Steven Universe

Steven Universe is a Cartoon Network animated series created by Rebecca Sugar. The show revolves around Steven, a half-human-half-Gem boy, and his adventures with the Crystal Gems, humanoid aliens warriors who are sworn to protect the Earth from interstellar threats.

The show has been critically acclaimed and has a large fanbase. Steven Universe’s complex lore helps to distinguish it from “your standard “monster of the week” cartoon to something that’s actually telling an interesting, deep meta-story”. Steven Universe has been praised for tackling issues such as this that are usually deemed as ‘too adult’ for a children’s show. Steven inherited his Gem powers from his mother, the former leader of the Crystal Gems, who gave up her physical form to create him. The absence of Rose allows the show to tackle grief and processing the loss of a loved one.

Sexuality is explicitly addressed through romance between the female-presenting Gems, Ruby and Sapphire.

Gems are genderless because they are an alien species, although, they are female presenting by choice. James Whitbrook of Gizmodo acknowledged the show’s inversion of gender roles and the Magical Girl genre with Steven, a male protagonist:

Steven is portrayed as anything but traditionally masculine. He’s unafraid of showing emotion for his friends and family, he is equally comfortable in hanging out with women… as he is with other boys of his age or his father Greg. Steven embodies the same sort of femininity that all Magical Girl leads do, he just happens to be a boy — and one that’s not uncomfortable with showing that side of himself… Steven is never ostracized for that by any other character in the series, but instead embraced for his openness in embracing the feminine and masculine sides of himself equally.