Steven Universe (character)

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Steven Universe
Steven Universe character
Steven Universe.jpg
Left: Steven's appearance in Steven Universe
Right: Steven's appearance in Steven Universe Future
First appearance"The Time Thing" (2013) (pilot debut)
"Gem Glow" (2013) (proper series debut)
Last appearance"The Future" (2020)
Created by Rebecca Sugar
Voiced by
List
In-universe information
Full nameSteven Quartz Universe
GenderMale
Family
List

Steven Quartz Universe is the eponymous protagonist of the animated series Steven Universe and its epilogue series Steven Universe Future , created by Rebecca Sugar. Steven is a hybrid between a normal human being and a "Gem", a fictional race of alien beings that exist as magical gemstones projecting bodies of light. Voiced by Zach Callison, he debuted in the series' pilot episode and made his main series debut in the first episode, "Gem Glow".

Contents

The show generally takes place around Steven's perspective: the audience always follows Steven and learns about the plot and backstory as he does. As such, the only scenes without the character are those that he sees as visions, that are told to him as stories or when he's fused and seeing through the eyes of the fusion.

The character was received positively, with his evolution through the series, ideology revolving around kindness and empathy, and gender non-conformity receiving most praise.

Creation

Steven was created by Rebecca Sugar, with his appearance and name based on Rebecca Sugar's brother Steven Sugar, a background artist for the show. [2] During the development of the pilot, Rebecca Sugar had a conversation with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in which he emphasized the importance of repetitive imagery to create a motif. This inspired Steven's iconic star t-shirt. [3]

Character

Zach Callison, Steven's voice actor. Zach Callison by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Zach Callison, Steven's voice actor.

Steven, in his early teens when the series begins, is the youngest member of the Crystal Gems. He is the first and only known Gem–human hybrid, the product of the union between the Crystal Gems' original leader, Rose Quartz, and Greg Universe, a human musician and car-wash owner. Rose "gave up her physical form" to create Steven, leaving behind only her pink, pentagonal-faceted gem, now embedded in his navel. As a result, some Gems have considered Steven and Rose to be the same entity; a major character arc for Steven involves his wrestling with his mother's complex legacy, and whether he must take responsibility for her choices.

With this gem, Steven develops a wide variety of magical abilities. He is able to summon his mother’s shield; create a spherical force field; heal Gems, humans, and objects with his saliva; create sentient plant life; shapeshift; float through the air; use empathetic telepathy and astral projection; combine bodies and minds with other Gems and/or humans to form powerful "fusions"; and revive the dead with his tears. By the movie, Steven has fully mastered his Gem abilities.

Cheerful, kind-hearted, carefree, and always willing to see the best in people, Steven is beloved by the Gems and well-liked by the people of Beach City, including his best friend Connie Maheswaran. Steven is said to take after Rose in terms of personality, as he is empathetic and all-loving, though Rebecca Sugar says that he actually inherited this attitude from Greg. [4] Over the course of the series, Steven matures greatly, garnering new respect for his position as a protector of Earth and becoming more aware of the dangers of being a Crystal Gem. According to Sugar, Steven's greatest flaw is his self-sacrificing nature; he continually sets aside his own safety and emotional well-being in favor of others, which eventually takes a toll on his mental health. [5]

Late in the series, Steven grows concerned about his role as the inheritor of his late mother's legacy, especially after he finds out that Rose Quartz herself was in actuality originally Pink Diamond, a member of the Great Diamond Authority that reigns supreme over the Gem race. The other Diamonds—Yellow, Blue, and White Diamond—assume Steven is Pink Diamond in an alternate form and attempt to hold him responsible for her actions and make him reclaim Pink Diamond's place among them. In the series finale, "Change Your Mind", White Diamond briefly removes his gem from his body; it regenerates itself into a form identical to that of Steven's physical body, thus finally reassuring him that he truly is his own individual, not merely a reincarnation of his mother.

In the epilogue series, Steven Universe Future, Steven struggles with feelings of purposelessness after the Gem empire is reformed and his friends and family no longer need his help, and his unresolved emotional trauma from the events of the original series leads him to overreact to minor stresses and life changes. [6] Near the end of the series, this stress builds up to the point that he turns into a giant, kaiju-like monster, endangering Beach City, but the love and support of his friends and family help turn him back to normal. In the final episode of the series, Steven leaves Beach City indefinitely to seek out a new purpose and live like a normal human.

Steven usually wears a red T-shirt with a yellow star in the center, blue jeans, and salmon-pink flip-flops. In cold weather, he often wears a hooded sweatshirt or knitted sweater. In Steven Universe: The Movie , he retains his jeans and flip-flops but now wears a sky blue T-shirt, again bearing a yellow star and a pink varsity jacket with white trims. In Steven Universe Future , he retains his clothing from the film but now wears a black T-shirt instead of a blue one.

Reception

Steven has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Susana Polo of Polygon praises Steven for being the "toxic masculinity antidote" in that his dominant traits of empathy and kindness are what make him such a vital member of the Crystal Gems. [7] Polo also commends Steven's subversion of gender definitions, him being a young boy in a feminine role with defensive abilities that manifest in shades of pink. Similarly, in a post on Bitch Flicks, Ashley Gallagher also praises Steven's characterization outside of typical masculinity and his stereotypically defensive and feminine powers such as his shield and his healing while also expressing approval of his relationship with Connie. [8]

Highly praising the evolution of the character through the series, Eric Thurm of Polygon stated after the season five finale: "Back in the show’s first season, Steven was far more irritating. He was myopic, focusing on what was right in front of him to the detriment of more important priorities — especially when what was right in front of him was the prospect of getting ridiculously buff. He was a huge goofball incapable of taking anything seriously. And he had a child’s instinct for deception when it seemed like he might be in trouble, whether that meant forming a 'Secret Team' to hide a mistake or asking the Gems to pretend to be his human mother. But the story of Steven Universe isn’t about Steven discarding the things that made, and still make, him childish — it’s about figuring out how to use them in more specific, salutary ways. The idea that there are childish qualities worth cultivating, alongside others that can and should be avoided or shed, is a refreshingly nuanced (and accurate) take on how to be a person, even if being that kind of person requires fusing with your own body, especially for kids. Being able to gain emotional maturity, insight, and wisdom while still retaining the best parts of being new to the world — that’s the disposition Steven Universe asks of us as we, whether 14 or 34 or 34,000, continue to grow." [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Steven Universe</i> American animated TV series (2013–2019)

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. Books, comics and video games based on the series have been released.

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.

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.

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

Pearl is a character from the animated television series Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar. Based on the gemstone pearl, she is a Gem, a fictional alien being that exists as a magical gemstone projecting a holographic body.

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">Mr. Greg</span> 8th episode of the 3rd season of Steven Universe

"Mr. Greg" is the eighth episode of the third season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on July 19, 2016, on Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu. The episode was viewed by 1.549 million viewers. It is the series' first fully musical episode, and features seven songs, more than any other Steven Universe episode.

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">Off Colors</span> 3rd episode of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"Off Colors" is the third episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on May 29, 2017 on Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams and Jeff Liu. The episode was viewed by 1.524 million viewers.

<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.

<i>Steven Universe: The Movie</i> 2019 animated television film

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 Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz.

<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.

The Question (<i>Steven Universe</i>) 21st episode of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"The Question" is the 21st episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe. It first aired on July 4, 2018, on Cartoon Network. It was directed by Joe Johnston and Liz Artinian and written and storyboarded by Miki Brewster and Jeff Liu. The episode attracted media attention after it aired because it featured the first same-sex marriage proposal in Western children's animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungle Moon</span> 12th episode of the 5th season of Steven Universe

"Jungle Moon" is the 12th episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series Steven Universe. It first aired on Cartoon Network on January 5, 2018 as the second half of a two-part special, immediately following the preceding episode, "Lars of the Stars". It was directed by Joe Johnston and Liz Artinian and written and storyboarded by Miki Brewster and Jeff Liu. The episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Short-Form Animation.

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 an epilogue to 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.

References

  1. ↑ Sant, Sam (November 18, 2021). "Multiversus Voice Cast List: Who voices Batman, Shaggy, Finn and Jake, and more?". Game Revolution. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ Cavna, Michael (November 1, 2013). "'Steven Universe' creator Rebecca Sugar is a Cartoon Network trailblazer". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ Robinson, Tasha (March 3, 2021). "Rebecca Sugar says Hellboy's Mike Mignola inspired Steven Universe's star shirt". Polygon.
  4. ↑ Mackenzie Atwood (25 January 2018). "The Steven Universe Podcast: Steven Universe" (Podcast). Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019.
  5. ↑ Baron, Reuben (March 27, 2020). "It's Over, Isn't It?: Rebecca Sugar on the End of Steven Universe". Comic Book Resources . Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ Kelley, Shamus (March 13, 2020). "Steven Universe Future Episode 14 Review: Growing Pains". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ Baron, Reuben (May 11, 2016). "Steven Universe, explained". Polygon . Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ Gallagher, Ashley (May 2015). "Strong in the Real Way: 'Steven Universe' and the Shape of Masculinity to Come". Bitch Flicks. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ Thurm, Eric (January 21, 2019). "Steven Universe's climactic showdown delivered a complicated lesson on childhood". Polygon . Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
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