The series is a prequel to the 1984 film of the same name and its 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch. The first episode had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13, 2022, before the series debuted with the launch of Max on May 23, 2023, consisting of 10 episodes. Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sam Register, and Brendan Hay also serve as executive producers. In February 2021, ahead of the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season. The second half of season two was released on April 10, 2025.
The series focuses on how 10-year-old Sam Wing met the young Mogwai called Gizmo. Along with a teenage street thief named Elle, Sam takes a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside. They encounter colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore.