User reviews

Steven Universe has high potential as an animated series. We have an interesting cast of core characters, with the Gems and Steven being the main focus so far. Rebecca Sugar's art really stands out in its excellence and is one of the best I've seen, rivaling anything else thus far that Cartoon Network has released. It's also really nice to see more female-oriented animation that isn't always centered around "girly" themes.

I wouldn't say this is what I would call a "laugh-out-loud" cartoon, but the humor delivers through visual gags and dialogue that are definitely worth a crack or two. I think this is good because I think a lot of shows nowadays try too hard to be funny, but fail miserably. The main purpose of this show seems to be more centered around adventure than anything else, so it seems somewhat refreshing.

Is it worth the watch? Definitely. I have to say, I have never really been too big of a fan of the newer Cartoon Network, but Steven Universe has really kind of captivated me. Sad it isn't as successful as I anticipated, though. Hoping it does better in the long run.

The depth and originality of Steven Universe makes it one of the greatest series ever produced, ultimately coming to a conclusion that leaves the audience feeling satisfied that a well-told story has ended properly -- a true rarity in North American television.

The author "natebridgeman" evidently don't know what he's/she is talking about.These Character designs are very sharp and original,the gems are based on actual gems and their skin color match.I actually miss shows with sharp geometric figures and I'm glad Rebecca Sugar brought this to her show,and ironically the show was nominated for a Annie awards for it's completely original character designs (A great accomplishment).

The dialogue is like "Plan 9 from Outer Space"? Yeah because that makes sense,not once (So far) in the show have they said anything about aliens or Zombies.The show is about a kid name Steven Universe who is half gem (Mother side) and half human (Father side),who goes on "fun" and magical adventures with a female fighting team called The Crystal Gems or for short "The Gems".Each gem is name after a gem except Steven who has a Rose-quart gem,anyway they go on magical adventures and Steven sing songs, like come on, a 8 years old can understand the concept well enough to enjoy the show.

A pilot episode is a trial episode that's aired before the first series to gauge audience response. They had 10 minutes and he/she was expecting a back story? No it doesn't work like that,even Adventure Time pilot (The show you praise)had no back story, but like the Steven Universe pilot it gave us the sense to what show is about, and what we can expect.

The quote you questioned "If every pork chop was perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs" is such a great quote,and I love it.It means if everyone was perfect (Pork chop) then we wouldn't be different or have originality (Hot dog) it has nothing to do with meat message wise.The show actually embrace not being perfect which is why I love it,and also why the character designs are so different from each other (Various body shapes,hair style,etc.) notice how Steven mess up constantly but they never get mad,no they embrace him for learning of experience.

Usually I would ignore stupidity from such a person but I couldn't let him/her go around the internet bashing something he admits to not knowing.My only problem about the show is that it's a musical but I've only heard one song, like come on more music,I love your songs Rebecca Sugar but other than that great show,and the background music is just amazing.

When I first saw the commercial for this show I thought it was going to be something completely rotten. However, I was surprisingly proved wrong after falling in love with the witty characters and exceptional storyline. The animation is spot-on, voice actors are phenomenal, and the theme song is actually very catchy. There is a deep connection you feel with the "crystal gems" and I hope in the future they reveal more about their backgrounds as the series progresses. There are many morals and truths in story, like the quote that Steven always says "If every pork chop was perfect, we wouldn't have any hot dogs!" It's very true since if everyone was perfect, there would be no one special. It's great and so far I can't find anything wrong with it.

Steven Universe is just one of the best cartoons i've ever watched in all my life.

Perfect characters, perfect soundtrack and perfect animation. The Cartoon Network is REALLY COMING BACK ! Like the cartoons of the beginning of 21s century, Steven Universe it's a masterpiece.

Good Soundtrack, good voice acting, charismatics characters and a perfect introduction.

Just like The Amazing World of Gumball, Regular Show and Adventure Time, Steven Universe is one of the best cartoons that CN has ever made in all his existence.

Now it's my favorite Cartoon.

I've been enamored by several western animated shows from the last decade, but Steven Universe is my favorite.

Anyway, despite losing interest rather quickly when it was first airing, I gave it a legitimate shot back in 2019. And while the show starts as a rather banal episodic adventure fantasy show, and I don't blame my past self for losing interest, it promptly evolves into a captivating fantasy character drama. And I quickly found myself so bowled over by the show that I honestly didn't know how to respond; they say you shouldn't give in to astonishment, but the show grabbed me like little else.

When it comes to television shows, I usually take quite a while to get through them because they're a significant time investment and often are long-winded. I'm against the idea of binge-watching shows on principle and usually watch multiple at once, each at a slow pace. But, in rare instances, shows take center stage; this was one of those. And after a few existential crises, I finished the show. What I was left with was an experience so overwhelmingly remarkable, bizarre, yet eloquently simple that initially, I had to concede regarding any hopes of making a coherent evaluation. So, immediately after finishing it, I began rewatching it, and I rarely rewatch shows at all.

Now, everything I've said up to this point has been unabashed praise, and praise which is weirdly personal in tone, a tone that will not subside. But I do have issues with the show, and there's an entire sub-community that's formed to be critical of this show; I was aware of that when first watching, but I decided not to engage with it until I had watched the show twice. And my first engagement with it was an incredibly transphobic video essay that I found wholly uninsightful, not off to a great start, and unfortunately, the rest wasn't much better. Again, I have issues with the show; want a list of my least favorite episodes? Here you go:

Gem Glow, Together Breakfast, Frybo, Cat Fingers, Arcade Mania, Onion Trade, House Guest, Fusion Cuisine, Say Uncle, Shirt Club, Love Letters, Drop Beat Dad, Restaurant Wars, Future Boy Zoltron, Onion Gang, Rocknaldo, Dewey Wins, Blue Bird, A Very Special Episode.

But for me, the insightful complaints on the show are entirely submerged in a sea of moralistic cynicism directed at a show I view as a celebration of imperfection and one that argues for individualism. And this negative response has only increased my desire to talk about the show; however, whenever I've attempted to write about the show, I admittedly end up deep in the weeds.

So, I'm currently rewatching the show as part of a now-yearly revisit, and one day, I will create a coherent and organized analysis, just not on here. For now, my efforts with this writing are mainly to provide a relatively concise and spoiler-free pitch on why you should watch the show.

So, one enthralling thing about the show is its moral ambiguity and consistent subversion of your initial perceptions of characters. Steven Universe is framed directly from Steven's perspective; you're placed in a status quo. While characters actively evolve and change, much of the show is focused on unraveling that status quo. But admittedly, that status quo hardly begins to unravel until the second half of the First Season, and the truth about early Season One is that, again, it's banal, but later parts of the show wouldn't work as well without it. Now, would I shorten early Season One? Yes, it could stand to lose ~5 episodes, and early Season One spends time in an unpleasant and dysfunctional status quo. However, subsequently, we learn the deeper causes of that dysfunction and witness the characters' attempts at overcoming it. Those changes wouldn't ring nearly as true if the show didn't spend time reveling in dysfunction. For example, Amethyst and Pearl fight a lot early in the show. Generally, their fighting is dull and melodramatic; fights arise from stuff like Pearl getting unreasonably mad at Amethyst for little gags. It's annoying; however, when we begin to learn why Pearl and Amethyst behave the way they do, and they attempt to resolve their differences, it wouldn't be nearly as compelling if the show hadn't spent time on the unpleasant melodrama between the two.

But if you're wondering what type of fantasy story Steven Universe is, not the escapist kind. It's a show where the villains always have more to them, and it's a show where selfless compassion has consequences. To me, it falls under the category of fantasy, which utilizes concepts for unique conflicts and explores deeper themes of the human condition. For example, there's a character whose ability causes them to be nihilistic. And the show explores their struggle with the effects their nihilism has on others and their desperate attempts at dulling those powers. Anyway, if the idea I just mentioned, or anything else I've said, sounds interesting or like something you'd enjoy, I'd recommend giving the show a fair shot.

It's impossible for me to give this show all of the praise it deserves in writing. Steven Universe has made one of the most real, thought provoking, progressive, and honest cartoon environments I've ever seen. The life lessons taught by characters are meaningful and honest, always trying to encourage learning by trying rather than not taking risks. Steven as a main character still blows me away in his accuracy in portraying a young child's innocence and immaturity, while still making him a good role model and someone who you believe could be real. In fact, despite a sci fi context, all of the show's characters are so meticulously developed and realistic that it can almost feel at times like they're truly real individuals, with real issues that you not only recognize, but feel as if you want to help them with, and that you yourself care about. That in itself is very difficult for a show to pull off, especially an animated show, and ESPECIALLY a show oriented at kids! I literally have no idea how Rebecca Sugar can make so many things possible at once, from songs to life lessons to representations of different sexual orientations, everything is there and it all works just beautifully. Steven Universe deserves much more attention than it has currently, because it is truly on track to be a series in the ranks with greats like Avatar: The Last Airbender.

10/10, my highest marks to this show. Bravo.

This show is highly addictive and entertaining. I never expected it to be this great. A friend recommended it to me since I am cartoon fan. I only wish I had seen it sooner.

It's sometimes hard to believe this is kids show. The writing is top quality. The humor is subtle and intelligent. If you have kids, you should definitely watch this with them. The themes are great. There are so many lessons to learn.

It's entertaining for the whole family. Best of all, the episodes are pretty short so you can binge watch easily.

Really worth watching! Check it out.

Funny, cool, this is the best Cartoon Network show I've ever seen! All I have to say is, people, rate it a 10 out of 10!! Keep the show going!The first show is actually kind of inspiring at the end... It made me feel happy and also I hope it has a lot more episode! I thought it was going to be dumb before it came on but it was actually awesome! So cool I T I S C O O L Watch it! ! Steven! I hope you like the Show! We are the crystal gems we always save the day and if you think we can we Always find a way that's what the people of this world believe in Garmet amethyst and pearl And STEVEN! That's the theme song I watched all episodes I really want people to watch this show and now I'm just writing stuff down to make 10 lines! BYE WATCH THIS SHOW!

As a whole, this series is by far, the single greatest animated cartoon in recent years if not ever. it has amazing character development, a good sturdy animation style and an absolutely BEAUTIFUL soundtrack. don't be turned away due to it being a cartoon, for it is more than just that, it is a story! i highly doubt anybody will find/read this small review but if you do happen upon this, please listen to me and watch this TV show

<3

Yet another instance of cartoon network finding a strong personality again, and giving us more laid-back, imaginative shows. This is also their first show with a female creator. The show was made by Rebecca Sugar, who was a former writer and musician for Adventure Time, and an all-around likable person. This is all evident within the series. There seems to be an idea going around that this show is "Adventure Time Lite", and while I understand that there are similarities between the two, they are still more different from one another than most non-serious cartoons are. By that logic, "The Fairly Oddparents", "Johnny Bravo", "My Life as a Teenage Robot", "Samurai Jack", and "The Powerpuff Girls" are all "Dexter's Lab Lite". Anyway, this is a great show with good subtle moral lessons and unique characters. Honestly, this is yet another sign that some cartoonists actually have a solid understanding and implementation of what makes this generation of entertainment good, rather than what makes it bad.

Visuals: I really like the style of this show, probably more than any other cartoon network show at the moment. The background designs by Kevin Dart follow a really unique, dreamy, immersing style that's a joy to look at. Much like Samurai Jack or Adventure Time, this show finds a style that looks really good without needing a huge budget for each episode. In addition, the character designs are really strong here. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and none of them feel as though they were designed to look perfect or super-appealing. The character movements here are similar to what you might see in "Adventure Time" or "Clarence", but they can be a bit more sophisticated sometimes, such as when Pearl duels her holographic counterpart in "Steven the Sword-Fighter".

Characters: I'm really fond of the characters in this show. Not only are they all fairly realistic, but they all have very distinct personalities without ever feeling like anything close to a stereotype. Steven, for instance, is a kid who can be annoying at times, but only for realistic reasons. There is more to him than that, and his relationship with the adults is downright heartwarming. Every character here has both positive and negative traits, and that is what separates good characters from bad ones. You can be annoyed with them sometimes, and other times, they will make you smile. This show takes an interesting turn on the usual main-team structure. The main character is a young boy, but the rest of the team are women.

Storytelling: The plots in this show aren't anything complex or crazy, but they are tasteful and delivered well enough. I feel that the show draws influence from fantasy-games and RPGs. The tone is relaxing, calming, and atmospheric. You might expect this show to be in the vein of "Xiaolin Showdown", where the characters constantly have to fight villains and go on quests, but it's surprisingly more subdued than that. There are very few "villains" to speak of. The show has touching moments, but I haven't seen a moment where they hit it out of the park with one yet. I also like how the stories are very organic, and don't use overly-predictable cartoon formulas. They don't go as far with the experimentation as Adventure Time, but it's present. The humor here, though not usually laugh-out-loud funny, is quirky and interesting.

Audio: The music in this show really stands out. Not only are the musical numbers and theme song done in the classic Rebecca-Sugar style that we know and love, but the background music is really enjoyable, adding a lot to the atmosphere. The theme music that plays when Pearl goes into action is akin to something you might here in a JRPG. The voice acting also does the trick, characterizing everyone pretty well. I am glad that they were able to find Steven a child voice-actor who actually sounds really distinct.

In conclusion, this is a great show for families. I think that children need shows like this here and there, and this series does not have as many dirty themes as Adventure Time, so I can mostly recommend it to all ages. It's just a lovable bite of candy. I also like how this show, in a very subtle way, contains messages about friendship, and the imperfection of the world we live in. "If every porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hotdogs", as they remind us in the premier episode. This show really surprised me, as I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it turned out. It let me know that CN is really learning, and "Adventure Time" and "Regular Show" were not flukes.

Steven Universe is one of the most unique and popular cartoons ever made. It's emotional, flawed, and very special.

Steven Universe is incredibly underrated and such a great cartoon. I am a man in his 20s and even I found this such a great viewing experience despite this show being meant for kids. It has really deep themes and complex characters. There's some bad episodes in the bunch but the episodes that tell the overarching story are amazing. Steven Universe also has an amazing cast of characters and setting. Gem fusion is also a great metaphor for relationships. One thing I didn't understand and was never explained is why there were no male gems besides Steven. This kind of frustrated me but is a very minor issue compared to all the good the show has. Just watch it and you'll be very happy you gave it a chance.

This show has everything! It has character development, originality, terrific music, terrific writing, easter eggs, action, adventure, science fiction, fantasy, terrific art, all stuffed to the brim with originality, charm, self-awareness, innovation, and charisma! This show is a BEAUTIFUL piece of work!

Season 1 isn't the best season. In fact, it's probably the worst; but even THEN, it's still good! Since the season 1 finale, everything just skyrocketed with excellence! The music is SOARING with originality! The show is just EXPLODING with character, EXPLODING with emotion! There's not even 1 character that I found unlikable in this show! I haven't found a single thing I don't like about this show!

The music is just FILLED with SO much emotion, originality, and charisma! The show's concept and storytelling are FLOODED with originality and talent! It's FILLED to the brim with innovation, talent, self-awareness, charisma, charm, talent, and originality!

Instead of feeling like you're watching a simple cartoon, you feel like you're watching a high-quality original movie SCREAMING with pure emotion, SCREAMING with originality, that was released in theaters!

In conclusion, the sheer beauty of this show is enough to melt you away! This is the kind of stuff Cartoon Network and others NEED!

Currently tied with Gravity Falls for third on my kiddos' all-time favorite animated series list (behind Avatar and Voltron). The ten-minute segments take some getting used to but the creators do a good job of making each one a coherent episode; best consumed in quantities of 3 though!

To me, Steven Universe is all the good things people have said, and further it is a celebration of earth.

Being a sci-fi fan, when I first started watching Steven Universe I wanted them to activate the galaxy warp so bad, so the gems could explore the galaxy, and we could find out more about what space is like and so that the Gems could explore other planets! A little while after the galaxy warp is first introduced, I suddenly didn't want them to leave the earth at all, they showed, maybe something we all know to be true, the earth is special - even in a galaxy teaming with life.

This is something I have never seen in Sci-Fi books and films, usually its the aliens which interest me. IN Steven Universe - it's us!

I really bad for not giving this the full 10. I guess it's because I just find the characters annoying some of the times. The thing is, this is still a great series that people should check out. It's notable in being the first Cartoon Network show done entirely done by a woman. I couldn't help but think of Lauren Faust's influence when thinking of Rebecca Sugar. The main characters are in fact all female, except for the main character, Steven. That's pretty clever if you think about it. What's great is that the series originally seemed to be mostly just these superpowered gems doing mundane things. I really like it how they got more of a story and introduced more gems.

For me, the best episode is a very recent one where Peridot contacts Yellow Diamond and actually tells her off! I guess you could call me a fan of the show even if I don't love it THAT much. I'm so glad we're in such a great age of animation. My favorite character used to be Ameythest, but now I think I like Peridot more. She's just so funny and goes through real character development. While the show is definitely good, I wouldn't put it on the same level as "Adventure Time" as Doug Walker's Vlogs would. It helps that the animation is really good. Pearl is probably the best drawn character with how gracefully she moves. The voices are all very funny and have tons of emotion put into them.

Cartoon Network is actually still pretty hit and miss with other bad shows like "Teen Titans Go!" and the now hated new "Powerpuff Girls" cartoon. I believe this is one of their best, even if it's not in my personal Top 5. Steven is likable enough and the theme song is absolutely cheerful and so much fun to listen to, especially the second one. It's weird because I think it was originally said the gems had no concept of sexuality, even though one had a son. It really is heartwarming for Rose Quartz to give her life to have a son and quite adult. Again, Ruby and Sapphire are more or less confirmed to be lesbians, yet they don't understand sex? I have no problem with this and am glad a kid's show is able to take this on. Thanks for legalizing gay marriage! ***1/2 out of ****.

There are few shows I can say were so plague by studio intervention and the general creatives beating themselves over the head for new story ideas.

This animated series had initially some of the most mysterious and attractive images and mysteries on Television (before the streaming wars). This led to a whole cobweb of a fanbase who made theories and thoughtful theories that eventually proved to be much better then the overall conclusion. When your fanbase makes much better theories then your own writing staff maybe it was a mistake to be so vague about your plot. Maybe it's okay to tell your audience that a small cloud in a piece of art painting is just a small cloud and not: aliens, a meteor, or a portal to a interdimensional parallel world.

The second thing that this show did was bad artwork. If you had a critical eye for size and volume then this series is not one for you. Often things are just drawn of different sizes and shapes. This would be alright in an independent comic book on paper but this is digital art and there is no excuse for it.

Thirdly, the episodes and screenwriting. If you find someone who can make you a list of episodes that you really need to watch to know the story then trust that person and do it. So many episodes just go on different segways. Watching a season of this series is like watching a podcast, you start strong with your questions and then somewhere along the line it gets lost into situations and funny skits and everyone forgets about the stories.

Lastly, and this is the main reason why it's a 6. The main character is... meh. Steven is just there, he could be anywhere in the background... the kid has power and a (descent?) talk-no-jutsu but there is just no resolution to his character. He is written as the perfect anti-protagonist. Which is alright but you have to give your audience something else.

The ending, I won't reveal, but it was honestly the best ending it could have had... the best... ending... (trying not to be sarcastic).

The show has SOOO much potential, or at least it did, kind of too late to change stuff in the past. One word to describe this show perfectly would be inconsistent. Inconsistent in, story, lore, and the animation. Now in terms of animation, it is not the animation studio's fault, it's the storyboarders, if they drew on model to how the characters were supposed to be it would look a lot better. The story just has some many things wrong with it, it would take me forever to express how I would change it and just my problems with it in general. Actually yeah, just watch this video. It practically sums up all my thoughts and opinions on the show, in a respectful way.

I've followed this show out of curiosity - not only does it have a massive fanbase but it explores themes that hardly any Western animated show I've seen attempts to explore. It's "avant-garde" for that reason alone, and while it does have fascinating world-building and lore, it undermines itself by pushing a feel good agenda.

American society has changed radically the past several years, and the entertainment industry has capitalized on this fact. With Steven Universe, you have plots and characters that seem to have more in common with action and slice-of-life anime than traditional Western cartoons. But moreover, this show is a symptom of our emasculated culture that thrives on feelings and is intolerant of self criticism.

I heard somewhere that the writers of this show like to focus more on how the characters feel about their circumstances than on plot. And while the characters have potential for interesting action stories, they are often bogged down by needless angst that seems to drag on without end. It's become even worse with the new episodes, where the writers don't seem to know where they're going, or otherwise seem to be writing fanfiction for their own show. The plot arcs tend to intensify and then just disappear, which reminds me too much of poorly written anime.

The overarching message of this show seems to be: "your feelings about yourself and your choices matter more than anything else." This is exactly what's being advocated by the LGBT and hipster community. Rather than question bad habits or unhealthy relationships, choices of any stripe are glorified in SU, whether it be working in food service, bumming around while working on the next big album, or in the case of the Gems, engaging in lesbian love. Meanwhile, destroying the lives of your enemies for a good cause is seen as evil, and I have yet to see successful businesspeople making an appearance, or any place on Earth other than rural nature zones (big cities are viewed from a distance, as if they have little significance in world affairs).

The amount of crying and inner anguish of the characters is staggering, and it's clear that this show took a lot from the anime playbook. The creators fetishize anime style and tropes to the point where frankly it's uncomfortable for me to watch. Let's stick to something more original, like the Gem lore. And let's not treat melodrama like a high art form.

The show has an overall air of moral superiority that I don't like, because much of it is baseless. I can definitely tell SU is headed by a woman for all its infantile self-assurance themes - and before being criticized for this, note that I myself am a woman. I wish there were more children's shows today that centered around problem-solving rather than the acceptance of choices both good and bad.

The way Rebecca mixes music with drawing and feelings in this drawing is amazing, the way Steven manages to help each enemy in the drawing, the characters' history, it's beautiful to watch.

The incredible music, the drawing line, the colors, everything combines so well here that it seems like it's not even a drawing, dear story and problem that Steven solves is unbelievable but at the same time exciting.

The series manages not to be boring in each episode it creates in an insane way, making a marathon seem to last an hour at least, I highly recommend it to watch as an adult or child, it's worth it.

The show if freaking fantastic. Well, I can't decide which is better - Steven Universe or Regular Show.

Every episode of this show is awesome. The characters are great. The whole story of the show is super.

Steven is half human, half crystal gem. The crystal gems are creatures, who almost look like human beings. He lives in Beach City with 3 other gems - Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet. Steven's mother has died, but his father is alive and lives in a van. Steven and the Crystal gems live in a house, near Beach City. Steven is still unable to fully uses his powers but he progress.

Steven Universe is a fantastic show to follow every week so it gets 10.