1001 Animations: Lars and the Cool Kids

Show: Steven Universe
Episode: 14
Year: 2014

Writer(s): Lamar Abrams, Matt Braly


The grandure of Steven Universe doesn't just apply to the more large scale episodes like So Many Birthdays or Rose's Room (though again I'm gonna do a lot of these), even the breather episodes such as this one can leave a big impact and revel in this shows unique charm. When the Gems attempt to contain a moss Rose Quartz originally led to the hilltops every spring, Steven decides to hang out with Lars and a gang of Cool kids, including Mayor Dewey's son and the eldest Pizza daughter. Lars only cares about trying to impress these guys and he just comes off as the biggest poser I've ever seen, it's pretty funny, although I'll admit him covering his mouth was probably used to cut corners on the animation on lip-synching, though I'll chalk it up to it being a nervous habit Lars has. Steven on the other hand just uses a very friendly energy to make the cool kids accept him, showing up Lars unintentionally.


Lars is an interesting character, he's definitely a bit of a jerkass, but episodes such as Island Adventure show that he can have a heart despite this, it especially shows here. He's one of those asshole teenagers done very well. As for the cool kids, their sense of cool is timeless and very genuine, they don't go all constantly referencing pop culture and using bullshit slang like Rocket Power, and before you ask, Sour Cream is my favorite among them, I think he might be Onion's brother, just a thought. Now these cool kids, they actually feel very real, they do care about safety like seat belts (hey man, There's nothing LAME about seatbelt safety) and are really very nice, though like a lot of teens they come off as rule breakers when they enter the area with the moss, bypassing Pearl's police tape, this doesn't make them unlikeable, it merely gives them flaws to humanize them moreso, and they immediately regret their decision when the moss comes to life and consumes them.


This is the moment where the episode becomes amazing, Lars chews out Steven, blaming him for those guys getting eaten, saying its all because of his "WEIRD MOM". And then this happens:


Steven: "What do you know about my mom? I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO KNOW MY MOM! But I DO KNOW she saw beauty in EVERYTHING! Even in stuff like this, and even in JERKS LIKE YOU!"


Like I said before, Steven isn't stupid or oblivious, he knows what's going on, he's just a tad naive. And even though he basically calls Lars out on how selfish he is, they both still work together to save the others and get the moss to the hill, right before they nearly get swallowed alive by the stuff. The final moments of this episode are breathtaking, from the sunset as the moss blooms on the hilltop with the petals flying throughout Beach City, to the music being pure atmosphere making the scene akin to a Miyazaki work. And the final moments of the episode between Steven and Lars really are precious, showing that they do care about one another despite their differences.


This episode is easily just as powerful as its sister episode So Many Birthdays, while maintaining a more subtle and subdued feel, proving why Steven Universe is one of the greatest Cartoon Network shows ever.


Steven Universe is owned by Cartoon Network Studios and Turner Broadcasting.

1001 Animations is from

Regulas314