RJ Writing Ink

We all knew that this day was coming, people. After seven years of fun, music, and intense emotional growth, Steven Universe is ending its run on Cartoon Network. I cannot overstate the importance of this show. It’s one of the best cartoons ever made and serves as an icon for the LGBT+ community. I stand by my previous statement about the movie: it should be made into a Broadway Musical. However, if this recent interview with Rebecca Sugar is any indication, we will be seeing more of Steven Universe in the future. It’s the kind of franchise that’s just too good to be left idle.

Enough about that, though! We’re hear to talk about the trailer for the last ten episodes of Steven Universe Future.

Steven’s Anger Issues Worsen

When we last left Steven Universe, his emotional state was becoming progressively worse. Now that everyone else seems to have grown and no longer needs his help, he’s lost and confused. Combine that with his lingering issues regarding his mother, and he’s an emotional wreck. As we see in this trailer, he’s starting to further retreat from his loved ones, which is only making things worse!

So far, Steven Universe Future has been what happens when a hero who’s focused on saving others for so long, he doesn’t know what else to do. My guess, is that he’s going to learn what may be his hardest lesson of all: how to accept help from others.

A Brighter Future

Despite how bad things may seem, I am confident that Steven will be able to overcome them. In a way, he’s actually the last person on the show that needs help, and the one who needs it the most. For all the growing we’ve seen him do, he’s still dealing with the legacy of his mom and trying to figure out his place in the world. When this show started, Steven was just a boy, and here he is on the verge of adulthood. The end of the show will not be the end of Steven Universe.

As for me, I’m only sorry I didn’t start the show at the beginning like so many others did. I missed out on a heck of ride, but I’m glad I got to see the tail end. And I plan on reviewing it to the end!

A Little Surprise

I got a little surprise in the pipeline for Steven Universe, by the way. Expect it by the time the next episode of Steven Universe Future comes out.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

My Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2019

It feels fitting that the final year of the 2010s gave us some of the biggest films of the decade. I’m working on a list of my favorite movies of the decade, and a lot came of them came out in 2019. Thus, in the spirit of the New Year, I decided to look at my favorite films of the year. Without further ado, here are my picks for my favorite movies of 2019.

However, let it be noted that some of my picks are films I reviewed in the past. As such, I will keep my writing as brief as possible. In addition, I won’t be counting entries like the Invader Zim and Rocko specials.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Jan.)

Since his debut in the DBZ films, Broly’s been the enemy fans wanted to see join the canon. In other words, seeing him join the canon story felt like a dream come true. However, the film got marred by controversy when Broly’s VA Vic Mignogna got fired over sexual harassment allegations. Given that most of Broly’s lines consist of screaming, though, and that they got Johnny Yong Bosch to replace Vic, I don’t see it as a big loss.

Captain Marvel (March)

In my review of this film, I called Captain Marvel the final piece of the MCU’s puzzle for the Infinity Saga. After all, I had a feeling that Captain Marvel would play a major role in the final battle against Thanos. As such, I was eager to learn her MCU origins and the origins of Nick Fury. While I wish they had included more references to 90s culture, I think this movie did a solid job of getting us pumped for Endgame.

Shazam! (April)

The next entry the DC Extended Universe, Shazam! tells the story of Billy Batson, an orphaned teenager who only wants to find his long-lost mom. However, he ends up being tapped by an ancient wizard with magic superpowers that turn him into a full-grown man. As a result, he has to save the world from an evil bald guy obsessed with that same power due to his childhood insecurities.

The plot of Shazam! seems cliche and unoriginal, but I wound up enjoying it. It’s lighthearted, yet knows when to be serious. More importantly, though, it moved away from Zack Snyder’s terrible taste in colors and attempts to overly serious. If DC had done this since the start, then maybe they wouldn’t be playing catch up to Marvel. That’s right, I said it; not sorry.

Avengers: Endgame (April)

This film was the big one for 2019; the box office records say so! Considering how it was the culmination of eleven years of films, Endgame had a lot riding on it. Thankfully, Marvel knew what it was doing and gave the fans a story for the ages. While the three hour run-time can be a little much for some, it’s justified with how much story they pack into it. In addition, the climax of the film ends up being one of the greatest moments in cinema history. I still remember how every cheered in the theater.

Detective Pikachu (May)

Welcome to Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokemon live together in harmony. Everyone except for Tim Goodman, who comes to town after learning his Detective dad disappeared. Depsite not wanting anything to do with Pokemon, he ends up teaming up with his Dad’s Pikachu, who he can somehow understand. Together, the two uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Ryme city.

I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only one who got worried about a live action Pokemon film. After all, films based on video games have bad track records. However, to my delight, I discovered that Detective Pikachu knock it out of the park. They faithfully adapt the beloved world of Pokemon into live-action. In addition, Ryan Reynolds owns it as Pikachu!

Toy Story 4 (June)

When I heard that there would be a Toy Story 4, I got worried it was a cash grab by Disney and Pixar. Thankfully, I was happy to learn that it wasn’t. While the ending’s bittersweet, as many good stories are, and I felt many of the veteran castmembers got neglected, I still liked this film. It felt good to say that Pixar could do more with the franchise that gave them their big break.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July)

After the whirlwind of events in Avengers: Endgame, I got worried about the future of the MCU. What could they do that could top the Infinity. Fortunately, Marvel showed us the future in Spider-Man: Far from Home, and its bright. The entire film centers on passing the torch from the original actors to the next generation as the MCU prepares for its future. As long as Disney and Sony keep their acts together, I think the MCU will be seeing a future led

Steven Universe: The Movie (September)

I know this was a TV-based movie, but if you read both of my reviews for the film, then you know I don’t care. Set after the events of the original show, Steven Universe: The Movie shows an older Steven dealing with a new threat. At the same time, he tries to come to terms with the fact that no matter how good things get, there may always be problems to solve. In my opinion, Rebecca Sugar gave us an animated Broadway Musical, and it is glorious.

Joker (October)

After all these years, we finally have another actor worthy of playing the Clown Prince of Crime. In this standalone DC film, Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mistreated soul with mental issues in a city that doesn’t care about him. With one tragic act, Arthur’s life spirals out of control until he transforms into one of the greatest villains mankind’s ever dreamt up.

This film’s rightfully deserving of his status as the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. While it’s a slow burn, Joker gives us a very realistic look at how a real life version of the Clown Prince could be created. As dark and depressing as it was, I loved the movie. In addition, I now consider Joaquin Phoenix as one of the rare few worthy of playing the Joker. He deserves all the praise in the world.

Klaus (November)

This film came out on Netflix less than a month ago, yet it’s one of the best Christmas movies I’ve seen in years. Set on an Arctic island in the 18th century, Klaus tells the story of Jesper, a lazy and unmotivated postman tasked with setting up an office in the most unfriendly town on Earth. Then one day, he runs into a reclusive toymaker named Klaus, and offers to help deliver the toys he makes to the children in town. As a result, this unlikely pair gives birth to the legend of the jolly man himself, Santa Claus.

The brainchild of Depsicable Me creator Sergio Pablos, Klaus gives us a return to the traditionally animation style of old. The result is a breath-taking, colorful, and heartwarming story about how an act of kindness can change the world for the better. It’s honestly one of the best Christmas films I’ve seen in years, and I hope it goes down as holiday classic.

Happy New Year

Agree with my picks? What movies were your favorite in 2019? Let me know in the comments below.

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

Click here to see my reviews for various films.

My (Spoiler-Free) Review of Steven Universe: The Movie

I’ve seen a few cartoons get the musical treatment in the past. Shoot, Spongebob Squarepants got a Broadway musical, and I didn’t even know! Of all the cartoons I’ve seen, though, I don’t think any would be better suited for Broadway than Steven Universe. The new movie Steven Universe: The Movie convinced me of that on Monday night.

It’s been two years since the events of Battle of Heart and Mind, and life seems perfect for Steven. The Diamond’s are learning to be nicer to others, the uncorrupted Gems are making a new home in Beach City, and the galaxy’s at peace. Right when Steven’s ready to live happily ever after, a new enemy emerges. Can Steven and the Crystal Gems save Earth again, and can they do it in song?

The answer to that second question’s a resounding yes. We’re treated to a a multitude of song and dance numbers the minute the curtains rise, literally. If you were to close and just listen to the music, you’d mistake Steven Universe: The Movie for a Broadway Musical. Songs are Steven Universe’s thing, so why shouldn’t the movie be a musical?

Musical Success

I liked all the songs in Steven Universe: The Movie ; I’m even listening to the entire soundtrack as I write this. From the upbeat to the tear-jerking to the hopeful, the movie covers all the bases for a musical. My favorite song, though, has to be “Other Friends,” sung by the film’s villain, Spinel. It’s chaotic and as cartoonish as the rubber-hose style Gem singing it. I especially found the contrast between the inherent silliness of Spinel’s design and the bitter and mocking tone of her voice to be entertaining. The fans think so, too: the song was trending at #4 on YouTube the day after the movie premiered.

Once you get past the awesome music and get to the heart of the movie, you’ll find that it remains faithful to the themes of Steven Universe, specifically love and change. I’ll talk more about it in my spoiler review, but the events of Steven Universe: The Movie force Steven and the Gems to accept that nothing stays the same forever. The show’s always been about change, and the movie reminds the characters of that. Being Steven Universe, it imparts these lessons through the power of catchy songs.

I’m sorry, the music’s just that good.

All in all, Steven Universe: The Movie is a musical masterpiece that more than lives up to the hype. It shows off all the charm and fun that made Steven Universe one of the most important cartoons of our time. Thanks to Cartoon Network rightfully using all its resources to promote the film, I think they got a massive hit. If you haven’t seen the film, then go watch it now wherever you can. It’s so good, I actually hope it becomes a Broadway Musical one day.

I Give Steven Universe: The Movie a 5/5. Believe in Steven

If you’ve seen the movie already, then click here to see my spoiler review where I discuss what I liked most about the film.

My Spoiler Review for Steven Universe: The Movie

Six years and five seasons since it started, and Steven Universe is an undisputed global phenomenon. It’s easy to see ehy: great characters, catchy songs and dances, and as I said in my article on the subject, it’s done a lot to help LGBT portrayals in kids cartoons. Now it’s got a hit musical film that everyone’s been talking about.

Quick Warning: there are going to spoilers ahead. So if you haven’t seen the movie, then read my spoiler free review and go see the movie.

Last Warning. Good

Two years have passed, and life’s going great for Steven Universe. The Diamonds are learning to be nicer, the uncorrupted Gems are building a home on Earth, and peace reigns across the galaxy. It seems like Steven’s days of dealing with his mom’s (many) mistakes are done.

That’s when mysterious, yet silly, new Gem called Spinel shows up, and she’s got a grudge with Pink Diamond. Before Steven can react, this new Gem’s uses a mysterious weapon to poof the Crystal Gems. When they come back out, they have none of their memories: they’re basically reset to default mode. Worse, Steven has no control over his powers at all, and there’s a giant drill pumping death poison into the planet. Now Steven has to get his friends to remember who they are and save the world, while singing!

New Look to an Old Trope

While the amnesia story may not seem wholly original, it works well considering how it’s Steven Universe. Rebecca Sugar got the idea after she accidentally reset her smartphone back in 2015. Losing her early work for the show and the photos she took with the crew made her realize how big a role our experiences play in molding who we are. Without them, we see that the Crystal Gems have little to distinguish them from the rest of Gemkind.

Luckily, Steven realizes, with some help from a now-reset Spinel, that the key is to recreate the pivotal moments in the Gems lives. It makes the movie feel like a pseudo-microcosm of the show, reminding us of where the characters started from and just how much they’ve changed in five seasons.

At its heart, I think there are two themes at the heart of Steven Universe: love, and the many forms it takes, and change. Before Steven, Gem Society was more or less static, as unchanging as the Gems were un-aging. Steven’s a Gem that can grow and change and be who he wants, which makes him so revolutionary. He’s what drives the Crystal Gems and eventually all of Gem Society to change. The movie’s a condensed version of the impact he’s had on his friends, how they’ve impacted him , and changed for the better since the show began.

Pokes A Hole in The Show’s Idealism

Steven Universe has always portrayed change as a positive thing, something to make people better. This movie pokes a giant hole in that logic with its villain, Spinel. Once a happy-go-lucky Gem, she was Pink Diamond’s best friend and playmate. When Pink got Earth, though, she didn’t just abandon her: she lied and told her to stand still until she came back. So when she found out Pink started her new life on Earth with new friends, and now no longer existed, she’s mad. So she decides to get revenge on Pink’s other friends and her son.

The show’s made it clear that Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz made a lot of mistakes and did some bad things, but this takes the cake. Steven even admits that it’s something his mom would do. Then he ends up almost doing the exact same thing. He gets Spinel to stop the drill, but then ignores her. He’s too focused on his happily ever after, and Spinel even calls him out on his selfishness.

For all the show’s focus on change, Steven’s ironically fallen into the same trap the Diamonds were in. By the time of the film, he wants things to stay that way forever. He forgot what it means to change, and thus screws up with Spinel. That almost costs him everything.

Steven Universe: The Movie’s Lesson

That, to me, is the ultimate lesson of Steven Universe: The Movie. No matter how perfect things may get, things won’t stay the same forever. Once Steven accepts that, and that there may always new hardships on the horizon, he gets his powers back.

The movie then ends how’d you expect. Spinel’s redeemed and the Diamonds adopt her since they see so much of Pink in her, Steven and the others rebuild Beach City, and everyone accepts that there will always be more challenges ahead. And I think they’re fine with that, just like I am.

Steven Universe could’ve easily ended with A Battle of Heart and Mind with everyone getting their happily ever after. Steven Universe: The Movie shows the world, though, that Rebecca Sugar and the crew are not only willing to continue the show, but they’re willing to try new things. Rebecca Sugar has more adventures planned.

Bottom line, I loved this movie, I’d pay money to see it adapted onto Broadway, and I want to see it won an Emmy next year.

I Give “Steven Universe: The Movie” a 5/5.

twitter.com/spinelapologist/status/1168714518693892098

In one week’s time, Cartoon Network will premiere the long-awaited film Steven Universe: The Movie. Based on their now legendary show, this movie promises to be every bit as exciting and emotional as the show.

Cartoon Network’s well aware how important Steven Universe is to them, so they’ve been pulling out all the stops to promote this movie. They even let Toonami make the trailer we just saw, and Toonami’s technically a part of Adult Swim now. That shows how much this means to them. And yes, TOM, you did do the show more than enough justice. It emphasizes how much like an anime Rebecca Sugar’s hit show is.

Two years have passed since the events of Battle of Heart and Mind, and Earth is at peace. Steven’s helped to dismantle the Gem Empire, and the Gems of Earth are moving on with their lives. Everything seems perfect. Then a new Gem that looks like Jenny from Teenage Robot mixed with rubber hose shows up and starts wrecking everything! Hero time!

A Cartoon For a Generation

I may not be as enthusiastic a fan of Steven Universe as others, but I appreciate what the show stands for. I even gave it the top spot in my list of best depictions of LGBT in animation. I found it impossible to do otherwise. Years from now, I hope that historians will look back on this cartoon and see it as one of the most important cartoons of the 21st century. It’s universal messages on love and kindness resonate with millions and help people around the world. That’s something we need now more than ever in this world.

Plus, it has a lot influence from anime, and that shows how anime now rules the world.

In short, I am looking forward to this film. Just like how last year gave us the end to Adventure Time’s run on TV, this Labor Day will give us the next chapter in Steven Universe. Grab your cheeseburger backpacks, everyone!