What's it all about?
Centered around the title character Steven Universe, a boy with a positive attitude and magical powers. Steven lives in the fictional town of Beach City with three humanoid aliens: Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl.
Steven’s three caretakers are a part of a magical, all female, alien race known as Gems. However, due to their rebellion against their homeworld thousands of years ago, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl identify as The Crystal Gems.
As Crystal Gems they are the sworn protectors of Earth and everyone who lives there. Steven himself is a hybrid, having a human father and a Gem mother. Now that he is coming of age Steven, with help from The Crystal Gems, must learn to unlock his magical powers and fulfill his late mother’s legacy.
As Steven goes on fun adventures he learns more about himself, friendship, and the messy history of the thousand-year-old Gem rebellion led by his mother.
Steven Universe was created by artist, writer, and musician Rebbeca Sugar. Sugar is the first woman to ever independently create an animated series for Cartoon Network. Sugar also identifies as a bisexual woman and has said that some of the LGBTQ+ themes found in Steven Universe are based off of her life experiences.
What Parents should know
Creator
Steven Universe is a show full of complexities. Overall the show is fun and positive, but it also addresses topics such as imperialism, ableism, sexual harassment, and bigotry.
Parents should know the show covers a wide range of LGBTQ+ themes. Everything from confronting homophobia from one's peers and government to representation of lesbian, bi, and non-gender binary characters.
It is also important to note that Steven Universe does an excellent job at addressing human emotions and how to deal with them. As the character Steven faces more and more challenges, in turn, he learns how to deal with emotions such as anger, sadness, guilt, and fear in a way that is healthy and productive. The show promotes talking about and validating one another's emotions, instead of suppression.
The show is rich in diverse female characters. In it, audiences will find women and girls of all different races, body types, sexualities, and gender expressions. And while the show's hero is Steven it is not uncommon to have episodes in which women and girls take the lead. Steven Universe is showing audiences that women and girls have complex identities that should be respected.
