'Steven Universe: The Movie' DVD: Steven at 16

Cartoon Network provides another reason for which to give thanks as to the November 12, 2019 DVD release of "Steven Universe: The Movie" (2019). Series creator Rebecca Sugar brings the band back together after the end of S5 of this bright and bold series to do it once more with feeling as to the life of our half-alien half all-American boy in the future. One warning is that the theme of this all-singing all-dancing musical extravaganza WILL get stuck in your head. 

Folks who either are unfamiliar with this creative series that appeals to kids of all ages or who simply would like a refresher on the lore are invited to read the post on the extras-laden S2 DVD giftset of the show, Team Sugar does include enough of the backstory in "Movie" to enjoy the film even for folks who have not had the joy of discovering this gem.

Our fable begins with our little prince on Homeworld, where he chooses to defend Earth, rather than ascend to the throne that is his birthright. His rookie mistake is having his speech that explains his reasoning broadcast throughout the universe. On returning to his home turf of Beach City, Steven has a gleeful (pun intended) reunion with his terrestrial and extra-terrestrial friends. 

The sense of being excited and feeling so good because they are reunited is short-lived for our avenging holograms. Sister from another planet Spinel soon arrives to prove that Hell hath no fury like a gem scorned. The basis for her resentment is very relatable to all of us who have had a friend ghost us.

A very apt description is that Spinel is the close childhood friend of the pink diamond who is the mother of Steven. Spinel, who is a combination of a Powerpuff Girl and annoying big sister DeeDee on "Dexter's Laboratory," thinks that she is joining her friend on her trip to Earth only to be ditched long, long ago in a galaxy far far away.

The havoc that Spinel wreaks by messing with the mojo of Steven and resetting his gem friends to their defaults is nothing compared to her end-game that puts Thanos to shame. She is using a massive drill to literally poison the earth with a substance that kills all organic life on our planet. This is akin to the awesome documentary series "Life After People."

The Herculean tasks that Steven faces are curing the effective amnesia of his friends and also reaching Spinel so that she will abandon her evil ways. The former mission commences with staging Looney Tunes style threats to trigger a merging that is key to "Universe" lore. Stage Two involves using the power of music to jog the memories of  the good gems to soothe the savage beast that threatens all. This includes having the show go on despite our heroes facing the end of the world as they know it.

The appeal of "Movie" is that, like Thanos, Spinel is looking to do the wrong thing arguably for the right reason. Although those of us who massively have been ditched in the worst possible way reasonably feel resentful, inflicting any (let alone global) collateral damage simply is not cool. 

This being a cartoon by a major Hollywood studio for a basic-cable network ensures a happy ending for our Scooby gang and the planet. Seeing where our heroes go from here requires watching S6 when it premieres on Cartoon Network.

The best feature among the DVD bonus extras is the 27-minute "Behind the Curtain" documentary that starts with Sugar discussing how a "don't try this at home" mishap inspires the "Movie" plot. Thus leads to assembling her team, who go on a retreat to hash out that idea and take things from there. The feature "Rebecca Pitches Act 3" discusses the fruits of those labors of love. The fable here is that collaboration and respecting the input of all leads to very good things.