Nick Schmiedicker

Reviewed.com

There are few shows on air today willing to tackle the themes of intimacy, gender, and identity like the Emmy-nominated Steven Universe. This past weekend, Cartoon Network brought Steven Universe to a new platform, recording the show’s first music video at San Diego Comic-Con.

The music video capitalizes on the popular success of the show’s first soundtrack collection, released earlier this month. An immediate hit on six of Billboard’s top charts, the album is getting a vinyl release that’s currently available for pre-order.

Steven Universe follows the adventures of a half-human/half-alien boy and his magical family. Written for an audience of children, it explores surprisingly nuanced themes that are balanced with a healthy dose of humor. The show has attracted a devoted following of fans across the world, who appreciate its willingness to have an open heart one moment and showcase the joy of friends and family the next.

The song featured in the video, “Stronger Than You,” is a rallying cry that highlights the determination of loved ones to rise above life’s challenges. In an interview with USA TODAY, show creator Rebecca Sugar said it spoke about how near and dear to her heart the song is and how it became one of Steven Universe’s most beloved songs — largely because it exemplifies the show’s spirit of love and openness.

“It’s very important, especially in a show for children, to have characters that are emotionally honest,” she said.

The song’s importance to both her and the fans made it a natural fit for the show’s first debut music video. “It’s exciting to me to get to celebrate the show and that song in particular,” she said, “because I feel like it’s connected me to so many people. I love the thought of bringing them all together in one place.”

And that’s how Estelle came to be surrounded by 1,500 fans wearing “I Am Made of Love” T-shirts (available online now) at the country’s largest pop culture convention.