Visual economy in STEVEN UNIVERSE
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Steven Universe (2013-2019) is full of some wonderfully inventive visuals.
Take this one-two combo from S1E33, “Garnet’s Universe”.
In the first part, Yonder Mountain has a flashing red arrow above it, even though the eye-lines all direct OUR eyes to the peak. But it's a cheeky setup.
After Garnet has finished her training montage, her and her crew scale Yonder Mountain in this *delightful* video game platform esque shot. The flashing red arrow still there. A great little gag - the flashing arrow is part of the mountain!
Animation is often filled with such inventive touches because they need to be economical: both in terms of story AND visual complexity.
This moment is especially charming because it reflects the personality and interests of the episode's narrator, Steven.
THE FLASHBACK
This flashback uses mixed frame rates to great effect (including visual economy)
The character animation is pose-to-pose with no 'tweening - giving the whole thing a storybook feel. While the secondary animation (like the door opening or the fox's hand rubbing) are on 4s. But the effects animation around the gem? It is on 1s. Making the gem feel otherworldly and special.
IMDB
Steven Universe, “Garnet’s Universe” (2014)