If our glowing review of “The Doomies” did not make it clear enough, this show is officially our top must watch series of the summer. The richly animated, spooky comedy that feels like spiritual successor to “Gravity Falls” which is what we have all been waiting for. With the entire season dropping on Disney+ this Friday, June 26th, we wanted to dive deeper into the mysteries of Subterra, the rich folklore, and all of the secrets behind those gorgeous, creepy visuals. We were lucky enough to get the chance to speak with the brilliant minds pushing the boundaries of kids’ animation, so sit down and relax as we talk to co-creators Andres Fernandez and Henry Gifford as well as animator Pozla (Rémi Zaarour) about the show.
Check out our exclusive interview below to learn about how they came up with these terrifying monsters, if the series has an end, why the crew ate an inspiring amount of crêpes and how they feel about those massive “Gravity Falls” comparisons!
BSCKids: How did the idea for the “The Doomies” start?
Andres Fernandez: I responded to a call for proposals from Xilam, who wanted to develop a horror show for kids. I wanted to focus on the background extra who finds himself caught up in the adventures of the Chosen One as she battles the forces of evil. I thought it had good potential for comedy, so I came up with Bobby, and very quickly, I created his best friend Romy, the Chosen One Kim, and their guide Doug—an expert in the occult—to form the Doomies team.
We love the animated style of the show, how was that decided?
AF: I’ve been a fan of Pozla’s work for a long time, and I’ve had the chance to work with him on various projects, so it seemed natural to ask him to create the artwork for “The Doomies.” He has a very unique style and he’s very prolific. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work on this project with him and all the team.
Pozla Rémi Zaarour: Andrés was already familiar with my work through my comics and my contributions to various films. We had collaborated before, and we both shared the desire to create a project together. He approached me with a story concept and invited me to develop my visual style around it.
Initially, my intention was to create a very simple graphic style—something that would translate easily into the animation pipeline while retaining the organic quality of my drawings. But as we gradually developed the characters and expanded the world, the project became far more ambitious and complex than we had originally imagined.
For instance, we first considered setting the series in the American desert, partly because it would make the backgrounds easier to handle. But once we decided to relocate the story to Brittany, everything changed. Suddenly, we needed twisted, quintessentially French architecture, dense forests, dramatic cliffs, rural landscapes, ancient ruins, and the ocean—essentially a collection of some of the most challenging environments to draw.
And then, of course, there are all those monsters appearing in every episode!
I am sure that you have heard this a lot, but when we first heard about “The Doomies,” we thought it might actually be the first series that would be worthy to carry on the torch for “Gravity Falls.” We know we aren’t the only ones that think this, so how do you feel about that and did “Gravity Falls” have any influence on you?
AF: “Gravity Falls” is an incredible show, and I feel honored to be compared to it. My original intention was to create a horror series for kids inspired by the movies I watched as a kid: “Ghostbusters,” “Gremlins,” and, of course, “The Goonies.” That’s where most of my inspiration came from. My goal was really to make a “Evil Dead” for kids😊
Henry Gifford: “Gravity Falls” ran so that “The Doomies” could walk. “Gravity Falls” is an amazing show and I am sure it had even more influence on us than we realise. It set the bar super high, which meant we really had to push ourselves to match it. So a big thanks to them, and if they watch “The Doomies”, I hope they’ll get a kick out of it too!
Pozla: I watch very few television series, and I actually discovered “Gravity Falls” while we were developing “The Doomies.” It’s undoubtedly a fantastic show, but it wasn’t one of my original references or influences.
That said, we were aiming for a similar balance between thrills and comedy. The real challenge was finding our own voice and creating something that felt distinctly different.
How did you get ideas for the monsters for each episode and which is your favorite monster?
AF: The idea was to have some fun with all the classic monsters, like vampires, zombies, werewolves, etc…but also Breton folklore. The challenge was to present these monsters in a way that was original and unique. We also wanted each monster to give us the opportunity to develop our characters’ arcs in the best possible way. Every choice of monster has a purpose for the story.
My favorite monster will be a cursed car but sorry, I can’t tell you any more of that…
HG: It’s hard to pick a favourite! It depends what spooky mood you’re in 🙂 We made sure that the monsters reflected the characters’ inner-turmoils – because that’s what the best monsters do, force you to confront your own inner-monsters.
Pozla: Each monster had to feel truly unique and serve the story in a meaningful way. For every new episode, Andrés and I would discuss the narrative together. He would share his vision for the story, and I would then create a sheet featuring several variations of the monster. From there, he would either choose one direction or I would combine elements from different designs until we arrived at the perfect creature. We shared many of the same references, so the process moved quickly and felt very natural. It was an extremely fluid collaboration.
Popular culture is full of monsters of every kind, and Brittany in particular is steeped in myths, legends, and supernatural tales. Some of the creatures were directly inspired by this rich folklore, while others were entirely original creations. In both cases, the challenge was to find a fresh and distinctive way to bring them to life.
The story itself was always the starting point. A creature had to serve the narrative and possess all the characteristics required by the script. From there, I tried to push the designs as far as possible into genuinely frightening territory. I wanted children to feel as though they were watching a show made for adults. Opportunities like that are incredibly rare in children’s animation, so it was a real joy to explore.
If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the army of ghost knights. I had an absolute blast drawing them.
We love serialized shows and do not want any spoilers, but in your heads, do you have an ending to the series already thought of?
AF: A good story must always have a good ending so….. Yes!
HG: No spoilers, but… YES!
We have noticed the sweat beads on each character; do they show how much danger they are in and is there any deep meaning there?
AF: It is, in fact, a code we used in the series to express emotions such as fear, stress, and unease. And I must admit that our heroes are not spared!
Tell us some funny behind-the-scenes things that happened while producing the show or with the voice actors?
HG: Every recording with the actors was amazing. They made everything ten times funnier (and spookier!) And behind the scenes, we got to eat a lot of crêpes… purely for inspiration.
Pozla: I live in the southwest of France, and I created all the artwork for the series from my studio—which is actually a caravan parked in my garden!
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
AF: I can’t watch a horror movie without holding my wife’s hand!
Pozla: I play the clarinet, and I have a deep and unwavering dislike of Brussels sprouts.
What are some of your other favorite Disney animated series and why?
AF: I love “Wander Over Yonder.” It’s beautiful, fun, so tender. And of course, “Gravity Falls” is a masterpiece!
HG: There’s too many to choose from. Obviously, “Gravity Falls”. “The Simpsons” (it counts now that it’s on Disney+). “Duck Tales” was always a big one growing-up, “Phineas and Ferb” never fails to make me laugh!
Pozla: I watched “Gravity Falls” with my children, and we absolutely loved it. The characters are fantastic, and the stories are incredibly inventive.
If you could have one of those characters from a Disney animated series be a character in one of “The Doomies” episodes, who would it be and why?
AF: The gargolyes (who is also a show that I loved so much when I was a kid) could be very good characters for an episode! I imagine the doomies investigating in Manhattan…
HG: Phineas and Ferb!! “I know what we’re going to do today!” could very well be Bobby and Romy’s motto before (before jumping into spooky danger) — they’d get along great!
Pozla: A crossover bringing Dipper and Mabel together with Bobby and Romy would be amazing to see!
If you could make a playset for the show, what scene and characters would you include?
AF: The lighthouse with evil mermaid you need to escape could be a great game!
HG: The swamp and the swamp monster, and I’d make sure it oozes goo. Or maybe I’d invent a game like the “Mouse Trap” where you’d have to catch the monsters in a trap. That’d be fun!
What makes “The Doomies” a different type of series and why should everyone tune in to watch?
AF: If you like to get scared but also have a good laugh, “The Doomies” is the perfect mix. But more than that, it’s a beautiful story about friendship and love. And you always need love!
HG: For one, it’s set in France and we’re excited to show off our home country to the world. It’s a sweet story about, at its heart, loneliness, and the realisation that nobody is ever as alone as they think they are — which is an important message a lot of kids need to hear. You’re never alone folks!
Pozla: If you’re ready to watch two teenagers struggling against monsters spilling out of a demonic portal, set in the heart of the French countryside and staged with truly breathtaking visuals, then buckle up—this is going to be a wild ride!
It’s also a wildly original way to explore a classic French region… with a whole lot of chaos and fun along the way.
In the supernatural comedy-adventure “The Doomies,” when best friends Bobby and Romy accidentally open a portal to evil, their tranquil coastal town transforms into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. As the ordinary teens navigate this extraordinary mystery, they face off against literal and inner monsters in this epic comedy that combines thrills, chills, and emotional spills.
Special thanks to Andres Fernandez, Henry Gifford and Pozla Rémi Zaarour for taking the time out to give BSCKids all this wonderful info about The Doomies on Disney+