If you have been a dedicated audience to Cartoon Network since you were a kid, you have seen all the different kinds of cartoons that have cycled through the schedule. Throwing down a small list, you could recall shows like Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Ed, Edd, n’ Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Mike, Lu, and Og, Kids Next Door, and the colorful blend of anime in the Toonami line-up. Cartoon Network has always been known to bring in the best of stories that cover all kinds of topics. Some mature themed, like discovering that your older sisters are wearing bras for support, and some just down right to living life in a cul-de-sac with your friends and grabbing jawbreakers at every chance you get.
In the hype of Adventure Time gracing the televisions and computer screens of children, teens, and adults, the taste for obscure, fantastical, and quirk is an ongoing craving. A woman, who actually worked on Adventure Time as a story-board artist and writer, created her very own show. Her name is Rebecca Sugar. If you are a fan of Adventure Time, then you will be familiar with the songs the characters indulge in, particularly Marceline, the rock-star vampire. Rebecca Sugar is responsible for those. In November 2013, Sugar’s own show debuted on Cartoon Network. A little show with a large heart called Steven Universe.
If you have not seen Steven Universe, now is the time to do it. There are 2 seasons out and the show is coming back in September with new episodes!
Steven Universe is about a little boy who is half-human-half-alien. He lives with three other aliens, who live on earth and are sworn to protect it. They call themselves The Crystal Gems: Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl. Steven is the son of Rose Quartz, who was the leader and a Crystal Gem, but gave up her physical form to bring her son into the world. Steven’s family is not in the sense “a nuclear family." He has over a hundred years old three female aliens and a human father raising him.
This show has captured the hearts of all ages. Although it is from the perspective of young Steven, who is supposedly 10 years old, and half the time the real world issues go right over his head, but those issues are still witnessed by us, the audience. Steven lives the life of a little kid who also happens to be in training to be a strong Crystal Gem warrior. He learns to control his powers and at the same time, play guitar jams with his musician of a father.
After getting a small taste of what the show's premise is, here are the reasons why this show is incredible and nothing like cartoon culture has ever seen.
It showcases Untraditional Love
Garnet, the leader of the Crystal Gems, is a calm, cool, collected woman. What makes her so? She is actually a Fusion: the embodiment of two individual gems, specifically Ruby and Sapphire. These two gems are so deeply in love with each other that they cannot stand to be apart from one another. The embodiment of this powerful lesbian relationship is what makes Garnet who and what she is.
Did I mention that Steven is being raised by three mother figures?! And he lives with them. Greg Universe, Steven’s father, still has a presence in his son’s life, but mainly lives in a van and runs his own car wash business. No one at Beach City questions nor makes fun of Steven for having three mothers. Not only that, but it is also refreshing to see a television show about a boy who is unabashedly looks up to his female guardians and admires them.
The Cast is DIVERSE
Steven Universe is voiced by the young Zach Callison. Amethyst has the wild voice of Michaela Dietz. Pearl’s goody-two-shoe voice comes from Deedee Mango. Garnet’s smooth warm tones are provided by the Grammy Award winning singer-song writer, Estelle. All voices are women of color! An important aspect to take note of is that only Caucasian in the cast is Callison. Even Nicki Minaj guest stars as a Fusion!
The Character Design is Diverse
It is obvious that the show has origins of “Magical Girl” shows, like Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, or Madoka Magica. The body types presented in these types of shows are, unfortunately, idealized; Long, skinny legs, small waist, dainty hands, unrealistic fine yet voluminous hair, and Eastern European skin complexion.
With the Crystal Gems, we see a variety of shape and color. It is not just because they are aliens. It is hard to not take your eyes off of them. The Crystal Gems even chose their physical forms to what they feel is attractive. Their choice in shape and size contributes to them kicking any bad guy’s butt! Amethyst, Rose Quartz, and Steven are drawn in the heavy weight side. The whole “fat kid” trope does not make a single play in this show. Yes, Steven and Amethyst eat a lot, but their weight do not slow them down, they do not have a hard time catching up, and the comedy of the show is not at their expense. Not once is their weight, their downfall. Rose Quartz is actually praised for her body, which again, she chose to have.
In addition, the residents of Beach City are all unique. They even show a character, Lars (far left), having earlobe gauges; a modification that society has deemed inappropriate. But Lars is as harmless as the donuts he sells.
They Tackle Gender Norms
The show is filled with rejecting gender norms and is actually full of queer subtext. With the concept of Fusion having a strong presence in the show, Steven and his best friend/crush, Connie Maheswaran, can fuse into a Non-Gender Binary figure, called Stevonnie. In the episode while exploring the city as this new form, Stevonnie is seen as androgynous and attractive to both boys and girls. Note that Stevonnie does not use “he” or “she” pronouns.
Going back to Fusion, Gems are identified with “she” pronouns and female physicality. To Fuse with another Gem, dancing must be involved and it is quite intimate, otherwise if there is no intimacy, the Fusion fails. Having mutual respect for one another is what makes the Fusion strong. The fact that Ruby and Sapphire are so deeply in love, Garnet is the strongest of the Crystal Gems.
Steven strongly and constantly admires his powerful alien moms. He falls under the category of what a “Magical Girl” hero should be, and embodies femininity, but happens to be a boy.
The Beautiful Concept Art
From the opening sequence to the title cards, the landscape of Beach City, and to the other dimensions of the Gem Dimensions, the artists over at Cartoon Network Studios are pumping out dreamy, in depth, breathtaking artwork. My desktop and phone backgrounds have been cycling through the art from Steven Universe throughout the year!
Some other fun facts about this show that are worth knowing:
-Rebecca Sugar is from Silver Spring, MD! Maryland Represent! Being from Montgomery County myself, having gone to college in that area, it feels great to hear that someone so powerful and creative came from where you bought your records, watched movies, and explored your small community.
-Steven Universe is named after Rebecca's younger brother, Steven Sugar.
-Beach City is based off of the Delaware beaches (Rehobeth, Fenwick, Bethany, Cape Henlopen, etc.) Sugar and her family would visit growing up.
-Singers Aimee Mann and Nicki Minaj voice Fusions.
-Steven Universe is Cartoon Network’s first female created show!
If you are not watching it, your siblings, your friends and their siblings, are watching it.
What are you waiting for?
