The Answer (Steven Universe)
Ruby and Sapphire's first fusion creates Garnet.
The Answer, a Steven Universe episode from season two, aired on January 4, 2016. Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff wrote and storyboarded it. The episode, which earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Short-format Animation, was later turned into a popular children's book.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Steven Universe
- Season
- 2
- Episode
- 22
- Director
- Byung Ki Lee (animation)
- Jasmin Lai (art)
- Joe Johnston (supervising)
- Writer
- Lamar Abrams; Katie Mitroff
- Air date
- 4 January 2016
- Length
- 11 minutes
- Guests
- Susan Egan as Rose Quartz
- Erica Luttrell as Sapphire
- Lo Mutuc as Ruby
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Garnet wakes Steven at midnight on his birthday to recount how Ruby and Sapphire first met and fused to become Garnet. Five thousand seven hundred fifty years earlier, the Gem Homeworld is colonizing Earth while rebels resist. A diplomatic team including Sapphire and three Ruby bodyguards arrives. Sapphire foresees that the rebels will defeat seven Gems, including herself and two Rubies, but will be captured, ending the rebellion. Rose Quartz and Pearl attack the Sky Arena as predicted. After two Rubies fall, Sapphire thanks the remaining Ruby and accepts her fate. Ruby refuses, leaps to save Sapphire, and unintentionally fuses with her, forming Garnet for the first time. The crowd reacts with surprise and disgust; Rose and Pearl escape. Garnet unfuses, and Ruby takes blame. Blue Diamond sentences Ruby to be shattered, but Sapphire grabs her and jumps to Earth. They find shelter, discuss their feelings, and sing "Something Entirely New" while exploring Earth. They fuse again into Garnet. Garnet tumbles into Pearl and Rose, who welcomes her. Garnet asks questions about Ruby, Sapphire, and fusion; Rose says Garnet is "the answer." In the present, Steven asks what the answer was; Garnet replies: "love."
Production
Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff wrote and storyboarded the episode. Joe Johnston served as supervising director, Byung Ki Lee as animation director, and Jasmin Lai as art director. The art was inspired by Lotte Reiniger, known for directing The Adventures of Prince Achmed. Rebecca Sugar, who has been compared to Reiniger, liked Reiniger for innovating in an era with little animation precedent. Katie Mitroff called this her favorite episode. The song "Something Entirely New" was written by Rebecca Sugar, arranged by Aivi & Surasshu, and performed by Lo Mutuc and Erica Luttrell, with violin by Jeff Ball. Instrumental pieces include "Happy Birthday, Steven/5,750 Years Ago," "Blue Diamond," "The Rebels/Garnet's First Fusion," "Escaping the Colony/Feelings of Love," and "The Answer."
Broadcast and reception
The episode premiered on Cartoon Network on January 4, 2016, drawing 1.384 million viewers and a Nielsen household rating of 0.30. It was the first episode in a "StevenBomb" schedule of daily new episodes. Reviews were mostly positive, with praise for the song "Something Entirely New" and Estelle's voice acting; several critics compared it to a fairy tale. Lyn Muldrow of Autostraddle said the show had "out-gayed" itself. Eric Thurm of The A.V. Club gave a B+, noting the episode did not reveal anything viewers could not have guessed and that Ruby and Sapphire remained one-note characters. Sarra Sedghi of Paste ranked "Something Entirely New" as the fifth best song of the show's first two seasons.
Book adaptation
A children's book adaptation was released on September 6, 2016, published by Cartoon Network Books, written by Rebecca Sugar, with art by Elle Michalka and Tiffany Ford. It reached number 7 on the New York Times Best Seller List for Children's Middle Grade Hardcover books on October 2, 2016. After publication, Sugar was brought into a meeting and asked to explain herself, and she defended the show's stories and its "audience of queer youth." Fusion praised the book as "a subversive fairy tale that both upends and queers the storybook canon." PBS described the book as part of a changing story about how cartoons portray LGBTQ characters for kids.
More in LGBTQ-related Animated Television Episodes
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