The Amazing World of Gumball - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Numerous Dragon Ball Z references.
The show's creators are clearly fans of the classic anime. Gumball attempts to turn Super Saiyan on multiple occasions, and Nicole's fight with Yuki in "The Fury" is a direct homage to the anime's fight choreography and art style.
Video game console parodies.
The Watterson's game console is often a parody of real-world systems. In one episode, it resembles a Nintendo 64, while a handheld device is a clear knock-off of a Game Boy. The episode "The Console" features a world based on classic RPGs like Final Fantasy.
Horror movie homages.
The show frequently references classic horror films. Carrie Krueger's name is a combination of Stephen King's Carrie and Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Other episodes parody films like The Ring, The Shining, and The Predator.
Slender Man cameo.
In the episode "The Job," a mannequin that bears a striking resemblance to the internet horror icon Slender Man can be seen in the background of a store window, a nod to the popular creepypasta character.
Studio Ghibli references.
The episode "The Shell," where Penny emerges from her shell, contains several visual nods to the films of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. When Penny transforms into a dragon, it is a direct reference to Haku from Spirited Away.
Street Fighter parody.
In the episode "The Words," a fight scene between Gumball and Darwin is animated as a pitch-perfect parody of the classic fighting game Street Fighter, complete with character selection screens and special moves.