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The Midnight Gospel

The Midnight Gospel is an American adult animated television series created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Midnight Gospel is an American adult animated television series created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell. It premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2020, and combines surreal animated adventures with real podcast interview audio adapted from Trussell’s material. The series is available to Canadian viewers through Netflix.

Premise

The series centres on Clancy Gilroy, who uses a universe simulator to visit different worlds and interview inhabitants for his spacecast. Each episode blends philosophical conversation with surreal, often apocalyptic, animated settings.

Production and release

The Midnight Gospel was created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell and released by Netflix in 2020. Sources describe it as Ward’s first animated production for Netflix.

Source material

The show adapts audio from Trussell’s podcast interviews, especially material associated with The Duncan Trussell Family Hour. The animated stories are built around those conversations rather than replacing them.

Reception and format

The series is known for its psychedelic visual style and its mix of existential, spiritual, and comedic themes. It consists of one season with eight episodes, each running roughly 20 to 37 minutes.

Key facts

  • The series was created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell.
  • It premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2020.
  • The show uses real podcast interviews as the basis for its dialogue and themes.
  • The main character is Clancy Gilroy, a spacecaster who travels through simulated worlds.
  • It is an adult animated series rated TV-MA by Netflix.
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Canadian context

The series is available to Canadian viewers through Netflix, making it part of the streaming catalogue accessible in Canada.[13]

Frequently asked questions

What is The Midnight Gospel about?
It follows Clancy Gilroy, a spacecaster who travels through simulated worlds to interview their inhabitants while exploring life, death, and spirituality.
Who created The Midnight Gospel?
The series was created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell.
When did The Midnight Gospel premiere?
It premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2020.
How many episodes does it have?
Netflix lists the series as having eight episodes in one season.
What podcast is it based on?
It is based on interviews from Duncan Trussell’s podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Midnight_Gospel
    Supports: Creator names, release date, and the premise of using real podcast interviews in animated stories.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80987903
    Supports: Official series listing, year, episode count, rating, creators, and synopsis.
  3. Duncan Trussell — https://www.duncantrussell.com/midnightgospel
    Supports: Series premise, Clancy Gilroy, the Chromatic Ribbon, and adaptation from DTFH interviews.
  4. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction — https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/midnight_gospel_the
    Supports: Series format, creators, episode lengths, and themes.
  5. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Midnight_Gospel
    Supports: Clancy Gilroy premise and role of the Chromatic Ribbon.