Steven Universe#Cancelation and sequels

{{See also|List of Steven Universe episodes{{!}}List of Steven Universe episodes}}

Steven Universe is set in the fictional town of Beach City, where the Crystal Gems live in an ancient temple and protect humanity from monsters and other threats. The Gems are ageless alien warriors who project female humanoid forms from magical gemstones at the core of their being. The Crystal Gems include Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Steven—a young, half-human, half-Gem boy who inherited his gemstone from his mother, the Crystal Gems' former leader Rose Quartz. As Steven tries to understand his gradually expanding range of powers, he spends his days accompanying the Gems on their missions, as well as interacting with his father Greg, his best friend Connie, his magical pet lion named Lion, and the other residents of Beach City. He explores the abilities inherited from his mother, which include fusion—the ability of Gems to merge their bodies and abilities to form new, more powerful personalities.

As Steven explores his Gem heritage, he gradually learns that the Crystal Gems are fugitives from a vast interstellar empire ruled by the Gem Homeworld. During their missions, they visit ruins that were once important to Gem culture but have been derelict for millennia, and Steven learns that many of the monsters and artifacts they encounter are Gems who were corrupted by a Gem weapon of mass destruction and can no longer maintain rational, humanoid form. The Gem empire originally intended to sterilize the planet Earth to incubate new Gems, but Rose Quartz led her supporters, the Crystal Gems, in a violent and apparently successful rebellion against this genocidal plan. Midway through the first season of the series, the release of Lapis Lazuli, a Gem trapped on Earth for millennia, puts the Crystal Gems at risk from the Gem empire once more, leading to the arrival of hostile envoys Peridot and Jasper.

Peridot joins forces with the Crystal Gems in the second season to neutralize a buried Gem "geo-weapon" that could destroy the planet. In the third season, Lapis decides to reside on Earth with Peridot, Jasper is defeated and captured, and Steven learns that his mother assassinated Pink Diamond, one of the Gem homeworld's leaders. As he wrestles with his conflicted feelings about that, Pink's counterparts Blue and Yellow Diamond begin to turn their attention back to Earth; the fourth season ends with Steven taken to the Gem homeworld to stand trial for his mother's crimes. After escaping, he discovers in the fifth season that his mother actually was Pink Diamond, who faked her death to assume the identity of Rose Quartz full-time. Steven uses this revelation to persuade the other Diamonds to take responsibility for and fix the damage they have caused.

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In 2011, after Cartoon Network Vice President of Comedy Animation Curtis Lelash asked the staff for ideas for a new show, Adventure Time storyboard artist Rebecca Sugar described her initial ideas for what would become Steven Universe, and the project was chosen for development. Sugar continued working on Adventure Time while crafting the series.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=19}} The series evolved from a short story written by Sugar entitled "Ballad of Margo and Dread", about a sensitive child helping teenagers with problems they cannot verbalize.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=14}} The title character Steven is loosely based on Steven Sugar, Rebecca's younger brother. During Steven Universe{{'s}} development, Sugar repeatedly asked her brother whether naming the show after him was a good idea; she stopped asking when it was commissioned. Her brother had no problem with it and trusted Sugar to use his name wisely. In an interview with the New York Times, Sugar discussed developing the background of the show's protagonist, saying she wanted to base the character's viewpoint on her brother growing up "where you're so comfortable in your life because you get all the attention, but you also want to rise up and not be the little brother".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/movies/rising-animators-spring-into-motion.html|title=Rising Animators Spring Into Motion|last=Ito|first=Robert|date=July 26, 2013|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803055430/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/movies/rising-animators-spring-into-motion.html|archive-date=August 3, 2013|url-status=live|author2=Jeremy Egner}}

To prepare for the potential greenlit of the show, Sugar began assembling a production crew. Jackie Buscarino was brought in as a producer in September 2012 and was tasked with hiring people and supervising the show's crew.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=48}} During this period of development, Sugar and her team were moved to a building behind the main Cartoon Network studio and based on the same floor as the crew of The Powerpuff Girls CGI special. Some artists who had worked on the special, such as colorist Tiffany Ford and art directors Kevin Dart, Ellie Michalka and Jasmin Lai, were later invited to join the Steven Universe team.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=49}} Cartoon Network also provided Sugar with a list of suggested writers; when she saw Ben Levin and Matt Burnett (former writers for Level Up) on the list she immediately asked them to join her team because she was familiar with their work.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=48–49}} Freelance artist Danny Hynes, whom the supervising director Ian Jones-Quartey knew from his own project Lakewood Plaza Turbo, became the show's lead character designer.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=49; 54}} Steven Sugar was assigned as the background designer after his work on the original pilot, and was assisted by Dart, Michalka, Lai, background painter Amanda Winterston and others.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=55}}

During the art presentation, Jones-Quartey, Guy, Hynes and Steven Sugar created artwork that differed from their previous work. Jones-Quartey wanted to work with something new, retaining elements of the show's previous project.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=55; 60}} He worked with Elle Michalka, who later took over his role as background painter for the presentation, to create concept art for an "action-comedy" series.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=60}} Around this time, Jones-Quartey added stars to the series' logo because he saw them as a versatile symbol. He later said he overused them, and they were criticized at the art presentation. The art presentation's drawings were by Rebecca Sugar, Jones-Quartey, Hynes, Paul Villeco (a writer and storyboard artist) and Steven Sugar. Michalka did the painting.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=62}} Cartoon Network executives commissioned the show after the crew's art presentation,{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=25}} and Sugar became the first non-binary person to create a show independently for the network.{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Paul |title=Exploring the Land of Ooo: An Unofficial Overview and Production History of Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time" |date=2023 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781496846693 |edition=Rev. |page=296, note 59 }} Prior to coming out as non-binary, she was described as the first woman to do so.{{cite web |date=December 17, 2012 |title=Rebecca Sugar – 30 Under 30: Hollywood |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rebecca-sugar/?sh=1ad10c3f6df1 |work=Forbes |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102192647/https://www.forbes.com/profile/rebecca-sugar/?sh=19526b7b6df1 |url-status=live }} Before a production team had been appointed, Sugar tried to alter elements of the show's plot and developed the character's identity so her crew would have the creative freedom to implement their own ideas, like she did when she worked for Adventure Time.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=43}}

When Sugar's show was commissioned, she resigned from Adventure Time to focus on her own series.{{cite news|url=https://indiewire.com/article/television/adventure-time-writer-rebecca-sugar-on-steven-universe|title=Adventure Time Writer Rebecca Sugar on Steven Universe, Being Cartoon Network's First Female Show Creator And Why Pop Art Is 'Offensive'|last=Kohn|first=Eric|date=November 1, 2013|work=Indiewire|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103000634/http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/adventure-time-writer-rebecca-sugar-on-steven-universe|archive-date=November 3, 2013}} Sugar centered the pilot short on the main characters and their personalities to demonstrate the series' humor. The pilot is a slice-of-life episode that does not involve major events because the series' world was still in development. Sugar and her production team focused the plot on interaction between the Crystal Gems and Steven.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=24–25}} Sugar strove to make her pilot distinctive in terms of its artistic and aesthetic detail but was hampered by the time limit imposed upon her by Cartoon Network. The problems with the pilot helped Sugar develop the show's concept; she said, "to know that there is so much more that you can't see and the way that knowledge frustrates and excites and confuses and scares you". When the pilot was presented to Cartoon Network executives, they told the crew the series would air in 2013. Cartoon Network released the original pilot in May 2013. Sugar and her team panicked because the series was going to be very different from the pilot episode. The pilot was popular when it was released, engendering forum discussions in which people expressed their hopes of seeing it on the air soon. Those who knew Rebecca Sugar from Adventure Time were also interested. Positive reaction to the show reassured its crew that the series could be much greater.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=77}}

During the development of the Steven Universe pilot, Sugar focused much attention on the design of the world, adding notes to her drawings.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=20}} Inspired by the idea of foreign figures (Gems) living human lives, she drew many sketches depicting their world and history. The series' design was also inspired by her and her brother's interest in video games, comics and animation. After the series was commissioned, Sugar decided to redesign everything to make the series "flexible and simple" for future production staff to add ideas of their own. During this time, the art director was Kevin Dart, followed by Jasmin Lai, Elle Michalka, and Ricky Cometa.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=169}} Dart's artistic style has remained a great influence on the show long after his departure. Steven Sugar praised Dart's work and was inspired by him in college years, saying Dart had more ideas for the art than he did.

In the pilot, only two locations appeared (the ancient Temple that is the Gems' home, and the Big Donut, a nearby doughnut shop). The Temple was designed by Ian Jones-Quartey, Steven Sugar, Ben Levin, Matt Burnett, Tom Herpich and Andy Ristaino. The Temple's dual faces were based on Guy Davis' ideas. Steven Sugar designed the rest of Beach City for the series; he was painstaking in his attention to detail, e.g. carefully considering the interior layouts of buildings. Sugar also designed people, houses, cars, buildings and restaurants.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=50–51}} Because of Rebecca Sugar's redesigned drawings, the two original locations had to be redrawn.

To find inspiration for the show's backgrounds, the Sugars and Jones-Quartey went to their favorite beaches. The series' setting, Beach City, is loosely based on Delaware beaches Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach, all of which Rebecca Sugar visited as a child.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-is-an-idealistic-trailblazer/2013/11/01/fe622da2-4338-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html |title=Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar is a Cartoon Network trailblazer |last=Cavna |first=Michael |date=November 1, 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111171925/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-is-an-idealistic-trailblazer/2013/11/01/fe622da2-4338-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=live}} Steven Sugar drew Beach City with a boardwalk lined with a variety of shops. He wanted it to have a "specific style" so viewers could believe it was based on a real location; he drew the roads and shops consistently oriented with the Temple and a water tower. The concept for the primary setting was inspired by Akira Toriyama's manga Dr. Slump, which features a small environment in which the recurring characters live where they work. Steven Sugar made the boardwalk the focus of Steven Universe{{'}}s human world.

{{Main|List of Steven Universe characters{{!}}List of Steven Universe characters}}

During the early stages of production, Sugar worked on character appearance and personality development simultaneously;{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=18}} during this process of conception, she was heavily inspired by fantasy television characters she and her brother used to draw when they were younger. Lead character designer Danny Hynes, influenced by the design of Mickey Mouse by Disney artists, wanted the characters to be standardized, simple and recognizable.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=81}} He proposed 24 human characters to the crew; Rebecca and Steven Sugar drew 22 designs—13 of which were made official. The coloring was done by Jones-Quartey.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=52–53}} Rebecca Sugar merged several characters during the pilot development; supporting characters Lars and Sadie were originally created when she was in college.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvzqk3|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822171741/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvzqk3|archive-date=August 22, 2015|url-status=live}} The family that runs Beach City's pizza shop was based on Jones-Quartey's Ghanaian family, and the character Ronaldo was created by Ben Levin and Matt Burnett. Guy Davis, a childhood friend of the Sugars, designed the early monsters and Gem architecture.

According to Jones-Quartey, making a character "look alive" was always a priority in their design, and a character's emotions should be clearly delineated.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=150}} The character design team's mission is for the characters to resemble a classic cartoon such as 1940s Disney cartoons, Dragon Ball Z or the works of Osamu Tezuka and Harvey Kurtzman. In drawing the characters for each episode, the crew has two weeks to make modifications. Character names and some designs were inspired by types of food,{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=54–55}} and some characters were redesigned because the pilot revealed discrepancies between appearances and personalities.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=77; 80}} Sugar planned for the characters' designs to receive visual benchmarks so the show's artists can draw them consistently.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=80}} Sugar aimed to make the designs for her characters simple, flexible and consistent so the production team members would not become bogged down by over-complex details. This redesigning meant the appearances of the characters in the pilot episode differs substantially from their depiction in the television series.

Sugar wanted the Gems to resemble humans; she developed the Crystal Gems to navigate the complexities of family life with Steven, whom they would treat like a brother.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=9}} She wanted their gems to reflect their personalities; Pearl's perfect smoothness, Amethyst's coarseness and Garnet's air of mystery.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvyr7j|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111003100/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvyr7j|archive-date=November 11, 2015}} According to Sugar, the Gems are "some version of me ... neurotic, lazy, decisive".{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjw018y|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111001526/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjw018y|archive-date=November 11, 2015}} Their facial designs were influenced by Wassily Kandinsky, who taught at the Bauhaus and encouraged his students to pair three primary colors—red, yellow and blue—with the three basic shapes—square, triangle and circle. Because of the characters' personalities, Garnet is square, Amethyst is a sphere and Pearl is a cone. Sugar wanted to give the Gems a superpower similar to those of classic cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny. The Gems' ability to shape-shift is a reference to older cartoons such as Tex Avery's work for MGM, where characters would change at will. Although the Crystal Gems are intended to be serious characters, the writers wanted them to be "funny and weird" as well.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=148}}

Sugar wanted Steven Universe to be thematically consistent with hers and her brother's shared interests.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=24}} As a coming-of-age series, the theme of family within the show is important since Sugar based the titular character on her brother. Additionally, the theme of love was inspired by her relationship with Jones-Quartey.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=115}}{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=124–125}} The series also expresses the importance of acceptance,{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=125}}{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=224}} and explores relationships, LGBTQ identity, body shapes and "hues of skin in a colorful sci-fi magic display of diversity", quoted by Sugar. Supervising director Kat Morris states the series' central concepts are developed over time in an organic way, rather than being "overly calculated" from the start.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=128}} Burnett said the series' simple-life theme prevented the inclusion of "cynicism" or "snarkiness", and expressed the writers have no interest in a superhero theme.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=110}}

The unusually strong female presence in a series about a boy—all major characters except Steven and Greg are female—is intentional according to Sugar. She aimed to challenge and explore the portrayal of gender in children's cartoons, calling it "absurd" that television shows for boys should be fundamentally different from those for girls.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/06/15/steven-universe-creator-growing-gender-politics-her-brother|title=Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar on growing up, gender politics and her brother|last1=Howe-Smith|first1=Nia|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|issue=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622204857/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/15/steven-universe-creator-growing-gender-politics-her-brother|archive-date=June 22, 2015}} She developed the series' plot towards a distant goal, with everything in between kept flexible, partly because her intentions have "changed since I've started because I've grown up a lot" while working on the show. Sugar described the series as "reverse escapism": the idea that fantasy characters would become interested in real life and would want to participate in it. Steven personifies the "love affair between fantasy and reality".{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2014 |title=Interview: Steven Universe Creator Rebecca Sugar |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9rQlh0KxYo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208165339/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9rQlh0KxYo |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |via=YouTube |publisher=Hot Topic}} Sugar said Steven Universe was influenced by The Simpsons and anime series Future Boy Conan and Revolutionary Girl Utena.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvykmy|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111001457/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvykmy|archive-date=November 11, 2015|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Cartoon Network and LGBTQ representation}}

File:Pearl and Rose embracing in Steven Universe.jpg shot edited out of the British broadcast. Their past relationship is gradually seen to affect Pearl's relationship with Steven and those around him.]]

Stevonnie, a fusion between Steven and Connie{{cite web |last1=Kirichanskaya |first1=Michele |date=February 7, 2020 |title=Steven Universe, She-Ra, & Voltron: LGBTQIA+ Successes, Failures, and Hopes for the Future in Children's Animation |url=https://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-she-ra-voltron-lgbtqia-rep/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321095108/https://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-she-ra-voltron-lgbtqia-rep/ |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |website=The Mary Sue }} debuted in the episode "Alone Together," using they/them pronouns.{{cite web |last1=Atkinson |first1=Sophia |date=November 5, 2015 |title=The Complete History of Queer Characters in Cartoon Shows |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/11/09/queer-cartoons-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201012014928/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/queer-cartoons-history/ |archive-date=October 12, 2020 |website=Highsnobiety }} Sugar states that the character challenges gender norms as a "metaphor for all the terrifying firsts in a first relationship."{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Meredith |date=May 14, 2015 |title=Steven Universe Guidebook Spills The Secrets Of The Crystal Gems |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-guidebook-spills-the-secrets-of-the-cry-1704470546 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327012936/https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-guidebook-spills-the-secrets-of-the-cry-1704470546 |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |website=Gizmodo }} Fluorite—the fusion of six Gems introduced in the season five episode "Off Colors"—represents a polyamorous relationship.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Tracey |title=Steven Universe's Rebecca Sugar confirms Fluorite is a representation of a polyamorous relationship |url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-comic-con-2017-steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-fluorite-1500664224-htmlstory.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722075959/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-comic-con-2017-steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-fluorite-1500664224-htmlstory.html |archive-date=July 22, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times}} According to Sugar, the LGBTQ themes is not intended to make a point but to help children understand themselves and develop their identities. In her view, queer youth deserve to see themselves in stories as much as other children—and, given pervasive heteronormativity, not allowing them to do so can be harmful.{{cite news|last1=Tremeer|first1=Eleanor|title=Rebecca Sugar Talks LGBT Representation In Steven Universe|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/3954346|work=Moviepilot|date=June 7, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609221602/http://moviepilot.com/posts/3954346|archive-date=June 9, 2016}} During a 2016 Comic-Con panel, Sugar said the LGBT themes in Steven Universe were largely based on her own experience as a bisexual woman.{{cite news|last1=Mey|title=Rebecca Sugar is Bisexual: Steven Universe Creator Comes Out at Comic-Con|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/rebecca-sugar-is-bisexual-steven-universe-creator-comes-out-at-comic-con-346094/|work=Autostraddle|date=July 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724134835/http://www.autostraddle.com/rebecca-sugar-is-bisexual-steven-universe-creator-comes-out-at-comic-con-346094/|archive-date=July 24, 2016}} In July 2018, Sugar states she created the Gems as "non-binary women" in order to express herself, as a non-binary woman, through them.{{Cite news |title=The Mind Behind America's Most Empathetic Cartoon |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/13/628885509/the-mind-behind-americas-most-empathetic-cartoon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604002016/https://www.npr.org/2018/07/13/628885509/the-mind-behind-americas-most-empathetic-cartoon |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |work=1A |publisher=NPR}}{{cite news |last1=Pulliam-Moore |first1=Charles |title=Steven Universe's Rebecca Sugar Comes Out as Gender Nonbinary |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universes-rebecca-sugar-on-how-she-expresses-her-1827624015 |work=io9 |date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717144719/https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universes-rebecca-sugar-on-how-she-expresses-her-1827624015 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}

The series' reputation as "one of the most unabashedly queer shows on TV"{{cite news|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|title=Steven Universe censorship undermines Cartoon Network's LGBTQ progress|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/jan/12/steven-universe-censorship-cartoon-networks-lgbtq|work=The Guardian|date=January 12, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112193304/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/jan/12/steven-universe-censorship-cartoon-networks-lgbtq|archive-date=January 12, 2016}} generated controversy in 2016 when Cartoon Network UK removed an embrace between Rose and Pearl but did not remove a kiss between Rose and Greg from its British broadcast.{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=January 5, 2016 |title=Cartoon Network 'censored' intimate lesbian dance from Steven Universe UK broadcast |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/01/05/cartoon-network-censored-intimate-lesbian-dance-for-uk-broadcast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222145903/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/01/05/cartoon-network-censored-intimate-lesbian-dance-for-uk-broadcast/ |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |website=PinkNews}} The network, which said the decision was intended to make the episode "more comfortable for local kids and their parents", was criticized as homophobic by fans and the media.{{cite news|last1=Duffy|first1=Nick|title=Cartoon Network defends decision to censor same-sex romance in Steven Universe|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/01/05/cartoon-network-defends-decision-to-censor-same-sex-romance-in-steven-universe/|work=PinkNews|date=January 5, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106022050/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/01/05/cartoon-network-defends-decision-to-censor-same-sex-romance-in-steven-universe/|archive-date=January 6, 2016}}{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kevin |date=January 12, 2016 |title=A controversial Steven Universe edit omits more than a same-sex romance |url=https://avclub.com/article/controversial-steven-universe-edit-omits-more-same-230494 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063933/http://www.avclub.com/article/controversial-steven-universe-edit-omits-more-same-230494 |archive-date=January 12, 2016 |work=The A.V. Club}} In 2017, the Kenya Film Classification Board banned Steven Universe and other cartoon series from being broadcast for "glorifying homosexual behavior".{{cite news|last1=Anyango|first1=Jennifer|title=Films board bans six TV programs 'for promoting homosexuality'|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001243666/films-board-bans-six-tv-programs-for-promoting-homosexuality|work=The Standard|date=June 15, 2017|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617070626/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001243666/films-board-bans-six-tv-programs-for-promoting-homosexuality|archive-date=June 17, 2017}}

Sugar stated she had been determined to make "queer couples and narratives" integral to the story in ways that are "impossible to censor," and had to fight internally for the representation. Obstacles from Cartoon Network executives included requests to make Ruby a boy, have the characters never kiss on the mouth, and no romantic relationship between Ruby and Sapphire. They issued a warning regarding the possibility of cancelation if anyone on the crew, including Sugar, gave confirmation one of the characters were homosexual. Sugar said that when she began to talk publicly about the need of creative control of her show to tell these stories, she garnered support from the fandom and GLAAD.{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Joanna |title=Raya and the Last Dragon's Kelly Marie Tran Thinks Her Disney Princess Is Gay |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-kelly-marie-tran-gay-namaari-raya |website=Vanity Fair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307025741/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-kelly-marie-tran-gay-namaari-raya |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |date=March 5, 2021 |url-status=live}}

In June 2021, Sugar said that being at the forefront of LGBTQ representation meant that beyond what they were creating there was "very little queer content". She also said that apart from threats and backlash from homophobic viewers, she feared that her identity and content in the show could lead to its cancelation if she spoke about it openly, noting that support for the show was "often very qualified and hurtful". She also noted that non-binary creators such as herself have additional challenges, going through a world where non-binary people are dehumanized, and hoped that "visible queer content and multiple queer creators means no one has to feel isolated" in the ways that she did.{{cite web|last1=Chik|first1=Kalai|last2=White|first2=Abbey|url=https://www.insider.com/queer-women-transgender-nonbinary-kids-animation-cartoons-2021-6|title=Animation's queer women, trans, and nonbinary creatives are pushing gender boundaries in kid's cartoons their counterparts couldn't—or wouldn't dare|date=June 30, 2021|website=Insider|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210702034400/https://www.insider.com/queer-women-transgender-nonbinary-kids-animation-cartoons-2021-6|archive-date=July 2, 2021|url-status=live}} The same month, Sugar told NPR that she wanted "little boys to experience girl show things" and vice versa, and for "nonbinary, gender-expansive kids to have a show".{{cite web|last=Whitley-Berry|first=Victoria|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/30/1011310695/after-decades-in-the-background-queer-characters-step-to-the-front-in-kids-media|title=After Decades In The Background, Queer Characters Step To The Front In Kids' Media|date=June 30, 2021|publisher =NPR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703022635/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/30/1011310695/after-decades-in-the-background-queer-characters-step-to-the-front-in-kids-media|archive-date=July 3, 2021|url-status=live}}

File:Steven Universe - 78th annual Peabody Awards acceptance speech.jpg in 2019, accepting the Children's & Youth Programming award. (From left to right: Ian Jones-Quartey, Kat Morris, Hilary Florido, Joe Johnston, Ben Levin, Matt Burnett and Rebecca Sugar)|alt=A group of adults on stage accepting an award.]]

During the pilot development, Sugar wrote and sketched a number of plot ideas that later became episodes.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=21}} The series' initial premise focused mostly on Steven's human side, rather than his magic side, but the premise was later changed.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=43; 48}} Sugar developed the Gems' history in conjunction with the pilot episode. While the first season of the show introduced the human and Gem characters and their relationships, Sugar began to plot and explore second-season storylines involving the Crystal Gems.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=111}} To make it easier, Sugar created a chart with taped printouts about a 2,000-year Gem and Earth history, with a number of events needing to be elaborated for production. Although the series' overall plot was established, the writers improvised to arrive at its ending; according to Matt Burnett, the storylines will be resolved by the series' end.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=105}} Sugar wanted the series to focus on comedy and positivity before exploring controversial subjects involving the main characters, thinking it was "more honest" to begin the show with happiness instead of action or drama.

The writers—Levin and Burnett—would script the premises and outlines while the storyboarders wrote and drew the episodes.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=107}}{{Cite news |url=http://ianjq.tumblr.com/post/74241332119/hey-i-am-a-screenwriting-student-from-emerson |title=Hey! I am a screenwriting student from Emerson... |last=Jones-Quartey |first=Ian |author-link=Ian Jones-Quartey |date=January 22, 2014 |via=Tumblr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117050156/http://ianjq.tumblr.com/post/74241332119/hey-i-am-a-screenwriting-student-from-emerson |archive-date=November 17, 2016 |url-status=live}} Everyone would wait at least a day to get together and discuss. They wrote potential episode names on paper cards and pinned them to the conference room wall, using this display to review their work and plan meetings. They discussed episode pacing and varied each season's texture by balancing casual and dramatic story arcs. Changes in major-character appearances—such as Yellow Diamond—in a storyline could be difficult for the writers. According to Ben Levin, drafting a season of Steven Universe was like a "jigsaw puzzle" because the writing team must assemble a number of plot ideas, which were discarded if they do not benefit character growth. After further discussion and questions about what they came up with, an idea would become an episode. After discussing a season's proposed episodes, the "puzzle" was complete, and they began drafting a major story arc or a season finale. Burnett said formulating a season was like an algebraic equation "where one side is the season finale, and the x's and y's are the episodes we need for that solution to make sense"; he cited "Ocean Gem", "Steven the Sword Fighter", "Monster Buddies", "An Indirect Kiss" and "Serious Steven" as examples. Those episodes led to the season-one finale as a minor story arc.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=106}} To develop new ideas for episodes, the writers played brainstorming games. In one, a scenario with characters was drawn and passed to a colleague. Each participant would add a few sentences before passing it along, continuing until the drawing evolved into a three-act story. Episodes such as "Island Adventure", "Future Boy Zoltron" and "Onion Friend" were crafted this way.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=107–108}} The writers also played drawing games, which designed new Gem characters and technological ideas. Burnett said he and Levin used fewer ideas from the storyboarders than they previously did; storyboarders change fewer things than they did before because the episodes have a "stronger continuity".

According to Levin, he and Burnett tried to balance the focus between the main characters—with Steven in the center—and the theme of episodes in their writing. The balance indicated Steven has the same interests on his human side as he does on his Gem side. Levin said the Gem mythology and drama would have been less interesting if Steven was not as well-developed in the first few episodes. Grateful to work on a show which was unafraid to be "sincere and vulnerable", he said if every episode was emotional, the series would become formulaic; happy episodes balance out emotional ones. Levin said he and Burnett have found ways to integrate Steven's powers into the plot. The character's powers and home-world technology are revealed at a "measured (very slow) pace", satisfying the viewer and keeping the series clear of superhero territory. Before significant plotlines aired, the writers revealed information relevant to a "climactic" episode for the audience. According to storyboard artist Hilary Florido, much of the series' action and magic are narrative climaxes, demonstrating the characters' discoveries, difficulties and views. Florido said if a character's evolution is not directly related to the plot, there is no drama. The crew was discouraged from breaking perspective involving episode development as they want the audience to know the protagonist's point of view. Although the writers could hint at future events, they prefer to focus on plot and develop Steven in real time. Levin said if the pilot tried to present Gem history in five minutes, the audience and protagonist would be equally confused.

File:Steven Universe storyboard from Island Adventure.png and script from the episode "Island Adventure". The series' storyboard artists are also its writers.]]

During storyboard meetings, artists drew their ideas on post-it notes, which are then attached to walls, table and boxes in the corners of their conference room. The drawings played a major role in forming episode ideas; Sugar looked at these designs and occasionally made changes to key poses. Sugar liked to review and re-draw scenes and characters to add extra pathos and emotion to storyboards.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=207}} Each episode's storyboards were created by two artists, each of whom wrote half of the dialogue and drew panels similar to comic strips. This process could be quite complex; the storyboard artists would have to create the cinematography and focus on scenic design in a way similar to film production. After the panels were made, the thumbnail-storyboard artists drew mannerisms and dialogue based on their own experiences; Sugar drew "quintessential" scenes from her memories of hanging out with her brother after school.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=118}} The storyboard artists then discussed their work with the rest of the crew and make any necessary changes.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=119}} After the team discussion, the storyboard artists drew a revised board—based on the thumbnail board—on a full-size panel with notes. The storyboards are again discussed, corrected and finally approved.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=124}} Although Sugar works as executive producer on the series' art, animation and sound, she considers herself "the most hands on" at the storyboarding stage.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvykrt|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111001454/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvykrt|archive-date=November 11, 2015}}

The production of background art would begin after the approved storyboards were received. If the characters visited old locations, the pre-existing backgrounds would be modified for authenticity; locations would likely change slightly over time. Steven Sugar liked to hide narrative bits in the backgrounds, believing the key to worldbuilding is "having a cohesive underlying structure to everything".{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=174}} Art director Elle Michalka said the backgrounds' artistic style was inspired by French post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, whose apparent lack of focus belied detail and specificity. The art was also inspired by Tao Te Ching, whose work highlights the importance of empty spaces, "like the space within a vase as being part of the vase that makes it useful". During the painting phase, the painters saw the lines as "descriptive bones" and color is used loosely, meaning the color is intentionally slightly off register, highlighting the distinction between color and line. The painters used "superimposed" watercolor texture before switching to Photoshop because the former made the backgrounds "very chunky". When painting the backgrounds, they used one primary and several secondary colors; Amanda Winterston and Jasmin Lai found suitable color combinations. After the primary backgrounds were painted, they are sent to the color stylist, who chooses colors for a character or prop from model sheets, matching and complementing the storyboard and background. The lines of the character or prop were rarely colored. The lines are removed when scenes need light effects. The coloring in early season one episodes was experimental because the stylist would have difficulty if a storyboard's character and background mixed together or a bright character walked unchanged into a shadow. Mistakes became rare as the crew planned and checked storyboards. The primary backgrounds were made in Burbank; the secondary ones were made by Korean artists.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=175}}

After the crew finished constructing an episode, the production team sent it to animators in Korea. The series was animated at Sunmin Image Pictures and Rough Draft Korea. The production team and animators communicated by email and sometimes used video chat when animating a major episode. Before sending the episode to one of the studios, animation director Nick DeMayo and his team created a plan for the animators after reviewing the animatics.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=197}} They then added character movements on exposure sheets to guide the animators. Mouth assignments for the characters, describing mouth shapes and timing for lip-syncing, followed.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=197–198}} The episode would then be sent to one of the animation studios. The black-and-white version was sent first, followed about two weeks later by the colored version.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=198}} The animation was drawn and inked on paper, then scanned and colored digitally. Afterward, the crew would a "work print" meeting to discuss the episode and review it for errors. DeMayo noted any errors, removed them and sent the episode back to the animation studio or to Cartoon Network's post-production department to fix any remaining issues.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=199}} Minor animation mistakes or omissions were fixed by the crew.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=202}}

{{See also|List of Steven Universe characters{{!}}List of Steven Universe characters}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Zach Callison January 2015.jpg

| alt1 = Zach Callison smiling, wearing a blue "85" numbered shirt

| image2 = Michaela Dietz at the Florida Supercon 2016 (4) (cropped).jpg

| alt2 = Michaela Dietz, smiling and holding a microphone

| image3 = Deedee Magno Hall (2010).jpg

| alt3 = A smiling Deedee Magno Hall in a black jacket.

| image4 = Estelle Swaray (headshot).jpg

| alt4 = Estelle, smiling, in a blue jacket

| footer = The main voice cast (clockwise from top left): Zach Callison (Steven), Michaela Dietz (Amethyst), Estelle (Garnet) and Deedee Magno Hall (Pearl)

}}

American actor Zach Callison voiced Steven. The role of Steven is his first lead role on television. For his audition, Callison spoke ten lines of dialogue from the pilot and sang the theme song.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=155}} Garnet, the Crystal Gem leader, was voiced by Estelle, a singer, songwriter and actor. Cartoon Network asked Estelle to take the part, her first voice-acting role.{{cite news|last1=Polo|first1=Susanna|title=Our Interview With the Cast and Creator of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe!|url=http://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-interview/|work=The Mary Sue|date=October 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821065412/http://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-interview/|archive-date=August 21, 2015}} Steven Universe was also the first animation voice role for actor Michaela Dietz who voices Amethyst and The Party singer Deedee Magno Hall who voices Pearl.{{Cite news |last=Sims |first=Chris |date=July 30, 2014 |title=No, You're The Joke: The Cast Of Steven Universe At Comic-Con 2014 [Interview] |url=http://comicsalliance.com/steven-universe-cast-interview-comic-con-2014/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718023154/http://comicsalliance.com/steven-universe-cast-interview-comic-con-2014/ |archive-date=July 18, 2015 |publisher=ComicsAlliance}}{{cite news|last1=Del Castillo|first1=Chris|title=SDCC 2014: Regular Show and Steven Universe cast and crew interviews|url=http://nerdreactor.com/2014/08/07/sdcc-2014-regular-show-and-steven-universe-cast-and-crew-interviews/|work=Nerd Reactor|date=August 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323163029/http://nerdreactor.com/2014/08/07/sdcc-2014-regular-show-and-steven-universe-cast-and-crew-interviews/|archive-date=March 23, 2015}} Sugar wanted Tom Scharpling, whom she knew from his podcast The Best Show with Tom Scharpling, to voice a character for one of her projects before Steven Universe was conceived. She approached Scharpling for the part of Greg Universe, who was originally named Tom. The Ruby Gems were voiced by Charlyne Yi, to whom Sugar wrote to say she was confident Yi would be perfect for the role. Grace Rolek, who voiced Steven's friend Connie, was 16 years old when the series began; Rolek has been a voice actor in animated productions since the age of five or six.{{Cite podcast |url=http://www.voiceactingmastery.com/vam-077-interview-with-grace-rolek-part-1 |title=Interview with Grace Rolek |website=Voice Acting Mastery |last=Freeman |first=Crispin |date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305071516/http://www.voiceactingmastery.com/vam-077-interview-with-grace-rolek-part-1 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}

The show's four main voice actors—Callison, Dietz, Magno Hall and Estelle—spent three to four hours recording per session; three to four weeks a month for ten months each year. Cast members could be recorded together or separately; they would often record multiple episodes within a single recording period. However, each individual session primarily focused on one episode at a time, allowing for retakes specific to that episode or previous ones if needed. In group recording sessions, a maximum of six actors stood in a semicircle.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=156}} Sugar and voice director Kent Osborne attended the sessions,{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=155–156}} advising the actors about voicing the characters in specific situations. If they liked a take, the production assistant marked it and gave it to the animation editor for the episode's rough cut. When a recording session began, Sugar explained the storyboards and described the sequences, character intention and the relationship between them; Osborne did the recording. Before the sessions, Sugar and the voice actors discussed new plot elements and showed them the advanced storyboards. Magno Hall said she enjoyed the group recording sessions because the funny faces the cast members make while recording lines requiring emotion or movement often cause them to laugh.

Steven Universe features songs and musical numbers produced by Sugar and her writers, who collaborated on the lyrics. Multiple drafts of the theme song's lyrics were written.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=22}} Sugar composed the extended theme song while waiting in line for a security check at Los Angeles International Airport. The series relies on leitmotifs for its soundtrack; instruments, genres and melodies are allotted to specific characters. The music was influenced by the works of Michael Jackson and Estelle;{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/steven-universe-composers-aivi-surrashu-interview/|title=Dropping Gems: An Interview with the Composers of the Score for Steven Universe|author=Eric Thurm|date=January 16, 2016|publisher=Vice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814111713/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/steven-universe-composers-aivi-surrashu-interview|archive-date=August 14, 2016|url-status=live}} and Sugar has cited Aimee Mann as "a huge influence".{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvyk5b|title=I am Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe, and former Adventure Time storyboarder, AMA!|last1=Sugar|first1=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar|date=August 20, 2014|via=Reddit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111003057/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2e4gmx/i_am_rebecca_sugar_creator_of_steven_universe_and/cjvyk5b|archive-date=November 11, 2015|url-status=live}} Sugar wrote songs for the series during her travels, accompanying herself on a ukulele.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=160}} Not every episode features a song; according to Sugar, she uses them occasionally, to avoid forced creativity.

Most of the show's incidental music was composed by the chiptune piano duo Aivi & Surasshu, with guitars by Stemage.{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2015 |title=Heft! |url=http://www.stemagemusic.com/blog/category/heft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708222330/http://www.stemagemusic.com/blog/category/heft |archive-date=July 8, 2016 |website=Stemage Music}} Jeff Liu, who was familiar with producer Aivi's musical score for the video game Cryamore, recommended them to Sugar as a composer. Sugar asked Aivi to audition and agreed that producer Surasshu could join them. Aivi & Surasshu scored a clip from "Gem Glow", the series' first episode; Sugar liked their work and hired them as series composers.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=161}} Before composing an episode, Aivi & Surasshu video chat with Sugar and the creative director to discuss the episode; they have a week to send Sugar a preview score.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=162}} After any necessary changes, Aivi & Surasshu send the score to Sabre Media Studios for the final mix with their sound designs.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=162–163}}

Each character has a leitmotif expressing their personality, which changes slightly depending on the situation.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|pp=161–162}} Pearl is often accompanied by a piano, Garnet by a synth bass, Amethyst by a drum machine with electric bass and synths, and Steven with chiptune tones. Sound palettes were produced for the human characters to represent the evolution of the series, its characters and their relationships. Sound motifs and palettes were also created for locations, objects and abstract concepts. When Sugar or the other writers draft a song for an episode, they would record a demo that was sent to the composers. The same musical style for a song and the character singing appeared for each song. Over time, the songs had become increasingly complex and production has become more difficult because the show's original musical style no longer fit perfectly with the newer lyrical themes. An example is "Here Comes a Thought", sung by Estelle and AJ Michalka (who voices Stevonnie). The two were less inspired by a specific musical style, but rather by the song's "feel", which Sugar had explained to them.{{harvnb|McDonnell|2017|p=163}}

{{Main|List of Steven Universe episodes{{!}}List of Steven Universe episodes}}

{{:List of Steven Universe episodes}}

The pilot episode of Steven Universe was released on Cartoon Network's video platform on May 21, 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-cartoon-network-83118.html|title=Sneak Peek: Cartoon Network's Steven Universe by Rebecca Sugar|work=Cartoon Brew|date=May 21, 2013|last=Amidi|first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715224455/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-cartoon-network-83118.html|archive-date=July 15, 2013}} and an edited version was released on July 20.{{cite news|url=http://io9.com/the-first-look-at-rebecca-sugars-amazing-new-cartoon-s-853310801|title=The first look at Rebecca Sugar's amazing new cartoon Steven Universe|work=io9|date=July 20, 2013|last=Bricken|first=Rob|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822113319/http://io9.com/the-first-look-at-rebecca-sugars-amazing-new-cartoon-s-853310801|archive-date=August 22, 2013}} The pilot was shown at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con,{{cite news|url=http://www.awn.com/news/cartoons/cn-sneak-peeks-rebecca-sugar-s-steven-universe|title=Cartoon Network Sneak Peeks Rebecca Sugar's Steven Universe|publisher =Animation World Network|date=July 22, 2013|last=Wolfe|first=Jennifer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807004758/http://www.awn.com/news/cartoons/cn-sneak-peeks-rebecca-sugar-s-steven-universe|archive-date=August 7, 2013}} and Sugar hosted a 30-minute panel discussion about the series at the 2013 New York Comic Con on October 13.{{cite web|url=http://nycc13.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=18ABC9C6 |title=Cartoon Network presents Steven Universe |publisher=New York Comic Con |work=Panels & Autographing |year=2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925210604/http://nycc13.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=18ABC9C6 |archive-date=September 25, 2013}} Initially, 13 episodes were ordered for the first season; on November 14, the season was picked up for double the amount.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/paw-patrol-season-two-cartoon-network-634956/|title=Cartoon Network Orders More Episodes Of Rookies Uncle Grandpa, Steven Universe|work=Deadline|author=The Deadline Team|date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829043225/https://deadline.com/2013/11/paw-patrol-season-two-cartoon-network-634956/|archive-date=August 29, 2014|url-status=live}} The series was renewed for a second season on July 25, 2014,{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-cartoon-network-renews-721092|title=Comic-Con Exclusive: Cartoon Network Renews Adventure Time, Regular Show, 3 More|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|date=July 25, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726013349/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-cartoon-network-renews-721092|archive-date=July 26, 2014}} which began airing on March 13, 2015, and for a third season in July 2015.{{cite news|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/adventure-time-regular-show-3-807037|title=Adventure Time, Regular Show, 3 More Renewed at Cartoon Network (Exclusive)|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|date=July 7, 2015|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710065128/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/adventure-time-regular-show-3-807037|archive-date=July 10, 2015}} In March 2016, Cartoon Network issued its last renewal to the series for an additional two seasons.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/03/30/steven-universe-uncle-grandpa-renewed-season-5-cartoon-network|last=Kickham|first=Dylan|title=Exclusive: Cartoon Network renews Steven Universe and Uncle Grandpa through season 5|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 30, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330185304/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/30/steven-universe-uncle-grandpa-renewed-season-5-cartoon-network|archive-date=March 30, 2016}}

The series premiered in the United States on November 4, 2013, on Cartoon Network with two episodes.{{cite press release |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Steven Universe |url=http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/PR/pr-stevenuniverse/ |publisher=Cartoon Network |quote=Steven Universe will premier Monday, November 4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004735/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/PR/pr-stevenuniverse/ |archive-date=October 5, 2013}} In Canada, it began airing on Cartoon Network on November 11, 2013,{{Cite tweet |number=397347554611851264 |user=CartoonCAN |title="The Steven Universe series are on the way to Cartoon Network with a premiere not to be missed next Monday, November 11th at 8 p.m. ET/PT..." |date=November 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208093207/https://twitter.com/CartoonCAN/status/397347554611851264 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=live}} and on Teletoon on April 24, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/news/rebecca-sugars-steven-universe-headed-teletoon-canada|title=Rebecca Sugar's Steven Universe Headed to Teletoon Canada|date=April 8, 2014|publisher=Animation World Network|last=Wolfe|first=Jennifer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111015810/http://www.awn.com/news/rebecca-sugars-steven-universe-headed-teletoon-canada|archive-date=November 11, 2014}} It began airing on Cartoon Network channels in Australia on February 3, 2014,{{cite web|author1=DHiggins|title=New this week: Selling Houses, Tony Robinson's Time Walks, Freddie Flintoff and Big Cat Week|url=http://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-Blog/New-this-week-Selling-Houses-Tony-Robinson-s-Time-Walks-Freddie/ba-p/7367|publisher=Foxtel|date=February 3, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074636/http://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-Blog/New-this-week-Selling-Houses-Tony-Robinson-s-Time-Walks-Freddie/ba-p/7367|archive-date=November 29, 2014}} and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 12 of that year.{{cite web|last1=Munn|first1=Patrick|title=Turner UK Unveils 2014 Programming Slate: 4 New Shows For Cartoon Network, New Tom & Jerry Series & More|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/03/turner-uk-unveils-2014-programming-slate-4-new-shows-catoon-network-new-tom-jerry-series/|publisher=TV Wise|date=March 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109100307/http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/03/turner-uk-unveils-2014-programming-slate-4-new-shows-catoon-network-new-tom-jerry-series/|archive-date=November 9, 2014}}

Beginning in 2015, Cartoon Network often aired new episodes in groups of five over one week—marketed as "Stevenbombs"—rather than one episode per week. The hiatuses between groups have irritated fans, according to The A.V. Club causing "agonized cries of a rabid, starving, pained cult following". The format, which is also used for other Cartoon Network series, has, in the website's view, contributed to the network's spikes in Google Trends associated with each "bomb". The A.V. Club attributed the effect to Steven Universe{{'}}s unusual—for a youth cartoon—adherence to an overarching plot, which can generate "massive swells of online interest"—similar to the release of full seasons of adult TV series—which are "crucial to a network's vitality in an increasingly internet-based television world".{{cite news|last1=Blumenfeld|first1=Zach|title=Steven Universe's frustrating schedule is crucial to its success|url=https://avclub.com/article/steven-universes-frustrating-schedule-crucial-its--234864|work=The A.V. Club|date=April 20, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420054858/http://www.avclub.com/article/steven-universes-frustrating-schedule-crucial-its--234864|archive-date=April 20, 2016}}

In May 2018, Cartoon Network apologized to fans after one of the channel's promotional videos contained unaired footage with significant spoilers for future episodes. In response to the video, Jones-Quartey noted in a later-deleted tweet that "being a Steven Universe fan is suffering", alluding to the series' irregular and unpredictable airing schedule.{{cite news|last1=Polo|first1=Susana|title=Cartoon Network might have accidentally spoiled the end of Steven Universe (Update)|url=https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/5/3/17315264/steven-universe-ending-spoilers-cartoon-network|website=Polygon|date=May 3, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505204847/https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/5/3/17315264/steven-universe-ending-spoilers-cartoon-network|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=live}} In an October 2020 art book for the series, Sugar stated that when clips from unaired episodes, giving away major spoilers, were leaked or those clips were used in official promotional videos, it was "very demoralizing for the crew".{{Cite book |last=McDonnell |first=Chris |title=Steven Universe: End of An Era |date=2020 |publisher=Abrams Books |isbn=978-1-4197-4284-2 |page=85 |language=en}}

"Say Uncle" is a crossover episode with Uncle Grandpa that aired on April 2, 2015. In the episode, Uncle Grandpa helps Steven use his Gem powers when he cannot summon his shield. The episode contains an acknowledgement by Uncle Grandpa that the episode is not canonical.{{cite web | author=Thurm, Eric | date=April 13, 2015 | url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-say-uncle-1798183319 | title=Review: Steven Universe: Say Uncle | work=The A.V. Club | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404151146/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-say-uncle-217360 | archive-date=April 4, 2015}} Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and other Cartoon Network characters from current and former shows made cameo appearances in the Uncle Grandpa episode "Pizza Eve".{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2021 |title=All the Times Our Shows Reference Each Other |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuEXgvkoXvM&t=850s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218124826/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuEXgvkoXvM |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |publisher=Cartoon Network |via=YouTube}} Additionally, Garnet appeared in "Crossover Nexus", an episode of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, which aired on October 8, 2018. In the episode, Garnet teamed up with K.O., Ben Tennyson from Ben 10 and Raven from Teen Titans Go! to stop the villain Strike.{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cn-lines-up-ok-k-o-superhero-crossover-halloween-specials/|title=CN Lines Up OK K.O.! Superhero Crossover, Halloween Specials|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|date=September 24, 2018|magazine=Animation Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011215927/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cn-lines-up-ok-k-o-superhero-crossover-halloween-specials/|archive-date=October 11, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of Steven Universe episodes#Shorts{{!}}List of Steven Universe minisodes}}

Two volumes of mini-episodes have been released by Cartoon Network. The first one includes the extended title theme "We Are the Crystal Gems"; shorts in which the Crystal Gems teach Steven about Gems in a classroom setting; an unboxing video of Steven's new duffel bag; and a short in which Steven's pet lion is playing with a cardboard box.{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/steven-universe-minisodes-vol-1/id1131752947|title=Steven Universe, Minisodes Vol. 1 on iTunes|website=iTunes|date=July 6, 2015 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211205731/https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/steven-universe-minisodes-vol-1/id1131752947|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=live}} The second volume contains five minisodes that show Steven cooking, performing karaoke, reacting to an episode of his favorite cartoon, video chatting with Lapis and Peridot, and playing a new song.{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/steven-universe-minisodes-vol-2/id1155553857|title=Steven Universe, Minisodes Vol. 2 on iTunes|website=iTunes|date=October 3, 2016 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211205839/https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/steven-universe-minisodes-vol-2/id1155553857|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=live}} In 2018, Sugar collaborated with Dove to create six shorts addressing self-esteem issues, and two years later, created four shorts promoting anti-racism.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Shannon |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Dove Finds a Perfect Partner for Its Self-Esteem Message in Cartoon Network's Steven Universe |url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/dove-finds-a-perfect-partner-for-its-self-esteem-message-in-cartoon-networks-steven-universe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523083401/https://www.adweek.com/creativity/dove-finds-a-perfect-partner-for-its-self-esteem-message-in-cartoon-networks-steven-universe/ |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |website=Adweek|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=October 27, 2020 |title=Steven Universe returns to teach kids to not be racist in new PSA |url=https://ew.com/tv/steven-universe-antiracism-psa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526173246/https://ew.com/tv/steven-universe-antiracism-psa/ |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

{{Main|Steven Universe: The Movie{{!}}Steven Universe: The Movie|Steven Universe Future{{!}}Steven Universe Future}}

According to Rebecca Sugar, she was notified in 2016 that the series would be canceled at the end of the fifth season. She prevailed upon Cartoon Network to extend the fifth season to 32 episodes, in order to have room to complete the story, as well as a follow-up television film, Steven Universe: The Movie (2019). Along with the film, Cartoon Network also greenlit an additional season of 20 episodes, which would become the sequel series Steven Universe Future (2020), taking place after the events of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/27/21197679/steven-universe-future-ending-finale-new-seasons-rebecca-sugar-interview|title=The reason Rebecca Sugar made Steven Universe Future, and why it's the actual end|last=Robinson|first=Tasha|date=March 27, 2020|website=Polygon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328213852/https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/27/21197679/steven-universe-future-ending-finale-new-seasons-rebecca-sugar-interview|archive-date=March 28, 2020|url-status=live}} Despite the show's end, Sugar has indicated that more stories could exist, but has stated that she needs a long break before deciding how to approach such a continuation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90480992/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-explains-the-series-finale-future-and-her-future|title=Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar explains the series finale, 'Future'—and her future|last=Ifeanyi|first=K. C.|date=March 31, 2020|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|archive-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402114624/https://www.fastcompany.com/90480992/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-explains-the-series-finale-future-and-her-future|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/03/27/steven-universe-series-finale-ending-explained-rebecca-sugar-interview/|title=Steven Universe Creator Breaks Down Series Finale's Most Important Lesson|last=Swift|first=Andy|date=March 27, 2020|website=TVLine|language=en|archive-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416210407/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-03-27/steven-universe-future-finale-spoilers-rebecca-sugar|url-status=live}} In June 2025, a spin-off titled Lars of the Stars was announced to be in development for Amazon Prime Video.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Jamie |date=2025-06-11 |title='Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars Unveiled in Annecy: Studios Sneak Peek New Regular Show, Foster's, Adventure Time, Gumball Series |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/global/steven-universe-lars-of-the-stars-annecy-teen-titans-go-1236427960/ |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.06.11-144157/https://variety.com/2025/tv/global/steven-universe-lars-of-the-stars-annecy-teen-titans-go-1236427960/ |archive-date=2025-06-11 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

A number of companion books have been published:

• Steven Universe's Guide to the Crystal Gems (October 2015, {{ISBN|978-0-8431-8316-0}}) by series creator Rebecca Sugar, with information about the Crystal Gems.{{Cite book |last=Sugar |first=Rebecca |author-link=Rebecca Sugar |title=Guide to the Crystal Gems |date=October 6, 2015 |publisher=Cartoon Network Books |isbn=978-0-8431-8316-0 |language=en}}
• Quest for Gem Magic (October 2015, {{ISBN|978-0-8431-8317-7}}) by Max Brallier is a "colorful journal and activity book" for 8- to 12-year-olds.{{Cite book |last=Brallier |first=Max |author-link=Max Brallier |title=Quest for Gem Magic |date=October 6, 2015 |publisher=Cartoon Network Books |isbn=978-0-8431-8317-7 |edition=Csm |language=en}}
• Steven Universe Mad Libs (October 2015, {{ISBN|978-0-8431-8309-2}}) by Walter Burns is a Mad Libs word-game book.{{Cite book |title=Steven Universe Mad Libs |last=Burns |first=Walter |date=October 6, 2015 |publisher=Mad Libs |isbn=978-0-8431-8309-2 |edition=Csm |location=Place of publication not identified |language=en}}
• Steven Universe: Live from Beach City (February 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-8431-8349-8}}) is a music and activity book with chord charts and sheet music for the first season's major songs.{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Hannah S. |title=Live from Beach City! |date=February 9, 2016 |publisher=Cartoon Network Books |isbn=978-0-8431-8349-8 |language=en}}
• What in the Universe? (February 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-8431-8348-1}}) by Jake Black is a collection of trivia about Steven and the Gems.{{Cite book |title=What in the Universe?: Over 300 Super Cool Facts and Figures About the Town and People of Beach City! |last=Black |first=Jake |date=February 9, 2016 |publisher=Cartoon Network Books |isbn=978-0-8431-8348-1 |language=en}}
• Best Buds Together Fun (June 2016, {{ISBN|978-1-101-99516-7}}) by Jake Black is a "quiz and activity book" for at 8- to 12-year-olds.{{Cite book |title=Best Buds Together Fun |last=Black |first=Jake |date=June 28, 2016 |publisher=Cartoon Network Books |isbn=978-1-101-99516-7 |edition=Dgs |language=en}}
• The Answer (September 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-399-54170-4}}) by Rebecca Sugar is a children's-book adaptation of the episode, "The Answer". It was seventh on The New York Times Best Seller list on October 2, 2016.{{cite news|title=Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Books – Best Sellers – October 2, 2016 – The New York Times|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/10/02/childrens-middle-grade-hardcover|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005150720/http://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/10/02/childrens-middle-grade-hardcover/|archive-date=October 5, 2016}}
• The Tale of Steven (October 2019, {{ISBN|978-1-4197-4148-7}}) by Rebecca Sugar is a children's book companion to the episode "Change Your Mind". Inspired by Sugar's experience of coming out, it retells Pink Diamond's decision to become Rose Quartz and to create Steven from the perspectives of White Diamond, Rose and Steven himself, each readable by rotating the pages of the book in different directions.{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-new-steven-universe-storybook-has-to-be-held-to-be-1838877682|title=The New Steven Universe Storybook Has to Be Held to Be Believed|first=James|last=Whitbrook|work=Gizmodo|date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116134004/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-new-steven-universe-storybook-has-to-be-held-to-be-1838877682|archive-date=November 16, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-tale-steven-retells-cartoon-networks-steven-universe-1244318|title=How Tale of Steven Retells Cartoon Network's Steven Universe|first=Graeme|last=McMillan|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002025455/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-tale-steven-retells-cartoon-networks-steven-universe-1244318|archive-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live}}

Nonfiction books covering the development of the franchise and compiling production artwork have also been published:

• Steven Universe: Art and Origins (July 2017, Abrams Books, {{ISBN|978-1-4197-2443-5}}) by Chris McDonnell, with an introduction by Dexter's Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky and a foreword by Rebecca Sugar. The book contains concept art, production samples, early sketches, storyboards and commentary by the Steven Universe production crew.{{cite book|url=https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/steven-universe-art-origins_9781419724435/|title=Steven Universe: Art & Origins|date=July 11, 2017 |publisher=Abrams Books|isbn=978-1-4197-2443-5 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730032006/https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/steven-universe-art-origins_9781419724435/|archive-date=July 30, 2017}}
• The Art of Steven Universe The Movie (March 2020, Dark Horse, {{ISBN|978-1-5067-1507-0}}) by Ryan Sands, which contains preliminary character designs and storyboards.{{cite news |title=Dark Horse and Cartoon Network Announce The Art of Steven Universe The Movie Art Book |url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/2923/dark-horse-and-cartoon-network-announce-art-steven |work=Dark Horse |publisher=Dark Horse Comics LLC |date=April 12, 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413161614/https://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/2923/dark-horse-and-cartoon-network-announce-art-steven |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• Steven Universe: End of an Era (October 2020, Abrams Books, {{ISBN|978-1-4197-4284-2}}) by Chris McDonnell, with a foreword by N. K. Jemisin.{{cite book |title=Steven Universe: End of an Era |date=October 13, 2020 |url=https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/steven-universe-end-of-an-era_9781419742842/# |publisher=Abrams Books |isbn=978-1-4197-4284-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822124553/https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/steven-universe-end-of-an-era_9781419742842/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

The tactical role-playing video game Steven Universe: Attack the Light! was released on April 2, 2015, for iOS and Android devices. It was developed by Grumpyface Studios in collaboration with Sugar for mobile devices. Players control Steven and three Crystal Gems to fight light monsters.{{cite news|last1=Dotson|first1=Carter|title=Cartoon Network Shows Off New Adventure Time and Steven Universe Games at PAX|url=http://toucharcade.com/2014/09/02/upcoming-adventure-time-game-wizard-and-steven-universe-attack-the-light/|work=Touch Arcade|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310061034/http://toucharcade.com/2014/09/02/upcoming-adventure-time-game-wizard-and-steven-universe-attack-the-light/|archive-date=March 10, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Jutte|first1=Garrett|title=Steven Universe: Attack the Light! Video Game Coming to iOS|url=http://guardianlv.com/2014/10/steven-universe-attack-the-light-video-game-coming-to-ios/|work=Guardian Liberty Voice|date=October 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218015009/http://guardianlv.com/2014/10/steven-universe-attack-the-light-video-game-coming-to-ios/|archive-date=February 18, 2015}} A sequel, Steven Universe: Save the Light, was released for consoles{{cite news|last1=Fahey|first1=Mike|title=Steven Universe RPG Coming To Consoles This Summer|url=http://kotaku.com/steven-universe-rpg-coming-to-consoles-this-summer-1793111666|work=Kotaku|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309212708/http://kotaku.com/steven-universe-rpg-coming-to-consoles-this-summer-1793111666|archive-date=March 9, 2017}} in October 2017. Another sequel, Steven Universe: Unleash the Light, was released exclusively on Apple Arcade in November 2019.{{cite tweet|author=Cartoon Network|author-link=Cartoon Network|user=cartoonnetwork|number=1199734739659350017|title=Let's get to work, Gems! ✨💪💎 Unleash the Light and help the Crystal Gems defend the universe against new Light Prisms!...|date=November 27, 2019}} It was then rereleased on PC (Steam) and consoles in February 2021.{{cite tweet|author=Cartoon Network|author-link=Cartoon Network|user=cartoonnetwork|number=1360302658142097410|title=The future is bright! 💎💖🎮 Steven Universe Unleash the Light is coming to consoles and Steam on 2/19!...|date=February 12, 2021}}

A rhythm-based mobile game, Steven Universe: Soundtrack Attack,{{cite news|title=Steven Universe Musical Episode Coming With Summer Adventures Block|url=http://www.newsarama.com/30028-steven-universe-musical-episode-coming-with-summer-adventures-block.html|work=Newsarama|date=July 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711080158/http://www.newsarama.com/30028-steven-universe-musical-episode-coming-with-summer-adventures-block.html|archive-date=July 11, 2016}} was released on July 21, 2016, in the United States. A player-created Gem flees her pursuer through side-scrolling stages set to remixes of the series' music. Another mobile game, Steven Universe: Dreamland Arcade, was released in 2017; it is a collection of arcade games with characters from the series.{{Cite news |url=http://toucharcade.com/2017/11/09/steven-universe-dreamland-arcade-brings-nine-arcade-games-each-focused-on-a-character-from-the-show/ |title=Steven Universe: Dreamland Arcade Brings Nine Arcade Games Each Focused on a Character from the Show {{!}} TouchArcade |last=Lazarides |first=Tascos |date=November 9, 2017 |work=toucharcade.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109232653/http://toucharcade.com/2017/11/09/steven-universe-dreamland-arcade-brings-nine-arcade-games-each-focused-on-a-character-from-the-show/ |archive-date=November 9, 2017}}

Steven Universe characters appear in Cartoon Network's kart racing game Formula Cartoon All-Stars and in the side-scrolling, beat-'em-up game Battle Crashers.{{cite news|last1=Fahey|first1=Mike|title=Cartoon Network Gets Everybody Together For A Old School Sidescrolling Brawler|url=http://kotaku.com/cartoon-network-gets-everybody-together-for-a-old-schoo-1785401069|work=Kotaku|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817164436/http://kotaku.com/cartoon-network-gets-everybody-together-for-a-old-schoo-1785401069|archive-date=August 17, 2016}} In common with other Cartoon Network series, several browser-based games—including Heap of Trouble, Goat Guardian and Gem Bound—are available on the channel's website.{{Cite web |title=Steven Universe Games |url=http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/steven-universe/index.html?atclk_gp=gn_Steven-Universe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725050243/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/steven-universe/index.html?atclk_gp=gn_Steven-Universe |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |website=Cartoon Network}} In 2019, Minecraft released a Mash-Up Pack based on Steven Universe, and Brawlhalla, a free-to-play fighting game, added Steven Universe characters.{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=March 27, 2019 |title=Minecraft Marketplace February 2019's top 10 downloads |url=https://venturebeat.com/pc-gaming/minecraft-marketplace-february-2019/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529094826/https://venturebeat.com/pc-gaming/minecraft-marketplace-february-2019/ |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/12/04/brawlhalla-steven-universe-crossover-fighters-crystal-gems/ |title=Brawlhalla Adds Steven Universe's Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Stevonnie |last=Rollin |first=Bishop |website=ComicBook.com |date=December 4, 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112223932/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/12/04/brawlhalla-steven-universe-crossover-fighters-crystal-gems/ |archive-date=January 12, 2020 |url-status=live}} In 2021, the platform fighter MultiVersus features characters, locations and elements from the show.{{Cite news|title=Warner Bros. Games Confirms MultiVersus Crossover Video Game, Teases Characters From Game Of Thrones, Steven Universe & More|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/warner-bros-games-multiversus-crossover-video-game-1234876866/|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra|date=November 18, 2021|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119170309/https://deadline.com/2021/11/warner-bros-games-multiversus-crossover-video-game-1234876866/|url-status=live}}

BOOM! Studios has published several limited comics series based on Steven Universe:

• An 8-month comic series, written by Jeremy Sorese and illustrated by Coleman Engle, was first published in August 2014.{{Cite web |title=Steven Universe |url=http://boom-studios.com/series/title?series_id=1333&name=Steven |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134924/http://boom-studios.com/series/title?series_id=1333&name=Steven |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |publisher=BOOM! Studios}}
• A graphic novel, the first in a planned series, was published on April 6, 2016.{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2016 |title=Steven Universe: Too Cool for School OGN |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/steven-universe-too-cool-for-school-ogn-boom-studios-2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407062906/http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/steven-universe-too-cool-for-school-ogn-boom-studios-2016 |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |website=Comic Book Resources}} Also written by Sorese, drawn by Asia Kendrick Holton, and illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, and based on a story by Ian Jones-Quartey, Too Cool for School is about Steven accompanying Connie to school.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Tracy|title=Exclusive cover reveal: Steven Universe graphic novel continues to dream big|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-steven-universe-original-graphic-novel-cover-20150625-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627160917/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-steven-universe-original-graphic-novel-cover-20150625-story.html|archive-date=June 27, 2015}}
• A four-part comic miniseries titled Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems was published in 2016. It is written by Josceline Fenton and illustrated by Chrystin Garland, and the covers are illustrated by Kat Leyh.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/11/06/new-steven-universe-comic-debut-february|title=New Steven Universe comic to debut in February|date=November 6, 2015|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Andrea|last=Towers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308160741/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/11/06/new-steven-universe-comic-debut-february|archive-date=March 8, 2016}}
• A reboot comic series written by Melanie Gillman and illustrated by Katy Farina began publication in January 2017.{{cite news|last=Kelley|first=Shamus|title=Steven Universe Gets Ongoing Comic Series From Boom!|url=https://denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/steven-universe/260171/steven-universe-gets-ongoing-comic-series-from-boom|work=Den of Geek|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123140102/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/steven-universe/260171/steven-universe-gets-ongoing-comic-series-from-boom|archive-date=November 23, 2016}}
• A second graphic novel called Anti-Gravity was released in July 2017. It is written by Talya Perper and illustrated by Queenie Chan.{{Cite web |last=Serrao |first=Nivea |title=Get the exclusive details of Steven Universe: Anti-Gravity |url=https://ew.com/books/2017/02/10/steven-universe-anti-gravity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211022137/https://ew.com/books/2017/02/10/steven-universe-anti-gravity/ |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |language=en |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
• A five-issue miniseries called Steven Universe: Harmony was first released in August 2018. It is written by S.M. Vidaurri and illustrated by Mollie Rose. The covers are illustrated by Marguerite Sauvage.{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2018 |title=Your First Look at Steven Universe: Harmony #1 |url=https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/your-first-look-at-steven-universe-harmony-1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208201231/https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/your-first-look-at-steven-universe-harmony-1/ |archive-date=December 8, 2023 | publisher=BOOM! Studios}}

In October 2015, Cartoon Network announced a line of toys based on Steven Universe, which would be sold by specialty retailers. For the 2015 holiday season, Funko made "Pop!" vinyl figures and Just Toys offered "blind bag" novelty products. PhatMojo sold plush figures and foam weapons, and Zag Toys released collectible bobbleheads and other mini-figures in early 2016. The following year, Toy Factory planned to sell a line of plush and novelty items.{{cite news|last1=Milligan|first1=Mercedes|title=Steven Universe Gets New Toy Partners|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/licensing/steven-universe-gets-new-toy-partners/|work=Animation Magazine|date=October 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008031059/http://www.animationmagazine.net/licensing/steven-universe-gets-new-toy-partners/|archive-date=October 8, 2015}} Cartoon Network sells a variety of products, including mugs, blankets and clothing, based on the show's episodes and characters.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cartoonnetworkshop.com/category/cnshop_brands/steven+universe+st_cnshop.do?pgc=141755.147330&sortby=bestSellersAscend&page=all |title=Steven Universe – Cartoon Network Shop |publisher=Cartoon Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630180333/http://www.cartoonnetworkshop.com/category/cnshop_brands/steven+universe+st_cnshop.do?pgc=141755.147330&sortby=bestSellersAscend&page=all |archive-date=June 30, 2017}}

{{Main|Steven Universe soundtracks{{!}}Steven Universe soundtracks}}

The first soundtrack album collecting songs from the first four seasons, Steven Universe Soundtrack: Volume 1, was released on June 2, 2017.{{cite news|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-is-finally-getting-an-official-soundtra-1794253773|title=Steven Universe Is Finally Getting an Official Soundtrack Release|last1=Whitbrook|first1=James|work=io9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413073103/http://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-is-finally-getting-an-official-soundtra-1794253773|archive-date=April 13, 2017|url-status=live}} The soundtrack debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200, number two on the Soundtracks chart, and number one on the Independent Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven+universe+volume%201&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|title=Chart Search – Steven Universe Volume 1|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411003827/https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven%20universe%20volume%201&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7833774/soundtrack-album-sales-up-31-percent-2017|title=Soundtrack Album Sales Up 31 Percent in 2017, Thanks to Moana, Trolls, Guardians 2 & More|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=June 15, 2017|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620100100/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7833774/soundtrack-album-sales-up-31-percent-2017|archive-date=June 20, 2017|url-status=live}} In Europe, it reached number 28 on the UK Album Downloads Chart,{{Cite web |title=Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20170609/7003/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032701/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20170609/7003/ |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |website=Official Charts}} nine on the country's Soundtrack chart,{{Cite web |title=Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/20170609/140/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032800/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/20170609/140/ |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |website=Official Charts}} 56 on the nation's official Compilation chart,{{Cite web |title=Official Compilations Chart Top 100 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20170609/7503/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032556/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20170609/7503/ |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |website=Official Charts}} and 174 on the Ultratop Flanders album chart.{{Cite web |title=Soundtrack – Steven Universe Volume 1 |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/5184e/Soundtrack-Steven-Universe-Volume-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807034219/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/5184e/Soundtrack-Steven-Universe-Volume-1 |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |website=Ultratop}} An album of songs from the fifth and final season, Steven Universe: Volume 2 (Original Soundtrack) as well as a karaoke album were released on April 12, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Shamus |date=April 5, 2019 |title=Steven Universe: Volume 2 Soundtrack Announced |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/steven-universe/280331/steven-universe-volume-2-soundtrack-announced |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407044310/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/steven-universe/280331/steven-universe-volume-2-soundtrack-announced |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |website=Den of Geek |language=en}} Volume 2 debuted at number 24 on the Soundtracks chart, number 28 on the Independent Albums chart, and number 14 on the Kid Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven+universe+volume%202&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|title=Chart Search – Steven Universe Volume 2|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412180027/https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven+universe+volume%202&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|url-status=live}} A soundtrack for the movie featuring its songs and score was released on September 3, 2019, peaking at number 57 on the Billboard 200, number five on the soundtrack chart, number six on the Independent chart, and number two on the Kid Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven+universe+the%20movie&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|title=Chart Search – Steven Universe the movie|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410160500/https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=&charttitle=steven+universe+the%20movie&label=&chartcode=&chart_date=|url-status=live}} The soundtrack for Steven Universe Future was released on October 23, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Universe-Future-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B08LR59V7D|title=Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack)|website=Amazon Music|archive-date=December 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227143233/https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Universe-Future-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B08LR59V7D|url-status=live}} Five albums featuring the music score were released on May 29, June 26, July 31, August 28, and September 25, 2020, respectively.{{multiref|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-1-original-television-score/1514652227|title=Steven Universe: Season 1 (Original Television Score)|website=Apple Music|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206164231/https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-1-original-television-score/1514652227|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-2-original-television-score/1519089297|title=Steven Universe: Season 2 (Original Television Score)|website=Apple Music|archive-date=December 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216160202/https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-2-original-television-score/1519089297|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-3-original-television-score/1525204105|title=Steven Universe: Season 3 (Original Television Score)|website=Apple Music|archive-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207001144/https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-3-original-television-score/1525204105|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-4-original-television-score/1528951603|title=Steven Universe: Season 4 (Original Television Score)|website=Apple Music|archive-date=December 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216160204/https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-4-original-television-score/1528951603|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-5-original-television-score/1533084627|title=Steven Universe: Season 5 (Original Television Score)|website=Apple Music|archive-date=December 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216160206/https://music.apple.com/us/album/steven-universe-season-5-original-television-score/1533084627|url-status=live}}}}

Steven Universe has been considered one of the greatest animated television series of all time in various best-of all time and 21st century lists, particularly for its first recognition and importance of LGBTQ representation in children's television. The series ranked number 99 on BBC's 100 Greatest Television Series of the 21st Century, the last of four animated shows in the 21st century to be included on the list.{{Cite web |last=Mogg |first=Trevor |date=October 21, 2021 |orig-date=October 20, 2021 |title=100 Greatest TV Series of the 21st Century Revealed |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/100-greatest-tv-series-of-the-21st-century-revealed/ |url-access=subscription |website=Digital Trends |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226124042/https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/100-greatest-tv-series-of-the-21st-century-revealed/ |url-status=live }} IndieWire and GamesRadar+ ranked the series number 6 and number 12 as the greatest animated TV series in history, respectively.{{cite web |date=September 18, 2020 |title=The Best Animated Series of All Time |url=https://www.indiewire.com/feature/best-animated-series-all-time-cartoons-anime-tv-1202021835/5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401003358/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/11/best-animated-series-all-time-cartoons-anime-tv-1202021835/5/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |website=IndieWire}}{{Cite web |author1=Eric Francisco |date=September 13, 2024 |title=The 32 greatest animated TV shows of all time |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-shows/the-32-greatest-animated-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007182031/https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-shows/the-32-greatest-animated-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }} In Vanity Fair, it is ranked at number 4 as one the best TV shows from the 2010s.{{Cite web |last=Saraiya |first=Sonia |date=November 26, 2019 |title=The 10 Best TV Shows of the 2010s |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/11/best-tv-shows-decade-2010s |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191127033640/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/11/best-tv-shows-decade-2010s |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}

All five seasons of Steven Universe hold a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critical consensus for season five reads "Having blossomed into a sophisticated mythology with a deeply moving subtext, Steven Universe remains a sparkling entertainment and perfect introduction to LGBTQ representation for children."{{multiref2|{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s01|title=Steven Universe: Season 1|work=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208181510/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s01|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s02|title=Steven Universe: Season 2|work=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208181508/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s02|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s03|title=Steven Universe: Season 3|work=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208181506/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s03|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s04|title=Steven Universe: Season 4|work=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208181514/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s04|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s05|title=Steven Universe: Season 5|work=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523144949/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/steven_universe/s05/|archive-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=live}}}} Public interest in the series measured by Google Trends vastly outstripped that of Cartoon Network's other series in April 2016, which The A.V. Club called "definitive proof that Steven Universe is now Cartoon Network's flagship series". In 2019, TV Guide ranked Steven Universe number 61 in its selection of the top 100 contemporary television series, describing the series as "groundbreaking" with an "uplifting, self-affirming message".{{cite web|website=TV Guide|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/100-best-shows/|title=The 100 Best Shows Right Now|date=September 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912195604/https://www.tvguide.com/news/100-best-shows/|archive-date=September 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Steven Universe has been widely praised for its art, music, voice performances, storytelling and characterization. According to James Whitbrook of io9, it is an "equally rewarding watch" for adults and children, and Eric Thurm of Wired has called it "one of the stealthiest, smartest, and most beautiful things on the air".{{cite magazine|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|title=Steven Universe's new episode proves it's the best show you don't watch|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/02/steven-universe-best-show-youre-not-watching/|magazine=Wired|date=February 19, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708040214/http://www.wired.com/2015/02/steven-universe-best-show-youre-not-watching|archive-date=July 8, 2015}} Critics have praised the "breathtaking beauty",{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Erik |date=November 4, 2015 |title=A cartoon with an Adventure Time pedigree breaks down barriers |url=https://avclub.com/review/iia-cartoon-with-an-iadventure-timei-pedigree-brea-105068 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623005416/http://www.avclub.com/review/iia-cartoon-with-an-iadventure-timei-pedigree-brea-105068 |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |work=The A.V. Club}} "intriguing, immersive environments"{{Cite news |last=Sava |first=Oliver |date=November 11, 2013 |title=Steven Universe |url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-1798178648 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709162534/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-105415 |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |work=The A.V. Club}} and "loveably goofy aesthetic"{{cite news|last1=Whitbrook|first1=James|title=Why I Fell In Love With The Brilliant Steven Universe, And You Will Too|url=http://io9.com/why-i-fell-in-love-with-the-brilliant-steven-universe-1711666770|work=io9|date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711041129/http://io9.com/why-i-fell-in-love-with-the-brilliant-steven-universe-1711666770|archive-date=July 11, 2015}} of Steven Universe{{'}}s art, writing highly of its distinctive, soft pastel backgrounds and its "gorgeous, expressive, clean animation".{{Cite news |date=April 9, 2014 |title=Steven Universe: "Steven The Sword Fighter" |url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-steven-the-sword-fighter-1798180093 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421082108/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-steven-sword-fighter-203257 |archive-date=April 21, 2014 |work=The A.V. Club}} Reviewers also enjoyed the diverse, ensemble cast's voice acting, particularly that of Tom Scharpling's Greg,{{cite news|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|title=Steven Universe: "The Message"|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-the-message-1798183026|work=The A.V. Club|date=March 10, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709175020/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-message-216256|archive-date=July 9, 2015}} Zach Callison's "exuberant and expressive"{{cite news|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|title=Steven Universe: "Steven's Lion"|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-stevens-lion-1798180380|work=The A.V. Club|date=May 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709155432/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-stevens-lion-204369|archive-date=July 9, 2015}} work as Steven and Grace Rolek "singing her heart out" as Connie.{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-sworn-to-the-sword-1798184073|title=Steven Universe: "Sworn To The Sword"|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|date=June 15, 2015|work=The A.V. Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709160824/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-sworn-sword-220161|archive-date=July 9, 2015|url-status=live}}

Aivi Tran and Steven "Surasshu" Velema's chiptune-inspired music has also been praised in reviews: Oliver Sava of The A.V. Club mentioned its range from "peppy retro" to Ghibli-esque "smooth jazz piano", Eric Thurm wrote that the musical numbers are characterized by "uplifting determination", and James Whitbrook wrote that they have evolved from being "little ... goofy ditties" to an integral part of the show's storytelling. Thurm wrote for Pitchfork that "music matters in Rebecca Sugar's work", more than in most musicals, by structuring the characters' lives rather than merely telling a story.{{cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/963-rebecca-sugars-cartoon-worlds-have-the-best-music-on-tv/|title=Rebecca Sugar's Cartoon Worlds Have the Best Music on TV|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|date=November 16, 2015|work=Pitchfork|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120132658/http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/963-rebecca-sugars-cartoon-worlds-have-the-best-music-on-tv/|archive-date=November 20, 2015|url-status=live}} The series' original songs have also been praised.{{multiref|{{Cite web |last=Rude |first=Mey |date=June 19, 2017 |title=Steven Universe Soundtrack Vol 1 Delivers Cool Jams and Good (Gay) Messages |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/steven-universe-soundtrack-vol-1-delivers-cool-jams-and-good-gay-messages-382890/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250101200238/https://www.autostraddle.com/steven-universe-soundtrack-vol-1-delivers-cool-jams-and-good-gay-messages-382890/ |archive-date=January 1, 2025 |website=Autostraddle |language=en-US}}|{{Cite web |last=Josie |first=Bailey Jo |date=June 26, 2021 |title=Steven Universe: 10 Best Songs, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/steven-universe-best-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029180700/https://www.cbr.com/steven-universe-best-songs/ |archive-date=October 29, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}|{{Cite web |last=Lanning |first=Courtney |date=September 13, 2019 |title=Steven Universe brings the color, music and joy |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/sep/13/steven-universe-brings-the-color-music-/ |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|language=en}}}} "Stronger Than You" has been referred to as a "power ballad", and the end credits song, "Love Like You", has been called "gutting" and an accurate depiction of the meaning of love.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Polygon |date=September 2, 2019 |title=Every Steven Universe song, ranked |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/2/20838785/steven-universe-song-ranking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425064123/https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/2/20838785/steven-universe-song-ranking |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

Steven Universe, according to Eric Thurm, is a low-key, slice of life portrayal of childhood, an examination of unconventional family dynamics, a homage to anime, video games and other pop-culture mainstays, and a "straightforward kids' show about superheroes".{{Cite news |last=Thurm |first=Eric |date=April 23, 2014 |title=Steven Universe: "Lion 2: The Movie" |url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-lion-2-the-movie-1798180227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709164400/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-lion-2-movie-203778 |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |work=The A.V. Club}} Jacob Hope Chapman of Anime News Network said the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena and Sailor Moon are Steven Universe{{'}}s strongest influences visually and structurally, reflected by its "predominantly playful tone, interrupted by crushing drama at key moments", and its "glorification of the strengths of femininity, dilution of gender barriers, and emphasis on a wide variety of relationships between women, aimed at a family audience".{{cite news|last1=Chapman|first1=Jacob Hope|title=Why Are Anime Fans Obsessed with Steven Universe?|url=https://animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-31/why-are-anime-fans-obsessed-with-steven-universe/.91130|publisher =Anime News Network|date=July 31, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124437/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-31/why-are-anime-fans-obsessed-with-steven-universe/.91130|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} Steven Universe also refers to Japanese cultural icons, including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Akira, Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball Z, Studio Ghibli movies and Junji Ito's horror manga The Enigma of Amigara Fault.

According to Whitbrook, the series' "masterful sense of pace" allows it to integrate foreshadowing and worldbuilding into scenes, which makes an overarching, dramatic narrative emerge from what might otherwise be "monster of the week" episodes. The narration of a complex story from a child's perspective means its exposition remains "artfully restrained, growing in ambition with the series" and Steven's character. Steven Universe{{'}}s measured pace allows its characters to become "more complex and interesting than most of their counterparts on prestige dramas",{{cite news|title=Steven Universe: "The Return"/"Jail Break"|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-the-return-jail-break-1798183206|work=The A.V. Club|date=March 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709173849/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-returnjail-break-216313|archive-date=July 9, 2015}} developing "as real people and not entities serving narrative functions". The series explores increasingly-challenging facets of relationships, such as the possibility Pearl may partially resent Steven because he is the reason his mother Rose no longer exists,{{cite news|last1=Thurm|first1=Eric|title=Steven Universe: "Rose's Scabbard"|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-universe-rose-s-scabbard-1798183016|work=The A.V. Club|date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709173800/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-roses-scabbard-216243|archive-date=July 9, 2015}} and the growing self-destruction of Pearl's "all-consuming passion" for Rose. Its action scenes—such as Estelle's song presenting the climactic fight in "Jail Break" as a contest between Garnet's loving relationship and Jasper's lone-wolf attitude—are occasionally cast as philosophical arguments.

Adams highlighted the "groundbreaking and inventive" portrayal of the complicated "mentor/caregiver/older sibling dynamic" between Steven and the Crystal Gems in a series which, at its core, is about sibling relationships. Thurm wrote that a notable emotional difference between Steven Universe, and Adventure Time and Regular Show, is that the latter two series deal with their protagonists' transitions to adulthood whereas during its first season, Steven Universe was content to be "enamored with the simplicity of childhood". Steven slowly grows from being an obnoxious, tag-along child to an accepted member of the Crystal Gems in his own right by the end of the first season, a change brought about by increased insight and experience rather than age. Joe Cain noted in The Mary Sue that unlike heroes from antiquity (Hercules) and modern fiction (Luke Skywalker), Steven is defined by his mother's legacy rather than his father's; the preponderance of mother figures in the series underscores their rarity in other fiction.{{cite news|last1=Cain|first1=Joseph|title=Superheroes, Steven Universe, and the Maternal Narrative|url=http://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-maternal-narrative/|work=The Mary Sue|date=May 13, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514112356/http://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-maternal-narrative/|archive-date=May 14, 2016}} According to Kat Smalley of PopMatters, the Gems' alien nature, which prevents them from fully understanding the world they protect, is handled with "remarkable depth and intellectual rigor", even as they deal with human issues such as "depression, post-traumatic stress, and self-loathing" remaining from the long-past war for Earth.{{Cite news |url=https://popmatters.com/feature/steven-universe-cartoon-networks-avant-garde-animation/ |title=Steven Universe: Cartoon Network's Avant-Garde Animation |last=Smalley |first=Kat |date=January 15, 2016 |work=Pop Matters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906004121/http://www.popmatters.com/feature/steven-universe-cartoon-networks-avant-garde-animation/ |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Smalley characterized Steven Universe as part of a growing trend of cartoons that appeal to adults and children alike, which includes Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005), its sequel The Legend of Korra (2012), Adventure Time (2010) and Regular Show (2010). This is reflected in the series' outreach to minorities that seldom appear elsewhere in animation and its broader themes: instead of delivering genre-typical, mustache-twirling villains, Steven Universe "deals with issues of extraordinary violence and horror, depicts its characters in shades of grey, and subtly plays with matters of philosophy, morality, and interpersonal conflicts, all while refusing to reset any development to a status quo".

"Gender is at the forefront of the conversation surrounding Steven Universe", according to Erik Adams of the A.V. Club, who noted that "the show's superheroes are all women". As a self-aware pastiche of magical girl anime, the series subverts the genre's premises by having Steven embody the loving femininity of the typical magical-girl protagonist without ridicule or losing his masculine side. Whitbrook characterized the series as being "about love—all kinds of love", including non-traditional forms such as the motherly and friendly bond between Steven and the Gems, and Garnet as the "physical embodiment of a lesbian relationship".

When placing the series on the honor list of the 2015 Tiptree Award, which recognizes works of science fiction or fantasy that explore and expand gender roles, the jury wrote: "In the context of children's television, this show deals with gender in a much more open and mature way than is typical for the genre, and has some of the best writing of any cartoon ... In addition to showing men and women who do not necessarily conform to standard American gender ideals, the show also gives us an agender/non-binary character and a thoughtful exploration of growing up".

In 2015, Autostraddle's Mey Rude wrote that Steven Universe was the most-recent animated series for a younger audience with significant queer themes, such as the androgynous fusion Stevonnie and the romantic relationship between the Gems Ruby and Sapphire, whose fusion is the main character Garnet. This, according to Rude, reflects the growing prominence of these themes in children's cartoons; previous depictions were subtextual or minimal, such as the 2011 Adventure Time episode "What Was Missing", the 2014 series Clarence or (more explicit but unexplored) the 2014 finale of Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra. In Steven Universe, LGBTQ themes are prominent as early as the first season's second half.{{cite news|last=Rude|first=Mey|title=Steven Universe and the Importance of All-Ages Queer Representation|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/steven-universe-and-the-importance-of-all-ages-queer-representation-281482/|work=Autostraddle|date=March 13, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725084959/https://www.autostraddle.com/steven-universe-and-the-importance-of-all-ages-queer-representation-281482/|archive-date=July 25, 2015}} The fifth season's engagement and wedding between Ruby and Sapphire was reportedly the first same-sex marriage proposal in a children's animated series.{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/steven-universe-is-reportedly-first-cartoon-to-feature-same-sex-engagement|title=Steven Universe Just Made Queer History With a Same-Sex Engagement|first=Lauren|last=Rearick|work=Teen Vogue|date=July 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708044708/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/steven-universe-is-reportedly-first-cartoon-to-feature-same-sex-engagement|archive-date=July 8, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/07/05/steven-universe-same-sex-marriage-proposal-the-question/|title=Steven Universe shows a groundbreaking same-sex marriage proposal|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Nick|last=Romano|date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705220246/http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/05/steven-universe-same-sex-marriage-proposal-the-question/|archive-date=July 5, 2018|url-status=live}} In their 2015 report, GLAAD stated that the show reflected the "diversity of the real world," noting that one of the show's protagonists, Garnet, is "the physical form of two female-presenting Gem beings who are in love",{{cite report |ref={{sfnref|GLAAD|2015}} |date=June 2015 |title=Where We Are on TV Report: 2015-2016 |url=https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-WWAT.pdf |publisher=GLAAD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215012605/https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-WWAT.pdf |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |page =29}} shown in episodes such as "The Answer",{{cite web |last1=Segal |first1=Corinne |title=Rebecca Sugar, Cartoon Network's first female creator, on writing LGBTQ stories for kids |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/rebecca-sugar-steven-universe-lgtbq |website=PBS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403014542/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/rebecca-sugar-steven-universe-lgtbq |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |date=September 4, 2016 |url-status=live }} focusing on how the romantic relationship between Ruby and Sapphire. This led some to say the show has "heavy queer undertones."{{cite web |author= |title=The rise of queer representation in LGBT cartoons |url=https://www.lesbiannews.com/rise-queer-representation-lgbt-cartoons/ |website=Lesbian News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309175656/https://www.lesbiannews.com/rise-queer-representation-lgbt-cartoons/ |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |date=March 1, 2016 |url-status=live }} "The Answer" later earned the show its second Emmy nomination, one of the six for the show.{{Cite news |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |title=Steven Universe Creator Rebecca Sugar Talks LGBT Themes and Season 3 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/Steven-Universe-Creator-Rebecca-Sugar-Talks-9180749.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425183012/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/Steven-Universe-Creator-Rebecca-Sugar-Talks-9180749.php |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |publisher=TheWrap |via=SFGate}}

In September 2021, Abbey White, a non-binary reporter for Insider and The Hollywood Reporter, told The Hollywood Reporter's "Hollywood Remixed" podcast that the whole idea behind the show is "an upending of gender expectation", with Steven as a "gender nonconforming boy" with a family of "feminine non-binary, non-gendered aliens", saying this is "laced in very conscious, purposeful ways throughout the entire series."{{cite podcast |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hollywood-remixed-billions-asia-kate-dillon-1235012146/ |title='Hollywood Remixed': 'Billions' Star Asia Kate Dillon on How Non-Binary Representation Changes Lives |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter, LLC |host=Rebecca Sun |date=September 11, 2021 |time= |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915052245/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hollywood-remixed-billions-asia-kate-dillon-1235012146/ |url-status=live }} Previously, Mashable had stated that some fans relate to Lars Barriga in certain respects to the transgender experience, like feelings of societal pressure and conformity, even though he is not a confirmed transgender character.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sage |date=June 1, 2019 |title=Representation is abysmal, so here are 15 animated characters the trans community has claimed |url=https://mashable.com/article/15-animated-characters-loved-by-trans-lgbtq-community |website=Mashable |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209113448/https://mashable.com/article/15-animated-characters-loved-by-trans-lgbtq-community|archive-date=February 9, 2022|url-status=live|quote=But many fans feel strongly that if anyone in the large cast of characters is trans, it has to be Lars.}} The series also featured Fluorite, a representation of a polyamorous relationship,{{cite web |last1=Adegoke |first1=Yomi |title=Move over, Disney! Meet the woman leading the LGBT cartoon revolution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/oct/01/move-over-disney-meet-rebecca-sugar-the-woman-leading-the-lgbt-cartoon-revolution-steven-universe-adventure-time |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307010029/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/oct/01/move-over-disney-meet-rebecca-sugar-the-woman-leading-the-lgbt-cartoon-revolution-steven-universe-adventure-time |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |date=October 1, 2019 |url-status=live}} a minor show character, and Kiki Pizza, who asked Stevonnie on a date in the comics.{{Cite comic | writer=Melanie Gillman | penciller=Grace Park | inker=Katy Farina | colorist=Whitney Cogar | letterer=Mike Fiorentino | editor=Whitney Leopard | story=Steven Universe | title=Issue 2 | issue=10 | date=March 22, 2017 | publisher=KaBoom! | location=New York, NY}}

{{image flip|File:NYCC 2014 - Opal (15508336931).jpg of the character Opal in 2014]]}}

Fans have campaigned against censorship outside the United States of the series' representation of LGBT relationships. A fan campaign persuaded Cartoon Network's French subsidiary to re-record the song "Stronger than You" with a translation making the singer's love as explicit as the original,{{Cite news |last=Le Corre |first=Maëlle |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Après avoir été accusé de censure homophobe, Cartoon Network présente une nouvelle version de la chanson de Steven Universe |trans-title=After being accused of homophobic censorship, Cartoon Network presents a new version of the song by Steven Universe |url=http://yagg.com/2015/10/26/apres-avoir-ete-accuse-de-censure-homophobe-cartoon-network-presente-une-nouvelle-version-de-la-chanson-de-steven-universe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129060526/http://yagg.com/2015/10/26/apres-avoir-ete-accuse-de-censure-homophobe-cartoon-network-presente-une-nouvelle-version-de-la-chanson-de-steven-universe/ |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |work=Yagg}} and another was launched in 2016 to protest Cartoon Network's British subsidiary's practice of removing scenes of affection between Gems from UK broadcasts. Swedish fans originated a protest petition after flirting between Gems was changed to unrelated dialogue in the Swedish broadcast of the episode "Hit the Diamond".{{cite news|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/article22972478.ab|title=Lesbiska flörtscenen censurerades bort – i svenska versionen|author=Borgert, Linnéa|date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610080350/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/article22972478.ab|archive-date=June 10, 2016|url-status=live|publisher=Schibsted|language=sv|trans-title=The lesbian flirt scene was censored – in the Swedish version|website=Aftonbladet}}

According to io9, "while most of the Steven Universe fandom is supportive and welcoming, there is a small subsection that's known for being extreme and hostile under the guise of inclusiveness".{{cite news|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-artist-quits-twitter-over-fan-harassmen-1785242762|title=Steven Universe Artist Quits Twitter Over Fan Harassment|last1=Elderkin|first1=Beth|date=August 13, 2016|work=io9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814134527/http://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-artist-quits-twitter-over-fan-harassmen-1785242762|archive-date=August 14, 2016|url-status=live}} A fan artist attempted suicide in 2015 after she was bullied on social media because of the body proportions in her art,{{cite news|url=http://www.dailydot.com/geek/steven-universe-fanartist-bullied-controversy/|title=Steven Universe fandom is melting down after bullied fanartist attempts suicide|last1=Romano|first1=Aja|date=October 28, 2015|work=The Daily Dot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113014614/http://www.dailydot.com/geek/steven-universe-fanartist-bullied-controversy/|archive-date=November 13, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-attempted-suicide-forced-a-tumblr-community-to-open-its-eyes-about-bullying/|title=An Attempted Suicide Forced a Tumblr Community to Open Its Eyes About Bullying|last1=Nguyen|first1=Clinton|date=November 6, 2015|work=Motherboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108032454/http://motherboard.vice.com/en_au/read/an-attempted-suicide-forced-a-tumblr-community-to-open-its-eyes-about-bullying|archive-date=November 8, 2015|url-status=live}} and in 2016 storyboard artist and writer Jesse Zuke quit Twitter after being harassed by fans over perceived support for a particular romantic relationship between characters.

A full-length fan-made episode titled "The Smothering",{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2017 |title=The Smothering – Steven Universe Fan episode |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiCwyo9Z-9w |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410203225/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiCwyo9Z-9w |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |publisher=Comedic Interlude |via=YouTube}} set in an alternate version of the story's continuity, was called "one of the more impressive pieces of work to come out of the Steven Universe fandom" in 2017 by io9.{{Cite news |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-fan-made-episode-of-steven-universe-is-fandom-at-i-1819326293 |title=This Fan-Made Episode of Steven Universe Is Fandom at Its Best |last=Pulliam-Moore |first=Charles |date=October 10, 2017 |work=io9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013005727/https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-fan-made-episode-of-steven-universe-is-fandom-at-i-1819326293 |archive-date=October 13, 2017}} Beach City Con, a Steven Universe fan convention, was held in Virginia Beach on October 13–15, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Farid-ul-Haq |title=Beach City Con Adds Stevonnie Voice Actor AJ Michalka to Guest List!|url=https://thegeekiary.com/aj-michalka-beach-city-con/40837 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213110331/https://thegeekiary.com/aj-michalka-beach-city-con/40837 |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |website=The Geekiary |language=en-US}}

Jones-Quartey, who left the show in 2015 to develop his own show (OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes), noted how the focus of Steven Universe on identity struck a chord with audiences, while ND Stevenson, showrunner of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, described the show's effect on LGBTQ+ representation in Western animation, arguing that it changed the "landscape of animated shows when it first hit the air."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/steven-universe-legacy/|title=The legacy of Steven Universe: How a hidden gem changed animation forever|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428110840/https://ew.com/tv/steven-universe-legacy/|archive-date=April 28, 2021|url-status=live}} In a later interview, Stevenson said their early conversations about queer relationships and characters in their own show were only possible because of Steven Universe.{{cite news |last1=Moen |first1=Matt |title=In Conversation: Rebecca Sugar and Noelle Stevenson |url=https://www.papermag.com/rebecca-sugar-noelle-stevenson-2646446747.html |website=Paper Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809164913/https://www.papermag.com/rebecca-sugar-noelle-stevenson-2646446747.html |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |date=August 5, 2020 |url-status=live}} Additionally, in an interview with GLAAD's Raina Deerwater, Stevenson talked about queer representation in animation, citing Steven Universe alongside The Legend of Korra as an inspiring example of show that taught young fans to expect "nothing less than a variety of solid queer representation and central queer characters."{{cite web |last1=Deerwater |first1=Raina |title=Exclusive: She-Ra creator Noelle Stevenson talks to GLAAD about the final season, queer representation in animation, and watching 'Killing Eve' |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/exclusive-she-ra-creator-noelle-stevenson-talks-glaad-about-final-season-queer-representation |publisher=GLAAD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519193915/https://www.glaad.org/blog/exclusive-she-ra-creator-noelle-stevenson-talks-glaad-about-final-season-queer-representation |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |date=May 18, 2020 |url-status=live}} Tracy Brown, a reviewer for the Los Angeles Times argued that the show, during its run, became the "gold standard" for Cartoon Network itself.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Tracy |title=Steven Universe changed TV forever. For its creator, its queer themes were personal |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-03-25/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-lgbtq-legacy |work =Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326164913/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-03-25/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-lgbtq-legacy |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |date=March 25, 2020 |url-status=live }}

Legal scholar Monica Ramsy stated in a California Law Review article that the series disrupts "the retributive mediascape", modeling principles of restorative justice which rewrites the "justice narratives available for young viewers." Ramsy compared the series to retributive justice in other superhero cartoons such as Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, arguing that Steven Universe rejects the "typical hero warrior narrative", and has villains who suffer from "oppressive norms" rather than "unidimensional villains".{{cite journal |last1=Ramsy |first1=Monica |date=October 2020 |title=Heroizing Restorative Justice: Rewriting Justice Narratives Through Superhero Cartoons|url=https://www.californialawreview.org/online/heroizing-restorative-justice-steven-universe |journal=California Law Review |volume=11 |issue=417 |doi=10.15779/Z38ZG6G77R |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230519000140/https://www.californialawreview.org/online/heroizing-restorative-justice-steven-universe |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |url-status=live}} The article was later shared by Jones-Quartey on Twitter, calling it some of the "most spot-on writing" about the series.{{Cite tweet|number=1328016826328961024|author=Ian Jones-Quartey|author-link=Ian Jones-Quartey|user=ianjq|title=It's a hefty read but it's some of the most spot-on writing I've ever seen about the show|date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115165307/https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/1328016826328961024|archive-date=November 15, 2020|url-status=live|url=https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/1328016826328961024}}

A former Cartoon Network executive, Katie Krentz, told Insider in 2021 that part of a shift more inclusion in animation, might be due, in part, to events at conventions, giving the example of rooms at Comic-Con filled up with Steven Universe fans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.{{cite web|last=White|first=Abbey|url=https://www.insider.com/why-tv-lacks-lgbtq-inclusion-according-to-experts-2021-6|title=TV animators were forced to scrap LGBTQ-inclusive storylines due to a culture of fear. Experts say fans are changing that.|website=Insider|date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210616194517/https://www.insider.com/why-tv-lacks-lgbtq-inclusion-according-to-experts-2021-6|archive-date=June 16, 2021|url-status=live}} Krentz further argued this sort of participation by fans gives executives and creators feedback on who is watching the show and will buy merchandise, and on a related note, what counts as "good" representation. Journalists for Insider also argued that the show was "the start of a wave of animated shows with LGBTQ representation."{{cite web|last1=Snyder|first1=Chris|last2=Desiderio|first2=Kyle|url=https://www.insider.com/the-evolution-of-queer-characters-in-kids-animated-tv-shows-2021-6|title=The evolution of queer characters in children's animation|website=Insider|date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210701050407/https://www.insider.com/the-evolution-of-queer-characters-in-kids-animated-tv-shows-2021-6|archive-date=July 1, 2021|url-status=live}} Jade King of TheGamer also asserted that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power "wouldn't exist without Steven Universe", noting a story told by Molly Ostertag who said that her partner, ND Stevenson, used Steven Universe to prove to Netflix that shows with queer representation "have value, audiences, and a right to exist to show young people that being different is nothing to be ashamed of."{{cite web|last=King|first=Jade|url=https://www.thegamer.com/the-owl-house-season-3/|title=The Owl House Isn't Getting A Full Third Season And That Sucks|date=July 16, 2021|website=TheGamer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718015016/https://www.thegamer.com/the-owl-house-season-3/|archive-date=July 18, 2021|url-status=live}}

Matt Braly, the creator of Amphibia told ComicBook that he was a big fan of the show, a friend of Rebecca Sugar, and said that Sugar shows that original cartoon music can be beautiful and soulful. He also argued that there are a lot of crossover themes between Steven Universe and Amphibia, noting that a few crew members had worked on the show, and adding "we've got some Steven DNA."{{cite interview |last=Braly |first=Matt |subject-link=Matt Braly |interviewer=Rollin Bishop |title=Amphibia: Matt Braly Talks Season 3, New Shoes, and That Wild Season 2 Finale |work=ComicBook |date=October 3, 2021 |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/amphibia-season-3-interview-matt-braly/#7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009224619/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/amphibia-season-3-interview-matt-braly/ |archive-date=October 9, 2021 }}

The series influenced some individuals in the entertainment industry. For instance, singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe, in January 2021, quoted a tweet saying that there was "absolutely nothing better than living outside the gender binary," with a GIF of Stevonnie, stating "'Are you a boy or a girl?' I'm an experience," and added the hashtag #IAmNonbinary."{{multiref|{{Cite web |last=Street |first=Mikelle |date=January 10, 2020 |title=Janelle Monáe Just Tweeted 'I Am Nonbinary' |url=https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/1/10/janelle-monae-just-tweeted-i-am-nonbinary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200111040519/https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/1/10/janelle-monae-just-tweeted-i-am-nonbinary |archive-date=2020-01-11 |website=Out}}|{{cite web|last=Sadeque|first=Samir|url=https://www.dailydot.com/irl/janelle-monae-nonbinary-twitter-hashtag/|title=Janelle Monáe comes out as nonbinary with Twitter hashtag|website=The Daily Dot|date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112125624/https://www.dailydot.com/irl/janelle-monae-nonbinary-twitter-hashtag/|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}}}}{{Cite tweet|number=1215782996965355521|author=Janelle Monáe|author-link=Janelle Monáe|user=JanelleMonae|title=#IAmNonbinary|date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127144723/https://twitter.com/JanelleMonae/status/1215782996965355521|archive-date=January 27, 2020|url-status=live|url=https://twitter.com/JanelleMonae/status/1215782996965355521}} In an interview with The Cut a month after the tweet, she told the interviewer that she retweeted the GIF because it "resonated with me, especially as someone who has pushed boundaries of gender since the beginning of my career".{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/02/janelle-monae-afrofuture.html|title=Janelle Monáe's Afrofuture|last=Gay|first=Roxane|date=February 3, 2020|website=The Cut|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421233115/https://www.thecut.com/2020/02/janelle-monae-afrofuture.html|archive-date=April 21, 2022|url-status=live}} Later, rapper and singer Lil Nas X, told a GQ interviewer, in November 2021, that he was going to commission someone to use the Diamonds' outfits and dress up like them and told the interviewer that Pink Diamond "did what she had to do."{{cite interview |subject=Lil Nas X |subject-link=Lil Nas X |title=Lil Nas X Explains His Style Evolution |type=video |work=GQ |date=November 15, 2021 |quote=[Interviewer:] Do you watch Steven Universe? I think you look a little bit like Yellow Diamond. |url=https://www.gq.com/video/watch/gq-style-history-lil-nas-x |format=online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406024247/https://www.gq.com/video/watch/gq-style-history-lil-nas-x |archive-date=April 6, 2022 }} [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/bYnNtAyti5Y Alt URL]

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=McDonnell|first1=Chris|title=Steven Universe: Art & Origins|date=2017|publisher=Abrams Books|isbn=978-1-4197-2443-5|language=en}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |editor-last=Sands |editor-first=Ryan |date=March 2020 |title=The Art Of Steven Universe: The Movie |url=https://archive.org/details/the-art-of-steven-universe-the-movie |publisher=Dark Horse Books |isbn=978-1-5067-1648-0 |oclc=1255939821}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=November 4, 2023 |title='Steven Universe' Turns 10: Creator Rebecca Sugar Talks Unseen Gems, Original Concept for Garnet's Wedding and Possibility of Series Revival |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-unseen-gems-garnets-wedding-revival-1235775629/ |url-status=live |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=60626328 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120062219/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/steven-universe-rebecca-sugar-unseen-gems-garnets-wedding-revival-1235775629/ |archive-date=November 20, 2023 }}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite journal |last=Dunn |first=Eli |date=2016 |title=Steven Universe, Fusion Magic, and the Queer Cartoon Carnivalesque |url=http://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/201512TransgenderIsssue.pdf#page=47 |journal=Gender Forum |issue=56 |pages=44–57 |issn=1613-1878 |oclc=55697531 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525010148/http://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/201512TransgenderIsssue.pdf#page=47 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 }}
• {{cite thesis |last=Clark |first=Heather |date=May 2017 |title="My Lesbian Space Rock Show": Representations of Intersecting Identities in Steven Universe |url=https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=etd |degree=MA |publisher=Humboldt State University |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125151534/https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=etd |url-status=live }}
• {{cite journal |last=Ravela |first=Christian |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Tv Review |url=https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/qsmpc.2.3.389_5 |journal=Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=389–394 |doi=10.1386/qsmpc.2.3.389_5 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329092029/https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/qsmpc.2.3.389_5 |archive-date=March 29, 2023 }}
• {{cite journal |last=Delamorclaz Ruiz |first=Carolina |date=2018 |title=LGBTI y feminismo en animación televisiva: una reinterpretación de Steven Universe y Sailor Moon |trans-title=LGBTI and feminism in television animation: a reinterpretation of Steven Universe and Sailor Moon |url=https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/CAA/article/view/9655/pdf |format=PDF |language=es |journal=Con a de animación |volume=8 |issue=8 |pages=164–177 |doi=10.4995/caa.2018.9655 |doi-access=free |via=Universitat Politècnica de València |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509081305/https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/CAA/article/view/9655/pdf |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |hdl=10251/100181 |hdl-access=free }}
• {{cite journal |last=Moore |first=Mandy Elizabeth |date=June 2019 |title=Future Visions: Queer Utopia in Steven Universe |url=https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1069&context=rdyl |format=PDF |journal=Research on Diversity in Youth Literature |volume=2 |issue=1 |doi=10.21900/j.rydl.v2i1.1538 |via=St. Catherine University |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518234234/https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1069&context=rdyl |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |url-access=subscription }}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Ziegler |editor1-first=John R. |editor2-last=Richards |editor2-first=Leah |date=January 9, 2020 |title=Representation in Steven Universe |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-31881-9 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-31881-9 |isbn=978-3-030-31881-9 |oclc=1136965861 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172733/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-31881-9 |archive-date=September 28, 2023 }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Steven Universe}}

{{Wikiquote|Steven Universe}}

• {{Official website|https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/video/steven-universe/index.html}}. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121212255/https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/video/steven-universe/index.html|date=mdy}}
• {{IMDb title|3061046|Steven Universe}}

{{Steven Universe|state=expanded}}

{{Former Cartoon Network original programming}}

{{Rough Draft Studios}}

{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming}}

{{Portal bar|Cartoon|Cartoon Network|Animation|LGBTQ|Television|United States}}

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