@@sundalosketch4769 I'm glad lol. I haven't watched the show in a few years, but that line has always stuck in my head because of listening to Stronger Than You on repeat 😭
I watched Steven Universe throughout my childhood and I never saw fusion as some kind of huge romantic/sexual gesture. Whenever a new fusion was revealed I’d interpret it as an act of friendship, or the creation of a new one.
I think at some point in an interview or in the podcast Rebecca said one interpretation of fusion was the different person you become when you're around others, the different roles you take upon yourself- and that's one of my favourites. It's relationships, expanded.
Sugilite was one of my fav fusions, it gets hate over, 'the two BLACK coded characters make a BAD fusion, Rebecca Sugar is RACIST1!!' But as a poc woman fan I love her, she's like a wrestler who has sapphire's confidence, ruby's temper, and amethyst's wreaklessness. Her debut episode was literally directed by a black man (Ian Jones-Quartey) for fucks sake! Plus she's voiced by Nicki Minaj❤
It was 100% racist, all the characters who served as warriors or uncontrollable were coded as POC, while all the proper, strategists were coded as white. It deserves the criticism, not hate, it earned itself. Rebecca Sugar is racist, and you are allowed to love the show despite that. The issue arises when you say, it's not racist, because I like it. It's not racist, because her husband is black. If Nicki Minaj shakes her very large butt while rapping about a sexual act, and someone points out "That is overtly sexual." it doesn't stop being overtly sexual because you like it. I really enjoyed the Nickelodeon shows growing up, watching characters eat nachos with their feet was incredibly funny. However, if I had to be there to watch an adult direct a child to poor cheese on their feet and eat it, I would at the very least be able to say "I'm very uncomfortable with this dynamic." In short, saying something is racist because it portrays a stereotype of a race, is a criticism and not hate.
@@IM_GOING_TOO_HAM When it comes to non-white characters, Sapphire is certainly proper, and garnet is both proper and strategist, yellow and blue diamond are proper and strategist. Although when it comes to the majority of gems don't explicitly have a racecoding other than the crystal gems already met(and also the rubies). I mean I put down yellow and blue just because that's how I see them, but could a person honestly just look at an image of either of those diamonds and say precisely what human race they are? Even pearl isn't just white plenty of people think she's Asian coded. I think if there's a problem with race coding in SU, it's that it only ever goes into explicitly black coded characters for a few (garnet, amethyst, bismuth, and smokey quartz) and the rest are up for fans to interpret. And even then, that other person who commented on my comment wasn't aware of amethyst's codeing. I mean they're aliens so it makes sense for them to not really look like human races. But it's not racist, if anything it's just something they overlooked. (This is separate from the SU talk) Also that nicki minaj comparison doesn't really apply to my argument, because Sugilite isn't talking about race or saying racist things while being what people had considard to be written racist.(It would fit for bismuth though) If nicki minaj were to just shake her ass and someone else doesn't see it as sexual that's fine. If someone else sees it as sexual that's fine too. What a person considers sexual is very dependent on their culture, plenty of cultures don't see women's breasts as sexual and women may go topless. However where I live breasts are sexual, and a women going topless will be arrested. These things are both fine beliefs so long as one culture doesn't impose their beliefs on the other culture. But I see what you meant to say was, "This media doesn't stop being racist just because you like it" I mainly wanted to gush about how I love Sugilite and disliked the amount of criticism she gets, because it felt like making a mountain out of a molehill. Not defend SU entirely or anything because I do agree that bismuth was treated unfairly by the writers, but it was moreso out of ignorance than hate, SU had an incredibly diverse team and I dislike labeling their work as racist when it's just ignorant of implications.
What I realized recently is that fusions are mainly fueled by trust. Most homeworld fusions who fuse for battle trust each other, since that's a necessity for war. Once separated from that context though, trust is a fickle thing to have simultaneously, and a fusion can be undone just by feeling intense fear. Garnet felt this when learning about Rose's secret, because since her being a fusion permanently was a result of Rose, Ruby and Sapphire couldn't figure out if they were together out of their own choice or not. Steven and Connie first fuse into Stevonnie when Connie catches Steven during a dance, a moment of pure trust. Likewise, Peridot couldn't fuse because she only trusted her own skill, and Lapis because after leaving Jasper she didn't want to be tricked and hurt again.
I think one of the more remarkable things about Steven Universe is how rarely it insisted on a particular allegory or interpretation. It presented the story and characters in ways that could be relatable to a wide variety of people, for a wide variety of reasons. It leaves the audience room to find their own meanings in the story, making it inclusive rather than exclusive. Which is also on-theme!
I think my favorite SU fan animation is about Peridot and Lapis fusing. They make a fusion dance, get surrounded by light, and we start to see the shape of a tall figure. The light fades out and it's revealed to be... Peridot proudly sitting on Lapis' shoulders. Awesome. Funny twist and very in character.
The ultimate fusion: one of people standing on top of the other. Peridot could likely fuse only if she had someone who understands her the way she understands the world around her. AKA peridot would probably be fucking stupid as a fusion just for fun. Then again it's my bad opinion so eh
Fusion is a tangible expression of connection. There are many ways to connect, healthy, unhealthy, familial, romantic, etc. But that’s it. It’s not inherently romantic or sexual. It’s just a tangible way for gems to express connection.
I have and will always view fusion as an expression of characters' relationship, which can be ANY kind of relationship Smokey Quartz? Sibling bond Garnet? Romance Malachite? Abusive relationship (not necessarily an abusive romance, abuse can be in any type of relationship) This is how I've always made my own OC fusions, and how I've made the same fusion change forms completely over time as the characters' relationship changed.
One thing I was surprised Fionapollo didn't mention: That scene when Amethyst and Garnet formed Sugalite, and Pearl covered Steven's eyes. Personally, even though this can be interpreted that fusion is sexual, I don't think it reflects on all fusions. I think this was more Pearl's reaction to *that* fusion, rather than to all fusions. For those anyone still reading, I have two theories of why Pearl covered Steven's eyes: 1. Because of how Garnet and Amethyst's dances looked intimate 2. Because Pearl sees the two of them fusing as embarrassing, bc of her jealousy and/or bc Sugalite is chaos incarnate😂
There’s been a slow rise of video essays breaking down and condemning all of the SU discourse and salt that’s been prevalent for years and I couldn’t be more happier. I’m so glad this show is getting reevaluated as well as gaining a new and growing popularity again. And to answer the question: My favorite fusion is Sardonyx. As rocky as Sardonyx’s start was, she was key in Smokey gaining a sense of who she was and Sardonyx was key in gaining a starting glimpse at Pearl’s self esteem issues. Plus, I love her theater kid/show host aesthetic and personality. And I really like her design and voice! I’m about to get a bit controversial but I find Peridot being headcanoned as aro/ace JUST because of the fact that she never fuses with anyone a bit iffy because it just affirms the thought that fusion is inherently romantic/sexual. I definitely like your interpretation of the reason why Peridot never fuses much better. It both leaves room for Peridot to be aro/ace and autistic while not accidentally insinuating that Fusion is just romantic/sexual. Do I think Peridot (and MAYBE Lapis) could have fused in SU future? Yeah kinda, but I still respect the choice that Peridot never fused at all. And besides, I can always look at the fanmade fusions.
I had someone try to get me to watch the Lily Orchard videos and I could not sit through hours upon hours of her nitpicking to the point where it felt like just being mad for the sake of being mad. After hearing about the drama with Lily Orchard in more recent times, I'm glad I never bothered listening to her hours of ranting about the show. THAT SAID, I think Opal was always my favorite fusion, even though we rarely ever got to see her. I just loved her character design and voice.
God This brings me back! One of my first Ocs Silver Quartz. I never really had him fuse due to him being a Suit of Armor with his gem shards being welded into it. He'd be the gem equivalent to someone in a wheel chair or having a prosthetic limb. At least that's how I try to portray it.
I loved Steven Universe when I was little and was always confused by the discourse. I always viewed the gem fusions as a form of identity and express, (example, Garnite or Stevonnie) I think the allegories associated with fusions can be very diverse, and I don't think it was at all meant to be interpreted in gross ways.
My favorite fusion based solely on my kneejerk reaction to it is Obsidian, but that one is mostly because the two minutes we got to see of her was also incidentally the most epic moment in the entire show. My true answer to my favorite fusion is Opal. I love her characterization in the first episode we see her in, how she's elegant and powerful, how she's serious when she needs to be, yet when Steven asks if she knows him, she smiles so warmly and answers simply by singing the giant woman song that he sang earlier in the episode. It just fills my heart with such warm feelings to see the awesome butt kicking power of someone combined with the softness of their gentle personality. A very close second to me is Stevonnie. I can say without a doubt that ALL of my favorite character moments in the show happened between Steven and Connie, especially when they fused together. Some fusions I wish got more love in this show are Rainbow Quartz (both versions) and Steg. I loved both versions of Pearl fusing with the quartz gem, 1.0 could've been my goddess and 2.0 would've been a non-binary icon, if they had more than a few seconds of screen time in a single episode. Steg is in the same boat, what with only appearing in the movie for a single song sequence and then disappearing forever into the night. Honestly, my biggest complaint about the show is that it didn't give us enough time with them.
I'm a recent fan and I'm so happy to see newer discussion about the show. It's a bit of a shame to see bad-faith interpretations and people trying to slander it when they personally don't like it.
I think a fusion is just a visual representation of a relationship, like friendship, family, Or even love, But like any relationship it can be toxic, like Malachite, or it could be a work related relationship like with the Ruby’s where the fusion is only for military purposes. But that’s just tho
Steven Universe has been my all time favorite show since I watched it. I came a bit after the show concluded and loved it. By the time I got there all people were doing online was complaining about it so I tended to not watch much content about it and therefore have a lot of opinions and they are all pretty much my own. I love the show but I do see it has flaws and some things I don't like but it spoke to me in a way no other show has and for that I will always love it❤.
I'm glad I somehow missed most of the criticism of Steven Universe. The show is so good, and is very important to me as well. I hope new fans continue to find it! I do remember seeing a couple of takes about Steven and Greg fusing and thinking they were pretty silly. Some people definitely just decided that fusion was "gem sex" and chose that hill to die on. :/
Thank you so much for making this I've always hated the Idea that fusion In Steven Universe is an allegory for sex, It's not it represents relationships all kinds of relationships, so thank you so much for this.
Thank you , I've been thinking of myself as being lewd for being gay. This kind message is exactly what I needed to stop feeling like a dirty secret. Every time I turn around , someone is making an "I'm totally gay" joke and it hurts. Or giving me the tolerance routine to substitute for acceptance.
I agree that the discourse with fusion and the show as a whole has gotten out of hand. Personally, I always just saw fusion as a way to express to characters personalities coming together to make someone new. Whether that be a romantic,toxic,platonic,familial, ect, it's just a representation of a relationship. Besides Garnet, I'd have to say my favorite fusions are all the Steven fusions, especially Stevonnie Smoky and Rainbow Quartz 2.0
Ruby and Sapphire's relationship reads to me not just as "sapphic rocks being in love", but also a sort of interracial relationship. A relationship overall npt bound by expectations of status or belonging. Steven Universe overall feels like a show that's easier to look back at, reinterpreting the themes, instead of the rush and crazy. I mean, I decided to call it "the show about a boy who never knew wars, only acceptance, vs a society torn by it". Even if I felt the show could've benefitted from some perspective-shifts here and there.
Stevonnie is my favorite character of Steven Universe... mostly because I ship Steven and Connie but also because I love the design and the scant few appearances they have which all are awesome.
Idk why but I loved Rainbow Quarts and their(?) lil black bird song. Idk but my fav fusion is probably Garnet tho. Peridot's my fav crystal gem tho and Lars fav human I've viewed fusion as the power of the bond characters share materialized. Stronger their relationship, trust and such, even just putting the same goal like Pearl n Amethyst did at the start. Then when you got the whole fam like Obsidian you dead pfff But also, Royal Peral was such a beautiful fusion, those two need so much therapy..
It's nice to see a bit of a resurgence of SU after years of "The WORSE show ever!" videos, but I do think some people in response to these Lily Orchid videos are putting the show on a pedestal that just won't be able to live up to the hype which is kind of what originally happened to the show in the first place. The show is really good and made huge strides for Queer rep (to a degree it did also kind of start a trend in who is in the queer relationship) but I think the show has always had issues with other metaphors it's trying to go for or it's pacing and tone.
I wouldn't say the show has thematic issues, more it tackles topics that don't have a right answer, so when you don't agree with the ideal you'll criticise it. A lot of shows don't expose themselves as vulnerable enough by challenging difficult topics that don't have a right answer, because it isn't as cathartic as a simple answer.
I mean the fact that people hated su so much when it first came out and it took until now for the general oppinion on it to shift just proves that it was super ahed of its time. Su aged incredibly well and that makes me happy
People getting up and arms about fusion being sex despite given multiple proof it isn't seems to say more about those people claiming it to be. Often it's just another example of projection.
I think a dragonball and SU crossover would be wicked. Imagine having a fight/battle against gogeta and garnet or something. Fusion v fusion would be awesome dude
My favorite fashions, Rainbow Quartz, mostly the one with Rose and Pearl, Stevonnie, Obsidian, and Pink Pearl and White Pearl aka our Pearl fusing. And ofc Garnet! They're so sweet!
Ultimatly, the thing about relationships, at least in SU, is that not all of them are sexual or romantic. You can have platonic relationships, and even familial relationships (emphasis on ‘familial’ because incest is a thing). I might not have watched SU, but the idea that people had about fusions being exclusively sexual or romantic, probably says more so about them than the people who brought the show, like Rebecca Sugar. Like, learn to get ya mind outta the gutter, people. lol! Also an edit since I’m certain that some might try to bring this up, but this video doesn’t really touch on the show’s redemption of the diamonds, or the depictions of black people. It simply talks about the fusions in the show.
Fusion is a tangible expression of connection. There are many ways to connect, healthy, unhealthy, familial, romantic, etc. But that’s it. It’s not inherently romantic or sexual. It’s just a tangible way for gems (and sometimes others like Connie and Greg) to express connection.
Thank you for this. So much misinformation gets spread around when it comes to SU. This one of fusion being representative of intercourse or whatever is particularly heinous and seems to have spread solely from people wanting to say anything just to hate on a show they dislike or the b*g*ts who hate this show for, well, being b*g*ts. Its very obvious what it actually represents in the series.
I know when fandoms find a meaningful metaphor for a fictional mechanism the two can become synonymous with each other in discourse. For example, even though fusion is, in literal terms, totally unlike anything in the real world, it's almost always talked about through the metaphor as opposed to as a mechanism or scientific concept in the world of the story. I totally agree that fiction is more interesting when it's driven by metaphor and reflection on reality, but sometimes the discourse doesn't seem to allow concepts to stand alone. When discussing fusion, people often seem to refer to it as the thing it's analogising, ie when there's a fusion people say, "these characters are in a romantic relationship", or "these characters are having spicy times", as opposed to "these characters are in a gem fusion". To me this feels like the internal narrative of the story is disregarded a little. I can recognise the appeal of wanting to contextualise a story as having the credibility, the impact or importance of real world matters, but I personally put a lot of value on the interiority of fiction; How well the stuff exclusively within a work synthesises to make a story. There are stories so deeply steeped in metaphor and analogy that they are hard to appreciate as stand alone stories. Serial Experiments Lain for example is a story which, in popular discussion, seems to have been subsumed by interpretations and drawn analogies. Conversely, there are stories that present epic conflicts and elaborate sci-fi and fantasy mechanics, but that don't relate to the real world in any meaningful way, for example: Marvel movies. I think SU is great because the mechanics and the basic underlying conflicts are all in great harmony with the metaphor. It's a story about relationships, and the main science-fantasy mechanic is about relationships. I get the appeal of focusing on analogies; It's not just the magic of the world of Steven Universe, it's the magic of this real thing, articulated through the medium of animated storytelling. It's troubling however when audiences don't separate these things; it can't just be a thing that happened in a piece of fiction, it has to be a direct reference to or representation of something real. This is how you get situations where people make readings like, "fusions represent intercourse" and then get up in arms when applying that interpretation to particular points in the story. Fiction is innately separate from reality-while the two are constantly in conversation and can affect each other deeply, it is also a conversation that takes place entirely within the viewers' mind.
I always saw fusion as a metaphor for relationships in general so I never got caught up in all that, because all sorts of relationships from familial to romantic and so on fall under that umbrella.
My favorite Fusions are Sardonyx, Sunstone and Alexandrite I love Sardonyx and Sunstone's Personalities and Sardonyx's articulation And Alexandrite only forming when all 3 (okay out of the 9) Crystal Gems are in harmony, despite her rough exterior i feel like you can feel how much care she has on the inside whenever she appears, she's kind of like a Mama Bear to an extent
Admittedly, I haven't seen Steven Universe in a LONG time, but learning about fusion overall in the video is very fascinating. OK, now I gotta start watching the show. XD
I love Steven Universe and i enjoy breaking down and critiquing my favorite media so i'm very critical of it, i agree that some of the criticism towards SU is valid, but one thing that i don't agree with is the way some critics view fusion as purely sexual, which is (obviously) false, i don't get how they view every single fusion in the series as sexual because it was very very obvious that's not always the case, sure in some instances fusion did seem sexual but this isn't true for all the fusions in the series, and this was disproven in a lot of episodes, for example in the episode 'We need to talk' with rose and greg, because when they hugged and started talking to each other by the end of the episode garnet claimed that they did "fuse" showing that fusion is a way to represent relationships, whether it be romantic, platonic, familial or even sexual. It's one of those things that you come to appreciate as you grow up - how well the show utilizes fusion to symbolize different kinds of relationships. It's a really clever aspect of the series.
I know exactly what you mean, I have loved Steven Universe for a long time, but I know it has a few iffy areas (but they don’t ruin the whole show). But the moment I saw the thumbnail I thought this was going to be an anti-SU video, I’m glad that I decided to check it out, anyway.
This is the first time I’m early to a new video! Really lovely video! As for the topic of fusion..at least for me, I always thought of the concept to be a variety of different things depending on the people with ONE key component that I’ve noticed every fusion we’ve seen have had. And that comes in the form of connection or understanding in one another. Here’s what I mean The first one that showed us fusion in the first place: Opal While Amethyst and Pearl were never able to get along throughout the whole episode, it wasn’t until Steven was in danger that they were able to come to an understanding and were able to fuse properly into Opal. Because they knew if they didn’t fuse, Steven would potentially die. Hence the reason they were able to properly turn into opal Garnet: she’s self explanatory lol she’s literally love given form thanks to ruby and sapphire. She’s their connection, and love. Stevonnie: Steven and Connie sharing that mutual connection of just two friends that just want to be together and have a laugh and became something much more later on as the series progressed. That was their connection and understanding. Greg and Steven’s fusion: literally their connection between a father and son in order to help Pearl remember who she was. Smoky Quartz: their mutual understanding and acceptance of how they’re both small compared to those that are better and stronger than them. It was that and their bond growing that they were able to fuse. I’d list the rest but I didn’t want to make this comment as long as it probably is XD but to me, Fusion I feel is a mixture of many things that all lead to one key factor, and that is a possible connection/bond between 2 or more people wether it’s through love, or mutual understanding
for me the fusion depends on the situation. the nonconsentual fusion feels like.. a bad bad thing that i wont say here, it clearly traumatized Lapis, even, while quite a few are romantic, some are also just working together as friends to help eachother or another, its not Just for the relationshipo thing
OMG this came out super wonderfully!!!! Steven Universe is one of my many favorite cartoons and it’s also a really special show to me!!! Fusions were super awesome to see in the show, I think my favs are Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Rainbow Quartz 2.0, Sunstone, and Sardonyx!!!
I think Peridot not fusing is a perfect allegory for her potentially being a loveless aro. Obviously not all fusions are fulled by love, Malachite being the obvious example, but most of them are. Some aros don’t experience live at all, it’s just not something they connect with, even in a non romantic sense. I love the idea of her being a loveless aroace & not fusion, she just doesn’t want that experience & isn’t comfortable with it, she doesn’t want to have an intimate connection with people platonic, romantic, sexual or otherwise. & that also as you said ties in well to autism too
Even if Peridot is aro/ace she still shoulda fused. Like you mentioned in the video; its not always a romantic thing (smokey quartz? Opal? Sugelite? Steven and his dad?) but it is a very useful and powerful weapon. Not saying they need to fuse and chill like that all the time but once or twice for a fight would have been cool to see
I sincerely believe a lot of the criticism made against the show was made in bad faith for the purpose of poisoning the intent around a queer artist's work, and sewing apprehension into making queer media. A lot of the same criticisms you see for Steven Universe are also see levied towards She-ra, Dead End, Celeste and other queer media, and rarely against shows with similar themes but without queer representation. And a lot of the people who made the original posts where eventually found out to be queerphobic anyway. I always get severe side-eye anytime anyone wants discuss the "harms" of shows like Steven Universe.
This is a great video that dissects the nuances of fusion also I cant help but notice how similar youraccent and way of talking is to the youtuber Shaun, and it kind of gave me whiplash because his videos are usually abt very heavy topics and this is about a cool cartoon XD
I was weirded out by Steg, but I think it was mostly because of his bonkers appearance. Outside of that, I've always seen fusion as the physical representation of a relationship, be it romantic, platonic, familial, toxic, or even work oriented. The key component here, as someone in the comment section has already said, is trust. I guess this also includes toxic fusions like Malachite. Jasper trusted that Lapis was gonna follow her lead, which winded backfiring as Lapis took control. The only reason Malachite remained was because of Lapis' willpower.
Ok the ones confusing fusions tent to be obsessed with the idea of it being sexual. They clearly never took any health education class or psychology. There is different types of relationships.
Emotional intimacy is not sexual intimacy, and queer people who know either are not necessarily in a relationship. I think this largely sums up most of the oddities of online discourse on the matter. FYI I'm a parent who's children enjoyed the show greatly and i enjoyed having something like it to watch with them and discuss various topics.
Fusion is inappropriate?? That’s new, and absolutely ridiculous claim- My thoughts on how fusions is depicted in Steven Universe, it’s honestly really cute and wholesome. It’s not just about romantic love/relationships like some people thought, it represents a strong bond between two individuals and love can be lots of thing than just romantic. It can be platonic love, family love, siblings (excluding Jasper and Lapis, that one’s a forced relationship)
16:21 - 16:42 Not really in topic of the video, but the points you’ve made here is exactly why I hate how words of sensitive topics are being censored. By taking the words away you take away much needed discussion that kids would especially need if they ever find themselves in bad situations
My personal favourite fusion is Steg. As fusion that represents the synchronicity and bond between father and son. When the concept of fusion was introduced it reminded me of things like fusion in Dragon Ball Z and that sometimes theres a challenge thats too much for a person alone, and you have to work together to ensure success. I didnt initially peg it as romantic. But seeing garnet being happy is somethinf that fills me with joy too.
Context is the biggest thing that kids will get from the concept of fusion. It presents metaphors for relationships in ways that few others do, and through those allegories, we see the normalisation of queer life. Steven Universe, as a whole show, may not have been the best, but it was the foot in the door that shows like The Owl House needed to improve upon that formula.
To be fair garnet did spread her leg fusing with amethyst, and sensually dansed with pearl. Actually.. most of garnet fusion in prior season had a sexual tone, even ruby kept kissing saphire body while turning into her
it could be viewed as romantic, friendly family (steven did not do the dirty with his dad) or toxic like Malachite it all depends on how you view it @@psycholaw4394
@@psycholaw4394I'm pretty sure the sexual tone of those dances were just a joke to get a laugh out of the parents and older fans of the show that would go over the kids' heads, like various other adult jokes in SU.
I’ve been meaning to get the Steven Universe complete Box Set! (Movie, Future Season, everything!) and on that note, same with Adventure Time! Both shows I regrettably slept on for one reason or another, and now is the PERFECT TIME to finally binge the whole series! (Not in one go, I still have a life! Don’t wanna go bananas like the fandom!) But I’m absolutely saving for a box set of both shows! In the meantime, I’m gonna watch them digitally!
If I had a cent for every time I enjoyed a midia where fusion was seam only as sexual/romantic when the romance part was only for some characters, and having family members fuse at some point, I would have 2 cents, wich isn't a lot, but is weird that happened twice.
Honestly if they had more variety in fusion relationships through out the show run, other than just romanatic / sexaul then it wouldn't have been as dividing as it is, in retrospect.
Am I the only one who calls mega pearl “light pink pearl”? I’ve always have since y’know, pink pearl + white pearl. Idk probably just another weird thing about me
Smoky Quartz has been my favorite for a long time. I’m sad that Rainbow 2.0 and Sunstone didn’t get the chance at having their own lead up arcs, but ey, worth it for the wedding
I think my favorite fusion is stevonie, mainly because of the awsome nb rep and the fact that they make steven and connie a really gay "straight" couple. But also just that Aj Michalka man, her voice is just so amazing!!
I think people's issues with the concept of fusion stem from Garnet's first attempts to fuse with Amethyst and Pearl, respectively. Their movements can come off as implicit when they become Sardonyx or Suggilite and Garnett herself is essentially a fusion formed by romantic love and from my understanding Ruby and Sapphire are meant to be depicted as a monogamous queer couple. So, I can see it coming off as contradictory as fusion itself is meant to be subject to interpretation.
Hi I been watching you on my laptop since I can't comment on there cuz mine signed out I'm here to say you are a great artist I'm one too I use sketchbook but I don't post them sometimes I get artblock and don't know what to draw btw you're amazing have a good day
I'm glad you went over Steven universe fusion! I thought of Fusion like Digivolving from digimon. In Digimon the Dig-idestined digimon could not evolve until they reached a certain level of love, trust, and understanding with their partner. It can also be a toxic digi-volution depending on the relationship or situation. None in the sexual sense. But more so of like minded thinking, agreement and relationship progression. I think having two humans/humanoid looking type people make folks assume it can be sexual when feelings are more complex than just that one assumption. But that's my take on Fusion similar to your opinion but very anime I'm the fact that it's more complicated and emotional.
A bi person here. Yeah fusion is just normal people becoming stronger through relationships like romance/sibling rivalry or bonding/"commit enormous power spike because AWESOME"/literal boredom
I liked that big, caterpillar fusion from the off color gems with Lars, I've forgotten their name. What relationship could that creature represent? A tightly-knit club? Not sure if it was the most useful relationship since it slowed them down...
I get the impression that Fluorite was a polycule in that they mention that they could add another to their collective if the right Gem comes along. From what I have seen in poly relationships, group consensus is important in the decision-making process, which can result in changes to be slow. The large support network that a polycule offers ensures that all members are taken care of provided that all are contributing to the whole, which could be what Fluorite's blissful persona could be indicative of.
Yes, it's referring to Sailor Uranus (nonbinary) and Sailor Neptune (presumably queer woman). They are supposed to be lovers, but the English dub of the original anime they were changed to cousins. That's how censorship of queerness used to be, but thankfully that's changed and queerness is being acknowledged more openly.
The way I saw stevonnie was possibly being trans in a straight relationship if that makes sense. Like say humans are straight and and Steven represents being a trans person in a straight relationship. Also this video was great and thank you for making it
The answer to the questions "is it the ASD or the asexuality?" is actually both tbh. Each person is unique, and therefor the lenses in which we view the world and interpret things (like media) are therefore also unique on some level (even if it is barely detectable). ASD tends to mess with the interpretation of very subtle social cues, the ones that are never overtly taught. This distanciation allows for a less biased analysis of the "why?" of social habits (that's why my ASD ass makes a great anthropologist). The asexual part of you can help with this too but more pertaining to relationships. Sexual relationships aren't something you desire over other relationships, which helps you see the question "why do others flock to that idea more frequently?". I, being the abrosexual and genderfluid person that I am, find myself constantly asking why do the particulars of defining gender and sexuality are what they are. So I study them. Humans are curious, if there is a universal for us, it is that, some are just naturally given better tools to ponder our curiosities and direct our questions than the neurotypical cishete others.
So what you're saying is that fusion ISN'T just a cheap tactic to make weak gems stronger? I need to reevaluate my life.
AFGSHYDNTDV-
That deal with Jasper can also be conflict between individualism and pluraism on top of fusion being used out of necessity.
I chuckled so hard at this.
@@sundalosketch4769 I'm glad lol. I haven't watched the show in a few years, but that line has always stuck in my head because of listening to Stronger Than You on repeat 😭
Same here, it's as iconic as the song that comes right after that line@@Kibannn
I watched Steven Universe throughout my childhood and I never saw fusion as some kind of huge romantic/sexual gesture. Whenever a new fusion was revealed I’d interpret it as an act of friendship, or the creation of a new one.
Incorrect, it’s just a cheap tactic used to make weak gems stronger.
@@Benzodrewd They should quit embarrassing themselves, because we know who they really are.
@@magicalronin then you don't know them at all *stronger than you*
@@magicalroninand they'd say "no you don't"
@@BenzodrewdLet people have their opinions! Jesus christ...
I always thought of fusions as relationships. Relationships of all kinds. I never understood why it should ONLY be romantic/sexual.
I think at some point in an interview or in the podcast Rebecca said one interpretation of fusion was the different person you become when you're around others, the different roles you take upon yourself- and that's one of my favourites. It's relationships, expanded.
@@pieflower6419 Exactly! You discover different versions and parts of yourself when around others :)
Sugilite was one of my fav fusions, it gets hate over, 'the two BLACK coded characters make a BAD fusion, Rebecca Sugar is RACIST1!!' But as a poc woman fan I love her, she's like a wrestler who has sapphire's confidence, ruby's temper, and amethyst's wreaklessness. Her debut episode was literally directed by a black man (Ian Jones-Quartey) for fucks sake! Plus she's voiced by Nicki Minaj❤
It was 100% racist, all the characters who served as warriors or uncontrollable were coded as POC, while all the proper, strategists were coded as white. It deserves the criticism, not hate, it earned itself. Rebecca Sugar is racist, and you are allowed to love the show despite that. The issue arises when you say, it's not racist, because I like it. It's not racist, because her husband is black.
If Nicki Minaj shakes her very large butt while rapping about a sexual act, and someone points out "That is overtly sexual." it doesn't stop being overtly sexual because you like it.
I really enjoyed the Nickelodeon shows growing up, watching characters eat nachos with their feet was incredibly funny. However, if I had to be there to watch an adult direct a child to poor cheese on their feet and eat it, I would at the very least be able to say "I'm very uncomfortable with this dynamic."
In short, saying something is racist because it portrays a stereotype of a race, is a criticism and not hate.
Amethyst was black coded? I had no idea
@@sithdude2436She's commonly seen as black coded, but I've also seen plenty of people say she's latina.
@@IM_GOING_TOO_HAM When it comes to non-white characters, Sapphire is certainly proper, and garnet is both proper and strategist, yellow and blue diamond are proper and strategist. Although when it comes to the majority of gems don't explicitly have a racecoding other than the crystal gems already met(and also the rubies). I mean I put down yellow and blue just because that's how I see them, but could a person honestly just look at an image of either of those diamonds and say precisely what human race they are? Even pearl isn't just white plenty of people think she's Asian coded. I think if there's a problem with race coding in SU, it's that it only ever goes into explicitly black coded characters for a few (garnet, amethyst, bismuth, and smokey quartz) and the rest are up for fans to interpret. And even then, that other person who commented on my comment wasn't aware of amethyst's codeing. I mean they're aliens so it makes sense for them to not really look like human races. But it's not racist, if anything it's just something they overlooked.
(This is separate from the SU talk)
Also that nicki minaj comparison doesn't really apply to my argument, because Sugilite isn't talking about race or saying racist things while being what people had considard to be written racist.(It would fit for bismuth though) If nicki minaj were to just shake her ass and someone else doesn't see it as sexual that's fine. If someone else sees it as sexual that's fine too. What a person considers sexual is very dependent on their culture, plenty of cultures don't see women's breasts as sexual and women may go topless. However where I live breasts are sexual, and a women going topless will be arrested. These things are both fine beliefs so long as one culture doesn't impose their beliefs on the other culture.
But I see what you meant to say was, "This media doesn't stop being racist just because you like it" I mainly wanted to gush about how I love Sugilite and disliked the amount of criticism she gets, because it felt like making a mountain out of a molehill. Not defend SU entirely or anything because I do agree that bismuth was treated unfairly by the writers, but it was moreso out of ignorance than hate, SU had an incredibly diverse team and I dislike labeling their work as racist when it's just ignorant of implications.
@@fanaticalisticI only saw garnet and bismuth as Black-coded and amethyst Latina-coded
What I realized recently is that fusions are mainly fueled by trust. Most homeworld fusions who fuse for battle trust each other, since that's a necessity for war. Once separated from that context though, trust is a fickle thing to have simultaneously, and a fusion can be undone just by feeling intense fear. Garnet felt this when learning about Rose's secret, because since her being a fusion permanently was a result of Rose, Ruby and Sapphire couldn't figure out if they were together out of their own choice or not. Steven and Connie first fuse into Stevonnie when Connie catches Steven during a dance, a moment of pure trust. Likewise, Peridot couldn't fuse because she only trusted her own skill, and Lapis because after leaving Jasper she didn't want to be tricked and hurt again.
0:25 I feel you buddy I also hate the negative discourse surrounding Steven Universe ever since stuff like that video from Lily Orchard came out
I think one of the more remarkable things about Steven Universe is how rarely it insisted on a particular allegory or interpretation. It presented the story and characters in ways that could be relatable to a wide variety of people, for a wide variety of reasons. It leaves the audience room to find their own meanings in the story, making it inclusive rather than exclusive. Which is also on-theme!
I think my favorite SU fan animation is about Peridot and Lapis fusing.
They make a fusion dance, get surrounded by light, and we start to see the shape of a tall figure.
The light fades out and it's revealed to be... Peridot proudly sitting on Lapis' shoulders. Awesome. Funny twist and very in character.
The ultimate fusion: one of people standing on top of the other. Peridot could likely fuse only if she had someone who understands her the way she understands the world around her.
AKA peridot would probably be fucking stupid as a fusion just for fun.
Then again it's my bad opinion so eh
never caught a video this early, uhh steven universe :thumbsup:
Yes🎉
Fusion is a tangible expression of connection. There are many ways to connect, healthy, unhealthy, familial, romantic, etc. But that’s it. It’s not inherently romantic or sexual. It’s just a tangible way for gems to express connection.
I have and will always view fusion as an expression of characters' relationship, which can be ANY kind of relationship
Smokey Quartz? Sibling bond
Garnet? Romance
Malachite? Abusive relationship (not necessarily an abusive romance, abuse can be in any type of relationship)
This is how I've always made my own OC fusions, and how I've made the same fusion change forms completely over time as the characters' relationship changed.
One thing I was surprised Fionapollo didn't mention:
That scene when Amethyst and Garnet formed Sugalite, and Pearl covered Steven's eyes.
Personally, even though this can be interpreted that fusion is sexual, I don't think it reflects on all fusions. I think this was more Pearl's reaction to *that* fusion, rather than to all fusions.
For those anyone still reading, I have two theories of why Pearl covered Steven's eyes:
1. Because of how Garnet and Amethyst's dances looked intimate
2. Because Pearl sees the two of them fusing as embarrassing, bc of her jealousy and/or bc Sugalite is chaos incarnate😂
There’s been a slow rise of video essays breaking down and condemning all of the SU discourse and salt that’s been prevalent for years and I couldn’t be more happier. I’m so glad this show is getting reevaluated as well as gaining a new and growing popularity again.
And to answer the question: My favorite fusion is Sardonyx. As rocky as Sardonyx’s start was, she was key in Smokey gaining a sense of who she was and Sardonyx was key in gaining a starting glimpse at Pearl’s self esteem issues. Plus, I love her theater kid/show host aesthetic and personality. And I really like her design and voice!
I’m about to get a bit controversial but I find Peridot being headcanoned as aro/ace JUST because of the fact that she never fuses with anyone a bit iffy because it just affirms the thought that fusion is inherently romantic/sexual.
I definitely like your interpretation of the reason why Peridot never fuses much better. It both leaves room for Peridot to be aro/ace and autistic while not accidentally insinuating that Fusion is just romantic/sexual. Do I think Peridot (and MAYBE Lapis) could have fused in SU future? Yeah kinda, but I still respect the choice that Peridot never fused at all. And besides, I can always look at the fanmade fusions.
I had someone try to get me to watch the Lily Orchard videos and I could not sit through hours upon hours of her nitpicking to the point where it felt like just being mad for the sake of being mad. After hearing about the drama with Lily Orchard in more recent times, I'm glad I never bothered listening to her hours of ranting about the show.
THAT SAID, I think Opal was always my favorite fusion, even though we rarely ever got to see her. I just loved her character design and voice.
God i love these steven universe defense videos, i am so glad fans are actually feeling comfortable just saying they like the show!
God This brings me back! One of my first Ocs Silver Quartz. I never really had him fuse due to him being a Suit of Armor with his gem shards being welded into it. He'd be the gem equivalent to someone in a wheel chair or having a prosthetic limb. At least that's how I try to portray it.
I loved Steven Universe when I was little and was always confused by the discourse. I always viewed the gem fusions as a form of identity and express, (example, Garnite or Stevonnie) I think the allegories associated with fusions can be very diverse, and I don't think it was at all meant to be interpreted in gross ways.
My favorite fusion based solely on my kneejerk reaction to it is Obsidian, but that one is mostly because the two minutes we got to see of her was also incidentally the most epic moment in the entire show. My true answer to my favorite fusion is Opal.
I love her characterization in the first episode we see her in, how she's elegant and powerful, how she's serious when she needs to be, yet when Steven asks if she knows him, she smiles so warmly and answers simply by singing the giant woman song that he sang earlier in the episode. It just fills my heart with such warm feelings to see the awesome butt kicking power of someone combined with the softness of their gentle personality.
A very close second to me is Stevonnie. I can say without a doubt that ALL of my favorite character moments in the show happened between Steven and Connie, especially when they fused together.
Some fusions I wish got more love in this show are Rainbow Quartz (both versions) and Steg. I loved both versions of Pearl fusing with the quartz gem, 1.0 could've been my goddess and 2.0 would've been a non-binary icon, if they had more than a few seconds of screen time in a single episode. Steg is in the same boat, what with only appearing in the movie for a single song sequence and then disappearing forever into the night. Honestly, my biggest complaint about the show is that it didn't give us enough time with them.
I'm a recent fan and I'm so happy to see newer discussion about the show. It's a bit of a shame to see bad-faith interpretations and people trying to slander it when they personally don't like it.
I think a fusion is just a visual representation of a relationship, like friendship, family, Or even love, But like any relationship it can be toxic, like Malachite, or it could be a work related relationship like with the Ruby’s where the fusion is only for military purposes. But that’s just tho
I think humanity has a problem conflating love and s-x. Fusion is just another example of that.
sex IS a form of love, but its not the ONLY form of love
Steven Universe has been my all time favorite show since I watched it. I came a bit after the show concluded and loved it. By the time I got there all people were doing online was complaining about it so I tended to not watch much content about it and therefore have a lot of opinions and they are all pretty much my own. I love the show but I do see it has flaws and some things I don't like but it spoke to me in a way no other show has and for that I will always love it❤.
I'm glad I somehow missed most of the criticism of Steven Universe. The show is so good, and is very important to me as well. I hope new fans continue to find it!
I do remember seeing a couple of takes about Steven and Greg fusing and thinking they were pretty silly. Some people definitely just decided that fusion was "gem sex" and chose that hill to die on. :/
Thank you so much for making this I've always hated the Idea that fusion In Steven Universe is an allegory for sex, It's not it represents relationships all kinds of relationships, so thank you so much for this.
Thank you , I've been thinking of myself as being lewd for being gay.
This kind message is exactly what I needed to stop feeling like a dirty secret.
Every time I turn around , someone is making an "I'm totally gay" joke and it hurts.
Or giving me the tolerance routine to substitute for acceptance.
I agree that the discourse with fusion and the show as a whole has gotten out of hand. Personally, I always just saw fusion as a way to express to characters personalities coming together to make someone new. Whether that be a romantic,toxic,platonic,familial, ect, it's just a representation of a relationship. Besides Garnet, I'd have to say my favorite fusions are all the Steven fusions, especially Stevonnie Smoky and Rainbow Quartz 2.0
Ruby and Sapphire's relationship reads to me not just as "sapphic rocks being in love", but also a sort of interracial relationship. A relationship overall npt bound by expectations of status or belonging.
Steven Universe overall feels like a show that's easier to look back at, reinterpreting the themes, instead of the rush and crazy. I mean, I decided to call it "the show about a boy who never knew wars, only acceptance, vs a society torn by it". Even if I felt the show could've benefitted from some perspective-shifts here and there.
I remember watching the show when I was little, it was a big part of my childhood.
Stevonnie is my favorite character of Steven Universe... mostly because I ship Steven and Connie but also because I love the design and the scant few appearances they have which all are awesome.
Idk why but I loved Rainbow Quarts and their(?) lil black bird song. Idk but my fav fusion is probably Garnet tho. Peridot's my fav crystal gem tho and Lars fav human
I've viewed fusion as the power of the bond characters share materialized. Stronger their relationship, trust and such, even just putting the same goal like Pearl n Amethyst did at the start. Then when you got the whole fam like Obsidian you dead pfff
But also, Royal Peral was such a beautiful fusion, those two need so much therapy..
It's nice to see a bit of a resurgence of SU after years of "The WORSE show ever!" videos, but I do think some people in response to these Lily Orchid videos are putting the show on a pedestal that just won't be able to live up to the hype which is kind of what originally happened to the show in the first place. The show is really good and made huge strides for Queer rep (to a degree it did also kind of start a trend in who is in the queer relationship) but I think the show has always had issues with other metaphors it's trying to go for or it's pacing and tone.
I wouldn't say the show has thematic issues, more it tackles topics that don't have a right answer, so when you don't agree with the ideal you'll criticise it. A lot of shows don't expose themselves as vulnerable enough by challenging difficult topics that don't have a right answer, because it isn't as cathartic as a simple answer.
I mean the fact that people hated su so much when it first came out and it took until now for the general oppinion on it to shift just proves that it was super ahed of its time. Su aged incredibly well and that makes me happy
People getting up and arms about fusion being sex despite given multiple proof it isn't seems to say more about those people claiming it to be. Often it's just another example of projection.
I think a dragonball and SU crossover would be wicked. Imagine having a fight/battle against gogeta and garnet or something. Fusion v fusion would be awesome dude
My favorite fashions, Rainbow Quartz, mostly the one with Rose and Pearl, Stevonnie, Obsidian, and Pink Pearl and White Pearl aka our Pearl fusing. And ofc Garnet! They're so sweet!
Ultimatly, the thing about relationships, at least in SU, is that not all of them are sexual or romantic. You can have platonic relationships, and even familial relationships (emphasis on ‘familial’ because incest is a thing). I might not have watched SU, but the idea that people had about fusions being exclusively sexual or romantic, probably says more so about them than the people who brought the show, like Rebecca Sugar.
Like, learn to get ya mind outta the gutter, people. lol!
Also an edit since I’m certain that some might try to bring this up, but this video doesn’t really touch on the show’s redemption of the diamonds, or the depictions of black people. It simply talks about the fusions in the show.
My favorite fusion is Smokey Quartz, their personality is fun and I love them 💜 my second would be Steveonnie 😁
Fusion is a tangible expression of connection. There are many ways to connect, healthy, unhealthy, familial, romantic, etc. But that’s it. It’s not inherently romantic or sexual. It’s just a tangible way for gems (and sometimes others like Connie and Greg) to express connection.
Thank you for this. So much misinformation gets spread around when it comes to SU. This one of fusion being representative of intercourse or whatever is particularly heinous and seems to have spread solely from people wanting to say anything just to hate on a show they dislike or the b*g*ts who hate this show for, well, being b*g*ts. Its very obvious what it actually represents in the series.
I know when fandoms find a meaningful metaphor for a fictional mechanism the two can become synonymous with each other in discourse. For example, even though fusion is, in literal terms, totally unlike anything in the real world, it's almost always talked about through the metaphor as opposed to as a mechanism or scientific concept in the world of the story.
I totally agree that fiction is more interesting when it's driven by metaphor and reflection on reality, but sometimes the discourse doesn't seem to allow concepts to stand alone. When discussing fusion, people often seem to refer to it as the thing it's analogising, ie when there's a fusion people say, "these characters are in a romantic relationship", or "these characters are having spicy times", as opposed to "these characters are in a gem fusion".
To me this feels like the internal narrative of the story is disregarded a little. I can recognise the appeal of wanting to contextualise a story as having the credibility, the impact or importance of real world matters, but I personally put a lot of value on the interiority of fiction; How well the stuff exclusively within a work synthesises to make a story.
There are stories so deeply steeped in metaphor and analogy that they are hard to appreciate as stand alone stories. Serial Experiments Lain for example is a story which, in popular discussion, seems to have been subsumed by interpretations and drawn analogies. Conversely, there are stories that present epic conflicts and elaborate sci-fi and fantasy mechanics, but that don't relate to the real world in any meaningful way, for example: Marvel movies. I think SU is great because the mechanics and the basic underlying conflicts are all in great harmony with the metaphor. It's a story about relationships, and the main science-fantasy mechanic is about relationships.
I get the appeal of focusing on analogies; It's not just the magic of the world of Steven Universe, it's the magic of this real thing, articulated through the medium of animated storytelling. It's troubling however when audiences don't separate these things; it can't just be a thing that happened in a piece of fiction, it has to be a direct reference to or representation of something real. This is how you get situations where people make readings like, "fusions represent intercourse" and then get up in arms when applying that interpretation to particular points in the story.
Fiction is innately separate from reality-while the two are constantly in conversation and can affect each other deeply, it is also a conversation that takes place entirely within the viewers' mind.
I always saw fusion as a metaphor for relationships in general so I never got caught up in all that, because all sorts of relationships from familial to romantic and so on fall under that umbrella.
My favorite Fusions are Sardonyx, Sunstone and Alexandrite
I love Sardonyx and Sunstone's Personalities and Sardonyx's articulation
And Alexandrite only forming when all 3 (okay out of the 9) Crystal Gems are in harmony, despite her rough exterior i feel like you can feel how much care she has on the inside whenever she appears, she's kind of like a Mama Bear to an extent
Admittedly, I haven't seen Steven Universe in a LONG time, but learning about fusion overall in the video is very fascinating.
OK, now I gotta start watching the show. XD
Steven Universe and future where great and I'm tired of pretending it's not
I love Steven Universe and i enjoy breaking down and critiquing my favorite media so i'm very critical of it, i agree that some of the criticism towards SU is valid, but one thing that i don't agree with is the way some critics view fusion as purely sexual, which is (obviously) false, i don't get how they view every single fusion in the series as sexual because it was very very obvious that's not always the case, sure in some instances fusion did seem sexual but this isn't true for all the fusions in the series, and this was disproven in a lot of episodes, for example in the episode 'We need to talk' with rose and greg, because when they hugged and started talking to each other by the end of the episode garnet claimed that they did "fuse" showing that fusion is a way to represent relationships, whether it be romantic, platonic, familial or even sexual.
It's one of those things that you come to appreciate as you grow up - how well the show utilizes fusion to symbolize different kinds of relationships. It's a really clever aspect of the series.
I like this video my favorite fusion is Malachite its the design
I like your wording. No more "This show made me [insert things here]", more "This show helped me grow to accept myself."
I know exactly what you mean, I have loved Steven Universe for a long time, but I know it has a few iffy areas (but they don’t ruin the whole show).
But the moment I saw the thumbnail I thought this was going to be an anti-SU video, I’m glad that I decided to check it out, anyway.
This is the first time I’m early to a new video! Really lovely video!
As for the topic of fusion..at least for me, I always thought of the concept to be a variety of different things depending on the people with ONE key component that I’ve noticed every fusion we’ve seen have had. And that comes in the form of connection or understanding in one another. Here’s what I mean
The first one that showed us fusion in the first place: Opal
While Amethyst and Pearl were never able to get along throughout the whole episode, it wasn’t until Steven was in danger that they were able to come to an understanding and were able to fuse properly into Opal. Because they knew if they didn’t fuse, Steven would potentially die. Hence the reason they were able to properly turn into opal
Garnet: she’s self explanatory lol she’s literally love given form thanks to ruby and sapphire. She’s their connection, and love.
Stevonnie: Steven and Connie sharing that mutual connection of just two friends that just want to be together and have a laugh and became something much more later on as the series progressed. That was their connection and understanding.
Greg and Steven’s fusion: literally their connection between a father and son in order to help Pearl remember who she was.
Smoky Quartz: their mutual understanding and acceptance of how they’re both small compared to those that are better and stronger than them. It was that and their bond growing that they were able to fuse.
I’d list the rest but I didn’t want to make this comment as long as it probably is XD but to me, Fusion I feel is a mixture of many things that all lead to one key factor, and that is a possible connection/bond between 2 or more people wether it’s through love, or mutual understanding
for me the fusion depends on the situation. the nonconsentual fusion feels like.. a bad bad thing that i wont say here, it clearly traumatized Lapis, even, while quite a few are romantic, some are also just working together as friends to help eachother or another, its not Just for the relationshipo thing
OMG this came out super wonderfully!!!! Steven Universe is one of my many favorite cartoons and it’s also a really special show to me!!! Fusions were super awesome to see in the show, I think my favs are Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Rainbow Quartz 2.0, Sunstone, and Sardonyx!!!
I think Peridot not fusing is a perfect allegory for her potentially being a loveless aro. Obviously not all fusions are fulled by love, Malachite being the obvious example, but most of them are. Some aros don’t experience live at all, it’s just not something they connect with, even in a non romantic sense. I love the idea of her being a loveless aroace & not fusion, she just doesn’t want that experience & isn’t comfortable with it, she doesn’t want to have an intimate connection with people platonic, romantic, sexual or otherwise. & that also as you said ties in well to autism too
Even if Peridot is aro/ace she still shoulda fused. Like you mentioned in the video; its not always a romantic thing (smokey quartz? Opal? Sugelite? Steven and his dad?) but it is a very useful and powerful weapon. Not saying they need to fuse and chill like that all the time but once or twice for a fight would have been cool to see
I sincerely believe a lot of the criticism made against the show was made in bad faith for the purpose of poisoning the intent around a queer artist's work, and sewing apprehension into making queer media. A lot of the same criticisms you see for Steven Universe are also see levied towards She-ra, Dead End, Celeste and other queer media, and rarely against shows with similar themes but without queer representation.
And a lot of the people who made the original posts where eventually found out to be queerphobic anyway. I always get severe side-eye anytime anyone wants discuss the "harms" of shows like Steven Universe.
This is a great video that dissects the nuances of fusion
also I cant help but notice how similar youraccent and way of talking is to the youtuber Shaun, and it kind of gave me whiplash because his videos are usually abt very heavy topics and this is about a cool cartoon XD
Smokey Peak Fusion
I was weirded out by Steg, but I think it was mostly because of his bonkers appearance. Outside of that, I've always seen fusion as the physical representation of a relationship, be it romantic, platonic, familial, toxic, or even work oriented.
The key component here, as someone in the comment section has already said, is trust. I guess this also includes toxic fusions like Malachite. Jasper trusted that Lapis was gonna follow her lead, which winded backfiring as Lapis took control. The only reason Malachite remained was because of Lapis' willpower.
Ok the ones confusing fusions tent to be obsessed with the idea of it being sexual. They clearly never took any health education class or psychology. There is different types of relationships.
Emotional intimacy is not sexual intimacy, and queer people who know either are not necessarily in a relationship. I think this largely sums up most of the oddities of online discourse on the matter.
FYI I'm a parent who's children enjoyed the show greatly and i enjoyed having something like it to watch with them and discuss various topics.
Fusion is inappropriate?? That’s new, and absolutely ridiculous claim-
My thoughts on how fusions is depicted in Steven Universe, it’s honestly really cute and wholesome. It’s not just about romantic love/relationships like some people thought, it represents a strong bond between two individuals and love can be lots of thing than just romantic. It can be platonic love, family love, siblings (excluding Jasper and Lapis, that one’s a forced relationship)
16:21 - 16:42
Not really in topic of the video, but the points you’ve made here is exactly why I hate how words of sensitive topics are being censored. By taking the words away you take away much needed discussion that kids would especially need if they ever find themselves in bad situations
My personal favourite fusion is Steg. As fusion that represents the synchronicity and bond between father and son. When the concept of fusion was introduced it reminded me of things like fusion in Dragon Ball Z and that sometimes theres a challenge thats too much for a person alone, and you have to work together to ensure success. I didnt initially peg it as romantic. But seeing garnet being happy is somethinf that fills me with joy too.
Context is the biggest thing that kids will get from the concept of fusion. It presents metaphors for relationships in ways that few others do, and through those allegories, we see the normalisation of queer life. Steven Universe, as a whole show, may not have been the best, but it was the foot in the door that shows like The Owl House needed to improve upon that formula.
smokey quarts is hands down my favorite fusion, they're just so fun
yes im so tired of people thinking fusion is dirty when this is literally a kids show also my fave fusion is stevonie
To be fair garnet did spread her leg fusing with amethyst, and sensually dansed with pearl. Actually.. most of garnet fusion in prior season had a sexual tone, even ruby kept kissing saphire body while turning into her
true @@psycholaw4394
it could be viewed as romantic, friendly family (steven did not do the dirty with his dad) or toxic like Malachite it all depends on how you view it @@psycholaw4394
@@psycholaw4394I'm pretty sure the sexual tone of those dances were just a joke to get a laugh out of the parents and older fans of the show that would go over the kids' heads, like various other adult jokes in SU.
@psycholaw4394 tbh i think that was only rly included to hype up nicki minaj being sugilite's voice actor
I’ve been meaning to get the Steven Universe complete Box Set! (Movie, Future Season, everything!) and on that note, same with Adventure Time! Both shows I regrettably slept on for one reason or another, and now is the PERFECT TIME to finally binge the whole series! (Not in one go, I still have a life! Don’t wanna go bananas like the fandom!) But I’m absolutely saving for a box set of both shows! In the meantime, I’m gonna watch them digitally!
If I had a cent for every time I enjoyed a midia where fusion was seam only as sexual/romantic when the romance part was only for some characters, and having family members fuse at some point, I would have 2 cents, wich isn't a lot, but is weird that happened twice.
Honestly if they had more variety in fusion relationships through out the show run, other than just romanatic / sexaul then it wouldn't have been as dividing as it is, in retrospect.
Am I the only one who calls mega pearl “light pink pearl”? I’ve always have since y’know, pink pearl + white pearl. Idk probably just another weird thing about me
I called her Royal Pearl
Smoky Quartz has been my favorite for a long time. I’m sad that Rainbow 2.0 and Sunstone didn’t get the chance at having their own lead up arcs, but ey, worth it for the wedding
I think my favorite fusion is stevonie, mainly because of the awsome nb rep and the fact that they make steven and connie a really gay "straight" couple. But also just that Aj Michalka man, her voice is just so amazing!!
omg same, it's a crime AJ only got like 2 songs in the show
@@imonly1man_ yeah but those two are good, if your into shera tho she did cover the intro song and its absolutely fantastic
Cool video. (Well... I'm watching it right now)
And yeah, cartoon fusions has been around for years (in my eyes).
Now I want to do SU AU art of my OCs. Beautiful Artwork
I really love the character designs of your drawing! :D
I adore your artstyle so much, it's so cute and colorful
i think its about different connections people make, weather thats love, friendship or something that is a very close bond.
i liked fusion as a concept but was sad we never got one between Lapis & Peridot since they were my favourite pair in the show.
I am very happy you made this video can’t stand people saying theirs nothing we can learn from tv
This video gives me late 2010's vibes.
I think people's issues with the concept of fusion stem from Garnet's first attempts to fuse with Amethyst and Pearl, respectively. Their movements can come off as implicit when they become Sardonyx or Suggilite and Garnett herself is essentially a fusion formed by romantic love and from my understanding Ruby and Sapphire are meant to be depicted as a monogamous queer couple. So, I can see it coming off as contradictory as fusion itself is meant to be subject to interpretation.
I think fusion is just a way to show different kinds of love and connection whether it's romantic, friendship and parent and child.
My favorite fusion is definitely Rainbow Quartz!!
My favorite fusions are Garnet and Stevonie.
Early! I bet this’ll be a great video
Hi I been watching you on my laptop since I can't comment on there cuz mine signed out I'm here to say you are a great artist I'm one too I use sketchbook but I don't post them sometimes I get artblock and don't know what to draw btw you're amazing have a good day
I'm glad you went over Steven universe fusion! I thought of Fusion like Digivolving from digimon. In Digimon the Dig-idestined digimon could not evolve until they reached a certain level of love, trust, and understanding with their partner. It can also be a toxic digi-volution depending on the relationship or situation. None in the sexual sense. But more so of like minded thinking, agreement and relationship progression. I think having two humans/humanoid looking type people make folks assume it can be sexual when feelings are more complex than just that one assumption. But that's my take on Fusion similar to your opinion but very anime I'm the fact that it's more complicated and emotional.
Jogress Shinka
my favorite fusions are Stevonnie and Sunstone
Be honest. Garnet. Best. character.
Agreed
13:38 aand that concludes today's episode of "why autistic people are like cats"
A bi person here.
Yeah fusion is just normal people becoming stronger through relationships like romance/sibling rivalry or bonding/"commit enormous power spike because AWESOME"/literal boredom
Edit: power here is a metaphor of being able to stay true to yourself
My favorite fusion is Smoky
I liked that big, caterpillar fusion from the off color gems with Lars, I've forgotten their name. What relationship could that creature represent? A tightly-knit club? Not sure if it was the most useful relationship since it slowed them down...
I get the impression that Fluorite was a polycule in that they mention that they could add another to their collective if the right Gem comes along. From what I have seen in poly relationships, group consensus is important in the decision-making process, which can result in changes to be slow. The large support network that a polycule offers ensures that all members are taken care of provided that all are contributing to the whole, which could be what Fluorite's blissful persona could be indicative of.
That makes sense!@@Sullindir
Great vid and art thank you
Yay FUSION
11:22 What anime was the clip with the girl with blue-green hair who said "we're cousins" from? Is it from Sailor Moon?
Yes, it's referring to Sailor Uranus (nonbinary) and Sailor Neptune (presumably queer woman). They are supposed to be lovers, but the English dub of the original anime they were changed to cousins. That's how censorship of queerness used to be, but thankfully that's changed and queerness is being acknowledged more openly.
@@themythosarchives7520 thanks
It's true
The way I saw stevonnie was possibly being trans in a straight relationship if that makes sense. Like say humans are straight and and Steven represents being a trans person in a straight relationship. Also this video was great and thank you for making it
I’m dying to commission artists for a fusion between Sora and Tanjiro.
HEck Yeha!
The answer to the questions "is it the ASD or the asexuality?" is actually both tbh. Each person is unique, and therefor the lenses in which we view the world and interpret things (like media) are therefore also unique on some level (even if it is barely detectable). ASD tends to mess with the interpretation of very subtle social cues, the ones that are never overtly taught. This distanciation allows for a less biased analysis of the "why?" of social habits (that's why my ASD ass makes a great anthropologist). The asexual part of you can help with this too but more pertaining to relationships. Sexual relationships aren't something you desire over other relationships, which helps you see the question "why do others flock to that idea more frequently?". I, being the abrosexual and genderfluid person that I am, find myself constantly asking why do the particulars of defining gender and sexuality are what they are. So I study them. Humans are curious, if there is a universal for us, it is that, some are just naturally given better tools to ponder our curiosities and direct our questions than the neurotypical cishete others.