When I first sat down and watched Steven Universe, I really had no idea what I was getting into. The show looked cute at a first glance, with nice character designs and an interesting story. What I wasn’t expecting was how well the show developed and grew. Even if the show is just eleven minutes per episode, it takes the audience on a ride that’s definitely worth the spotty scheduling. Steven Universe started in 2012 when its creator Rebecca Sugar left Adventure Time to create the show. The story centers around Steven, a young half-alien boy who lives with his adoptive parental figures in a temple and struggles to understand his powers and his origin, all while keeping the earth safe. The show certainly has its funny bits and is set up in the beginning to be a more light-hearted show, but as the plot progresses more serious themes such as depression and PTSD arise.
The characters never fail to impress me. The protagonist starts as a cheerful boy and slowly progresses into someone who has the weight of the world on his shoulders, desperately clinging to his cheerful disposition. He lives with the Crystal Gems, rebel space warriors who protect Eart, and grapples with the secrets they keep from him. Above all, Steven has to live in the shadow of his mother Rose Quartz, who gave up her life so Steven could be created. Steven is a symbol of unconditional love and everything people believe Rose Quartz stood for to the point that Steven feels overwhelmed with doing right by his mother’s image. Amethyst is perhaps closest to Steven’s personality, a premature gem who acts irrationally. She’s not just a stereotypical party animal--Amethyst has deep lingering insecurities and when they become revealed, she lashes out at everyone around her. Pearl is depicted as poised and graceful, but harbors a deep resentment towards Steven’s father and at times is overcome by jealousy by anyone’s close relationship with Rose Quartz. Garnet is a gem who is calm, cool, and collected; the most stable of them all and is not only a leader, but a representation of love and clear communication. And that's not to leave out minor characters; the whole town is filled with a colorful cast of characters who each get their own bits of development throughout the series.
The show’s messages are what stands this cartoon apart from all other shows. In eleven minutes the audience can be taken through an emotional roller coaster. A good example would be “Mindful Education,” one of the best episodes in the entire season. Steven and his best friend Connie are training as a fusion, where two beings can become one through an emotional bond. With the training, Connie and Steven both feel regret or negative feelings towards events in their lives and can’t concentrate on being one person. In a single song titled “Here Comes a Thought,” Garnet sits with them and explains how to calm down and ground themselves when they feel stressed or anxious. She talks about how anxiety can consume someone, and how to take a deep breath and remember it’s going to be okay. What’s ingenious about the song is that it is implementing a real coping mechanism with intrusive thoughts and anxiety. When Steven’s problems come back, he breaks apart from Connie, and she explains it’s okay to feel sad, and “it’s okay to feel bad so that you can learn to move on...at least, that’s how it was for me.” This episode ends with Connie and Steven fused, looking up at the sky and saying “I’m here.” Not only does this episode teach kids and adults alike how to deal and cope with feelings, thoughts, or anxieties that feel overwhelming, but also provides important character development that furthers Steven and Connie’s friendship. I can't get over not only how wonderful this episode was but how emotionally charged it felt. I was watching it in a room with my dad who had never seen the show before, and he was taken aback by how good it was for a short episode.
Steven Universe continues to show messages that include grief, helplessness, PTSD, anxiety, long-lost friendships, opening up to others, self-love, and moving on. The lessons provided through song or story go hand-in-hand and create an enjoyable experience for any viewer. With gorgeous animation and interesting character development, the show always feels fresh and exciting. I recommend anyone interested in animation or just good Television in general to watch this show. Steven Universe feels like a show that's not only stimulating but relaxing as well.
