Steven Universe: The Movie

Steven Universe: The Movie is a 2019 American animated musical film based on the animated television series Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar. The film is directed, co-written, produced and executive produced by Sugar and fellow longtime crew members Kat Morris and Joe Johnston. Steven Universe: The Movie takes place two years after the events of the season 5 finale "Change Your Mind", and follows the Crystal Gems as they attempt to save all organic life on Earth from a mysterious new Gem. The film is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. It will be the next Cartoon Network film since The Powerpuff Girls Movie. The film was released theatrically in movie theaters for the United States and Canada on February 22, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film also premiered on Cartoon Network on September 2, 2019. This makes it the first and only theatrical Steven Universe film to hit the big screen, which will lead up to the sixth season of the show. In theaters, an Infinity Train short entitled Looped In Time was shown prior to the film.

The film stars Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno Hall, and Sarah Stiles, alongside an ensemble cast reprising their roles from the television series. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $404 million worldwide against a $45 million budget, making it the first Cartoon Network animated film to gross as high as $100 million in the United States, and also making it the first highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film of 2019 and the highest-ever grossing film based on an animated television series.

The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD.

Synopsis
Two years after the events of "Change Your Mind", Steven (now 16 years old) and his friends are ready to enjoy the rest of their lives peacefully. However, all of that changes when a new sinister Gem arrives, armed with a giant drill that saps the life force of all living things on Earth. In their biggest challenge ever, the Crystal Gems must work together to save all organic life on Earth within 48 hours.

Plot
After a recap of the series from the Diamonds ("The Tale of Steven"), Steven Universe (now 16 years old) greets the citizens of the Gem Homeworld. The Diamonds want him to stay to fulfill his mother Pink Diamond's role as the fourth leader, but he refuses. The other Diamonds, who are learning to be more accepting of different species, voice their distraught over his decision ("Let Us Adore You"). Steven gets back to Earth, via warp pad, to see Connie off to space camp. He reunites with Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst to celebrate their newfound "Happily Ever After". Almost immediately afterwards, a giant drill lands on the hillside of Beach City and a rubbery gem named Spinel appears. She announces her intent to kill Steven and the rest of the Earth ("Other Friends"). Using a scythe-like weapon, she poofs Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst back into their gem forms and attacks Steven causing his powers to diminish. However, Steven manages to poof Spinel with the scythe.

Steven brings the gems to the beach house and calls his dad Greg to come over. Pearl recovers, but has lost all her memory and believes that Greg is her owner. The other gems return, but with their memories wiped ("system/BOOT. PearlFinal (3).Info"). Spinel is revealed to be a very happy-go-lucky gem who simply wants to make her owner, Steven, laugh. He and Spinel take Ruby and Sapphire to the newly constructed gem community to see Peridot, Lapis Lazuli and Bismuth who assure Steven that he will always figure it out in the end ("Who We Are"). Spinel suggests that they find their "missing pieces," inspiring Steven to try to get Ruby and Sapphire to remember how they first met by fusing. Spinel's capering causes a scaffolding to collapse, almost crushing Ruby, but when Sapphire shoves her to safety, the pair fuse into Garnet ("Isn't It Love?"). Despite this, she still does not remember and Greg arrives with a doting Pearl to tell them that Amethyst has disappeared.

Steven and Spinel discover Amethyst examining art of herself at Vidalia's house, but all she can do is copy other people. Steven tries to get Amethyst to remember ("No Matter What"), re-enacting experiences the two had together, which successfully revives her memory. Peridot reveals that the drill is injecting a chemical that will kill all living organic life on Earth and that they have less than two days to stop it. Steven decides that they need to revive Pearl's memory so that she can tell them about Spinel, so the group takes her to a Sadie Killer and the Suspects concert in the hope their music will bring back her memories of rebellion ("Disobedient"). When neither the music nor Amethyst turning into Rose Quartz succeeds, Greg asks what will get her to stop following him and she reveals that as long as Greg is around she will obey him. Steven decides to use what little of his energy to fuse with Greg, into "Steg," in an impromptu rock session ("Independent Together"). Pearl remembers and tells them that Spinel was Pink Diamond's playmate, but Spinel is suddenly overcome with sadness and flees the concert.

After calling Connie to come, Steven finds Spinel crying at the beach house. Steven and Spinel use the warp pad to travel to a desolate garden base in space where Spinel reveals her backstory: she was Pink Diamond's playmate and one day the other Diamonds gave her her own colony. In the process, Pink Diamond became distant and told Spinel to wait, leaving her alone in the garden for 6,000 years until she had heard of Steven and Pink Diamond's fate ("Drift Away"). Steven tells her that she does not need to be sad anymore as he will never abandon her and that he will make up for her mother's mistakes ("Found").

Everyone gathers back at the beach house and Spinel happily turns off the drill, but when Steven begins shifting his attention back to everyone else, Spinel accuses Steven of using her to turn off the drill and abandoning her again. Steven drops the scythe handle he was holding onto and Spinel accuses him of trying to wipe her memory again. She turns the drill back on and proceeds to attack Steven. As he tries to explain the truth to her, Garnet suddenly remembers and brings everyone together. Steven sends everyone out to rescue the Beach City citizens while he goes straight to Spinel ("True Kind of Love"). Steven reaches the top of the drill, but Spinel does not want to listen and attacks him. Initially unable to figure out why he has not regained his powers despite also reliving many of the experiences that help him grow, Steven finally realizes that it his own reliance on the idea of an unchanging "happily ever after" that has left him resistant to the notion of that very growth and change he needs ("Change"). Embracing this fact, he regains his powers and battles Spinel. Their fight destroys the drill, but Spinel realizes that fighting and hurting Steven will not make her feel better, and relents.

The Diamonds suddenly arrive and state their intention to live on the Earth with Steven. He then introduces Spinel to them and they take an immediate liking to her and her goofy personality ("Let Us Adore You (Reprise)"). The Diamonds accept her in place of Steven and she happily goes with them as she will now be people who will love her unconditionally. Steven and all his friends gather to rebuild Beach City back to its former glory, thanks in part to Steven's healing powers undoing the damage of the poison, and to spend time with one another. Steven, Connie, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst and Greg come out in a Broadway style "Finale".

Cast
The film features the main and recurring characters of the series, and introduces the new characters Spinel and Steg.

Protagonists

 * Zach Callison as Steven Universe, a Gem-human hybrid member of the Crystal Gems and formerly The Great Diamond Authority.
 * Estelle as Garnet, a fusion who is the de facto leader of the Crystal Gems.
 * Charlyne Yi as Ruby, one of Garnet's components, a hotheaded soldier Gem and spouse of Sapphire.
 * Erica Luttrell as Sapphire, one of Garnet's components, a cool and collected precognitive Gem and spouse of Ruby.
 * Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, one of the Crystal Gems.
 * Deedee Magno Hall as Pearl, one of the original members of the Crystal Gems.

Antagonists

 * Sarah Stiles as Spinel, the main antagonist of the movie.

Supporting

 * Tom Scharpling as Greg Universe, the father of Steven Universe.
 * Grace Rolek as Connie Maheswaran, Steven's best friend.
 * Matthew Moy as Lars Barriga, a friend of Steven Universe.
 * Kate Micucci as Sadie Miller, a friend of Steven Universe.
 * Shelby Rabara as Peridot, a member of the Crystal Gems who was formerly aligned with Homeworld.
 * Jennifer Paz as Lapis Lazuli, a member of the Crystal Gems who was formerly aligned with Homeworld.
 * Uzo Aduba as Bismuth, one of the original members of the Crystal Gems.
 * Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond, a member of The Great Diamond Authority.
 * Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond, a member of The Great Diamond Authority.
 * Christine Ebersole as White Diamond, a member of The Great Diamond Authority.
 * Toks Olagundoye as Nanefua Pizza, the mayor of Beach City.
 * Aimee Mann as Opal, a fusion of Pearl and Amethyst.
 * Ted Leo as Steg, a fusion of Steven and Greg.

Musical contributors
The movie will include collaborations with several outside musical artists in different kinds of genres, as well as regular contributors to the franchise: A new soundtrack is scheduled to be released both physically and digitally before the film.
 * Estelle (voice of Garnet)
 * Aimee Mann (voice of Opal)
 * Patti LuPone (voice of Yellow Diamond)
 * Uzo Aduba (voice of Bismuth)
 * Aivi & Surasshu
 * Jeff Liu
 * Mike Krol
 * Jeff Ball
 * Chance The Rapper
 * James Fauntleroy
 * Gallant
 * Grant Henry (Stemage)
 * Julian "Zorsy" Sanchez
 * Macie Stewart
 * Ted Leo

Rating
Steven Universe: The Movie is Rated PG for Parental Guidance.

Development
The film will be in a musical format with the music made by the series creator Rebecca Sugar and composers Aivi & Surasshu featuring musical collaborations with Chance The Rapper, Gallant, James Fauntleroy, Macie Stewart, Mike Krol, Grant Henry (Stemage), Ted Leo, Jeff Liu, Jeff Ball, and Julian "Zorsy" Sanchez, as well as Estelle and Aimee Mann, who have voice roles. The film is executive produced by Rebecca Sugar. The co-executive producers are Chance The Rapper, Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Ian Jones-Quartey. The film will be directed by Rebecca Sugar, Kat Morris, and Joe Johnston. The story for the film is by Ben Levin, Hilary Florido, Ian Jones-Quartey, Jack Pendarvis, Joe Johnston, Kat Morris, Matt Burnett and Rebecca Sugar.

Marketing
The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and a short teaser trailer was later released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels, before being shown in front of Regular Show: The Movie II on December 7, 2018. A poster was released a week before San Diego Comic-Con 2019, revealing a glimpse of the film's antagonist and a visibly older Steven, setting the film two years after the events of "Change Your Mind".

At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a trailer for the film was released, along with the announcement of a documentary based on the film's creation to be released along with the DVD, before being shown in front of The Adventures of Pikachu: The Movie on January 18, 2019.

Adult Swim’s action oriented Toonami block aired a second trailer for the film during their August 24th broadcast, after the second trailer was shown in front of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part on February 8, 2019.

Theatrical release
The movie first had an early screening at Ace Hotel Los Angeles on February 17, 2019 before it hit theaters worldwide. The film was then released theatrically in movie theaters for the United States and Canada on February 22, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures, on the same year as Cartoon Network's next film, OK K.O.! Let's Save The Universe. The film will be presented in a 1.85:1 format, rather than Warner Animation Group's standard 2.39:1 format on its previous titles. The film's theatrical release will be preceded by Looped In Time, a short film based on Cartoon Network's animated television series Infinity Train, created by former Regular Show writer/storyboard artist Owen Dennis.

Home media release
The film was released on Digital on May 7 and Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K-Ultra HD on May 28, 2019, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It contains the Infinity Train short film Looped In Time, the documentary Behind the Curtain: The Making of Steven Universe The Movie, animatics with commentary and a sneak peek of OK K.O.! Let's Save The Universe.

Television premiere
The film also premiered on September 2, 2019 on Cartoon Network; the Every Steven Ever marathon aired leading up to the movie.

Viewership
Steven Universe: The Movie was seen by 1.57 million viewers on its theatrical release and original telecast, which was commercial-free.

Music
The first single from the film's soundtrack, "True Kinda Love", performed by Estelle and Zach Callison, was released on January 11, 2019. The soundtrack will release on February 15, 2019, by WaterTower Music.  

Box office
Steven Universe: The Movie has grossed $169 million in the United States and Canada, and $235 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $404 million, against a production budget of $45 million.

In the United States and Canada, Steven Universe: The Movie was released alongside How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and was initially projected to gross around $31 million from 4,210 theaters in its opening weekend, with a chance to go as high as $100 million. Therefore, Steven Universe: The Movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $404 million worldwide, making it the first highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film of 2019 and the highest-ever grossing film based on an animated television series.

Critical Reception
Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 100% approval rating based on the 25 positive reviews from critics, and its average rating is 8.4/10. The critical consensus reads, "Steven Universe: The Movie manages to debut on the big screen because it plays like an extended episode of Steven Universe and it has some heartwarming musical numbers, and amazing new characters, so it should please the audience and fans of the show. Because if Teen Titans Go! got its first movie on the big screen, then that means Steven Universe's movie should be on the big screen, too, instead of just airing on television." Metacritic, assigns the film a score of 90 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". CinemaScore gives the film an "A+" on its A+ to F scale.

Steven Universe: The Movie was universally acclaimed by critics prior to its theatrical release, with the music, animation and characters highlighted in particular. Speaking of its effectiveness as a stand-alone story in Forbes, Dani Di Placido described Steven Universe: The Movie as "both approachable to newcomers and deeply rewarding for longtime fans of the series". ComicBook.com's Rollin Bishop summarised that the film contains "amazing musical numbers with striking illustrations and breathtaking animation to outdo anything the franchise has attempted before", while Shamus Kelley commented on the strong emotional content of the film for Den of Geek, saying that "this is a movie that will stick with you long after it’s finished airing in theaters worldwide and on television. [...] Like the best entertainment, it holds up a mirror and lets you examine your life in a safe way".

Artbook
An artbook, The Art of Steven Universe: The Movie, published by Dark Horse, will be made by Ryan Sands and Rebecca Sugar and released alongside the premiere of the movie. It can be pre-ordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, DarkHorse.com, and at your local comic shop. This unique, 96-page zine-like softcover retails for $19.99.

Trivia

 * The movie is executive produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Rebecca Sugar. Co-executive producers include Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos (known for storyboarding 14 episodes of the series Gravity Falls), and Ian Jones-Quartey.
 * Rebecca Sugar also serves as the film's director.
 * Former Crewniverse member Ian Jones-Quartey is also involved on the film's story.
 * Storyboard work on the movie took place between late 2017 and early 2018.
 * Christopher Pianka, otherwise known for The Owl House, is credited as a storyboard artist on the movie.


 * This is the first ever feature film of the series.
 * This is the first animated Steven Universe movie to hit theaters.
 * The film marks the twelfth time a theatrical Cartoon Network film is produced by Warner Bros. Animation, instead of Warner Animation Group since the group's formation in 2013.
 * The movie will be Rated PG.
 * This was one of the successful films of 2019.
 * This is the next theatrical film with a wide release to be based on a Cartoon Network TV series, after "The Powerpuff Girls Movie" released 16 years prior,   Star Wars: The Clone Wars  released 10 years prior,  Regular Show: The Movie  released 3 years prior,  The Lego Ninjago Movie" released a year before and  Teen Titans GO! To The Movies '' released 8 months prior.
 * Although, Teen Titans Go! and Ninjago are only aired by CN, and they’re made by Warner Bros.
 * The original cast reprised their roles in the movie.
 * This is the next theatrical 2D animated movie in 20 years after Quest for Camelot (1998), 19 years after The Iron Giant (1999) and 2 years after Tiny Toon Adventures: The Motion Picture (2016).
 * This marks as Warner Bros.' next 2D animated theatrical film. Warner Bros. had its original feature animation division, which produced 2D animated films.
 * This is the eleventh theatrically released traditionally animated Warner Bros. film since  Clifford's Really Big Movie   released 14 years prior.
 * This is the very first theatrical Warner Bros. film to rely solely on traditional hand-drawn animation instead of Flash animation, or CGI animation.
 * This is Warner Animation Group's fourteenth traditionally animated film.
 * The movie takes place after the events of the show's season 5 finale, "Change Your Mind".
 * This is the third CN original movie since "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show", which aired on November 8th, 2009 and  Regular Show: The Movie , which was released theatrically in movie theaters on August 14, 2015.
 * Before the movie, a short film called "Looped In Time  based on Cartoon Network' s animated television series Infinity Train'' was played.
 * This is Cartoon Network's second coming-of-age animated film to be released theatrically, after  Adventure Time: The Kingdom of Ooo   released 7 months prior.
 * This was one of the successful films of 2019.
 * This movie has received a 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes & IMDb gave it 8.4/10.
 * The film was in normal 3D, Real D 3D, IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, & XD 3D.
 * This is the second CN original movie to be released theatrically in movie theaters since  Regular Show: The Movie  back in 2015.
 * This is the 2nd collaboration between Zach Callison, Estelle and Deedee Magno Hall. Their first was   The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie   released 7 months prior.
 * This is Kate Micucci 's second theatrically released animated Warner Bros. film since  The Lego Batman Movie''" released a year before.
 * This is Zach Callison 's third theatrically released animated film since  Mr. Peabody & Sherman" released 4 years prior and   The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie ''  released 7 months prior.
 * This is Charlyne Yi 's second theatrically released animated Warner Bros. film since  The Lego Ninjago Movie''" released a year before.
 * This is the fourth theatrically released animated Warner Bros. film in a musical format since  Quest for Camelot  released 20 years prior,  Smallfoot  released last year and  The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part   released this month.
 * This is the seventh theatrically released animated Warner Bros. film to be released in February since  Clifford's Really Big Movie  released 14 years prior,  The Lego Movie   released 4 years prior, "Tiny Toon Adventures: The Motion Picture" released 2 years prior,  The Lego Batman Movie" released a year before and   Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Movie  and  The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part ''  both released this month.
 * This is Uzo Aduba 's second theatrically released traditionally animated film since  My Little Pony: The Movie   released a year before.


 * It is to be animated by Sunmin Image Pictures Co.
 * On December 13, 2018, new musical additions to the cast such as Chance The Rapper and Gallant were announced via Cartoon Network's Twitter.
 * The film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and the first teaser trailer will be released in front of Regular Show: The Movie II on December 7, 2018, after being released on the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channels on July 21, 2018.
 * The official trailer will be released in front of The Adventures of Pikachu: The Movie on January 18, 2019, after being shown on January 11, 2019 during the Steven Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con.
 * The second and final trailer will be released in front of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part on February 8, 2019, before being aired by Adult Swim’s action oriented Toonami block during their August 24th broadcast.
 * This movie takes place May 21-22, as seen on Sadie Killer and the Suspects' poster.
 * Given Steven's birthday is August 15, Steven is 16 years, 9 months and 6 days old in the movie.


 * The mysterious treasure chest in Lion's mane has been opened during the two-year time-skip, although its contents are still unknown.
 * Lars only has one line in the whole movie.


 * At the end of the first airing of "Change Your Mind", the teaser trailer played revealing a part of the planned release date.
 * The brief glimpses of the Gems in the teaser shows them in their pre-regeneration outfits. This was most obvious with Garnet's visor being their original shape instead of the top of a star. This was likely done to avoid spoiling the Diamond Days arc's mass regeneration, though their appearances were not updated for the trailer shown after "Change Your Mind" first aired on Television.
 * A video by Cartoon Network (featuring sketches by Rebecca Sugar and interviews with Sugar and Zach Callison) confirmed that the movie would take place approximately two years after Season 5, with Steven receiving a new design first shown in the official poster. Steven, in his 16-year-old design, now wears a blue star shirt with a pink jacket, is taller, and has a visible neck.
 * Alongside some Peridots, Topazes, and other Gems, the two Zircons from "The Trial" — Zircon (Defense)and Zircon (Prosecuting) — are seen in the crowd that receives Steven's message.
 * Ted Leo, who voices Steg sings with Aimee Mann, the voice of Opal in "Independent Together." They are both co-members of their musical duo called The Both.
 * This is the first time Opal is shown voluntarily un-fusing rather than falling apart or poofing.

Continuity

 * Amethyst plays the drums for Sadie Killer and the Suspects' song "Disobedient", a skill she was shown to have in the episode "Steven and the Stevens".
 * Several objects referencing past episodes are shown in Steven's room. These include the Moon Goddess Statue (from "Cheeseburger Backpack"), an Explorer Gal (from "Onion Friend"), Steven's Best Stephen Mug (from "Catch and Release"), Vidalia's painting of Garnet and Steven (from "Pool Hopping"), and what seems to be a Lonely Blade poster.
 * The remains of Rose's Sword, which got broken in "Reunited", are seen on one of Steven's shelves.
 * Amethyst's feet-hand-big ear form, pearl form, and half muscular can be seen as she is transforming into her regular self after "No Matter What".
 * Peridot being worried that she would "lose all her character development" after touching the Gem rejuvenator refers to the events of her adjustment on Earth during "Catch and Release" to "Message Received".
 * The train route which was shown previously in "On the Run" and "Back to the Kindergarten" is once again used to travel to the Beta Kindergarten this time by Amethyst, Steven and Spinel.
 * Greg's storage unit first shown in "Maximum Capacity" reappears and seems to have remained tidy after having being cleaned out 3 years prior.

Cultural References

 * Spinel's mannerism and behavior is akin to rubber hose animation, an early style of animation originating in the United States during the 1920s. Its name is derived from the rubber-like features prominent in cartoon characters from the era, which included arms, and sometimes legs, that are able to stretch and flow without any apparent articulation (no hinged wrists or joints).
 * Additionally, Spinel speaks in a dialect associated with that era, using expressions such as "gee" and "swell".
 * The posters advertising the Sadie Killer and the Suspects gig outside the warehouse features a design similar to that of the flag commonly associated with libertarian socialism, a political philosophy rooted in anti-authoritarianism and criticism of capitalism and wage labor relationships within the workplace, themes that are often explored in songs performed by Sadie.
 * A picture of Connie dressed similarly to Lana from Future Boy Conan can be seen in Steven's room in the background. Rebecca and Ian have mentioned being big fans of the show.
 * The musical opening of the film "The Tale of Steven" is a reference to the old openings in classic Disney Animated films like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Cinderella", and "Sleeping Beauty".
 * Spinel pulling out a giant fist to punch Steven is a reference to Monkey D. Luffy's gum-gum attack from the anime, "One Piece".
 * Spinel's squeaky footsteps may be a reference to Spongebob Squarepants.

Errors

 * When Spinel activates the Gem Injector, the star on Pearl's jacket is missing.
 * During the scene when Steven said, "No idea", to Greg, the star on his shirt is missing.
 * Amethyst's feet appear to be missing when she was mimicking Pearl's actions as she was standing behind the table.
 * The tools Peridot throws out from her garbage bin disappear in the next scene.
 * When Spinel "tags" Amethyst, in one frame her gem is missing its facet.
 * Steg's second right arm disappeared for a second several times.
 * When Garnet looks to her right with crossed arms in "True Kinda Love", the rings switch colors.

Main Transcript

 * Main article: Steven Universe: The Movie/Transcript

Trailer transcripts

 * Main article: Steven Universe: The Movie/Trailer transcripts