Steve Small

Mr. Steve Small is a supporting character in The Amazing World of Gumball. He is the hippie school counselor at Elmore Junior High. Although his job is to advise the students, he tends to act like the one that needs the most help.

Appearance
Mr. Small is a tall, fluffy cloud-like creature. He wears a rainbow-patterned shirt, black bellbottoms, and blue and yellow sandals. White fluff covers almost all of his body, which is more plentiful on his forearms, feet, and head. He also has a small ponytail to keep his hair tied back, which is very long. His eyes are round and colored lime green with red pupils. According to "The Lie," he has a humanoid appearance underneath his fluff.

As a student in Junior High, his hair was very long, going mid-back. He also used to have a pink shirt with a sideways Yin Yang symbol on it, which he wore with bluish-white jeans.

Starting in season 2, his design was altered slightly. The most noticeable changes were the addition of eyebrows and an alteration to the design of his sandals.

In the first season, he usually spoke in a calm, quiet, southern accent. From the second season onward, he gained a more stereotypical hippie voice, with his southern accent completely gone.

Counseling
Mr. Small is the guidance counselor of Elmore Junior High, meaning that his job is to assist students with personal problems, and help them make the right choices in life. However, because most of his counseling techniques seem to lie on the strange and somewhat ineffective side of the spectrum, most kids who enter his office seeking assistance leave confused and no better off than they were previously.

For example, in the episode "The Painting," Mr. Small attempts to help Gumball and Darwin deal with their destructive energy, but, his attempts prove to be less than helpful, as most of his teachings involve things such as screaming in an attempt to relieve oneself of excess anger, and expressing oneself through coating them in paint, and allowing them to track it all over the room.

Hippie nature
Mr. Small has been described as a hippie and a new ager many times, which is somewhat reflected in his mannerisms and appearance. He seems to enjoy meditation, and is overall a mostly mellow person.

He has a large array of spiritual paraphernalia such as incense, healing crystals, and other such things he uses to help the students he counsels. He also seems to go through phases on interest with such items, always hopping on whatever the current new age fad is at the time.

Eccentric behaviors
Mr. Small is one of the stranger people in Elmore. In "The Dress," there is a short scene of him bending over backwards while greeting someone.

In the first season, he seemed to have a bit of a temper, such as when he yelled at Gumball for doing the wrong move when they were doing an interpretive dance. Another example of his rude personality is in the episode "The Sock," as he grew tired of Gumball and Darwin not understanding honesty, and decided to use the Silence Snake, a sock puppet he used to yell at them and force them both into silence.

In the second season onward, his split personality is more toned down and he greatly mellows out. He is also shown to be a coward and very weak on several occasions. In "The Banana," he is seen drinking "herbal tea" that causes him to pass out at first and then space out later in the episode. Throughout the episode he enthusiastically helps Gumball and Darwin with their problem with Banana Joe, commending the two of them for their work on resolving the chewed pen issue.

In season three, his first major appearance has him going after Janice, a purple van with surreal, psychedelic imagery on it. He is also shown to believe in several strange conspiracy theories, such as redheads being the descendants of aliens, and, more truthfully, that there is a Void where all the world's bad ideas are sent to. In "The Allergy," he attempts to cure Darwin's allergy using "alternative medicine" that involves things like energy crystals and acupuncture.

Episode Appearances
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Season 1

 * "The End": He struts by Gumball and Penny's fake wedding in the foreground.
 * "The Dress": He greets GumballOopsEggWobbleUnderpants while literally bending over backwards.
 * "The Spoon": He is mentioned on two posters in the background of the gas station. One says "Mr. Small's Modern Dance Academy," and another says "Mr. Small's Small Kwon Do."
 * "The Painting": His first major role. He attempts to teach Gumball and Darwin to use their energy in a less destructive way.
 * "The Gi": He appears as his younger self in Nicole's flashback.
 * "The Secret": He and Miss Simian are disturbed by a picture drawn by Gumball in Darwin's notebook.
 * "The Sock": His second major role. He teaches Gumball and Darwin about honesty.
 * "The Club": He appears as the instructor of Nicole's anger management class.
 * "The Wand": He appears in the yearbook in Richard's flashback.
 * "The Ape": He appears as his younger self twice in Nicole's flashback.
 * "The Meddler": He is seen judging the cheerleader tryouts with Principal Brown.
 * "The Fight": He attempts to solve Gumball's bullying problem, but he is too scared of Tina and ignores them.

Season 2

 * "The Banana": He teaches a class, and attempts to resolve Gumball and Darwin's problem with Banana Joe.
 * "The Phone": He is seen meditating in his office while Gumball tries to get Darwin's phone back.
 * "The Job": He is seen being delivered a questionable vegetarian pizza.
 * "The Words": He realizes Darwin isn't being polite to other students (and him), so he tapes his mouth shut.
 * "The Bet":  He nearly runs Bobert over while rollerblading.
 * "The Pony": He walks by Gumball and Darwin.
 * "The Dream": In Gumball's dream, he is on the phone in the school hall. He takes his head with the phone when he hangs up.
 * "The Sidekick": He chases Gumball and Darwin to give them money.
 * "The Photo": He is the school photographer in this episode.
 * "The Tag": He is hit by a garbage bin while rollerblading.
 * "The Lesson": He reads poetry about shoes to Gumball and Darwin as their punishment.
 * "The Game": He teaches a class, and asks for volunteers for upcoming events.
 * "The Promise": He mistakes Banana Joe for a phone at the supermarket.
 * "The Castle": He is one of the guests at The Wattersons' house. He is seen eating a piece of meat, in spite of his vegetarianism.
 * "The Boombox": He interacts with several students, and later celebrates Miss Simian's (false) retirement.
 * "The Sweaters": He counsels Gumball and Darwin about their conflict with Carlton and Troy, and later he attempts to massage Gumball's sore buttocks during the tennis match.
 * "The World": He trips over a sewer lid while rollerblading.
 * "The Finale": He gets stuffed into an envelope by Gumball and Darwin, and later, he is a part of the angry crowd attacking the Wattersons.

Season 3

 * "The Fan": He observes a school mural painting, in which Sarah camouflages herself.
 * "The Joy": He falls victim to the Joy Virus.
 * "The Name": He gets hit by a skateboard thrown by Zach.
 * "The Gripes": He helps Gumball and Darwin have a charity case to raise money for them.
 * "The Fraud": He tries to stop Principal Brown from blowing up the school.
 * "The Void": His third major role. He helps Gumball and Darwin find Molly and his van, Janice.
 * "The Law": He falls victim to Doughnut Sheriff's prank.
 * "The Allergy": He tries to help get rid of Darwin's allergy.
 * "The Shell": He "helps" Darwin on his lines in the school play.
 * "The Pizza": He is one of the citizens attacking the Wattersons.
 * "The Lie": He walks past The Wattersons' house and collapses on the sidewalk adjacent to it.
 * "The Butterfly" (mentioned)
 * "The Question": He tries to explain the purpose of life to Gumball and Darwin.
 * "The Saint": He skydives with Gumball and Darwin to save pigeons.
 * "The Safety": He shows a safety video in Miss Simian's classroom, causing Darwin to obsess over safety.
 * "The Society": He is part of the secret society created to stop Gumball from disrupting the school day.
 * "The Countdown": He is seen roller skating.
 * "The Nobody": He walks past Gumball and Darwin as they try to give Rob a role in Elmore.
 * "The Triangle": Darwin and Leslie accidentally visualize him nude in the lunchroom.

Season 4

 * "The Return": He is swept away by the balls going through the hallways.
 * "The Nemesis": He walks past Rob when he is waiting for the bus.
 * "The Others": He is seen mowing his lawn when Gumball and Darwin jump over him.
 * "The Signature": He is seen in line at the town hall.
 * "The Uploads": He exhales too much, giving him a new body.
 * "The Wicked": His flowers are cut by Mrs. Robinson.
 * "The Girlfriend": He is one of Jamie's victims.
 * "The Advice": His fourth major role. He gives advice to Gumball and Darwin, which they misinterpret.
 * "The Nest": He is seen at the fuel station with his van.
 * "The Night": He is seen sleeping, and later appears at the teachers lounge in Teri's dream.
 * "The Blame": He attends the PTA meeting.
 * "The Fury": He drives his car on the expressway.
 * "The Scam": He is seen chanting to Gumball and Darwin to hunt Gargaroth.
 * "The Disaster": He is seen at the mall.

Season 5
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 * "The Stories": He participates in Gumball and Darwin's scheme to give Molly a story to tell.
 * "The Boredom": He is at the mall during the scene Gumball and Darwin are unable to see.
 * "The Vision": He hides from the rioting students with the other teachers.
 * "The Choices": His younger self is seen protesting with a mob.
 * "The Loophole": He argues with Larry about the pronunciation of quinoa.
 * "The Potato": He tries to help Darwin give up potatoes in group therapy.
 * "The Ollie": He offers to catch Darwin, but ends up crashing into someone.
 * "The Cycle": He attends prom night in Richard's flashback.
 * "The Stars": Gumball and Darwin give him one star at the mall.
 * "The Sorcerer": He argues with the Troll before being saved by Gumball and Mrs. Jötunheim.

Quotes
": Hey, new girl! How's it going?"

": So, tell me, who's bullying you? and : Tina Rex!
 * TINA REX?! [all of his colors drain from his body, he throws Gumball and Anais out of his office] DON'T TELL HER YOU SAW ME!"

": [smashing painting with baseball bat] This is not painting! This is not painting! This! Is! Not! Painting! [ lights the painting on fire ] Burn, you relic of convention!"

": Now, be the color orange. [ Gumball does the wrong pose ] That's yellow, I said orange! [ Gumball does another pose ] That's it."

": Your mother called! and : Oh!
 * She says she hates you!"

": I know, it's just... I had some emotional problems this afternoon an-
 * YOU LEAVE YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE DOOR! THIS IS CHEERLEADING, NOT DRAMA CLUB! YOU BETTER SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE BIG LEAGUES, SISTER, AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! ...Is there anything you'd like to add, Principal Brown?
 * Only that we're making cuts today and someone's going to have to be pretty bad for it not to be you."

": (after noticing Mr. Small is eating meat) I thought you were some kind of vegetarian eco-warrior?
 * Only so I can get that rush of superiority from making other people feel guilty."

": Wait kids! I've got the answer!"

Trivia

 * He is named after Steve Small, one of the show's designers on Season 1 who works at Studio AKA.
 * His appearances are usually preceded by a strum of the sitar.
 * It is revealed in "The Bet" that he is a licensed roller blader, although he isn't very skilled at rollerblading.
 * Mr. Small, being a puffy cloud-like creature with many colors, slightly resembles Masami and Tobias, although the characters aren't related.
 * Sometimes the rainbow pattern from his shirt seems to stay put, and only the part of it that is on his shirt changes depending on the camera angle and his position - as if his shirt was a window looking out on the pattern. This effect is most noticeable in "The Fight."
 * Mr. Small listens to mystic chants and whale songs in his spare time, and he also seems to enjoy sitar music, since it was playing throughout his scenes in "The Painting," and "The Sock."
 * As seen in Nicole's flashback in the episode "The Gi," he used to make fun of Richard's "Cottontail Cavalier" costume back when they were in middle school. This flashback also reveals that Mr. Small went to Elmore Junior High as a kid. This also reveals that he may be around the same age as Nicole and Richard.
 * While wearing his interpretive dance suit in "The Painting," it is shown that his fluff hides his real body structure, because, underneath it, he is very bony and skinny. This is also seen when he is wearing his rollerblading suit.
 * In "The Lie," Mr. Small rips off the fluff on his face with tape, revealing that he is actually more of a primate than a cloud. Lie15.png
 * He is a vegetarian, meaning that he abstains from eating meat. However, in "The Castle," he is seen eating a large chunk of meat. According to him, he only pretends to be a vegetarian for the "rush of superiority" from making other people feel bad.
 * It was revealed that Mr. Small's first name is Steve in "The Wand." He is named after one of the show's designers, and was designed by him as well.
 * He owns a van he calls Janice. Janice has appeared four times (so far) in the series: in "The Void," "The Question," "The Nobody," and "The Check."
 * In "The Job," Mr. Small claims to be practicing breatharianism.
 * Mr. Small believes in some conspiracy theories as revealed in "The Void." Aside from the world putting mistakes in the void, he believes that red heads are the descendants of an alien race.
 * According to the episode "The Fight," Mr. Small is quite terrified of Tina.
 * In "The Boombox," it is implied he views Miss Simian as an enemy, because he was happy about her supposed retirement. "The Gi" supports this, because it was revealed that he used to be in her class when he attended Elmore Junior High.
 * In "The Finale," it is revealed that the events of the episode "The Sock" gave him claustrophobia, which is fear of enclosed spaces.
 * Mr. Small can play the guitar, as shown in "The Painting," "The Gripes" and "The Advice."
 * In "The Fraud," he admits that he isn't a US citizen.