I’ve wanted to do a post on Steven Universe for a while now, but I’ve held off. In part that’s because I think I’ve bothered just about everyone I know about it, but also because I feel like I’ve been unable to say anything about the show that hasn’t already been said.
The last year, however, I think I have seen just how transformative this show can be. Not only has it changed me for the better, but it changed my students and friends who watched it, too. So…here goes!
What is it?
Steven Universe is an animated television show currently airing on Cartoon Network. It follows the adventures of the titular Steven Universe who lives with three magical women: the Crystal Gems. His father Greg and his best friend Connie also pop in and out of episodes, assisting Steven as he balances saving the world and interacting with the other human denizens of Beach City.
On the surface, it seems like a pretty simple setup for a host of throwaway episodes that lack substance, a la Spongebob or others. Steven Universe has plenty of whimsy to go around, to be sure, but is also unapologetic in its willingness to dive right in to complicated issues about the human condition. Thematically, most of the issues are presented in ways that are light and airy (songs, for example), yet that doesn’t stop them from being any more serious.
Strong in the Real Way
Since the show is told from the perspective of Steven, ultimately the great story arc is of his coming of age. At 14, Steven is caught between two worlds: that of his human friends in their home of Beach City, and that of his Gem family.
Steven’s growth never seems rushed or forced. In the first episode, we see Steven struggle to use his Gem powers to summon his weapon, a pink shield. He doesn’t manage to do so successfully in that episode, and it takes another 24 episodes before the shield shows up again at all. Despite the extensive length of time it takes for Steven to master each power, it never feels boring or drawn out. This is in part because his powers serve as a measure of Steven’s own maturity; as he grows up and begins to throw off some of the more childish behaviors, his powers grow with him.
Life and Death on the Planet Earth
The story is layered with plenty of background, and the life of the many characters involved exists long before Steven was ever born. It is established pretty early on that the Crystal Gems fought in a global-scale war thousands of years before to protect the planet from others of their own kind, and as the story goes on it becomes clearer as to why Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl are the only Gems left on Earth. Rose Quartz, Steven’s mother, was the leader of this war, and Steven Universe is as much his story as it is about the consequences of her actions during the war.
Like with his emotional and magical growth, information on this history comes slowly, but proves to be incredibly important, and both go hand-in-hand. As Steven comes to understand the world better and grow more mature, he begins to realize that his mother was not quite as perfect as the Crystal Gems and Greg want him to believe.
The story never totally loses its whimsy – which is part of the charm – but as Steven grows in maturity and learns more about the history of his family and friends, the stakes grow ever-higher. Episodes strike a keen balance between fun and silly, serious and informative. This helps to make the show more relatable, as it never feels that we are getting a lore-dump as what happens on other shows.
Serious Song
Music is as much a character in Steven Universe as Steven himself. Heavy subjects are told through the power of song, helping to keep the whimsical nature of the show even while tackling challenging topics such as the loss of a loved one or the feeling of never belonging. These aren’t new ideas, to be sure, but the music handles them in a way that makes these ideas seem fresh and unique.
In addition to proper songs, music is important for characterization. Every single character has their one leitmotif, complete with a set of instruments that helps to define who they are. Steven, for example, is often accompanied by chiptune or ukelele, mirroring his positive attitude and childlike qualities. The somewhat-uptight and proper Pearl, on the other hand, is usually found with an airy piano or violin tune. Props have to be given to composers Aivi and Surasshu for developing the songs, as even when it comes to fusion (more on that later) the music acts as a blend between those characters leitmotifs. In this way, the audience is able to gain a better understanding of the characters without them having to say a single word.
Something Entirely New
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Steven Universe is a show that is layered with metaphor and symbology. This becomes especially apparent in how the show treats the idea of relationships: both friendly and romantic.
The way the show brings up this message in a kid-friendly way is through the magic of “fusion,” a magical ability where two or more Gems merge together to form one much larger one. Right from the get-go, fusion acts as a representation of a relationship, when the first two Gems to fuse onscreen are told they have to work together in order to do so. Fusion also represents sex, and while it tries to be subtle about it, sometimes it is significantly less subtle.
The show uses this magic to discuss reasons why people enter relationships; in some cases, it is because both parties truly love each other and want to be together forever. In other cases, it is an act of revenge against someone else who had scorned them (see what I mean about handling unfriendly topics?). In one instance, a Gem tricks another into fusing so that they can feel better; the show does not hesitate to focus on that betrayal and why it is so terrible for several episodes afterward, and it takes time for both parties to be on friendly terms again.
Reformed
Ultimately, Steven Universe is a show meant for just about anyone. Like “Harry Potter,” it seeks to send a powerful message that teenagers and adults will understand even while the younger ones gawp at the magical spectacle. Steven Universe‘s ultimate message is one of happiness and positivity: that accepting others and trying to be a good person will always win out the day over violence and hate. And in our modern, messy world of conflict and strife, it’s a message that is long overdue.
And, if this review isn’t enough, I would highly recommend this video. It’s not perfect, but it gets the general idea across without spoiling too much.
Jacob Ryckman 
