]] to add a fair dosage of dark humor while giving the feel of reality with its [[TakeThat clever jabs]] towards modern day issues. The other half feel that the tone adds an unnecessarily mean edge to what they feel should have been a light-hearted and fun show.
** Fans are also divided over the ''incredibly'' surreal nature of the series post-Season 1. Most fans were happy with the show actually doing something with its bizarre world and developing a practically limitless possibility of over-the-top humor. However, there are more than a few fans who wish the series stook with the (relatively) more down-to-earth nature of the first season, feeling that the later seasons became overreliant on surrealism.
** As the series went on, there were debates over which of the post-Season 2 seasons was the best overall. Was it Season 3 for the DenserAndWackier nature and surprising amounts of heart? Season 4 for RevisitingTheRoots of the first two seasons, increased character building and refining the series itself? Season 5 for the SequelEscalation that involved more satirical screwed-up jabs that's closer to ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' than the other seasons? Or Season 6 for the major increase in 4th wall breaking?
*** For that matter, there were also debates over which season was the ''weakest'' overall. Season 1 due to its EarlyInstallmentWeirdness? Season 2 due to the ArtShift and the more [[SadistShow mean-spirited]] [[TookALevelInJerkass tone]]? Season 3 ''because'' of the aforementioned DenserAndWackier nature? Season 4 for featuring too much depth in what is supposed to be a surreal comedy show ([[CerebusRollercoaster albeit without removing much of said surrealism and comedy]]), as well as its usage of internet memes? Season 5 for focusing too much on political satire and BlackComedy? Or Season 6 for becoming too self-aware of itself?

* IdiotPlot: Quite a large number of episodes, such as "The Finale" and "The Countdown" for example, fall under this category since they're mostly driven by the characters (mainly Gumball and[=/=]or Darwin) making rather poor choices. Justified, however, as none of them are particularly bright people ([[NotSoAboveItAll even Anais has her moments]]).

* AccidentalInnuendo: This part from "The Worst". [[spoiler:They were just squeezing Anais' cheeks]].

* AcceptableTargets: This show is essentially a G-rated ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', being unafraid to make fun of whatever the writers think is annoying/a problem in this day and age, from serious issues that plague the world today [[note]]like overzealous censorship, financial woes, corrupt businesses, economic decline, bullying, parental abandonment, sibling rivalry, unrequited love, incompetent workers, growing up, the decline in quality in American public schools, discrimination, and even police brutality[[/note]] to lighter, more relatively minor issues [[note]]like [[StrawVegetarian straw vegetarians]], the obsession with comic book superheroes, [[LoonyFan loony fans]] that make fanfiction and fanart of their favorite shows, advertising, the Internet (including memes and viral videos, which some viewers will tell you [[WereStillRelevantDammit is a little too late to spoof]], [[RuleOfFunny but is still hilarious regardless]]), social media addiction, and awkward/inconvenient moments in life[[/note]] while still being a fun show that kids can watch with their parents.

** Opinions are divided on the show's use of internet memes. Either it was funny and brilliantly done or cringy and a [[WereStillRelevantDammit sign that the writers were trying too hard to connect to modern audiences]].