If you spent any part of the mid-2000s draped in hot pink and black lace, you know Ruby Gloom. She was the poster girl for "optimistic goth," a character who lived in a literal Victorian mansion but spent her days worrying about tea parties rather than hauntings. But while Ruby was the star, there was always one character who felt... different. I’m talking about Ruby Gloom Mr. Buns.
He’s a stuffed rabbit. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t move—at least, not when anyone is looking. Yet, he is arguably the most mysterious entity in Gloomsville. Honestly, if you rewatch the show today as an adult, Mr. Buns feels less like a toy and more like a silent witness to the chaos.
Where Did Mr. Buns Actually Come From?
Most fans of the Nelvana series assume Mr. Buns was just a store-bought toy, but the lore is actually a bit more DIY than that. According to the "Grounded in Gloomsville" episode, specifically the "Fun with Socks" segment, Ruby actually sewed Mr. Buns himself.
She made him out of a spare sock.
The naming process was just as chaotic. Ruby was trying to think of a name, said "Mr." out loud, and was immediately interrupted by the "Ding!" of her oven. She yelled "Buns!" because she was checking on her baking, and just like that, the name stuck. It wasn’t some deep, gothic poetic choice. It was a kitchen accident.
That’s the beauty of Ruby Gloom as a show. It takes these macabre, Tim Burton-esque aesthetics and fills them with mundane, human silliness.
Is Mr. Buns Actually Alive?
This is the big one. It’s the question that has fueled fan theories for decades.
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In the show, Mr. Buns is technically a stationary object. Unlike Doom Kitty, who is a living (and very expressive) cat, Mr. Buns just sits there. But he has a habit of showing up in places he shouldn't be. You’ll see him in the kitchen, then a second later, he’s in the attic. The show treats this like a "blink and you’ll miss it" gag, but many fans—and even some of the characters—suspect he’s possessed.
There’s a subtle hint in the series that objects Ruby creates have a weird tendency to take on a life of their own. Remember the snowman? Or the patchwork heart? There’s a theory that Ruby’s sheer, overwhelming optimism acts as a sort of unintentional magic, breathing life into the things she sews.
Whether he’s moving on his own or just being moved by the "physics of funny," Mr. Buns is a cornerstone of the mansion’s family.
That One Time Mr. Buns Went Missing
If you want to see how much the Gloomsville gang cares about a sock rabbit, look no further than the episode "Missing Buns."
During a game of Hide n' Seek, the unthinkable happens: Mr. Buns disappears. The episode turns into a full-blown 1940s noir parody. Skull Boy puts on the detective hat and interrogates everyone in the house. It’s peak Ruby Gloom humor.
The stakes felt weirdly high for a missing toy. In the end, he wasn't kidnapped by monsters or lost in the woods. He was in the laundry room. He’d been accidentally gathered up in someone’s wash. It’s a simple resolution, but it highlights the show’s core theme—the characters in this world value the small, "worthless" things just as much as they value each other.
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Design Secrets and Mighty Fine Origins
Before Nelvana turned it into a TV show, Ruby Gloom was a stationery and apparel line created by Martin Hsu for the company Mighty Fine.
Back then, the vibe was much darker. Ruby didn't smile in the original drawings. The tagline was: "Ruby Gloom is happy in her own way. Even though she is frowning, to her, a frown is only a smile upside down."
Mr. Buns was part of that original aesthetic. His design is classic "creepy-cute":
- Stitched-up eyes (giving that "living doll" vibe).
- A visible belly button (a weirdly specific detail for a sock rabbit).
- Black fur contrasted with a white face and red freckles.
He was marketed to the goth subculture long before he was a hero for kids on YTV or Nickelodeon. If you look closely at his design in the show, he still has those "stitches" around his eyes, which ties back to Ruby’s love for sewing and the franchise's ragdoll roots.
Why We’re Still Talking About Him in 2026
It’s been twenty years since the show premiered, but the "cult of Mr. Buns" is still going strong. You can still find fan-made magnets, stickers, and plushies on sites like Redbubble or Etsy.
Why? Because Mr. Buns represents the ultimate "low-maintenance" friend. He’s there for the tea parties, he’s there for the scares, and he doesn't judge you for being a little bit weird. In a world that’s increasingly loud, there’s something comforting about a character who just... sits there.
How to Get Your Ruby Gloom Fix Today
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the happiest girl in the world and her sock-rabbit companion, you aren't alone. Here is the current state of the franchise:
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- Streaming: Many episodes are currently available on YouTube via channels like Aircraft Kids or Treehouse Direct.
- The Original Art: Check out Martin Hsu’s archives. Seeing the original, non-smiling Ruby and the early sketches of Mr. Buns gives you a whole new appreciation for the character's evolution.
- Physical Media: If you can find the old DVDs, hold onto them. They’ve become collector's items for "Whimsigoth" enthusiasts.
The next time you’re feeling a bit down, just remember Ruby’s catchphrase: "Look on the bright side!" And if that doesn't work, maybe try sewing a rabbit out of a sock. It worked for her.
Actionable Insight: If you're a collector, look for the original Mighty Fine plushies from the early 2000s; they are significantly rarer than the Nelvana-era merchandise and feature a slightly different, more "gothic" stitching pattern on Mr. Buns' face.