As you might have figured from all the above, Steven Universe is deceptively complex for a children’s show. While the kid-friendly themes and general energetic action of the show give it a stable young audience, older fans are drawn to the show’s ability to carefully dole out a wide, intricate backstory over its extended lifetime, whether it’s in specific backstory-heavy episodes, or more often sneakily weaved in and out of the show’s plot-lines in tiny amounts as the show slowly builds to the big conflict between the Crystal and Homeworld Gems.
That slow Worldbuilding is also what makes Steven Universe fascinating to watch for older fans —- watching the disparate hints and story elements scattered throughout episodes slowly come together to reveal either a major new plot-line or some previously-speculated fact about the Gem Homeworld or the main characters is immensely satisfying, and fans love theorizing about the show’s mostly-hidden “lore.” On the surface, it’s still simple enough for its targeted young audience to enjoy, and promotes themes of love, friendship, and acceptance that are suitably enriching for that young fan-base. But older fans thrive on learning more and more about the strange, science fictional world that Steven Universe has barely lifted the curtain on.
That slow Worldbuilding is also what makes Steven Universe fascinating to watch for older fans —- watching the disparate hints and story elements scattered throughout episodes slowly come together to reveal either a major new plot-line or some previously-speculated fact about the Gem Homeworld or the main characters is immensely satisfying, and fans love theorizing about the show’s mostly-hidden “lore.” On the surface, it’s still simple enough for its targeted young audience to enjoy, and promotes themes of love, friendship, and acceptance that are suitably enriching for that young fan-base. But older fans thrive on learning more and more about the strange, science fictional world that Steven Universe has barely lifted the curtain on.
— James Whitbrook talking about
Steven Universe
Steven Universe"A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."
Earl: Hey, Fran, you've gotta see this puppet show; it's terrific.
Fran: Earl, that's for kids.
Earl: Yeah, you'd think that because they're puppets, so the show seems to have a children's ascetic. (Aside Glance) Yet the dialogue is unquestionably sharp edged, witty and thematically skewed for adults.
"I've yet to meet anyone who didn't like something about the show."
— Arkada on Cowboy Bebop, explaining his reasoning for including it in his "Top 25-ish Recommended Anime"
"In the anime industry's quest for ratings, the creators of shows with strong cross-demographic appeal must pander to two separate, yet equally important groups: the Shōnen fandom, who enjoy Giant Robots, short-skirted schoolgirls and long, drawn-out fights between musclebound supermen full of thinly-veiled homoeroticism; and the Shoujo fandom, who like their schoolgirls magical, their Giant Robot pilots Bishōnen, and their homoeroticism right out in the open. These are their stories..."
— Episode 9, Vision of Escaflowne Abridged
For adults, the appeal is Sir Patrick Stewart doing a kid's educational bit in full Shakespearean dress and style; there's a delightful cognitive dissonance between the very serious presentation and the very simple content.
For very small children, it's educational: this is the letter "B"; here's how it's shaped; here's some words you know that start with it. Oh, and here's a word you may not be familiar with that starts with it, so you can recognize that it's the sound that matters, and not whatever other connection you made between the other two words.
For older kids: you've probably heard that "to be or not to be?" speech, or at least part of it, so you can enjoy some of the parody the adults are watching. Also, here's how to describe how a letter is made — how to teach young siblings who don't read yet, how to explain both the shape and the sound.
For kids with dyslexia: here's how you differentiate a "B" from a P or D or E. You may have to go slowly and look carefully at the exact shapes that make up the whole, but there are differences and you can learn to recognize them.
For teens or young college students: In addition to whichever parts of those are relevant to you, here's what Shakespearean acting sounds like. Here's how to enunciate clearly and slowly, so your audience can understand terms they may not recognize and still follow the gist of what you're saying. If you're reading Shakespeare in school, try sounding it out like this and see if that helps it make sense.
For new RenFaire workers: Here's how to pronounce "zounds."
For very small children, it's educational: this is the letter "B"; here's how it's shaped; here's some words you know that start with it. Oh, and here's a word you may not be familiar with that starts with it, so you can recognize that it's the sound that matters, and not whatever other connection you made between the other two words.
For older kids: you've probably heard that "to be or not to be?" speech, or at least part of it, so you can enjoy some of the parody the adults are watching. Also, here's how to describe how a letter is made — how to teach young siblings who don't read yet, how to explain both the shape and the sound.
For kids with dyslexia: here's how you differentiate a "B" from a P or D or E. You may have to go slowly and look carefully at the exact shapes that make up the whole, but there are differences and you can learn to recognize them.
For teens or young college students: In addition to whichever parts of those are relevant to you, here's what Shakespearean acting sounds like. Here's how to enunciate clearly and slowly, so your audience can understand terms they may not recognize and still follow the gist of what you're saying. If you're reading Shakespeare in school, try sounding it out like this and see if that helps it make sense.
For new RenFaire workers: Here's how to pronounce "zounds."
—tumblr user elfwreck, on a clip from Sesame Street [1]
You've got to remember who you're writing for. You're not merely writing for children. You're writing for the unfortunate people who've got to read the stories over and over and over again.
— Rev. Wilbert Awdry, author of The Railway Series
Small children will love the cute cuddly characters. Young people will love the fresh and innovative comedy. College kids and intellectual eggheads will love the underlying symbolism of everything. Freaky, long-haired, dirty, cynical hippies will love our freaky, long-haired, dirty, cynical muppets.
— The Muppet Show Pitch Reel
Cecil B. DeMille: In their written form, Walt, fairy tales are supposedly only for children. But when you bring one to the screen, that captivates everyone, age, language, race make no difference. What's the secret?
Walt Disney Well, here's half an answer. Over at our place, we're sure of just one thing: everybody in the world was once a child. We grow up, our personalities change. But in every one of us, something remains of our childhood.
Cecil B. DemIlle: You mean that common denominator?
Walt Disney: That just about sums it up, Mr. DeMille. The same level you speak of knows nothing of sophistication and distinction. It's where all of us are simple and naive, without prejudice and bias. We're friendly and trusting. And it just seems to me that, if your picture hits that spot in one person, it's going to hit that same spot in almost everybody. So, when planning a new picture, we don't think of grown-ups, and we don't think of children, but just of that fine, clean, unspoiled spot down deep in every one of us that maybe the world has made us forget, and that maybe our pictures can help recall.
—Lux Radio Theatre, during its production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
"I believe children are sensitive to sincere messages from adults. I believe they will hang on to every word in awe if the message is compelling enough to stimulate their dreams. Therefore, I will continue drawing Manga with all my heart to convey messages to them."
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