🐱 Cartoon Network Tried to Downplay The Queerness of Steven Universe

Cartoon Network Tried to Downplay The Queerness of Steven Universe

Rebecca Sugar says that Cartoon network encouraged her not to talk about the queerness of her series Steven Universe.

www.themarysue.com

Few shows have changed the landscape of animation like Steven Universe has. The series, which premiered on Cartoon Network in 2013, followed the adventures of young boy Steven Universe, who lives with Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, magical aliens known as the Crystal Gems. Created by Adventure Time alum Rebecca Sugar, the series quickly drew raves for its expansive and compassionate portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and gender fluidity. Steven Universe was the first animated series to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Program in 2019, and took home a Peabody Award the same year.

But while the series reaped critical acclaim and a devoted queer fanbase, Sugar describes a very different attitude from Cartoon Network behind the scenes. In a joint interview with She-Ra and the Princesses of Powershowrunner Noelle Stevenson for Paper Magazine, Sugar described the pushback she received from the network.

Sugar said, “We strategized the concept of fusion to be able to explore relationships and include queer relationships. Central to that, one of the things we were excited about was to have the character of Garnet have a ton of screen time and be a main character.” In season 2 episode “The Answer”, the series revealed that Garnet was a fusion of two queer gems, Ruby and Sapphire. According to Sugar, the network was less than supportive.

“They told us point-blank, ‘you can’t have these characters be in a romantic relationship,’ but at that point Garnet was so established that audiences could instantly understand what the relationship was, the song had already been written, the episode had already been boarded so we were already in full production. I’m really proud of the patience we had and the time that we took to fully explore these characters at a time when that was not necessarily possible.
Back in 2014, 2015, 2016 I was told that I couldn’t discuss it publicly. They basically brought me in and said ‘we want to support that you’re doing this but you have to understand that internationally if you speak about this publicly, the show will be pulled from a lot of countries and that may mean the end of the show.’ They actually gave me the choice to speak about it or not, to tell the truth about it or not, around 2015/ 2016, by then I was honestly really mentally ill and I dissociated at Comic Con.
I would privately do drawings of these characters kissing and hugging that I was not allowed to share. I couldn’t reconcile how simple this felt to me and how impossible it was to do, so I talked about it. The show survived in a large part because of the support from fans. I’m really proud of the choice we made and what we were able to accomplish together. I’m so proud of my team who supported me through all of this, crafted the show and navigated this with me.
The way they put their mental health on the line to tell stories that were personal to them. It seems absurd to think that only a few years ago and really now, that a person’s job, their ability to make cartoons, could hinge on their sexual orientation, it’s profoundly unfair and ridiculous but true. That really needs to shift and is still in the process of shifting. I only understand what I saw from inside the framework of Cartoon Network and Turner, so Noelle, if you’d like to speak about this I completely respect and understand the difficulty of talking about going through something like this so definitely only share what makes you comfortable.”
Stevenson said she faced similar pushback from Netflix, even after She-Rapremiered in a post-Steven Universe world. She described support waning after the 2016 election saying, “At first it seemed like we were going to get this from the company, we were really excited about that and so we were setting things up in season one, we had the “Princess Prom” episode, then the election in 2016 happened and everybody got really scared. It was immediately, like Rebecca said, the same kind of pushback where we were told point-blank we would not be able to do this. Across the board, no romance. That was how broad it got! Let’s just be extra-safe, no romance whatsoever.”
Both series, which still boast a massive fan base, are proof that queer stories have a massive fan base, not just in animation, but across pop culture. The interview is a fascinating look at the creative process for both shows, and the determination of queer creators to make sure they get to tell their own stories.
(via Paper Magazine, image: Cartoon Network)

 

[Philosophy Phil]

Steven Universe is an animated rule 63 version of the Gay Niggers from Outer Space.

 

[Titos]

They clearly didn't succeed, what a piece of shit show. Gumball was pretty much the last good thing CN did. Also Rebecca Sugar is a bitch.

 

[The Pink Panther]

This is for the better.

Because as someone who forced myself to watch the whole show, all of the LGBTQ+ aspects of it are overplayed and hyped up for the validation of the LGBTQ+ community.

 

[Zero Day Defense]

They should have spent more time downplaying its crappiness.

 

[whogoesthere]

I have never actually seen this show, and only know it exists because people, adults in many cases, bring it up on the internet all the time.

Its not a queer show, because that would imply some shows are not queer. All things are queer, we know this as they write books about how everything is queered because at one point a faggot used it, likely to help molest children, thus its queer.

 

[The Last Stand]

Is it that shows shouldn't have LGBT+ representation period or that when they're incorporated, it's typically poorly handled or in your face?

Edit: I see why. Some countries don't tolerate LGBT+ representation, so to err on the side of caution, that would have to be omitted.

 

[Disgruntled Pupper]

Good thing no actual kids ever liked SU, it was only watched by the 18-30 tumblr demographic. I hope all the people who tried to say that SU wasn't blatant homo propaganda fell really fucking dumb now.

by then I was honestly really mentally ill and I dissociated at Comic Con

All of these queer media people are all complete messes whose entire lives are, as they describe them, hellish experiences of constantly being too delicate for the cold, cruel world, but we're expected to be impressed by them and follow their lead both personally and societally.

 

[Kulee Baba]

the series revealed that Garnet was a fusion of two queer gems, Ruby and Sapphire.

Yes this is the total appropriate content I want young very impressionable children to watch. Where they can get into their head that people can have multiple personalities. Then these childhood delusions can transform into mental illness like schizophrenia.

It came from a total out of left field source but I think Adam Johnston is totally right that a movie like "Inside Out" is potentially harmful to children as they could start thinking that there's little tiny people in their head that control their emotions. This feels like the same shit to me.

 

[knightlautrec]

Also Rebecca Sugar is a bitch.

And drew 2d child porn. Did people forget her stint of drawing Ed, Edd n Eddy porn? I guess that was memoryholed cuz RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY GAY SPACE ROCKS

Steven Universe sucks donkey balls either way.

 

[Zero Day Defense]

Is it that shows shouldn't have LGBT+ representation period or that when they're incorporated, it's typically poorly handled or in your face?

Edit: I see why. Some countries don't tolerate LGBT+ representation, so to err on the side of caution, that would have to be omitted.

Representation is always "in your face", it just turns out that 1) some writers can do it better than others, and there are plenty of writers that can do it better than Sugar, and 2) those shows most likely don't have a screeching throng of Twitter-going 20-somethings screaming their praises for doing a gay thing.

 

[Y2K Baby]

Do they taste like candy

 

[FaramirG]

Good thing no actual kids ever liked SU, it was only watched by the 18-30 tumblr demographic. I hope all the people who tried to say that SU wasn't blatant homo propaganda fell really fucking dumb now.



All of these queer media people are all complete messes who's entire lives are, as they describe them, hellish experiences of constantly being too delicate for the cold, cruel world, but we're expected to be impressed by them and follow their lead both personally and societally.

More than any other show SU makes me think of this

 

[Celebrate Nite]

Gumball was pretty much the last good thing CN did.

For me it was Chowder. Chowder himself is fucking retarded but all the other characters make up for it. I also like the art style and the facial expressions some of the characters make.

 

[Y2K Baby]

Chowder himself is fucking retarded

LEAVE HIM ALONE.

 

[The Last Stand]

Gumball was an okay show, maybe I should revisit it. The Generation Z tropes it incorporated in many of its episodes was a turn off for me. Too cringe.

 

[Y2K Baby]

. The Generation Z tropes it incorporated in many of its episodes was a turn off for me.

What did nigger mean by this?

 

[Titos]

Gumball was an okay show, maybe I should revisit it. The Generation Z tropes it incorporated in many of its episodes was a turn off for me. Too cringe.

It can be overwhelming with all the screaming yeah, but there are some stand out bits where they shit on the Chinese for shamelessly copying the show, the anime episode, or any of the numerous really dark gags. Also wasn't trying to push some lefty agenda and actually shit on them more often than not.

 

[BOONES]

For me it was Chowder. Chowder himself is fucking retarded but all the other characters make up for it. I also like the art style and the facial expressions some of the characters make.

Hey chowder tries his best. Give him a break.

 

[some Sketchy dude]

@CatParty You just start dumpster fires wherever you post, huh?