 |
Gizmo is one of the main characters in Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. He is a Mogwai, a small furry creature that can transform into a destructive and mischievous monster called a Gremlin if exposed to water, fed after midnight, or exposed to bright light. Gizmo is the only Mogwai who does not turn evil, and he helps his owner Billy Peltzer and his girlfriend Kate Beringer to stop the Gremlins from wreaking havoc.
Background[]
Official Description[]
Gizmo is an adorable, very kind Mogwai who is the pet of Billy Peltzer. He doesn't seem to have a single bit of evil within him unlike some of the other Mogwais, making him an Eternal, or a Mogwai who refuses to be evil. He used to be owned by Mr. Wing until his death. Gizmo is kind and friendly and currently lives with Billy and Kate Peltzer in New York. He was responsible for the destruction of the leaders of both Gremlin batches, Stripe and Mohawk.
Development[]
In the original script, Gizmo and Stripe were the same character, and Gizmo would turn into the main antagonist after eating after midnight. However, executive producer Steven Spielberg suggested that Gizmo should remain a good guy throughout the film, as he liked the character and thought he would appeal to the audience. Director Joe Dante agreed, and the script was changed accordingly.
Gizmo's appearance went through several changes during the production. In the original script, he was the size of a hamster. At one point, he was four feet tall. He was also supposed to have a more rat-like face, but Spielberg wanted him to look more cute and cuddly. The final design was inspired by the King Charles spaniel, Spielberg's dog, and a stuffed toy monkey.
Gizmo was portrayed by a complex puppet that required several puppeteers to operate. The puppet had 26 motors that controlled its facial expressions and movements. The puppeteers used a remote control to make Gizmo blink, smile, frown, and move his ears and mouth. The puppet also had wires and rods attached to its limbs, which allowed it to walk, run, and dance.
Voice[]
Gizmo's voice was provided by Howie Mandel, a comedian and actor who also voiced Bobby in Bobby's World and Skeeter in Muppet Babies. Mandel used a high-pitched, squeaky voice to create Gizmo's cute and innocent personality. He also made various noises and sounds to express Gizmo's emotions, such as giggling, humming, singing, and screaming. Mandel also spoke some words in English and Cantonese, such as "bright light", "mogwai", and "bye-bye".
Characterization[]
Gizmo is characterized as a gentle, loyal, and brave Mogwai who loves his owner Billy and his friends. He is curious and playful, and enjoys watching television, playing video games, singing, dancing, and driving toy cars. He is also intelligent and resourceful, and uses his knowledge and skills to fight against the Gremlins. He is not afraid to stand up to the evil Mogwais and Gremlins, such as Stripe and Mohawk, who bully and torment him. He is also protective of his friends and allies, and will risk his life to save them.
Personality[]
Gizmo has a sweet and innocent personality, and does not have any evil or malicious intentions. He is very kind and friendly, and likes to make new friends. He is also very loyal and obedient, and follows the three rules that his owner Mr. Wing taught him: do not expose him to light, especially sunlight, which will kill him; do not let him come in contact with water, which will make him multiply; and never feed him after midnight, which will make him transform into a Gremlin. He is aware of the consequences of breaking these rules, and tries to avoid them as much as possible. He is also respectful and grateful to his owners, and calls them by their names.
Gizmo is also very curious and playful, and likes to explore and learn new things. He is fascinated by human culture and technology, and enjoys watching television, playing video games, singing, dancing, and driving toy cars. He is also very musical, and can play various instruments, such as a keyboard, a trumpet, and a guitar. He has a good sense of humor, and likes to make jokes and laugh. He is also very emotional, and can express his feelings through his facial expressions, sounds, and words. He can be happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, and confused.
Gizmo is also very brave and heroic, and does not hesitate to fight against the Gremlins when they threaten his friends and the world. He is not afraid to confront the evil Mogwais and Gremlins, such as Stripe and Mohawk, who bully and torment him. He is also very resourceful and clever, and uses his knowledge and skills to defeat them. He can mimic the actions of his heroes, such as Rambo and Superman, and use various weapons and gadgets, such as a bow and arrow, a paper clip, and a flaming arrow. He is also very protective of his friends and allies, and will risk his life to save them. He is loyal to Billy and Kate, and considers them his family.
Physical appearance[]
Gizmo is a small, furry creature that resembles a cross between a monkey and a dog. He has white and brown fur, with a white stripe on his head and a white patch on his chest. He has large, round ears, a black nose, a small mouth, and red eyes. He has four fingers and a thumb on each hand, and three toes on each foot. He also has a short, bushy tail. He wears a red bandana around his neck, which he got from Billy in the first film.
Appearances[]
Films[]
Gremlins[]
Gizmo first appears in the film as the pet of Mr. Wing, an old Chinese shopkeeper who lives in Chinatown. He is discovered by Randall Peltzer, a struggling inventor who is looking for a Christmas present for his son Billy. Mr. Wing refuses to sell Gizmo to Randall, saying that he is not a toy, but a responsibility. He also warns him about the three rules that must be followed to take care of a Mogwai. However, Mr. Wing's grandson secretly sells Gizmo to Randall, hoping to get some money for his family. He also tells Randall the three rules, and gives him a small wooden box to carry Gizmo.
Randall returns to his home in Kingston Falls, where he gives Gizmo to Billy as a pet. Billy is amazed by Gizmo, and names him after his habit of making noises. He also shows him to his mother Lynn and his dog Barney. Gizmo is friendly and docile, and bonds with Billy. He also watches television with him, and learns how to play a keyboard. However, when Billy's friend Pete accidentally spills water on Gizmo, five more Mogwai spawn from his back, a more troublemaking sort led by the aggressive Stripe, named for the tuft of fur on his head. Gizmo is shocked and scared by this, and tries to warn Billy about the danger.
Billy shows one of the new Mogwai to his former science teacher, Mr. Hanson, who takes it to his school laboratory for experiments. He also leaves some food for it, unaware of the third rule. Meanwhile, at Billy's house, the other Mogwai trick Billy into feeding them after midnight by chewing the wires of his clock. They then form cocoons and undergo a metamorphosis, turning into reptilian monsters called Gremlins. Gizmo is the only one who does not eat, and remains a Mogwai. He is also tormented by Stripe and the others, who throw darts at him and lock him in an air vent.
The next day, Billy discovers the cocoons and tries to warn his mother, but she does not believe him. He then goes to the school, where he finds that Mr. Hanson's Mogwai has also turned into a Gremlin, and has killed Mr. Hanson. He tries to kill the Gremlin with a scalpel, but it escapes. He then calls his mother and tells her to get out of the house, but she does not listen. She then encounters the Gremlins, who have hatched from their cocoons and are causing chaos in the house. She manages to kill three of them, using a blender, a microwave, and a kitchen knife. However, she is attacked by the fourth one, who throws plates at her. Billy arrives and saves her, killing the Gremlin with a sword. He then finds Gizmo, who is still alive, and takes him with him. He also sees Stripe, who has escaped to a nearby YMCA. He follows him there, and tries to kill him with an axe, but Stripe jumps into a swimming pool, creating hundreds of new Gremlins.
The Gremlins then spread across the town, causing mayhem and destruction. They kill several people, including Mrs. Deagle, the town's miser, and Sheriff Frank, the town's lawman. They also sabotage the traffic lights, cut the phone lines, and tamper with the gas pipes. Billy and Gizmo try to stop them, but they are outnumbered and overwhelmed. They also meet up with Billy's girlfriend Kate, who works at a local bar, where she is forced to serve the Gremlins drinks and snacks. She manages to escape with Billy and Gizmo, and they hide in a bank. There, Kate tells Billy that she hates Christmas, because her father died in a chimney while trying to surprise her as Santa Claus. Billy comforts her, and they kiss. Gizmo also shows his affection for them, and sings a song.
Meanwhile, the Gremlins, who are nocturnal, realize that the sun is about to rise. They decide to go to the local movie theater, where they can watch a film and avoid the sunlight. They also set fire to the gas station, causing a huge explosion. Billy, Kate, and Gizmo see the fire, and realize that the Gremlins are in the theater. They sneak in, and find the Gremlins watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and singing along to the song “Heigh-Ho”. Billy and Kate then go to the boiler room, and turn on the gas. They then light a cloth, and throw it into the theater, causing another explosion that kills all the Gremlins, except for Stripe, who has left to get some candy at a nearby department store.
Billy, Kate, and Gizmo follow Stripe to the store, and confront him there. Stripe attacks them with various weapons and gadgets, such as a chainsaw, a crossbow, and a fountain. He also tries to multiply himself by jumping into the fountain, but Gizmo, who has learned how to drive a toy car, follows him and opens a skylight, exposing Stripe to the sunlight. Stripe melts and dies, ending the Gremlin menace.
Billy, Kate, and Gizmo then return to their home, where they are greeted by Billy's parents and the news media, who have arrived to cover the story. They are also visited by Mr. Wing, who has come to reclaim Gizmo, saying that Billy is not ready to take care of him. Billy is sad, but he understands, and says goodbye to Gizmo. Gizmo also says goodbye to Billy, and tells him that he loves him. Mr. Wing then leaves with Gizmo, but not before giving Billy a small gift, and telling him that he may see Gizmo again someday, when he is ready. The film ends with a voice-over by Randall, who warns the audience to be careful with their appliances, as they may have a Gremlin in them.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch[]
Gizmo reappears in the sequel, which takes place six years after the first film. He is still living with Mr. Wing in Chinatown, but his life is threatened by the expansion of the Clamp Center, a huge skyscraper owned by the ruthless tycoon Daniel Clamp. Mr. Wing refuses to sell his shop to Clamp, but he dies shortly after, leaving Gizmo alone. Gizmo is then captured by two men working for Clamp, who take him to the Clamp Center, where he is experimented on by Doctor Catheter, a mad scientist who works for Clamp's genetic research division.
Meanwhile, Billy and Kate, who are now engaged, also work at the Clamp Center, Billy as a concept designer and Kate as a tour guide. Billy learns about Gizmo's capture from his friend Fred, a janitor who works at the building. He then rescues Gizmo from Doctor Catheter's lab, and takes him to his office, where he tries to keep him safe and hidden. However, Gizmo is accidentally exposed to water again, when a broken water fountain sprays on him. He then spawns four new Mogwai, who are even more malicious and devious than the ones from the first film. They are led by Mohawk, who has a mohawk hairstyle and a sadistic personality. He is also the reincarnation of Stripe, Gizmo's archenemy. The other three are Daffy, who is crazy and goofy; Lenny, who is dumb and friendly; and George, who is smart and grumpy. They then escape from Billy's office, and wreak havoc in the building. They also eat after midnight at a fast-food restaurant, and turn into Gremlins.
The Gremlins then multiply even more, and take over the entire Clamp Center, causing chaos and destruction. They also tamper with the building's systems, such as the security cameras, the elevators, and the fire sprinklers. They also expose themselves to various chemicals and substances in Doctor Catheter's lab, which give them different mutations and abilities, such as intelligence, electricity, spider legs, bat wings, and vegetable parts. Some of them also develop different personalities and interests, such as singing, dancing, dressing up, and watching television. They also mock and parody various pop culture references, such as The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom of the Opera, and Rambo.
Billy, Kate, and Gizmo team up with Fred, Marla, Billy's boss and love interest; and Murray, a friendly security guard, to stop the Gremlins. They also get some help from Daniel Clamp, who is impressed by Billy's courage and creativity, and wants to save his building and his reputation. They then come up with a plan to trick the Gremlins into going to the lobby, where they can be killed by sunlight, which is about to shine through the windows. However, their plan is foiled by Mohawk, who has injected himself with spider serum, and has become a giant spider-Gremlin. He then attacks Billy and Gizmo, and tries to kill them. Gizmo, who has been inspired by Rambo, fights back, and shoots Mohawk with a flaming arrow, killing him.
The other Gremlins then gather in the lobby, where they are about to be exposed to sunlight. However, they notice a tarp covering the windows, and pull it down, blocking the sunlight. They then celebrate their victory, and prepare to escape to the outside world. However, Billy and the others have a backup plan. They use the electric Gremlin, who has been trapped in the Clamp Center's phone system, and release him into the lobby, where he electrocutes all the other Gremlins, killing them. The electric Gremlin then escapes through the phone lines, and is presumably still alive.
Billy, Kate, Gizmo, and the others then celebrate their success, and are praised by Daniel Clamp, who offers them promotions and rewards. He also decides to keep Gizmo as his mascot, but Billy convinces him to let him keep Gizmo, saying that he belongs with him. Clamp agrees, and lets Billy and Kate take Gizmo with them. He also gives them a large apartment in New York, where they can live happily. The film ends with a voice-over by Leonard Maltin, a film critic who panned the first film, and is attacked by the Gremlins while reviewing the second film.
Space Jam: A New Legacy[]
Gizmo makes a cameo appearance in the film as a statue in the background of the Warner Bros. Serververse, a virtual reality world where all the Warner Bros. characters and franchises exist. He is seen in the Gremlins world, along with other Gremlins characters, such as Stripe and Mohawk. He does not have any lines or interactions with the main characters.
Video games[]
Gizmo has appeared in several video games based on the Gremlins films, such as Gremlins, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and Gremlins: Unleashed. He is usually a playable character, who has to avoid or fight the Gremlins, and collect items and power-ups. He can also use various weapons and gadgets, such as a slingshot, a flashlight, and a remote control car. He is also a supporting character in some games, such as Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo, where he helps the player to defeat Stripe and his army of Gremlins.
Gizmo also appears in some crossover video games, such as Lego Dimensions and MultiVersus, where he teams up with other Warner Bros. characters, such as Batman, Bugs Bunny, and Harry Potter. He can use his abilities and skills, such as reproducing through water, transforming into a Gremlin, and driving a toy car, to help his allies and defeat his enemies. He can also interact with various objects and environments, such as Lego bricks, portals, and power-ups. He is also voiced by Howie Mandel in these games, reprising his role from the films.
Relationships[]
Gizmo has various relationships with different characters in the Gremlins franchise, such as:
- Billy Peltzer: Gizmo's owner and best friend. Billy is the one who named Gizmo, and took care of him. He also protected him from the Gremlins, and helped him to stop them. Gizmo is very loyal and grateful to Billy, and considers him his family. He also likes to spend time with him, and watch television, play video games, and play music with him. He also calls him by his name, and tells him that he loves him.
- Kate Beringer: Billy's girlfriend and Gizmo's friend. Kate is also kind and caring to Gizmo, and helped him to escape from the Gremlins. She also comforted him when he was sad, and kissed him on the cheek. Gizmo is also fond of Kate, and considers her his friend.
Gallery[]
Merchandise[]
Video games[]
.png "Gizmo (Lego Dimensions).png (439 KB)")
Trivia[]
This character article is a stub. You can help Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki by expanding it.
v - e - d  | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
