Ruby Gloom isn't your typical protagonist. She doesn't save the world with a magic sword or sing about sunshine in a meadow. Instead, she lives in a Victorian mansion in Gloomsville, surrounded by creatures that would make most people run for the hills. But for a specific generation of kids who grew up in the mid-2000s, Ruby Gloom and Misery weren’t just characters—they were a vibe. They were an aesthetic before "aesthetic" became a TikTok buzzword.
It’s easy to look back and dismiss the show as just another piece of "Goth-lite" media. You know the type. Shows that tried to capitalize on the Nightmare Before Christmas craze without actually having any soul. But Ruby Gloom was different. It was produced by Nelvana, a Canadian powerhouse, and it managed to do something almost impossible: it made depression and misfortune look... well, kind of cozy.
The heart of that coziness? The relationship between Ruby and Misery.
The Weird Logic of Gloomsville
Think about the setup. Ruby Gloom is "the happiest girl in the world," but she lives in a world of perpetual night. Her best friend is Misery, a girl who is literally a walking disaster magnet. If a piano is going to fall from the sky, it's hitting Misery. If there’s a localized lightning storm, it’s hovering over her head.
It sounds bleak. Honestly, on paper, it sounds like a tragedy. But the brilliance of the writing was in the subversion. Ruby’s happiness wasn’t toxic positivity; it was radical empathy. She didn't try to "fix" Misery. She didn't tell her to just cheer up or look on the bright side. She just accepted that Misery was, by her very nature, miserable.
That’s a heavy concept for a kids' show.
Most cartoons of that era were loud. They were frantic. They were trying to sell you plastic toys. Ruby Gloom was quiet. It moved at a different pace. It leaned into the melancholy. And let's talk about the art style for a second because it’s honestly iconic. The thick lines, the saturated reds and blacks—it looked like a storybook written by someone who spent too much time in an antique shop. It was beautiful in a way that felt tactile.
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Why Misery Stole the Show
While Ruby was the anchor, Misery was the soul. She’s a banshee, which in Irish folklore is a harbinger of death. The showrunners took that myth and turned it into a personality trait. Misery is constantly followed by a trail of dust, rain, and bad luck. She’s voiced by Emily Hampshire—yeah, Stevie from Schitt’s Creek—and she brings this incredible, deadpan exhaustion to the role.
Misery’s existence is a constant struggle against the universe, yet she never gives up. There’s a quiet resilience there.
There is an episode where Misery tries to sing. Because she’s a banshee, her voice is usually a weapon of mass destruction. But when she sleeps, she sings beautifully. It’s a tragic irony. She has this gift she can only share when she isn't conscious to enjoy it. That kind of bittersweet storytelling is exactly why the show stuck with people. It wasn't afraid to be sad.
The Ruby Gloom and Misery Dynamic
What most people get wrong about Ruby Gloom and Misery is the idea that they are opposites. People see "Happy Girl" and "Sad Girl" and assume it's a simple contrast. It isn't. They are actually two sides of the same coin. Both are outsiders. Both are misunderstood by the "normal" world.
They represent a safe space.
In the mid-2000s, "Emo" culture was peaking. You had My Chemical Romance on the radio and Hot Topic in every mall. Ruby Gloom tapped into that zeitgeist perfectly. It gave kids who felt a little different—maybe kids who liked graveyards more than playgrounds—a place where they felt seen. It validated the idea that you can be "gloomy" and still be a good person. You can be "miserable" and still have friends who love you.
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Not Just for Goths
Even if you weren't wearing black eyeliner and listening to Evanescence, the show had layers. The supporting cast was wild. You had Skull Boy, who was obsessed with finding his lineage. You had Iris, the one-eyed daredevil who was basically the adrenaline junkie of the group.
And Frank and Len? The two-headed monster who fronted a garage band? Pure comedy gold.
The humor was dry. It was witty. It didn’t talk down to the audience. I remember watching an episode where they dealt with the concept of "Nothing." Just... nothingness. It was existentialism for seven-year-olds. It’s no wonder the show has maintained a cult following for nearly twenty years.
The Lasting Legacy of Gloomsville
So, why are we still talking about Ruby Gloom and Misery in 2026?
Because the "Big Sad" is more relatable than ever. We live in a world that is increasingly chaotic. The idea of a small, tight-knit group of weirdos supporting each other through literal storms is incredibly comforting. The show’s message—"Look on the bright side of the dark side"—is a survival strategy.
It also paved the way for shows like Adventure Time or Over the Garden Wall. It proved that children’s media could be dark, atmospheric, and emotionally complex without losing its heart. It wasn't about being scary; it was about being spooky. There's a big difference. Spooky is a warm blanket. Scary is a threat.
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The Misconception of "Dark" Kids' Shows
Parents often worry that "dark" content will make kids depressed. Ruby Gloom proved the opposite. By acknowledging sadness and bad luck through characters like Misery, the show actually provided a toolkit for coping. It showed that bad things happen, sometimes for no reason at all, and that’s okay as long as you have your "people."
If you go back and watch it now, the animation still holds up. The Flash-based style, which looked cheap in many other shows, worked here because of the strong character designs by Martin Hsu and the original creators at Mighty Fine. It looks like a moving illustration.
How to Revisit the World of Gloomsville
If you're looking to dive back into the series or introduce it to someone new, don't just look for clips. Watch the full episodes to get the atmosphere.
- Focus on the "Misery Loves Company" episodes. These really highlight the depth of the Ruby and Misery friendship.
- Pay attention to the music. The soundtrack is surprisingly good, with a lot of indie-rock influences that you wouldn't expect from a Saturday morning cartoon.
- Look for the small details in the background. The mansion is filled with visual gags and gothic references that you probably missed as a kid.
The reality is that Ruby Gloom and Misery represent a specific moment in animation history where creators were allowed to be weird. It wasn't "market-tested" to death by a dozen executives. It felt personal. It felt like someone’s sketchbook came to life.
Practical Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of the aesthetic or the show itself, there are a few things you should know about the current state of the franchise.
- Check the secondary markets for the original books. Long before the TV show, Ruby Gloom started as a stationery line and a book series. The art in the books is even more detailed and "creepy-cute" than the show.
- Support the original artists. Many of the designers who worked on the show are still active in the industry. Martin Hsu, for instance, has a massive body of work that carries that same whimsical, slightly dark energy.
- Stream it legally. Keeping the play counts up on official streaming platforms (like the Nelvana-run YouTube channels) is the only way to show studios that there is still an audience for this kind of "alt" content.
Ruby Gloom and Misery remind us that being "weird" isn't a bug; it's a feature. In a world that constantly demands we be "normal," Gloomsville is a reminder that the dark side isn't so bad after all. It’s actually quite cozy.