Popular Disney cartoon series Gravity Falls put to rest years of fan speculation in its final episode this week by confirming that two of its male characters are in a relationship.

The show, which airs on Disney XD, centres on twin siblings spending the summer in a town of supernatural creatures.

Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland revealed their love for one another in the series finale this week. In the episode, the sheriff saves the deputy and the two appear to confess their love for one another while cradling each other’s faces, reports Washington Blade.

“We’re mad with power…and love,” one character says to the other.

Last year Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch told Reddit that despite his desire to include an LGBT character in the show’s roster he doubted Disney would permit it.

“I would LOVE to but I doubt they’d ever let me do it in kids T.V. But man I would if I could.”

In 2014, Disney introduced its first-ever same-sex couple in live-action show Good Luck Charlie, which generated complaints from conservative US lobby group, One Million Moms.