Joe Dante’s horror-comedy Gremlins is one of the 1980s’ most seminal films. It strikes the perfect combination of big laughs and scares, making it one of the few films that entertains both adults and kids in equal measure. Its legacy has endured for over forty years, not only as a perennial favorite Christmas movie, but also through a sequel, toys, a recent animated Max spin-off called Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and a place in cinematic history as one of the films that led to the creation of the PG-13 rating.

Gremlins follows Billy Peltzer, who receives the world’s strangest Christmas gift — Gizmo, a furry creature called a Mogwai that comes with very specific instructions. Naturally, Billy ignores the rules, unleashing chaos as Gizmo spawns into other, more sadistic Mogwai who wreak havoc on Billy’s town. One of the main reasons why Gremlins works so well is simple; Gizmo, arguably the most adorable creature ever put on film. In addition to his cuteness, Gizmo is the only good Mogwai in the film, and his virtuous status has perplex fans of the franchise for decades.

Gizmo’s Goodness Is Explained In The Gremlins Novelization

The Planet Mogturmen Wanted The Mogwai To Be Peaceful

While they have faded from the zeitgeist, movie novelizations were very popular in the 1980s and 1990s. These books were used to promote films months before their release, with authors typically working from early drafts of screenplays like Gremlins. This often led to significant differences between the novelization and the final films, as authors filled in backstories or included alternate plot details.

For example, the novelization of Pretty In Pink features the original ending in which Andie ends up with Duckie instead of Blaine, while the E.T novelization depicts the friendly alien eating M&M’s instead of Reese’s Pieces (Mars famously turned down a promotional deal with Steven Spielberg) and lusting after Elliot’s mom.

The Gremlins novelization, written by George Gipe, takes many liberties with Chris Columbus’ screenplay. Gipe’s book provides an extensive history of the Mogwai, including their origin, and retells the events of the movie from the perspective of both Gizmo and the mischievous villain Stripe. In the novel, the Mogwai can communicate with one another in English, and Gizmo is surprisingly portrayed as highly intelligent. One of the most fascinating revelations in the Gremlins novel, is that the Mogwai originate from another planet. Gipe opens the novel by delving deeply into their background:

Centuries ago on another planet, Mogturmen had set out to produce a creature that was adaptable to any climate and condition, one that could easily reproduce itself, was gentle and highly intelligent… the galactic powers sent Mogwai to every inhabitable planet in the universe, their purpose being to inspire alien beings with their peaceful spirit and intelligence and to instruct them in the ways of living without violence and possible extinction.

The Gremlins Novelization Reveals Other Exciting Details About The Mogwai

The Author Provides A Lot Of Mythology, But The Film’s Director, Joe Dante, Says It Is Not Canon

The book provides many other exciting details that Gremlins fans have wondered about for years, such as revealing that Mogwai are actually incapable of killing one another and answering the all-important question of why Gizmo is so different from the other Mogwai. According to the novel, there are two different types of Mogwai: the minority and the majority. Gizmo belongs to the minority and represents what the Mogturmen intended the Mogwai to be. However, an accidental mutation occurred at some point, creating the majority, who were less intelligent and more volatile.

“Soon after these first departures it was discovered that Mogturmen’s creatures were highly unstable. To be exact, fewer than one in a thousand retained the sweet disposition and charitable aims built into it by the inventor. Instead, something went wrong. Very wrong.

The film’s director, has publicly stated that the Gremlins novelization is not canon, and Joe Dante has his own theory about the Mogwai’s origin. Speaking to Empire Magazine in 2024, Dante said “George Gipe never got to see the movie. He made up a whole background — a complicated one — for the creatures. In my mind, they came from China, and were the results of the mating of a dragon and a panda.”

While the filmmakers might not agree with the novelization’s mythology for the Mogwai, the literary explanation does track and at least attempts to explain why Gizmo is so different from the other creatures in the film. It’s not hard to believe that there are two different types of Mogwai that have evolved over time. Gipe was clearly having fun filling in the backstory and poking fun at the loose set of rules the movie establishes, even attempting to explain how the “no feeding Gremlins after midnight” rule works with various time zones.

What Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai Reveals About Gizmo’s Origin Story

The Max Animated Series Is A Prequel That Delves Into Gizmo’s Past And Gremlins Mythology

Max’s Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai is a fantastic animated prequel to Joe Dante’s Gremlins. It’s a rousing adventure series set in 1920s Shanghai, that explores Gizmo’s origin story and expands the Gremlins franchise’s mythology. The story follows Sam Wing (the future Mr. Wing from the original Gremlins) as he meets Gizmo, who is being held captive at a circus and forced to perform. Together, they embark on an adventure to return Gizmo to his village, while facing ruthless villains determined to exploit the Mogwai’s’ powers.

The series reveals that Gizmo was always a strong protector, just like in the original films. In the show’s opening scene, an eagle attacks Gizmo’s village, the magical Valley of Jade, where the Mogwai live in peace. While the other Mogwai flee, Gizmo rises to the occasion and fights to protect his home and friends. Although the eagle eventually captures him, Gizmo’s courage sets him apart, and throughout the series, he risks everything to keep Sam safe from harm.

Later, Gizmo meets Nuwa, the Goddess of Creation. She explains to Gizmo that she and her brother Fuxi created the Mogwai as a way to test if humans were good and capable of taking care of others. Fluxi was responsible for making the rules from the original film regarding bright light, water, and, of course, feeding Mogwai after midnight, intentionally making them challenging to follow. The siblings made a bet to see if humans could follow simple rules and care for the Mogwai properly.

Nuwa ultimately lost the bet after witnessing humans abuse the Mogwai, cloning them to create weapons. However, Nuwa eventually rescued Gizmo because, when she created him, she made him special. Gizmo embodied pure goodness and all that Mogwai were originally meant to be. To protect him and others like him, Nuwa created the Valley of Jade as a hidden sanctuary, shielding the Mogwai from the cruelty and greed of the outside world.

Knowing Gizmo’s Origin Story Adds Layers To The Original Gremlins Films

The Creators Of Gremlins: Secret Of The Mogwai Did A Great Job Tying The Prequel To The Franchise

Exploring the intricate mythology of the Mogwai not only answers questions that fans have had for decades but also deepens the impact of the original films. While Gizmo is often used for comic relief in the Gremlins ​​​​​​franchise, learning about his traumatic history with humans and the destructive Mogwai adds layers to his character. It explains his determination to help Billy stop Stripe from destroying the town and why Gizmo is so different from all the other Gremlins.

It’s also interesting to see that Gizmo had a much deeper and meaningful relationship with Mr Wing, the shopkeeper from the original film. This history recontextualizes the franchise, giving a richer understanding of the characters and their motivations. Knowing why Gizmo is the way he is and the purpose behind his creation enhances the original Gremlins films, making them even more rewarding to revisit after experiencing the two seasons of the animated prequel.