A review by brnineworms
Steven Universe: Art & Origins by Genndy Tartakovsky, Chris McDonnell, Rebecca Sugar

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

I bought this book as soon as it came out and I’ve flicked through it many times, but this is my first time actually sitting down and reading it cover to cover.

Both the visual and written elements are consistently fascinating. I loved being shown how Steven Universe developed from its conception to its series debut, not only aesthetically but in relation to the story and themes as well. All the concept art was interesting but what stuck out to me the most were Rebecca Sugar’s early sketches and pilot pitch sketchbook. They have such a loose, raw, organic quality to them that I just adore.
The text delves into the rationale behind some of the character designs, detailing the Bauhaus inspiration that underpins the symbolic use of shapes (“Garnet is a cube, Amethyst is a sphere, and Pearl is a cone because Garnet is solid, Pearl is pointed, and Amethyst is fluid.”) There are also some noteworthy insights into characters’ behaviours and mentalities, such as Jasper’s insecurity, Peridot not always recognising injustice, and Garnet never asking questions.

Perhaps the most influential aspect for me was the gentle encouragement to use creative projects as an opportunity to explore and learn, and how this approach can be applied to anything from “how to draw birds” to “my fear of being alone.” That’s something that will stick with me, I think.

Steven Universe: Art & Origins is absolutely something I would recommend to fans of the show, and even to people who have no interest in Steven Universe whatsoever. It’s an inspiring read that I know I will revisit regularly.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings