TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Steven Universe

Go To

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59801: Nov 21st 2019 at 7:01:23 PM

I've had the headcanon for a while that Padparadscha can control fire, to serve as another parallel to Sapphire. And y'know, 'cause she's orange?

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#59802: Nov 21st 2019 at 7:14:22 PM

Hey, everyone! CrossoverEnthusiast is just about to suggest a great idea for Padparascha!

(I do think that's a great idea.)

Edited by RedSavant on Nov 21st 2019 at 10:14:37 AM

It's been fun.
superboy313 Since: May, 2015
#59803: Nov 22nd 2019 at 7:39:32 PM

How do you think the Diamonds would try to adapt to Earth culture?

Given that they're matriarchs, the scenarios would likely be political in nature.

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#59804: Nov 22nd 2019 at 8:04:18 PM

I don't think they'll pay any attention unless Steven brings it up—which he may avoid doing for exactly that reason.

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59805: Nov 25th 2019 at 7:34:50 PM

Corrupted Steven Masterpost for those interested in the theory

Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Nov 25th 2019 at 11:48:04 AM

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59806: Nov 26th 2019 at 9:59:29 AM

Apologies for double posting, but we got more details!! Following December 7th, two episodes will air every week on Saturday. All of these episodes titles and synopses have been revealed, in addition to a picture from "Little Graduation". This link to the article also shows another picture that either isn't there or doesn't load on the page itself.

Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Nov 26th 2019 at 1:08:23 PM

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
RhymeBeat True colors from Eastern Standard Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
True colors
#59807: Nov 26th 2019 at 12:17:42 PM

So Bluebord is her official name pretty much

The Crystal Caverns A bird's gotta sing.
thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#59808: Nov 26th 2019 at 4:53:02 PM

The DVD for the movie has a making-of documentary, which features some crew members I don't believe I've heard talk before. There's was also Rebecca Sugar pitching the third act (i.e. basically going through the first storyboards as a powerpoint while narrating it), and storyboard animatics of select scenes with commentary.

    Big Post 

Miscellaneous

  • A large part of the writing process was to "think about it from song to song".
  • Because the story had to be approve before going to storyboarding, Sugar wrote fourteen song first drafts in six weeks. She acknowledges this kind of scheduling is ironic given the show's themes.
  • Jones-Quartey describes a "looming threat... [as] intrinsic to Steven Universe". In earlier drafts, Spinel's memories returning was the threat, and Steven would use the Rejuvenator on her to reset her again. They didn't think that was enough (indeed, it would beg the question "Why not just bubble her?"), thus the Injector was added.
  • Sugar writes songs for her cast members and so asks what kind of music they like.
  • Sugar knows she can write notes out of her own range and Deedee Magno-Hall will still hit them.
  • Because Garnet's songs are pretty different than Estelle's usual music, she joked that "any second I was about to start rapping".
  • While spending the last third of his life playing Steven, Zach Callison has seen a lot of Steven's character arc of his own life.
  • Michaela Dietz calls Callison "the little brother I always wish I had".
  • Before getting the part of Spinel, Sarah Stiles knew of Steven Universe, but only second hand. She was surprised how big her character's part was in the story.
  • Stiles notes part of voicing Spinel was laughing in every imaginable way.
  • Spinel's sound effects include "scary rubber" (tires and snapping medical glove) and "funny rubber" (balloon animals).
  • The Rejuvenator is drawn with "hidden heart shapes".
  • The studio walls include character-labelled color swatches (e.g. there a different shades of pink labelled "Rose Quartz", another is "Tiny Floating Whale", etc.)
  • With how long some of the crew were on Steven Universe, drawing him older felt right, especially when he acts so mature.
  • Rebecca Sugar told the background artist to objects that are "unimportant but meaningful".
  • Steven Sugar made the general outline of the new Beach House.
  • Because the songs came first, the composers got to do more with the writing.
  • Steven (chiptune, strings), Pearl (piano), Amethyst (drums), and Garnet (bass) form a jazz ensemble.

"Happily Ever After"

  • Sugar thought the "Once upon a time" lyrics were the hardest. Liu accidentally played that part at double speed, which they kept it.
  • It was basically an 11-minute episode unto itself that almost every storyboard artist contributed to. "It took a village."
  • Sugar did Pearl's flashback to Rose because she had a bad day. (For some background, she's often drawn Rose in the storyboards herself because she thought drawing that hair was so much of a pain in the ass.)
  • The storyboards give names to a few background gems from Little Homeworld. Several of them were designed for the movie and then added to pool scene in "Change Your Mind". Larimar (the ice monster) was one design from the movie that didn't make it to "Change Your Mind".
  • Earlier versions ended with everyone laughing (cut to keep the flow), while another ended gently instead of with a crescendo.

"Other Friends"

  • It was pitched as Spinel's "tragic backstory song", which makes it sound like it was rewritten at some point to be more of her expressing anger.
  • Miki Brewster misses drawing Spinel. "I drew so many teeth!"
  • Takafumi Hori was pitched the scene before "A Single Pale Role" aired and didn't want to be spoiled, so he went off a vague description of Spinel's motive.
  • Either Brewster or Katie Mitroff (couldn't be sure which) thought rubberhose animation was terrifying as a kid.
  • Stiles spontaneously decided to sing the whole song in one take (previously it was done in pieces), and most of the final version comes from that take.

"system/BOOT.PearlFinal(3).info"

  • The composer points out most Homeworld gems have synthetic instruments, while Rose's influence is why Pearl has a piano. That's why the song has no piano, it's all electronic.

"Who We Are"

  • Bismuth's instrument (at least in the movie) was reversed electric guitar.

"Isn't It Love?"

  • Part of the concept for the song was "'Stronger Than You' playing backwards", and the final result was closer to that than they expected it to be.

"No Matter What"

  • Unlike Pearl, Amethyst kept her drums after immediately resetting, because she's more "there".

"Disobedient"

  • Partly for time constraints, it was is adapted from an instrumental Mike Krol previously wrote but didn't publish.

"Drift Away"

  • Kat Morris "is old school", and so did all her storyboards (at least for this sequence) on paper.
  • Spinel has strings for "old timeness" and to link to Pink Diamond. It's meant to sound "broken".
  • Performing "Drift Away" was part of the audition for Spinel. Sarah Stiles was played the song over the phone and it really affected her

"Found"

  • The melody for "Found" was inspired by Sugar's dream where she thought it was already written.

"True Kinda Love"

  • Steven's singing the part after the bridge was a late addition Estelle suggested
  • Sugar only had two days with Macie Stewart and Chance the Rapper to make her first demo.
  • Chance suggested the "true" in "True Kinda Love" be "like swinging your arms while going to school", which changed the way Sugar thought of singing one word.
  • Johnston thought the Crystal Gems were beating Spinel too hard in the storyboarding, so it was changed to them fighting more defensively/reactively, mostly using her momentum against her.
  • Johnston was the one who added Onion to a bunch of background scenes.
  • Brewster sang the song herself as part of the pitch. "I practiced in the car driving home."
  • That was Kevin's car that got smashed. Mitroff was confused because the doors were closed and thought that meant Kevin was in the car.
  • Miki Brewster wanted the scenes to mix destruction of the city and people helping each other out.

"Change"

  • Johnston looked at some K-POP "jacket videos" for reference for Steven's clothes billowing in the wind.
  • Because of how much Hori would be doing, Johnston was told he didn't need to clean his boards up, but he ended up doing more than any of his other boards.
  • The bubble fists was an old idea they didn't get around to because Steven rarely fist fights.
  • Callison calls "Change" the first song where he had "100% of [his] power" in his natural register.

Third Arc Pitch

  • Sugar gets really into pitching, even doing Steven's exhausted panting. She could be a narrator.
  • Sugar's Spinel voice is hilarious. It's like Lady Skeletor.
  • Steven's powers being restored originally made his life flash before his eyes.
  • Sugar calls Steven's polygonal bubble a "diamond shield".
  • Some cut lines:
    • Spinel called Steven "punchline" instead of a "powerless loser".
    • Spinel laments she was getting "Better and better at being worse."
    • After Steven rolled up his sleeves to kiss the ground, Amethyst asked "How's rolling up your sleeves gonna to help?"
    • After Blue Diamond and White Diamond said they wouldn't judge, Yellow Diamond added "But this smell is intolerable."
  • Originally, Pearl greeted Steven after the fight was over with pictures of Bismuth and other gems trying to make the people of Beach City comfortable. At the start, Pearl told Steven "Please don't swipe left", and there was also a closeup of Bismuth making an odd face.
  • Instead of Spinel saying "I wish I could just start from scratch with somebody.", she said "I have to go somewhere else."
  • Spinel said she was only gone for five thousands years instead of six; the former would be many years into the rebellion. I don't know if they rewrote when Pink left her or just realized a mistake.
  • Oddly, most of the animatic singing was scratch tracks, but the Diamonds seem to have their actual actresses recorded already.
  • I don't think Sadie had her new haircut in the storyboard.
  • The sudden cut to Takarazuka Revue got a good chuckle out of the board room.
  • The goal was for the movie to be 72 minutes. Even cutting a bunch of stuff out, it was 82.

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#59809: Nov 26th 2019 at 7:00:46 PM

Someone already made recap pages, and I'm annoyed that they put "S1" in the titles when we know there's only going to be one season.

    Future episode descriptions 

"Little Homeschool": Welcome to Little Homeschool, a place on earth where Gems from all over the universe can come learn how to live together peacefully! But there’s one Gem who refuses to attend.
Can't think of any existing character that would apply to, because why would they except someone like Jasper to attend? Not unless she's still on Earth for some reason, and the Crystal Gems know it.

"Guidance:" Amethyst has been helping Little Homeschool Gems find jobs on the boardwalk, but Steven isn’t sure about her approach.
I'd guess Amethyst teaches the class because she's closer to humans than Pearl or Garnet, but she seems like the last person to know how to get a job. She was born into being a Crystal Gem almost as much as Homeworld Gems were into their jobs.

I'd say they could get someone even more qualified than Steven to teach, like how Vidalia is teaching art, but most of employed cast work in family businesses. I'd suggest Mr. Smiley.

Wonder if the rebuilt boardwalk is any bigger.

"Rose Buds": Steven gets a surprise visit from some old friends, and an even more surprising introduction to some new ones.
We're obviously going to see the real Rose Quartzes. If that quartz in the van is one, it'd be odd for the description to talk about them in the plural.

Even if they barely look like Rose, them having the same voice would probably freak the hell out of Steven. That could be related to replaying Rose's tape.

"Volleyball": Steven is determined to help Pink Diamond’s original Pearl heal the scar on her face.
I don't have the slightest idea what the title could mean, even in a metaphorical sense. Could it just be a total troll where the title is part of a bait-and-switch? If so, the description just gave it away.

"Bluebird": Steven questions the motives of a mysterious fusion that suddenly shows up at his house.
Sounds like Bluebird is gonna mess with Steven by acting vaguely threatening without doing anything solidly actionable.

"A Very Special Episode": Rainbow Quartz 2.0 promised to hang out with Onion the same day Sunstone scheduled a home safety Geminar! How can Steven be in two places, and two fusions, at once?
This title and description sound like a cover for something else entirely.

That said, I love the idea of Steven's human friends hanging out with specific fusions, especially ones that get that they're fusions.

Now I'm wondering if Rainbow Quartz 2.0 and Sunstone were late additions to "Change Your Mind" and their VAs recorded those and this episode at once.

"Snow Day": Steven and the Crystal Gems get a chance to catch up when they’re all snowed in together.
Damn, the movie was set in May and it'll be winter by episode seven. Steven should be seventeen by then.

It'd be cool if Future is set over the course of several years.

"Why So Blue?": Steven has heard rumors of a pair of Gems that are still destroying worlds. If he can’t stop them, maybe Lapis can.
Makes it sound like they're going to confront those other Lapis Lazulis on another planet.

"Little Graduation": Steven and the Gems celebrate Little Homeschool’s first graduating class.
Now is this gonna be the graduates wondering how to apply to their education, or a springboard for something more dramatic?

"Prickly Pair": After leaving Little Homeschool, Steven has found a new hobby, plants.
Clearly related to the Watermelon Cactus. Perhaps Steven pricks his finger on a potted cactus and a drop of blood makes it come alive.

@Crossover-Enthusiast: Bluebird is another name for Azurite-Cuprite, so you were more-or-less right.

Jeez, even more than "Holly Blue", "Bluebird" is a baffling name for an alien, especially since it seems fusions are named after gem types that have been around before gems ever came to Earth.

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59810: Nov 26th 2019 at 8:10:34 PM

wild mass guessBluebird calling herself that is because she hadn't thought of a name before arriving, and when asked she sees a bluebird fly by and goes with that.wild mass guess

Regarding "A Very Special Episode" (sounds like an OK K.O. title with its bluntness, by the way), I saw a theory that it'd result in Steven fusing with Pearl and Garnet at the same time. Dunno if it'd happen, but since a scrapped flashback episode involved Garnet, Rose, and Pearl trying to fuse, I could see it.

Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Nov 26th 2019 at 11:16:31 AM

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#59811: Nov 27th 2019 at 12:58:49 AM

Bismuth's instrument (at least in the movie) was reversed electric guitar.

Damn, that's what that is?! I love that sound!

HalfFaust Since: Jan, 2019
#59812: Nov 27th 2019 at 4:58:02 AM

I never would have guessed that's what that sound is but listening again I can hear it. It fits her well - SU does a good job at the whole 'signature character instrument' thing overall.

Edited by HalfFaust on Nov 27th 2019 at 5:00:14 AM

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59813: Nov 27th 2019 at 10:35:54 AM

So they just shadow dropped Unleash the Light:

Remind me, were Demantoids and Pyropes the Garnets Blue Diamond mentioned in "Together Alone"?

Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Nov 27th 2019 at 1:37:55 PM

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#59814: Nov 27th 2019 at 10:40:37 AM

Demantoids sure, Pyropes are new

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#59815: Nov 27th 2019 at 10:49:55 AM

Shame it's only for Apple Arcade

Oh really when?
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59816: Nov 27th 2019 at 11:29:49 AM

Hey could someone do me a favor and link SU Future on the franchise page? I did it once, but someone removed it, and I don't want to start an edit war.

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#59817: Nov 27th 2019 at 11:50:46 AM

Done!

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59818: Nov 27th 2019 at 11:59:08 AM

Thanks!

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#59819: Nov 27th 2019 at 6:08:30 PM

Pyropes, huh? Flashbacks to Homestuck.

It's been fun.
thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#59820: Nov 27th 2019 at 7:28:40 PM

Demantoids sure, Pyropes are new
Blue Diamond mentioned both of them along with Hessonites. There's a good chance that line was specifically written to set up this game.
I'm trying to figure out if there's any practical way to use the Apple Arcade with a screen and controller when my only Apple device is an iPhone 5s.

EDIT: It appears not. Perhaps I can find some way to borrow an Apple TV for a week or so...

Edited by thatother1dude on Nov 27th 2019 at 11:23:37 AM

superboy313 Since: May, 2015
#59821: Nov 29th 2019 at 2:51:50 PM

I wonder how the cast of Steven Universe would react to real life history and culture? (Same goes for any fictional universe more rooted in it)

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#59822: Nov 29th 2019 at 4:12:02 PM

Jasper is clearly going to try to fight Steven, but by this point I think he's notably stronger than her. You think she'll resort to hostage-taking or some other tactic?

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#59823: Nov 30th 2019 at 8:52:36 AM

I figure she'll lose and then run away again,then lose a few more times then sulk because she can't win

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#59824: Nov 30th 2019 at 1:58:48 PM

Personally I like the idea that she underestimates Steven and gets her ass kicked for it

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#59825: Nov 30th 2019 at 2:28:43 PM

Really? so far, Jasper have being show to overpower the crystal gems time and time again and resort to other tactics to win.

it would fit it happen again.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"

Total posts: 63,336
Top