Everything past this sentence is spoiler-heavy for all things Steven Universe, so read at your own risk.

Steven Universe: The Movie premiered on Cartoon Network on September 2, 2019. It was written by Ian Jones-Quartey and Chris Pianka, and directed by Rebecca Sugar. The film acts as a standalone sequel to the Steven Universe television show, which recently ended its five-season run, picking up where the show left off.

Steven Universe: The Movie begins with a 16-year old Steven abdicating his throne and resolving to live on Earth for good. Meanwhile, the Gems are putting some last-minute touches on a new part of town, Little Homeworld, for immigrant Off Colors. Steven and the Crystal Gems sing about their perfect lives, convinced that they have finally reached their happily ever after.

But everything changes when a new Gem attacks…  

The Good

Steven Universe: The Movie is a feast for the eyes and ears. The art direction is gorgeous, and the songs are beautiful. The majority of the film is spent on musical sequences, which experiment with visual style and form. The opening number, “The Tale of Steven,” is awe-inspiring, acting as a brief recap of the story so far. The flawless voices of Christine Ebersole, Lisa Hannigan, and Patti LuPone blend beautifully with the dreamy, impressionistic artwork of the opening credits. Other fantastic sequences include Garnet’s short fusion piece, “Isn’t It Love?” and Spinel’s big number, “Other Friends.”  

Spinel is a sensational addition to the cast. The new, villainous Gem is animated in the vintage Disney style, all snaking limbs and googly eyes. Like the smash hit video game Cuphead, the animation evokes nostalgia, wonder, and menace. Her character design is intricate, and her movement fluid and spellbinding. Voiced expertly by Sarah Stiles, Spinel bounces from emotion to emotion, threatening one moment and sickly sweet the next.  

The Bad

Steven Universe: The Movie is… unnecessary. The story doesn’t really add anything new to the Steven Universe canon, and the characters don’t develop in any meaningful way. This wouldn’t be a problem if the film was a midquel (a sequel that takes place during the events of the previous installments). For instance, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie utilized the midquel to great effect, giving the audience a contained two-hour adventure without weighing the story down with the constraints of the show’s final episodes.

Instead, Steven Universe: The Movie is a direct sequel, and this choice creates many plot, character, and tone issues. The story feels too small to be a follow-up to the mind-blowing series finale “Change Your Mind.” But it also feels too sprawling to be limited by such a short runtime in such a restrictive medium. This story arc might have been a great addition to the show, but as a movie it feels hollow and aimless.

Many ideas are brought up, but they aren’t explored. Who would the Crystal Gems be without their life experiences? How would Steven’s self-image change if he was a regular human being? How would humanity band together to solve an extinction-level crisis?

The movie tells us that the stakes are huge, but it fails to deliver on them. In fact, the main problem is never actually resolved. The movie ends on a glaring dangling plot thread. As a standalone piece, and as a conclusion to Steven Universe, the film needed to be more careful with its structure. We, the audience, will never know how Steven and the Gems actually resolve the inciting incident. Is the world still doomed? Did the Crystal Gems manage to save the day? What happened to all of the humans who live outside of Beach City?

Missed Opportunities

Steven Universe is no stranger to discussion of theology and free will, and the setup for this story felt like a perfect opportunity to explore these themes in new, interesting ways. Would Garnet still be Garnet if the world hadn’t turned against her? Would Pearl still be Pearl without Rose Quartz? And would Amethyst still be Amethyst without the shame of her birth? The movie starts to explore these ideas, but it seems to give up part way through. These questions should not have easy answers, and yet that is what we are given.  

Steven’s character arc feels especially strange. In order to defeat Spinel, Steven must learn an important life lesson. This is a tried and true formula for Steven Universe, teaching morality through demonstration. Steven is very relatable as a character, despite being a half-alien superhero. He has a lot of flaws, including stubbornness and naivety. Steven often pushes his family and friends too far in an effort to suit his own needs.

Steven Universe: The Movie doesn’t get into Steven’s innate character flaws. Instead, he gets a new flaw, but it doesn’t ring true to his character. Steven doesn’t take things for granted, and he is not afraid of change. The message seems to confuse comfort and fulfillment with complacency.

This movie needed focus. It could have focused on the Crystal Gems and their identities. Or it could have focused on Steven and his relationship to his humanity. We might have seen how the humans and the Gems work together to bring out the best in each other. We might have seen Greg help Amethyst, or Connie help Pearl. Or Steven might have worked with the New Crystal Gems to solve the crisis. But none of these avenues are explored.  

The Mixed Message

What is the message of Steven Universe: The Movie? The messages of the show are clear: be kind, treat everyone with respect, love yourself. The movie was an opportunity to expand on these messages, to make a statement. In the past, Steven Universe has deftly discussed difficult topics like death, war, repression, sex, grief, and so much more. The show presents these topics with honesty and empathy, never talking down to its young audience.

Considering the global extinction element of the story, a message about climate change might have been apropos. Children might need help dealing with difficult feelings surrounding our current climate crisis, and the film was well-positioned to help give voice to those feelings. The target audience for Steven Universe have grown up with the show, with most fans aging from 14 to 24, and they are hungry for content that relates to their understanding of the world.

The film didn’t need to have all of the answers, but it would have been nice if the concept of global extinction had been treated with a bit more delicacy and understanding. The death of all organic life on earth is more than subplot material.

Instead, Steven Universe: The Movie ends with a perplexing message. Two factions, both desperate for love, find each other and leave Earth to build a new life together. On the surface, that resolution might seem fine, but the implications are worrying. Steven Universe is an advocate. He solves problems, and he helps people. He does not dismiss them, and he does not trivialize their pain. The people in question are dangerously codependent, and they need real help. But Steven never offers help. Just a ticket home. That’s just not the Steven Universe we’ve come to know and love.

Conclusion

Steven Universe: The Movie is a fine bit of entertainment, but it doesn’t offer the same depth and emotional resonance as the show. This film feels like a labor of love. Perhaps the showrunners just weren’t quite ready to leave it all behind. Maybe they needed more time, and they probably needed a break too.

The movie lacks direction. Steven Universe: The Movie likely hit a few snags during the story boarding phase that were never ironed out. Instead, the team focused on the lavish musical numbers and production, which are both beautifully executed.

In the end, Steven Universe: The Movie is well-intentioned, but ultimately too rushed to be as effective as its predecessor. The film will probably be forgotten with time. But hopefully, the series, the true legacy of Steven Universe, will be passed down from parents to children for years to come, cementing its place as a classic, with or without the movie.

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