Steven Universe: Art & Origins

Product Information

Chris McDonnell has designed books on Ralph Bakshi, Bill Plympton, the Joker, Wonder Woman, and many more. It looks like there was also originally more juice to the story of tracking down the events of the war culminating in Pink Diamond’s assassination. More psychological theories are discussed with regard to differentiation in a relationship making the relationship stronger, and how they made sure that happened for Garnet during the appropriate arc. Rebecca kept adding more elements to the wedding episode to answer all the concerns, but she didn’t want to back down from explicit marriage between these characters.

It seems like that bit was supposed to be included in Garnet’s version of the story she believed in “Your Mother and Mine. There is again tons of concept art: Homeworld architecture, Pebbles, Diamond diagrams, background Jades and Lemon Jade Fusion, Comby, Diamond extraction chambers, and White Diamond. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Some low-quality images are included with my review just to give you an idea of what’s there–it’s not a good substitute for getting your own copy, but here’s a tour! Now, instead of doing the usual shonen anime thing and having the final battle be a big physical rumble, Steven has to make peace with himself and take an active role in coping with what all the fighting has done to him and what effect it’s had on who he is (and who he wants to be).The wedding made so much sense to Rebecca and the crew that they couldn’t imagine a wholesome couple like Ruby and Sapphire not having a wedding episode. They went back to the idea of her getting hurt by Pink for the final version, though the cracked face and control by White Diamond was not on the agenda until they started writing “Change Your Mind. K. Jemisin, a well-known science fiction author who’s a huge fan of the show (and wrote a really excellent series that also has a weird geological connection, by the way).

Bursting with concept art, production samples, early sketches, storyboards, and exclusive commentary, this lavishly illustrated companion book offers a meticulous written and visual history of the show, as well as an all-access tour of the creative team’s process. Steven feeling like a monster, having intrusive thoughts, having not forgiven the Diamonds, and getting help/moving on–it’s all there.The story of how James Baxter got involved with one of the final scenes (Organic Steven and Pink Steven fusing in front of White Diamond) was shared. Sadie was also supposed to be sending letters to Lars via Steven, which is funny since the “Letters to Lars” episode is just a montage Steven letter. Drew Green and Maya Petersen, who came on board as storyboarders officially in Future, also weighed in on writing for a “mature” show, how to deal with Steven being a “moral compass” while being sort of unreliable, and what they learned as Crew that they didn’t know as fans.

Steven Universe: End of an Era is a heartfelt send-off to one of the most progressive, imaginative, and beloved animated series of our time. For the uninitiated, Steven is a plucky young chubster who plays the ukulele and loves catbased candy - and he just happens to be a Crystal Gem, one of an legendary group of warriors which once included his late Mom, Rose. They didn’t want the “Pink” Steven to be portrayed as “better” even though he would be more powerful, so they decided he isn’t whole without his organic self and he’s just as much of a shell as the organic half.

Seems like they originally conceived Garnet’s story to inspire the Off Colors to become pirates and freedom fighters, though in the show’s canon this storytelling happened after Lars had already reinvented himself the way he did. Rebecca ties in her several-times-told story about “Love Like You” and how the middle bit was when she didn’t feel she was worth looking up to, and the realizations she had to tie the beginning to the end. The rest of the book is a bunch of adorable Crewniverse art–extras, blog drawings, promos, and gifts to each other. Whether you're an established professional, a student, an aspiring artist, or simply an admirer of the art form, CDR invites you to join our ever-expanding community and partake in the celebration of character design excellence.