This is Volume 3, Episode 5 of the official Steven Universe podcast, looking at the episode “Reunited,” including input from Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey.
The official description:
Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar and former Executive Producer Ian Jones-Quartey return to provide a detailed look at the creation and execution of “Reunited.” Rebecca reveals her original idea for the wedding, the inspiration she drew from old movies like “Fiddler On The Roof” and “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,” and why it was so important for her to get “Reunited” made. Rebecca and Ian also discuss the different fighting styles and abilities of the Diamonds, everybody’s wedding outfits, Ronaldo’s armor and sword, the Cluster, and how the entire Steven Universe series is so informed by “The Wizard Of Oz!”
This, as usual, is bit long so I’ll do my bullet points of interest, with longer descriptions after the jump.
Highlights:
The episode was not originally meant to open with a song. They added the opening number much later to establish plot elements that needed to be fresh in our minds and also set the stage for how Steven was feeling.
They knew the Cluster arc would culminate in arm wrestling way back when they first invented the Cluster arc.
Musical influences for the opening number and the episode itself included For Me and My Gal, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Fiddler on the Roof.
The Cluster manifesting as an arm while the rest of it stays unformed to spare the Earth is described as “very uncomfortable” for the gestalt creature.
Katie Mitroff is credited for much of the opening song sequence, including wedding outfit design, with help from Joe Johnston.
Garnet’s wedding outfit was originally conceived as being torn for the battle, but the design they used turned out perfect for showing the mixture of garments AND working well for fighting.
Ronaldo, seen wearing armor and talking to Bismuth at the wedding, is described by Ian as mansplaining armor to Bismuth.
Early concepts of the Ruby and Sapphire wedding started with Garnet actually marrying herself, in an episode known as “If You Love Yourself So Much.”
Diamonds in combat were mostly handled by storyboarder Miki Brewster.
Blue’s ability to incapacity others with her sadness was known early on, and Lapis’s reaction was an obvious element they intended to include.
Rebecca thinks the Wizard of Oz and Sleeping Beauty are the most commonly cited films in their writers’ room, with a little bit of Cinderella for aesthetic.
Blue Diamond getting a house dropped on her is a Wizard of Oz reference.
Lapis being the one to drop the barn on Blue was a satisfying confrontation, as Blue is described as a parent who abandoned her.
Violence following a wedding was another nod to Fiddler, but it was important to Rebecca that the wedding itself be completed.
The Diamonds’ invasion could not have happened any sooner or they would not have faced a united, prepared team of Crystal Gems. They now know what they’re fighting for.
It’s so important to show that communication and compassion for others leads to strength. The show often depicts the best Fusions as being healthy relationships, and Rebecca thinks spending time and effort on cultivating these relationships–and on yourself!–will make you stronger in the next thing you do.
Ruby and Sapphire’s wedding was an important story type Rebecca and Ian felt their characters deserved to have. They were created as a classic cartoon couple who managed to get various romantic story types assigned to them throughout the show; Rebecca was determined to champion this mission to let them have this.
Ruby and Sapphire’s introduction in “Jailbreak” was met with a decision-maker slapping a specific prohibition on them being a romantic couple. Rebecca had to argue, “But they ARE.”
It’s so incredibly vital that couples like Ruby and Sapphire are not considered more adult than typical couples in G-rated content. Â
Rebecca is grateful and relieved that the wedding has finally aired and they got to do this, but she stresses that this is only one example amidst a hundred years of weddings and couples that communicate an exclusively heteronormative message. There’s still so much to do for LGBTQ kids to help them understand they DO belong in a “family-friendly” world.
Though much of the discussion for representation has been about couples, they emphasize they’re not just talking about couples here or pushing the idea that everyone’s dream should be getting married. It’s just that if you do want to marry someone, there is a future for someone who imagines being happy in a non-heteronormative relationship.
The show is designed to give kids tools to handle their own feelings.
Rebecca is excited to include Ruby and Sapphire as a couple that decided to get married after being together a VERY long time. Couples need to talk and know each other instead of jumping into something like marriage.
What’s next on Steven Universe? An exploration of what it means for these rebel Gems to be on Homeworld, with Steven “in the palace,” and the upcoming episodes are “huge.”
💜🎵GlowLite🎵💜 