Stevonnie Explained

Stevonnie
Series:Steven Universe
First:"Alone Together" (2015)
Last:"Bismuth Casual" (2020)
Creator:Rebecca Sugar
Voice:AJ Michalka
Species:25% Gem
75% Human
Gender:Non-binary[1]
Affiliation:Crystal Gems
Weapon:Sword
Shield
Nationality:American

Stevonnie is a fictional character in the animated series Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future, created by Rebecca Sugar. A "fusion" of the protagonist Steven Universe and his friend Connie Maheswaran, Stevonnie has the appearance of an androgynous young adult. First introduced in the episode "Alone Together", Stevonnie only appears occasionally in the series[2] [3] and once in the limited epilogue series, Steven Universe Future.

Character

One of the core concepts in Steven Universe is a process referred to as "fusion", in which two or more Gem characters merge into one being who is physically larger and stronger. Fusion is used by the writers of the show as a metaphor for a range of types of intimacy and relationships. The episode "Alone Together", first broadcast January 15, 2015, focuses on protagonist Steven's first experience with fusion while dancing with his friend Connie.

Steven and Connie identify as male and female respectively (although some have interpreted Steven as genderfluid),[4] but Stevonnie's gender is difficult to describe. Steven Universes creator, Rebecca Sugar, has responded to an inquiry on Stevonnie's gender—whether Stevonnie is agender, bigender, or something else—by stating that "Stevonnie is an experience! The living relationship between Steven and Connie." Sugar described Stevonnie as a complex and specific metaphor that becomes relatable as it takes shape in the form of a unique character. Besides challenging gender norms, as Sugar put it, Stevonnie serves as a metaphor for "terrifying firsts in a first relationship," the feeling of hitting puberty, and objectification.[5] [6] This was also reflected by Ian Jones Quartey, who also called Stevonnie an experience,[7]

Stevonnie is referred to using they/them pronouns,[8] and both male and female characters seem to be physically attracted to Stevonnie.[9] [10] In a 2019 public service announcement about self-esteem and social media sponsored by Dove, Stevonnie shows an Instagram profile describing them as intersex and non-binary.[11]

Appearances

Stevonnie appeared only occasionally in episodes of Steven Universe. In "Alone Together", Steven and Connie fuse for the first time, and Stevonnie enjoys the capabilities of their new body before having an anxiety attack at a party and fending off unwelcome advances from Kevin, an arrogant teenager. Other episodes in which Stevonnie plays a starring role include the third-season episode "Beach City Drift", in which they challenge Kevin to a car race; the fourth-season episode "Mindful Education", in which Garnet teaches them mindfulness meditation to deal with difficult emotions; and the fifth season's "Jungle Moon", in which they are stranded on an alien planet.[12] They also appear in two episodes at the end of the show's fifth season.[13] [14] [15]

In a March 2017 comic (written by Melanie Gillman and drawn by Katy Farina and Whitney Cogar), Stevonnie goes with supporting character Kiki Pizza to her school prom. At the dance, Stevonnie has another anxiety attack, after which Steven and Connie discuss whether they are lying to Kiki about their identity.[16]

Additionally, Stevonnie is a playable character in the game,[17] in the Brawlhalla game, where they were a crossover character,[18] and appeared in an episode of Steven Universe Future, "Bismuth Casual."[19] Stevonnie also appeared in a 2020 comic designed by Cartoon Network and the National Black Justice Coalition which highlighted "the power and importance of respecting gender identity through the use of gender pronouns."[20]

Impact

Meredith Woerner of io9 described Stevonnie as a "big game changer character" for Steven Universe, who got a strong reaction from fans of the series. Writing for Towleroad.com, Charles Pulliam-Moore stated that Stevonnie deepened the way that watchers understood some of Steven Universes core characters. Carli Velocci, writing for Polygon commented that Stevonnie is a positive metaphor for consent, in an entirely non-sexual context.[21] Greta Christina of AlterNet noted that Steven and Connie continued to check in with one another during the first experience as Stevonnie, which she described as "an amazing example of ongoing, active consent."[22] Vrai Kaiser of The Mary Sue said of the character that "there are few things more refreshing than seeing children's media acknowledge that feeling negative emotions is a part of life. Taking a tack not dissimilar to Inside Out, the show uses visual metaphor to deal with complex, intangible emotions."[23]

Steven Universe has a significant amount of LGBT representation as well, featuring multiple feminine characters that show romantic attraction directed to each other. Stevonnie's appearance, and Steven Universe in general, have been part of a trend toward greater LGBTQ visibility in animated television series since 2010. As a genderqueer character, Stevonnie follows this same movement, and has encouraged people to be more open about their gender.[24]

In an August 5, 2020, interview with Paper Magazine, Sugar explained that her goal was to create a "great" nonbinary character whose existence isn't a joke and whom the audience is excited to see. She noted that, since the show is from Steven's point of view, Stevonnie becomes the main character whenever Stevonnie exists. Therefore, the viewer gets to "experience the point of view of a nonbinary character who is the main character of the show," asking viewers to put themselves "in this person's shoes," whether enjoying life, going on adventures, or the like, but also when they are being harassed or "experiencing panic."[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . Dove Self-Esteem Project x Steven Universe: Social Media . YouTube . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200505015521/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKohUwlaWA4 . May 5, 2020 . June 24, 2019 . live.
  2. Web site: Kirichanskaya . Michele . Steven Universe, She-Ra, & Voltron: LGBTQIA+ Successes, Failures, and Hopes for the Future in Children's Animation . . Abrams Media . April 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200321095108/https://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-she-ra-voltron-lgbtqia-rep/ . March 21, 2020 . February 7, 2020 . live .
  3. Web site: Kelley . Shamus . Steven Universe Is The LGBTQ Representation We Need . . Den of Geek World Ltd. . April 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200307185311/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/steven-universe-is-the-lgbtq-representation-we-need/ . March 7, 2020 . November 9, 2016 . live .
  4. Web site: Opam . Kwame . Steven Universe is a defining example of artistic resistance in our time . . . April 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191221234359/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/1/14463582/steven-universe-cartoon-network-fantasy-tolerance-empathy . December 21, 2019 . February 1, 2017 . live .
  5. Web site: Pulliam-Moore . Charles . 'Steven Universe' Creator Opens Up About Creating Gender-Fused Character, Stevonnie . . Andy Towle . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116050936/http://www.towleroad.com/2015/05/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-opens-up-about-creating-stevonnie/ . November 16, 2018 . March 30, 2015 . live .
  6. Web site: Warner . Meredith . Steven Universe Guidebook Spills The Secrets Of The Crystal Gems . . . April 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200327012936/https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universe-guidebook-spills-the-secrets-of-the-cry-1704470546 . March 27, 2020 . May 14, 2015 . live .
  7. Jones-Quartey . Ian . Ian Jones-Quartey . ianjq . 578413033883508738 . March 19, 2015 . Stevonnie is an experience. . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190826080601/https:/twitter.com/ianjq/status/578413033883508738 . August 26, 2019 . dead.
  8. Burnett . Matt . mcburnett . 620637717731217408 . July 13, 2015 . Stevonnie uses them/they. . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713235345/https://twitter.com/mcburnett/status/620637717731217408 . July 13, 2015 . dead.
  9. Web site: Payton . Naith . Comment: Lots of children's programmes already have LGBT characters . . PinkNews Media Group Ltd . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200214162732/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/07/17/comment-lots-of-childrens-programmes-already-have-lgbt-characters/ . February 14, 2020 . July 17, 2015 . live .
  10. Web site: Ewart . Asia . Four cartoons that are leading the way in LGBT visibility . . Schneps Media . April 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160704172142/http://www.metro.us:80/entertainment/four-cartoons-that-are-leading-the-way-in-lgbt-visibility/zsJogi---ekjB9tKntGMWg . July 4, 2016 . July 10, 2015 . live .
  11. Web site: Ermac . Raffy . Cartoon Network Confirmed This Steven Universe Character Is Intersex . pride.com . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190723125634/https://www.pride.com/geek/2019/6/26/cartoon-network-confirmed-steven-universe-character-intersex . July 23, 2019 . June 26, 2019 . live .
  12. Web site: Gittelman . Maya . What We Found With Stevonnie on That Jungle Moon . The Dot and Line . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200505011223/https://dotandline.net/steven-universe-jungle-moon-d54d7dcca1cd/ . May 5, 2020 . February 5, 2018 . live .
  13. Web site: Kelley . Shamus . Steven Universe Season 5 Episode 27 Review: Together Alone . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200325225605/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/steven-universe-season-5-episode-27-review-together-alone/ . March 25, 2020 . January 1, 2019 . live .
  14. Web site: Lee . Julia . Steven Universe's latest episode will finally debut the song 'Escapism' . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190530212909/https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/2019/1/7/18172706/steven-universe-together-alone-recap-escapism . May 30, 2019 . January 7, 2019 . live .
  15. Web site: Haberstock . Isabella . Steven Universe: Season 5 Recap & Review . The Nerd Daily . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200505012531/https://www.thenerddaily.com/steven-universe-season-5-recap/ . May 5, 2020 . February 23, 2019 . live .
  16. Web site: Schnenkel . Katie . Good Thing: Learning With Stevonnie In The 'Steven Universe' Comic . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190227200238/http://comicsalliance.com/stevonnie-steven-universe/ . February 27, 2019 . March 24, 2017 . live .
  17. Web site: . Steven Universe: Save the Light . . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329053028/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/steven-universe-save-the-light-ps4/ . March 29, 2019 . March 29, 2019 . live .
  18. Web site: Blue Mammoth . Steven Universe: Save the Light . . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200109091024/https://www.brawlhalla.com/news/steven-universe-is-here-to-save-the-day-in-brawlhalla-patch-3-53/ . January 9, 2020 . December 4, 2019 . live .
  19. Web site: Zackary. Brandon. Steven Universe's Finale Confirms One Fan-Favorite Couple as Canon. CBR. March 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200331160828/https://www.cbr.com/steven-universe-finale-confirms-fan-favorite-couple/. March 31, 2020. live.
  20. Web site: Milligan . Mercedes . NBJC & CN Launch Gender Identity Comic to Celebrate Diversity . . December 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201214171349/https://www.animationmagazine.net/internet/nbjc-cn-launch-gender-identity-comic-to-celebrate-diversity/ . December 14, 2020 . December 14, 2020 . live .
  21. Web site: Velocci . Carli . What a children's show can teach us about sex and healthy relationships . . . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191116221141/https://www.polygon.com/2015/7/14/8961119/what-a-childrens-show-can-teach-us-about-sex-and-healthy-relationships . November 16, 2019 . July 14, 2015 . live .
  22. Web site: Christina . Greta . 5 Amazing Love Scenes Where Pop Culture Got Consent Exactly Right . . Independent Media Institute . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125646/https://www.alternet.org/culture/5-amazing-love-scenes-where-pop-culture-got-consent-exactly-right . June 18, 2018 . July 30, 2016 . live .
  23. Web site: Kaiser . Vrai . Steven Universe Recap: Mindful Education . . Abrams Media . May 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200116083137/https://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-recap-mindful-education/ . January 16, 2020 . August 26, 2016 . live .
  24. Web site: Rude . Mey Valdivia . "Steven Universe" and the Importance of All-Ages Queer Representation . . The Excitant Group LLC. . April 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200408231750/https://www.autostraddle.com/steven-universe-and-the-importance-of-all-ages-queer-representation-281482/ . April 8, 2020 . March 13, 2015 . live .
  25. Web site: Moen . Matt . In Conversation: Rebecca Sugar and Noelle Stevenson . . August 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200809164913/https://www.papermag.com/rebecca-sugar-noelle-stevenson-2646446747.html . August 9, 2020 . August 5, 2020 . live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Stevonnie".

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