Things I'd Like to Say 18 - The Umpteenth Steven Universe Rant
I happen to be in the middle on this show, and have a low regard towards its most fanatical adulators and rabid detractors alike. I'll begin with discussing the good. Steven Universe has some excellent color choices, which I tend to appreciate. They aren't garish, nor are they murky. So far, so good. Secondly, Rebecca Sugar has the eye for fight choreography, contrary to what EZ PZ says. The fights in this may not be as over the moon as Popeye or Rats on Cocaine Ep. 9, nor as brisk and intense as a Stickpage/Fluidanims/Hyun's Dojo stick figure cartoon; however, they are far better than Tarboy's sad excuse for fight scenes. This is what I refer as taking what Dragon Ball Z did and improving on it. Another example of this would be the fusions, though the sex metaphor doesn't really work and comes off as pasted on. (More on this later.) The third thing I like is the fact that it is storyboard driven, akin to classic cartoons from the 1920s to the early '50s. (Sure, they had scriptwriters, but they were also cartoonists.) There simply are not enough board-driven cartoons these days, which is something that I have to agree with John Kricfalusi on. The world building this show has is quite impressive, though not up to snuff with '60s Stan Lee or Jack Kirby's DC creations. However, that is the end of the good things, and now to discuss what I didn't really like about SU. Most of the voice acting in this show, while not as painful and unfitting as Gravity Falls, comes off as stiff and not very expressive. Compare this show's voice acting to Dexter's Laboratory, Animaniacs, or even the '90s Capcom cartoons, and you'll see where I'm getting at. In other words, the voices are either extremely bland (Steven, Greg, and Garnet), or really nasally. (Peridot aka one of two voices that Cristina Vee almost always does. Seriously, she’s the next Tiffany Grant, only far more annoying and has one thing in common with Hayden Christensen: has potential to be good, but almost always gets squandered.) I was going to apply the same to the animation, but considering TV animation, I'll let that slide. (Then again, South Korean animation, for the past 45 years, has a bad track record.) Then there's the musical numbers, and Sugar and her crew just can't compete with Disney, John K, Mike Judge, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone in the songwriting department. They just feel tacked on and indulgent. Then there are the characters, who while relatable at times, aren't the best written. They feel lackluster when compared to ‘90s Simpsons, Duckman, Jay Sherman, or for that matter, J Michael Straczynski’s Real Ghostbusters episodes. I understand that they’re going for realism, but that can be a double-edge sword. Steven and friends just aren’t as complex as certain fans of the show say they are. (Points at Mr. Enter, Phanton Strider, and Saberspark.) I would also like to mention that the show’s themes come off as a bit overbearing, but not as bad as Wall-E, Fern Gully, or what have you. Plus, various anime have already covered many of the show’s themes, such as Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Galaxy Express 999. Finally, I am fucking sick of smug, arrogant nutjobs deriding Sugar and co. Yeah, she drew porn, so what? Plus, no actual children were involved. Sure, many of the crew are worse than Chuck Jones, John K, Bruce Timm, and Martin Rosen combined, but there are also decent people who also worked on it. (Anyone remember Sinbad?) Instead of bitching like the imitation Natalie Merchants, maybe just not watch it at all? That, and to quote Jodie Landon from MTV’s Daria: “Why not try taking your head out of your butt for once and open your myopic little eyes, or does your 165 IQ prevent you from seeing who you really are?” As far as propaganda is concerned, Wall-E and Captain Planet were worse. Much Worse.
Created by Fighting Seraph