Steven Universe is one of Cartoon Network’s most exciting properties, as Steven and the Crystal Gems have had numerous hilarious, heartwarming and unforgettable adventures. The show’s success led to a full-length musical film Steven Universe the Movie, and a sequel series Steven Universe Future. The film took place two years after the events of the original series finale, and now we have a closer look at the feature in a new art book, The Art of Steven Universe the Movie, by Dark Horse Comics.
Steven Universe first debuted on the Cartoon Network in 2013. The series follows the titular character Steven, a half-gem who lives with the magical Crystal Gems Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet. Steven’s mother used to be the leader of the Crystal Gems, and the current team looks after Steven in the town of Beach City. The series follows Steven and the Gems’ adventures as they protect Earth from pending threats that only their special powers can deal with. The series has been praised for its unique blend of fantasy and science-fiction storytelling, as well as its themes and its LGBTQ representation, becoming the first animated series to win a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Program in 2019.
Steven Universe the Movie featured Steven and the Gems going up against a former Gem named Spinel, who was created by Steven’s mother Pink Diamond thousands of years ago as a plaything. However, once she got tired of Spinel, she told her to wait in the garden where she stood thousands of years. After figuring out the game was a ruse, Spinel went to Earth with the goal of destroying the planet and getting revenge. The movie explores the past of the Gems and forged a new future for the main characters.
Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar said she’s excited for readers of The Art of Steven Universe the Movie to see the process of bringing a new character into the fold in the movie while describing the process of creating the movie-musical as “particularly intense.”
I’m so excited to share this development and production art from Steven Universe the Movie. Because of the time skip, the introduction of a major new character, and the pressure to rise to the occasion of a feature-length musical, the design process for the movie was particularly intense! In this book we finally have the chance to share the formative sketches for our major set pieces, as well as designs, keyframe animation, and insights into the production of the film.
Check out these preview images exclusively provided to Screen Rant.
The Art of Steven Universe the Movie will be available in book stores and comic shops on March 4th, 2020.
