Mabel Pines
Mabel Pines is a fictional character and one of the two lead characters of the Disney Channel animated series "Gravity Falls". The character is voiced by Kristen Schaal, and designed by the series creator, Alex Hirsch. She is inspired by Hirsch's own twin sister, Ariel Hirsch. Mabel first appeared on the unreleased, unnamed pilot created by Hirsch which he used to pitch the show; she then appeared on the first episode "Tourist Trapped". Mabel, with her brother Dipper Pines, stars in every episode of the show. Mabel also has two series of shorts dedicated to her: "Mabel 's Guide to Life" and "Mabel's Scrapbook" and also appears in the shorts "Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained" and "Fixin' it with Soos". Background. Mabel is an energetic 12-year-old girl (she and her brother turn 13 at the end of the series finale) who is sent with her brother to spend her summer vacation in her great-uncle's tourist trap called the "Mystery Shack". She helps her brother Dipper as he endeavors to uncover the secrets of the fictional town of Gravity Falls and to find an explanation for the strange situations they experience. They  are helped by the handyman that works there, Soos, Wendy, Dipper's crush and the twins best friend/co-worker, and other characters throughout the series. The situations that they encounter include dealing with various supernatural or legendary creatures, like gnomes, cryptids, demons, aliens, minotaurs and the ever nefarious Bill Cipher. Mabel is both fun and brave, as well as determined in whatever she sets out to do. Like her brother, she struggles with growing up and wants to be seen as more than she is. She is smarter than she often is portrayed and will always look out for  her brother, no matter what. The adventures of Mabel and her brother are inspired by the childhood of series creator Alex Hirsch and his own twin sister. As a character, Mabel has been critically well received. She appears in various "Gravity Falls" merchandise, such as on clothing and in video games. Role in "Gravity Falls". Mabel Pines is an energetic, optimistic and bouncy girl from Piedmont, California, forced to spend her summer together with her great uncle Stan in the fictional town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. She is accompanied by her twin brother Dipper Pines. Their parents aren't revealed  in the show. She makes the best of every situation with a big, goofy smile and her variety of colorful sweaters and skirts. She is a self-proclaimed arts and crafts master, going so far as to make a wax figure of her uncle Stan with the leftover wax of a melted figure during the episode "Headhunters". She actually grew to like Grunkle Stan and he likes her, too, and is often protective of her and Dipper. Mabel is boy-crazy and dislikes anyone who opposes her brother. She has a pet pig named Waddles who she won in the  episode "The Time Traveler's Pig". Despite seeming as just being there for comic relief, Mabel is frequently instrumental in helping her brother solve the mysteries of Gravity Falls and played a pivotal role in all three of the fights that the twins have had against the main antagonist, Bill Cipher, to the point that Dipper says that he has no chance of defeating Bill without Mabel's help. Show creator Alex Hirsch has even stated on occasions that Mabel is much smarter than she seems. In a Reddit AMA he did in 2013, Hirsch stated that, "Mabel's not  stupid. She's a ham! There's a big difference. Mabel's love of goofing off is a natural force of her personality, but she can still understand when people she cares about need help or are in danger. Don't just make her a catchphrase machine. She really cares about the people around her. (Secret: Mabel's secretly jealous that her brothers better academically than she is)." Behind the scenes. Mabel is based on series' creator Alex Hirsch's own twin sister Ariel Hirsch. Growing up, she had a personality that was close to that of Mabel's, similarly  to Alex having one that was like Dipper's. Mabel was voiced by actress Kristen Schaal. She first appeared in the unreleased pilot made for "Gravity Falls" in 2010 by House of Cool Studios, which Alex Hirsch used to pitch the series to Disney Channel.