Steven Universe, the central character of the acclaimed animated series, shares a significant connection to the gemstone peridot through his birthday. Born on August 15th, Steven’s birthstone is peridot, a gem with a surprisingly rich history and unique properties, though the provided sources focus primarily on the character himself and offer limited direct information about the gemstone. This article will explore the available details regarding Steven’s association with peridot, its appearance as his birthstone, and what can be gleaned about the gem from the context of the series, while acknowledging the limited scope of the provided materials.
A Character’s Connection to a Gemstone
The primary link between Steven Universe and peridot stems from the character’s birthday, August 15th, which aligns with peridot as the traditional birthstone for that month. This connection is explicitly stated, noting that Steven shares his birthday with Steven Sugar, and consequently, their shared birthstone is peridot. Beyond this direct association, the sources do not delve into the historical or gemological properties of peridot itself. The focus remains firmly on the character and his narrative within the series.
Physical Characteristics and Appearance
While the sources do not describe the physical properties of peridot, they offer detailed descriptions of Steven Universe’s physical appearance. He is described as relatively short with a stocky build, possessing curly dark brown hair, dark brown eyebrows, and full black irises that sometimes display stars when he is excited. His attire typically consists of a salmon-pink T-shirt with a gold star, cuffed blue jeans, and salmon-pink flip-flop sandals. Crucially, his gemstone, inherited from his mother, is a pink diamond located where his navel should be. This gemstone is described as circular and magenta, with a pentagonal facet, and is more saturated in color than Rose Quartz’s gemstone.
The description of Steven’s gemstone, while not peridot, highlights the importance of gemstones within the narrative of the series. The visual prominence of gemstones as integral parts of the characters’ beings underscores a thematic connection to the world of gems and minerals. The sources also note changes in Steven’s appearance as the series progresses, including increased height and alterations to his clothing, but these changes do not relate to his birthstone.
Development and Evolution of the Character
The sources detail aspects of Steven’s development throughout the series. Initially implied to be 12 years old, his age is clarified as 14 by “Steven’s Birthday,” though his half-Gem physiology affects his rate of aging, causing him to appear younger. The transition from the pilot episode to the series involved minor changes to his gemstone, specifically the removal of a gold ring surrounding it and the flipping of the facet.
Further evolution is observed in “Steven Universe: The Movie,” where he physically matures, growing taller and developing a visible neck. His clothing also changes, transitioning from a salmon-pink shirt to a sky-blue one with a yellow star, accompanied by a pink varsity jacket. In “Steven Universe Future,” his shirt color shifts again to black, resembling his father Greg’s signature Mr. Universe shirts. These changes, while focused on the character, demonstrate a dynamic narrative that parallels the growth and transformation often associated with gemstones through cutting and polishing.
Abilities and Skills
Steven possesses a range of abilities stemming from his half-Gem heritage. He demonstrates proficiency in fusion, combining with other characters to form new, powerful entities such as Steg (with Greg), Smoky Quartz (with Amethyst), Rainbow Quartz 2.0 (with Pearl), Sunstone (with Ruby and Sapphire/Garnet), and Obsidian (with Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Pearl). He also exhibits piloting skills, controlling his mother’s ship, and driving abilities, obtaining a driver’s license as depicted in “Steven Universe Future.”
Furthermore, Steven displays multitasking capabilities, shapeshifting abilities (initially limited but improving over time, even demonstrating the ability to revert to a younger form), and a remarkable musical talent, proficient in ukulele, guitar, bass, drums, and piano, with a demonstrated perfect pitch. These abilities, while not directly linked to peridot, showcase the potential and power inherent in gemstones within the series’ universe.
Education and Background
The sources reveal that Steven is home-schooled by the Gems, Pearl and Garnet, whose instruction is so effective that he achieves a perfect score on a standardized test after only one day of conventional schooling. Despite this academic success, he demonstrates a lack of familiarity with traditional school structures, claiming to be in “grade 16.” The sources also mention a personal connection to the series creator, Rebecca Sugar, as Steven’s potential female name, Nora, was a name almost given to her before her birth.
Miscellaneous Details
Several additional details are provided, including Steven’s possession of a phone (initially resembling an iPhone, later replaced), a shared birthday with Steven Sugar, and a unique feature of his hair forming a rose shape when viewed from the back (more visible on Funko Pop! figurines). These details contribute to the overall characterization of Steven and his connection to the world around him.
Limitations of the Sources
It is crucial to acknowledge the limitations of the provided sources. While they offer a comprehensive overview of the character Steven Universe, they provide minimal information about the gemstone peridot itself. The connection is purely based on the birthdate association. Therefore, a detailed exploration of peridot’s geological formation, chemical properties, historical significance, or metaphysical beliefs is not possible based on the available materials. The article has focused on interpreting the character’s connection to the birthstone within the context of the series.
Conclusion
Steven Universe’s association with peridot, as his birthstone, serves as a symbolic link between the character and the world of gemstones. While the provided sources primarily focus on the character’s development, abilities, and background, they highlight the importance of gemstones within the narrative of the series. The character’s journey of self-discovery and growth mirrors the transformative processes often associated with gemstones, from their raw, natural state to their polished, refined form. Despite the limited information about peridot itself within these sources, the connection remains a significant aspect of Steven Universe’s identity and the broader thematic exploration of gems and their power within the series.