There have been cartoons out there that are bizarre on the outside but deep down have many surprises that aren’t noticeable at first glance; shows like Gravity Falls, Adventure Time or Avatar the Last Airbender. Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar, a story of a naïve, happy-go-lucky half human-half alien boy and his experiences with three alien women living on Earth, is one of these unique shows.
As the reincarnation of Rose Quartz, his mother and former leader of the Crystal Gems, a rebellious group who protects Earth, starts to learn of his new role to help his friends and the Earth. What I have enjoyed in the show is it first started off as a comedy with Steven helping the Gems understand the Earth and him learning of his abilities. However, we find out more info of a long ago intergalactic war, shattering how he sees the world, which many students would be shocked about compared to Steven’s early childish antics.
There have been great themes the show has covered from science fiction, adventure, coming of age and even LGBT themes with same sex relationships, showing kids sexuality and gender identity is diverse. One theme in the show that helped its fans and myself is something that the show would help students think about, identity.
The show asks questions such as how we define ourselves, how our relationships with our friends and family impact our identities, our anxieties and how our past shouldn’t define us. Steven Universe helps show us that the only people that can define us is ourselves.
For the students who worry about how people perceive them, whether you rely on your brainy skills or your upbeat attitude, or the ones who trust their own validation, or the ones who are in-between, this show is for you.
By David Hendry
