Steven Universe is finally back on TV today , but if you ’re confused as to why so many people across the net are frothing at the mouth for its return , we ’re here to help ! This is everything you need to acknowledge to starting watching the adventure of Steven and the Crystal Gems immediately . ( Because you really , really should . )
What is Steven Universe?
Created by former Adventure Time storyboard creative person Rebecca Sugar , Steven Universe is an intermittently - broadcast liven series on Cartoon web that follows the adventures of , you guessed it , Steven Universe — a young human boy who discovers his legacy as the child of the leader in a superhero - esque group of aliens , the Crystal Gems , sworn to protect the planet Earth from intergalactic threats . The series balances fade - of - life and coming - of - eld narration about Steven growing up and coming into his important own with the Crystal Gems with superheroic action as they fight to keep Earth safe .
Meet the Crystal Gems…
There are four independent characters in Steven Universe , who are member of the Crystal Gems : Steven , a young boy , and Garnet ( the crimson - dark-skinned one ) , Amethyst ( the purple - colored one ) , and Pearl ( the pale - colored one ): crystalline alien warriors from a backwash known as the gem .
Gems have no grammatical gender — They’re space rocks , for lack of a sound phrase . A gem has the ability to see a humanoid physical structure ( usually distaff in form ) from their gem to enable them to interact with the world around them . The projected body that can be damage , but repaired if a jewel spends time in their gemstone form ( if the gemstone itself is destroyed , however , a Gem dies for good ) , and does n’t get on , giving Gems incredibly long lifespans .
Multiple Gems can also coalesce together into a individual large , hard mannequin through a process known as “ nuclear fusion , ” a cognitive process that is not permanent , but can be maintained for extended periods of time . Gems are essentially superpowered — they can form especial weapons out of their Isidor Feinstein Stone or utilise special abilities , and have raise pep pill and speciality .
Thousands of years ago , the Gems came to Earth with their drawing card , Rose Quartz , as part of the Gem culture ’s design to colonize Earth . When Rose let out the Gem Homeworld ’s actual architectural plan for the planet ( which would ’ve exterminated all innate life ) , she and her closest allies rise , pushing the Gem armies off Earth , but at the cost of many Gem lives , leaving Rose , Garnet , Amethyst and Pearl alone and exile on the planet .
Eventually , Rose met and fell in beloved with a human named Greg , and decided to have a youngster with him by giving up her physical form : Steven , who is the first ever Human - Gem hybrid . Steven , who inherited his mother ’s gemstone and powers , be with his foster household while seek to master his Gem powers , so he can join his fellow Crystal Gems in fighting to protect the planet if the Gem Homeworld hark back to try its plans again .
… and their villainous foes
Oh , did I say “ if ” ? Because of form the bad guy wire show up . While the Crystal Gems occasionally stop up fighting monsters left over from the Gem Homeworld ’s initial colonization attempt , the existent villains of the show are a small grouping of Homeworld Gems who have returned to Earth , plotting the satellite and ill-affected Crystal Gems ’ destruction .
The principal players in this faction seen so far are : Peridot , a cowardly research scientist ; Jasper , a burly warrior assigned to protect Peridot ; Lapis Lazuli , a gem that was trapped on Earth but freed by Steven and eventually pressure - gang up by the Homeworld Gems into crop with them ; and their boss Yellow Diamond , one of the rulers of the Gem Empire . The show has only late gravel around to introducing these villain in its slow - burning plot line , they ’re the next big threat the Crystal Gems will have to face .
The rich universe of Steven
As you might have work out from all the above , Steven Universe is misleadingly complex for a small fry ’s show . While the kid - favorable theme and oecumenical up-and-coming action of the show give it a unchanging young interview , older fans are drawn to the show ’s power to cautiously dole out a wide of the mark , intricate backstory over its extended lifetime , whether it ’s in specific backstory - laboured sequence , or more often sneakily interweave in and out of the show ’s plotlines in tiny total as the show tardily build to the boastful conflict between the Crystal and Homeworld Gems .
That slow world - building is also what makes Steven Universe bewitching to watch for older fans — view the disparate hints and account ingredient scattered throughout episode lento come together to uncover either a major new plotline or some previously - speculated fact about the Gem Homeworld or the main characters is immensely substantial , and fans love theorising about the show ’s mostly - hide “ lore . ” On the surface , it ’s still dewy-eyed enough for its targeted untried audience to enjoy , and raise themes of making love , friendship , and acceptance that are suitably enriching for that young fanbase . But older fans flourish on learning more and more about the strange , science fancied world that Steven Universe has barely lift the curtain on .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov0KkKUXZpc
It’s got one heck of a soundtrack
One dear face of the serial of import to its core is its usage of Song dynasty . The soundtrack , composed by chiptunes - inspire duo Aivi & Surasshu , is an eclectic mix of electronic and orchestral orchestration , but its real heart come in in the various call write for the show ( often by Sugar herself ) . The vocalisation casting actually feature some notable singers : Deedee Magno Hall , who voices Pearl , is a Great White Way doer get laid for persona in Miss Saigon and Wicked , while British rosehip - hop creative person Estelle plays Garnet . The guest cast is frequently musically inclined as well — everyone from Patti LuPone to Nicki Minaj have provided voices for roles .
That vast outspoken talent is frequently put use , as characters often break off out into musical - esque interlude , ranging from the laughable ( such as raps aboutice emollient sandwich mascotsor odes toliterally mammoth women ) to deep personal character piece , such asa ballad to Pearl ’s knightly nature , or perhaps the show ’s most iconic track , “ Stronger than You , ” an anthemic declaration of beloved by Garnet . Music becomes a vital way that the show explores its motif and type — and as I mentioned , the songs are often great enough that you ’ll find yourself tapping your ft or singing along in the process .
So what makes it work?
Beyond its compelling worldbuilding and catchy line , Steven Universe is perhaps most acclaimed for its female person - focused creativity . Not only are the vast majority of the characters are distaff ( or identify as such ) , rare for an ostensibly “ superheroic ” action at law - oriented kids show , the serial ’ target consultation clearly includes both boy and miss . Not just that , but the show treat its distaff leads as complex , many-sided fiber , as people who are not perfect and have flaws . Rebecca Sugar has frequentlydescribed the showas , at its meat , being a celebration of intersectional feminism , about women with their own struggle come together , and being stronger for it , out of their love for one another .
https://gizmodo.com/why-i-fell-in-love-with-the-brilliant-steven-universe-1711666770
The series is also beloved for its willingness to dabble in LGBTQ representation and themes of sex and identity — most notably in lead character Garnet , who is a Gem Fusion that acts as the strong-arm embodiment of a romanticistic relationship between two female - identifying Gems call Ruby and Sapphire , often raised up as a define deterrent example of LGBTQ - friendly representation in children ’s television set . Love in world-wide , whether it ’s between families and friends , fan , or out of this world distance stone , and both the acceptation and title of that beloved , is a key tenet of the show : and a baronial message for any show , have alone a children ’s cartoon series .
But above all ? It wraps all of those confirming themes into a cheerful , promising adventure serial , fill with fascinatingly complex human relationship , one that embraces attentive spectator with a productive scifi world , enjoyable irrespective of age . Steven Universe is a show for everyone — and if you want to dive in , you ’ll be justly rewarded with a compelling animated series that stands as one of the ripe on television right now .
Animationcartoon networkRebecca SugarSteven Universe
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