Steven Universe: The Movie

Last updated

Steven Universe: The Movie
StevenUniverseTheMoviePoster.png
Promotional release poster
Genre
Based on Steven Universe
by Rebecca Sugar
Written by
  • Lamar Abrams
  • Miki Brewster
  • Danny Cragg
  • Hilary Florido
  • Joe Johnston
  • Amish Kumar
  • Jeff Liu
  • Katie Mitroff
  • Kat Morris
  • Chris Pianka
  • Maddie Queripel
  • Rebecca Sugar
  • Paul Villeco
Story by
  • Ben Levin
  • Hilary Florido
  • Ian Jones-Quartey
  • Jack Pendarvis
  • Joe Johnston
  • Kat Morris
  • Matt Burnett
  • Rebecca Sugar
Directed by
  • Rebecca Sugar
Starring
Music by
Composers
  • Aivi & Surasshu
  • Jeff Ball
  • Stemage
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer
  • Rebecca Sugar
Producer Jackie Buscarino
EditorPaul Douglas
Running time82 minutes [1]
Production company Cartoon Network Studios
Original release
Network Cartoon Network
ReleaseSeptember 2, 2019 (2019-09-02)

Steven Universe: The Movie is a 2019 American animated musical television film based on the animated television series Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar. The film is directed by Sugar, alongside co-directors Joe Johnston and Kat Morris, and stars Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno Hall, and Sarah Stiles, alongside an ensemble cast reprising their roles from the television series. Steven Universe: The Movie takes place two years after the events of the series finale "Change Your Mind", and follows the Crystal Gems as they attempt to save all organic life on Earth from a deranged Gem with a history with Steven's mother Rose Quartz.

Contents

The film was announced at  San Diego Comic-Con  2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on Cartoon Network's YouTube channel. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD. The film premiered on Cartoon Network on September 2, 2019, to 1.57 million viewers. It was the first Cartoon Network original film since 2015's Regular Show: The Movie .

The film takes place between the original Steven Universe series and its follow-up, Steven Universe Future . [2]

Plot

After an introduction from the Diamonds ("The Tale of Steven"), Steven Universe, now 16 years old, greets the citizens of the Gem Empire. The Diamonds want him to stay to fulfill his mother Pink Diamond's role as a leader ("Let Us Adore You"), but he refuses. Back on Earth, the Crystal Gems celebrate their newfound peace ("Happily Ever After"). Almost immediately, a giant drill lands on the hillside, and Spinel, a deranged and cartoonish Gem, appears, announcing her intent to kill Steven and the rest of the Earth ("Other Friends"). Using a scythe-like weapon, she "poofs" Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst back into their gem forms; her attacks also weaken Steven's Gem powers, though his body is unharmed. Steven manages to poof Spinel with the scythe.

Steven calls his father, Greg, for help. The Gems regenerate their bodies (including Ruby and Sapphire separately), but their memories somehow have been erased; Pearl assumes that she is Greg's servant ("system/BOOT.pearl_final(3).Info"). With her memories gone, Spinel is a goofy and happy-go-lucky Gem whose function is to entertain her companion. Steven seeks advice from Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, and Bismuth; they try to raise Steven's spirits ("Who We Are"). Bismuth recognizes Spinel's weapon as a "Rejuvenator", a device used to reset the minds of rebellious Gems back to their default state. Spinel compares the situation to a puzzle, suggesting that they find the Gems' "missing pieces" to restore their memories, inspiring Steven to try to reenact Ruby and Sapphire's first fusion. Spinel's antics cause scaffolding to collapse, almost crushing Ruby; when Sapphire shoves her to safety, they fuse into Garnet ("Isn't It Love?"), but she still has no memory of her life.

After Steven recovers Amethyst's memory by reenacting experiences the two had together ("No Matter What"), Peridot discovers that Spinel's drill is injecting a toxic chemical that will kill all life on Earth. In a moment of panic, Steven attempts to remove the injector, but his weakened efforts only serve to accelerate the process. In order to revive Pearl's memory, the group takes her to a Sadie Killer and the Suspects concert, hoping their music will bring back her memories of rebellion ("Disobedient"), but Pearl insists that as long as Greg exists, she will obey him. Steven uses what little energy he has left to fuse with Greg ("Independent Together"), which enables Pearl to recover her memory. She tells Steven that Spinel was once Pink Diamond's playmate; overcome with sadness, Spinel flees.

Steven follows Spinel to a desolate garden in space, where she recovers her memory and reveals her backstory: when Pink Diamond began the Gem colonization of Earth and did not want Spinel to join her, she tricked Spinel into "playing a game", in which Spinel was to stand frozen in the garden. Spinel was left there alone for 6,000 years before learning that Pink Diamond no longer exists ("Drift Away"). Steven tells her that he will never abandon her and that he will make up for his mother's mistakes ("Found").

Back in Beach City, Spinel turns off the injector, but when Steven begins shifting his attention back to everyone else, she accuses Steven of just using her, suggesting he'll abandon her or wipe her memory again. She turns the injector back on and attacks Steven. As he tries to explain the truth to her, Garnet recovers her memory ("True Kinda Love"). Steven sends the others to rescue the humans of Beach City while he confronts Spinel. Steven finally realizes why his Gem powers have not yet returned: his desire for an unchanging "happily ever after" has left him resistant to the notion of growth and change, which he needs to re-experience. Embracing this fact, he regains his powers and battles Spinel, trying to convince her that she can change as well ("Change"). Their fight destroys the injector, and Spinel relents after realizing how much she hates what she has become.

The Diamonds suddenly arrive, intending to live on Earth with Steven. He introduces Spinel to them, and they take an immediate liking to her because of her goofy personality, and how she reminds them of Pink ("Let Us Adore You (Reprise)"). The Diamonds accept her in place of Steven, and she happily goes with them, now with people who will love her unconditionally. Steven and his friends gather to rebuild Beach City, and Steven, Connie, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, and Greg perform a Takarazuka-style "Finale".

Cast

The film features the main and recurring characters of the series, [3] and introduces the new characters Spinel and Steg.

Production

The film is a musical, with songs written by the series creator Rebecca Sugar featuring musical collaborations with Aivi & Surasshu, Chance the Rapper, Gallant, James Fauntleroy, Macie Stewart, Mike Krol, Grant Henry (Stemage), Jeff Liu, Jeff Ball, and Julian "Zorsy" Sanchez, as well as Estelle, Ted Leo, and Aimee Mann, who have voice roles. Lena Raine is also credited for song and score mixing. [4] The film is executive produced by Rebecca Sugar. [5] The co-executive producers are Chance the Rapper, Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Ian Jones-Quartey. [5] The film was directed by Rebecca Sugar, Kat Morris, and Joe Johnston. The story for the film was developed by Ben Levin, Hilary Florido, Ian Jones-Quartey, Jack Pendarvis, Joe Johnston, Kat Morris, Matt Burnett, and Rebecca Sugar. [6]

Marketing

The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on Cartoon Network's YouTube channel. [7] A poster was released a week before San Diego Comic-Con 2019, revealing a glimpse of the film's antagonist and a visibly older Steven, [8] setting the film two years after the events of "Change Your Mind". [9]

At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD. [10]

Adult Swim's action-oriented Toonami block aired a second trailer for the film during their August 24 broadcast. [11]

Release

The film was released on September 2, 2019, on Cartoon Network; the Every Steven Ever marathon aired leading up to the film, [4] followed by a digital release on September 3. [1] The film was released on DVD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on November 12, 2019; this release contains the documentary Behind the Curtain: The Making of Steven Universe: The Movie and animatics both with and without commentary. [12] The film was later released on the Steven Universe: The Complete Collection DVD on December 8, 2020, alongside the entirety of the original series and Future. [13]

International

The film has been released among various international Cartoon Network feeds. In Australia, the film released on the streaming service Stan on September 30, 2019. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the film was released a month later on October 1, 2019. In France, the film was premiered on October 27, 2019. In Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the film premiered on May 9, 2020. In Poland, the film premiered on May 17, 2020. In Germany, the film premiered on May 30, 2020.

Theatrical

In Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the film was released theatrically from October 24 to October 30, 2019, in Cinemark Theatres. [14]

A one-night theatrical sing-along screening through Fathom Events was planned for March 23, 2020, including a premiere screening of an episode of Steven Universe Future , but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the sing-along edition of the film premiered on Cartoon Network on March 6, 2020, preceding 2 new episodes of Future, while the attached episode was released digitally on the event's original date. [15]

Through its limited run, the film made $24,012 at the international box-office. [16]

Reception

Viewership

Steven Universe: The Movie was seen by 1.57 million viewers on its original telecast, which was commercial-free. [17] This made the film the highest-rated broadcast of the series in over three years.

Critical response

The film was universally acclaimed by critics prior to broadcast, with the music, animation and characters highlighted in particular. [18]

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 100% approval rating based on nine reviews. [19]

Speaking of its effectiveness as a stand-alone story in Forbes , Dani Di Placido described the film as "both approachable to newcomers and deeply rewarding for longtime fans of the series". [20] ComicBook.com's Rollin Bishop summarised that the film contains "amazing musical numbers with striking illustrations and breathtaking animation to outdo anything the franchise has attempted before", [21] while Shamus Kelley of Den of Geek commented on the strong emotional content, saying that "this is a movie that will stick with you long after it’s finished airing. Like the best entertainment, it holds up a mirror and lets you examine your life in a safe way". [22]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
2019 Annie Awards Best Voice Acting TV/Media Sarah Stiles as "Spinel"Nominated
2020 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Kids & Family Programming Steven Universe: The MovieNominated

Music

The first single from the film's soundtrack, "True Kinda Love", performed by Estelle and Callison, was released on July 19, 2019. The soundtrack was released on September 1, 2019. [23]

The soundtrack peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 chart, number 6 on the Independent Albums chart, and number 5 on the Soundtracks chart. [24] [25] [26] Additionally, two songs from the soundtrack charted on the Billboard Kid Digital Songs chart. "Other Friends" and True Kinda Love" peaked at number 1 and number 8 respectively. [27] The song "Happily Ever After" was later adapted into the title theme of the epilogue limited series Steven Universe Future . [2]

A deluxe version (featuring demo versions of a few songs) was released on November 15, 2019. [28] [29]

Related Research Articles

<i>Steven Universe</i> 2013–19 American animated TV series

Steven Universe is an American animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. It tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy, Steven Universe, who lives with the Crystal Gems—magical, mineral-based aliens named Garnet (Estelle), Amethyst, and Pearl —in the fictional town of Beach City. Steven, who is half-Gem, has adventures with his friends and helps the Gems protect the world from their own kind. The pilot was first shown in May 2013, and the series ran for five seasons, from November 2013 to January 2019. The TV film Steven Universe: The Movie was released in September 2019, and an epilogue limited series, Steven Universe Future, ran from December 2019 to March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven the Sword Fighter</span> 16th episode of the 1st season of Steven Universe

"Steven the Sword Fighter" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American animated television series Steven Universe. It is written by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu.

Jail Break (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 49th episode of the 1st season of Steven Universe

"Jail Break" is the 49th episode of the first season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on March 12, 2015 on Cartoon Network. The episode was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston, Jeff Liu, and series creator Rebecca Sugar. The episode acts as a continuation of the arc started in the previous episode, "The Return", and the two aired alongside each other as a two-part special. Both episodes were watched by 1.697 million viewers.

The Answer (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 22nd episode of the 2nd season of Steven Universe

"The Answer" is the 22nd episode of the second season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on January 4, 2016 on Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff. The episode was viewed by 1.384 million viewers.

Cry for Help (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 11th episode of the 2nd season of Steven Universe

"Cry for Help" is the eleventh episode of the second season of American animated television series Steven Universe. The episode was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu; it premiered on July 13, 2015, on Cartoon Network and was watched by 1.714 million viewers.

Garnet (<i>Steven Universe</i>) Fictional character

Garnet is a character from the animated series Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar. Based on the real world mineral garnet, Garnet is a Gem, a fictional alien being that exists as a magical gemstone projecting a holographic body. Garnet is a fusion — i.e., two Gems combining personalities and appearances as one shared holographic body — formed by two Gems named Ruby and Sapphire, who choose to remain permanently fused out of love for each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coach Steven</span> 20th episode of the 1st season of Steven Universe

"Coach Steven" is the twentieth episode of the first season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on August 21, 2014 on Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Raven M. Molisee and Paul Villeco.

Alone Together (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 37th episode of the 1st season of Steven Universe

"Alone Together" is the 37th episode of the first season of the American animated television series Steven Universe. It first aired on January 15, 2015, on Cartoon Network. The episode was written and storyboarded by Hilary Florido, Katie Mitroff, and series creator Rebecca Sugar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Watermelon Island</span> 1st episode of the 3rd season of Steven Universe

"Super Watermelon Island" is the first episode of the third season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on May 12, 2016 on Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu. The episode was viewed by 1.693 million viewers.

Bismuth (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 24th episode of the 3rd season of Steven Universe

"Bismuth" is the twentieth and twenty-first episode of the third season of American animated television series Steven Universe; it premiered on August 4, 2016 on Cartoon Network. A special double-length episode featuring guest star Uzo Aduba, it was advertised as the 100th episode of the series. It was written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams, Colin Howard, Jeff Liu and Katie Mitroff. The episode was viewed by 2.153 million viewers.

Amethyst (<i>Steven Universe</i>) Steven Universe character

Amethyst is a fictional character from the animated television series Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar. She is voiced by Michaela Dietz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Single Pale Rose</span> 18th episode of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"A Single Pale Rose" is the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe. It first aired on May 7, 2018 on Cartoon Network as the second half of a two-part special with the preceding episode "Can't Go Back". It was directed by Kat Morris and Liz Artinian and written and storyboarded by Danny Cragg and Hilary Florido from a story by Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, and series creator Rebecca Sugar.

Reunited (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 23rd and 24th episodes of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"Reunited" is the 23rd and 24th episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe, and the 151st and 152nd episode of the series overall. A 22-minute double-length special episode, it was directed by Joe Johnston and Liz Artinian, and written and storyboarded by Miki Brewster, Jeff Liu, Katie Mitroff and Paul Villeco from a story by Johnston, Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Kat Morris, Tom Herpich and series creator Rebecca Sugar. It first aired on July 6, 2018 as the final part of the seventh "StevenBomb", a series of six episodes aired between July 2 and 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legs from Here to Homeworld</span> 25th episode of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"Legs from Here to Homeworld" is the 25th episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe, and the 153rd episode of the series overall. It was directed by Kat Morris and Liz Artinian and written and storyboarded by Danny Cragg, Hilary Florido, and Tom Herpich, from a story by Morris, Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Joe Johnston, and series creator and executive producer Rebecca Sugar. It premiered at the Steven Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 21, 2018, before being released on the Cartoon Network app and website the following day; it was broadcast on television on December 17, 2018.

Change Your Mind (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 29th and 32nd episodes of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"Change Your Mind" is the series finale of the American animated television series Steven Universe; a 44-minute quadruple-length episode, it is counted as the 29th to 32nd episode of the series' fifth season and as the 157th to 160th episodes of the series overall. The only 44-minute episode of the series, it was directed by Joe Johnston and Kat Morris, with art direction by Liz Artinian, and written and storyboarded by Johnston, Morris, Lamar Abrams, Miki Brewster, Danny Cragg, Hilary Florido, Ian Jones-Quartey, Christine Liu, Jeff Liu, Katie Mitroff, Paul Villeco, and series creator and executive producer Rebecca Sugar.

<i>Steven Universe Future</i> American animated television series

Steven Universe Future is an American animated series created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. It serves as both an epilogue and the de facto sixth and final season of the 2013–2019 original series Steven Universe and its follow-up 2019 animated film Steven Universe: The Movie. It premiered on December 7, 2019, and concluded on March 27, 2020.

The Future (<i>Steven Universe Future</i>) Episode of Steven Universe Future

"The Future" is the 20th and final episode of the American animated limited series Steven Universe Future, which serves as an epilogue to the 2013–19 television series Steven Universe; it is therefore also the final episode of the Steven Universe franchise. It originally aired on Cartoon Network on March 27, 2020 as the fourth and final part of the series finale.

Fragments (<i>Steven Universe Future</i>) Episode of Steven Universe Future

"Fragments" is the 16th episode of the American animated limited series Steven Universe Future, which serves as an epilogue to the 2013–19 television series Steven Universe. It originally aired on Cartoon Network on March 20, 2020. It was directed by Kat Morris, Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Liz Artinian and written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams and Miki Brewster. The episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Short-Form Animation.

<i>Steven Universe: Unleash the Light</i> 2019 video game

Steven Universe: Unleash the Light is a role-playing video game developed by Grumpyface Studios and published by Cartoon Network Games. It is based on, and taking place after, the Steven Universe animated series. The game is the third and final game in the Light trilogy, after Attack the Light and Save the Light. The storyline was written by Rebecca Sugar and features voices by the show's original cast.

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