Thursday, September 12, 2019

'Steven Universe The Movie' A Great Return to Form



     In terms of modern television shows, one that has made huge connections with audiences all over the world is Cartoon Network’s hit animated series, Steven Universe. Steven Universe is a phenomenal show not just for being a fun kids show, but more so due to the fact that it is one of the most unique and original projects to get mainstream notoriety. It is a show that really dives deeps into emotion and character depth in a way for kids to understand and connect with. Lately however, between hiatuses and weaker episodes of the series, it feels like the show hasn’t been at its prime for the past couple of years. Cartoon Network has recently released a film related to the property as a way to revitalize interest in the show and thankfully, Steven Universe: The Movie reminds everyone what makes the show so great. The film, while not flawless or the best of what the series has to offer is a great amalgamation of everything that made it so fantastic to begin with.

What Should be the Proper Series Finale

     The movie takes place years after the last season as Steven, now older, is contempt living his new peaceful life in Beach City with all of his friends now that peace are with humans and crystal gems. Things take a turn for the worst when a mysterious new foe comes in to destroy Beach City and it’s up to Steven and the other Gems to stop this horrible threat. What made the show so good when it came to its over-all story is how it manages to refreshingly original with some creative world building of the Gem world and also some true moments of heart and compassion we see from these characters as time goes on. The show is all about compassion and empathy even during harsh times based around rough pasts, and this movie clearly realizes that. The main conflict of the movie makes it there isn’t one true villain, and even who is the main antagonist in this film has their own sympathetic backstory that is honestly pretty heart breaking. Not only that but it makes you reflect on the whole series and second guess things you initially thought of as good, is that Steven himself deals with in the film. It makes for an incredibly fascinating conflict that is perfect for a show like Steven Universe. It makes for an engaging watch from beginning to end, and while it is made more for fans of the show, its story is engaging enough for newcomers of the show to be very intrigued by. If this is set to be the series finale, it should stay that way because it is unsure if a future season could top what this movie did for the series.

Returning Favorites with Unique Changes

     While the story is a crucial to the show, it is nothing without its cast. Steven Universe has one of the most memorable casts in a Cartoon Network show. From the gems and the beach city citizens, there is a huge line-up of characters that have a plethora of episodes dedicated to them. The film only really focuses on a few characters and certain fan favorites like Peridot and Lapis have smaller roles compared to how big their roles have been in the past, which could be a bit disappointing for some. The beach city and the gems that appear in the latter half of the show are mostly limited to just cameo appearances in the film, however, considering the film’s main focus that was definitely for the best. As for the main cast, we do get a bit of every main crystal gem, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet and all still play great supporting roles in this film. Each character has a little development dealing with the major conflict that adds some depth to each character. The downside is, Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet don’t have too many sequences and development compared to Steven and the main antagonist, but given various episodes about these characters struggle, it is not a huge loss. Mainly due to how well defined Steven is in this film as not only the time skip gave Steven a more mature look but the character himself feels more mature. Despite his longing to just rest and have peace, he still tries his best to make sure everyone gets a satisfying conclusion, especially with the film’s main antagonist Spinel. Spinel is an incredibly fun villain, not only being sympathetic as previously mentioned earlier, but is a fun villain to watch with a ton of personality given to her with how she looks and moves. Steven Universe’s world of character is very vast and unique, and this film does not forget that at all when it comes to showcasing one of the best elements of the show.

As Bright and Harmonious as Ever

     The colorful characters from Steven Universe are nothing without the animation to make these characters literally as colorful as they are. The animators really gave it their all when it came to making this movie look fantastic with so many beautiful colors all throughout. Even movement wise, despite being a TV show, there is still a lot of fluidity in the way the characters move. Especially Spinel who is animated very similarly to classic cartoon style characters and every little bit of her being animated is a blast to watch. Not only is the animation a joy to watch, but the music is something that Steven Universe is incredibly well known for. The soundtrack to the original show is fantastic, with songs dealing with some of the more emotional moments to occur within the series. This movie is definitely no exception as there are tons of songs that are either entertaining, expressive, and even heart wrenching. This film definitely has one of  those soundtracks that have songs that will stick in your head long after the movie ends. The animation and music really help bring this movie to life and adds to one of the many reasons Steven Universe sticks with so many fans.

Every Bit as Strong as a Movie in the Real Way
     Steven Universe The Movie is everything someone who loves the show could ask for. It has as much heart, character and depth as many are used to by now from the original series. Even if you have fallen out of watching the show on a regular basis, the movie is still worth a watch. It reminds fans why a show like Steven Universe connected with so many others with its fantastic animation, beautiful soundtrack, likable character and clever story. Steven Universe The Movie will make you learn how to love the series again.