Dell and Gary is an American computer-animated science fiction sitcom created by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for Disney XD and produced by Pixar Animation Studios and Lord Miller Productions. The series follows the misadventures of cynical teenage alien genius Dell Wire and her good-hearted, but fretful human partner, Gary Graham, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures. Grace Chance and Noah Schnapp voice the eponymous characters, while Paul Rudd, Ashley Johnson and Candi Milo voicing Gary's family. The series has been acclaimed by critics for its animation, visuals, voice acting, musical score, originality, creativity, and humor. The extended Dell and Gary franchise includes an ongoing comics series, two prequel series (The Drone Wars and The Last Zanthiran), and a film duology serving as the series finale.
Premise[]
The series follows the misadventures of cynical teenage alien genius Dell Wire and her good-hearted, but fretful human partner Gary Graham, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures.
Cast[]
Main[]
Noah Schnapp as Gary Graham
Paul Rudd as Michael Graham
Ashley Johnson as Chloe Graham
Candi Milo as Kate Graham
Asha Banks as Lena Harper (seasons 8-11; recurring seasons 1-7), Gary's girlfriend
Will Sharpe as Bastian Wire (seasons 10-11)
Nina Oyama as Elysia Wire (seasons 10-11)
Woody Norman as Orin Wire (seasons 10-11)
Michael Fassbender as Yorvin Andruca (seasons 10-11)
Taika Waititi as Djarrin Andruca (seasons 10-11)
Manu Bennett as Kron (seasons 10-11)
Jack DeSena as Sulca Makra (seasons 8-11)
Mark Hamill as Cren (seasons 8-11)
Daniel Dae Kim as Crodav Fulsa (seasons 8-11; guest season 7)
Recurring[]
Temuera Morrison as Deecalluk
Denzel Washington as President Eric Matthews
Guest[]
Damon Herriman as Kevin (season 5)
Episodes[]
List of Dell and Gary Episodes
Production[]
Themes and analysis[]
Comedic style[]
The general formula of Dell and Gary consists of the juxtaposition of two conflicting scenarios: an extremely selfish, alcoholic blue alien teenage girl dragging her foster brother along for interdimensional adventures, intercut with domestic family drama. Co-creator Christopher Miller has described the series as a cross between Matt Groening's two shows The Simpsons and Futurama, balancing family life with heavy science fiction. The series is inspired by British-style storytelling, as opposed to traditional American family TV stories. Miller has stated that his inspiration behind much of the concept and humor for the series comes from various British television series, such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Doctor Who. He figures that the audience will only understand developments from Gary's point of view, but stated "we don't want to be the companions. We want to hang out with the Doctor, we idolize the Doctor, but we don't think like him, and that's really interesting."
Philosophy[]
Dell and Gary has been described as "a never-ending fart joke wrapped around a studied look into nihilism". The series addresses the insignificance of human existence as compared to the size of the universe, with no recognizable divine presence, as described by Lovecraft's philosophy of cosmicism. The characters of the show deal with cosmic horror and existential dread, either by asserting the utility of science over magic or by choosing a life in ignorant bliss. However, as Joachim Heijndermans of Geeks notes, none of them appear able to handle the absurd and chaotic nature of the universe, as Michael gets by through denial, and Dell is a "depressed, substance-addicted, suicidal mess".
Miller describes Dell as a self-interested anarchist, who doesn't like being told what to do. He believes that the character's life on a larger scale has caused her mental illness, and opines that "the knowledge that nothing matters—while accurate—gets you nowhere". Matthew Bulger of The Humanist notes that the creators of the series are trying to communicate the message that we need to focus on human relationships and not preoccupy our minds with unanswerable questions, in order to find a sense of purpose and live a better life. Eric Armstrong of The New Republic notes that Gary represents the audience, as he is "mostly there to react to Dell's deranged schemes". The character is transformed by the truths he discovers during his interdimensional adventures with his adopted sister. However, instead of sinking into depression, Gary accepts these truths that empower him to value his own life.
International broadcast[]
The show is available to watch on Disney XD and Disney+ in a number of countries, including Australia. Following the conclusion of the show's third season, Disney XD made a livestream marathon of Dell and Gary available to watch on its official website in select regions, hoping to dissuade viewers from watching other illegal livestreams.
Reception[]
Critical reception[]
Dell and Gary has received universal acclaim, holding an approval rating of 94% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes for the entire series.
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program | Episode: "Pickle Dell" | Won |
| Outstanding Interactive Program | Dell and Gary VR | Nominated | ||
| 2027 | Outstanding Animated Program | Episode: "The Vat of Acid Episode" | Won | |
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series | Mark Mothersbaugh | Won |
Legacy[]
Other media and products[]
Main article: Dell and Gary (franchise)
Dell and Gary is part of a wider merchandising franchise.
Film[]
Main article: Dell and Gary: Final Wars Part I and II
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios and Lord Miller Productions produced Dell and Gary: Final Wars, a two-part animated film continuation of the series released on June 10, 2033 and June 10, 2036.
Spin-off series[]
The Drone Wars[]
Main article: Dell and Gary: The Drone Wars
The Last Zanthiran[]
Main article: Dell and Gary: The Last Zanthiran
Streaming[]
Anime short films[]
Two of the four anime short films premiered on Disney XD and were promptly uploaded to the network's YouTube channel.
Comic books[]
Main article: Dell and Gary (comics)
On April 1, 2025, a Dell and Gary comic book adaptation debuted with its first monthly issue, entitled "BAM!" The series was initially written by Zac Gorman and illustrated by CJ Cannon. Artist Tom Fowler wrote a multi-issue story arc that began in March 2026. Using the television series' established premise of alternate timelines, the first two volumes of the comic book expressly features the Dell and Gary (and supporting cast) of a different timeline, allowing the comics to tell stories without conflicting with the canon of the show. From the third volume onwards, with the departure of Gorman as writer and his replacement with Kyle Starks, the series switched focus to display the off-screen adventures of the specific Dell and Gary of the television series, keeping in the canon of the show, with the Dells and Garys of different timelines forming the basis for backup stories.
On August 29, 2028, a four-issue crossover comic with the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons was released. The series titled Dell and Gary vs. Dungeons & Dragons is co-written by Jim Zub and Patrick Rothfuss, and art by Troy Little. A sequel mini-series, titled Dell and Gary vs. Dungeons & Dragons: Chapter II: Painscape, was published in September 2028. It was written by Jim Zub and Sarah Stern with art by Troy Little. The Dell and Gary vs Dungeons and Dragons Deluxe Edition, by Rothfuss, Zub, and Little, was nominated for the 2032 "Best Graphic Album—Reprint" Eisner Award.
Music[]
Theme park rides[]
Video games[]
Dubs[]
Dell and Gary/Dubs
Gallery[]
Dell and Gary/Gallery