Steven Universe (character)

Steven Universe
Steven Universe character
First appearance	"Gem Glow" (2013)
Created by	Rebecca Sugar
Voiced by	Zach Callison
In-universe information
Species	Gem-Human Hybrid
Gender	Male
Family	Greg Universe (Father) Rose Quartz (Mother)
Nationality	American

Steven Quartz Universe is a fictional character and titular protagonist of the animated series Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar. Steven is a hybrid between a "Gem", a fictional alien being that exists as a magical gemstone projecting a holographic body, and a normal human being. Steven is voiced by Zach Callison. Steven made his debut in the pilot episode, Gem Glow.

The character has received mostly positive reviews.

Creation

Zach Callison, Steven's voice actor

Steven was created by Rebecca Sugar. In terms of appearance and name, Steven is based on Rebecca Sugar's brother, Steven Sugar, who works as a background artist for the show. While Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl underwent almost total redesigns from the unaired pilot to the series, the only significant change to Steven's design was the removal of a gold ring around his gem.

Character

The 14-year-old youngest and only male member of the Crystal Gems, Steven is an entirely unique being. The product of the union between Rose Quartz, the former leader of the Crystal Gems, and Greg Universe, a former musician turned car wash owner, Steven is the first and only known Gem-Human hybrid. Due to the inorganic nature of Gems, Rose had to give up her physical form to birth Steven, in the process gifting him her gem, a pink, pentagonal-faceted rose quartz located where his naval should be. With this gem, Steven develops a wide variety of magical abilities. So far he has demonstrated the ability to summon his mother's shield, the power to heal using his saliva, manipulate his own aging process, create and control sentient plant life, empathic telepathy and levitation.

Optimistic, kind and always willing to see the best in people, Steven is beloved by the Gems and the people of Beach City. Steven is said to take after Rose in terms of personality, empathetic and all-loving, but is noted to look like both Greg and Rose. Over the course of the series Steven matures greatly, garnering a new respect for his position as a protector of Earth and becoming more aware of the dangers of being a Crystal Gem. Steven is shown almost exclusively to wear a salmon-pink t-shirt with a yellow star, blue jeans and pink sandles.

Reception

Steven has received mainly positive reception. Steven is commonly praised for his portrayal of masculinity and subversion of gender roles. Susana Polo of Polygon praises Steven for being the "toxic masculinity antidote" in that his dominant traits of empathy and kindness are what make him such a vital member of the Crystal Gems. Polo also commends Steven's subversion of gender definitions, him being a young boy in a feminine role with defensive abilities that manifest in shades of pink. Similarly, in a post on Bitch Flicks, Ashley Gallagher also praises Steven's rejection of typical masculinity and his stereotypically defensive and feminine powers such as his shield and his healing while also expressing approval of his relationship with Connie.