Sugar, Rebecca (1987-…), an American writer and animator , is best known for creating the children’s cartoon series “Steven Universe.” The show debuted in 2013. It is the first series on cable television’s Cartoon Network created exclusively by a woman. “Steven Universe” is known for its complex and relatable characters and for its progressive portrayal of nontraditional relationships and gender roles.
“Steven Universe” presents a coming-of-age story centered on the title character. Young Steven fights to defend Earth from aliens and other threats. He does so with the help of Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, members of a race of alien warriors known as the Crystal Gems. “Steven Universe” has been praised for its broad, inclusive take on gender roles and same-sex relationships. Many characters on the show play against traditional notions of gender. Steven’s father, for example, plays the role of sensitive nurturer, while the Crystal Gems, who appear female, are fierce warriors. Various Crystal Gems share complex and loving relationships. Examples include Ruby and Sapphire, who fuse (combine) to form the Crystal Gem Garnet.
Sugar was born on July 9, 1987, in Silver Spring, Maryland . She attended the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City . Sugar’s first job in animation was as a storyboard artist and writer for the Cartoon Network series “Adventure Time” (2010-2018).
Sugar is also a noted songwriter. Her original compositions form a major element of “Steven Universe.” She has also written songs for “Adventure Time” and the Cartoon Network series “OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes,” which began in 2017.
Sugar has written several books based on “Steven Universe.” They include Steven Universe: Guide to the Crystal Gems (2015); The Answer (2016), illustrated by Tiffany Ford and Elle Michalka; and Fusion for Beginners and Experts (2017), co-written and illustrated by Angie Wang. Sugar also worked on the role-playing video game Steven Universe: Attack the Light (2015).
