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.
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