References in Steven Universe

Steven Universe contains many references from anime, video games, movies, other TV shows, and many other sources such as memes or webshows.

Anime and Manga

• Steven's transformation in the episode "Cat Fingers" is similar to that of Tetsuo from the movie, Akira.
• The fusion dance that gems use to form Fusion Gems is inspired by the fusion dance from the manga and anime Dragon Ball Z.
• Steven owns toys that look like Pikachu from the Pokémon series and Moogles and the character Cloud from the Final Fantasy series.
• Sugilite could also be based on an Oni, a Japanese demon or ogre, due to the gem being first discovered in Japan by Professor Ken-ichi Sugi.
• Sugilite bears a striking resemblance to Roy Koopa from the Super Mario Bros. series.
• Pearl's battle with holo-pearl has multiple fight sequences identical to ones from the anime Revolutionary Girl Utena.
• Steven's wrestling identity could be a reference to Tiger Mask, a Japanese masked wrestler from the self titled manga/anime Tiger Mask. Not to mention, both Steven and the main character, Tiger are both wrestling characters whose stage identity are depicted as bad guys, and both characters regretted having such identities and later turned into heroes.
• In some shots, there is an arcade game named "Lakewood Plaza Turbo", the title of Ian Jones-Quartey's failed pilot for Cartoon Network.
•  Meat Beat Mania is a parody of SEGA's classic arcade game, Samba de Amigo.
• When the Steven Universe created by Lapis Lazuli tries to suffocate Steven Universe and Connie it is a move similar to Sloth's move from Fullmetal Alchemist (1st series)
• At the end of "House Guest" there is a Sailor moon manga in Steven's drawer.
• When Hoppy is introduced and the screen is cut in three parts, this could be a reference to Samurai Jack.
• Garnet stopping a bomb with her hand, along with the camera position, resemble a scene in Akira, in which Tetsuo stops a missile.
• The magic power amulet that Hopper mentions resembles the Demonic Wishing Eye from the series Adventure Time.
• According to Jeff Liu, storyboard artist on Steven Universe who did some of the animated sequences on this episode, Garnet’s final move was inspired by Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann.
• Ringo's transformation shares the same colors and characteristics of the Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon.
• Taking off her hair/weight, could also be a reference to Rock Lee from Naruto.
• Garnet meditating under the waterfall is similar to how Libra does it in Saint Seiya.
• Garnet's last attack in the episode bears a resemblance to Mazinger's Rocket Punch.
• Hoppy attack smilar to haruko flcl episode 6.
• The Kindergarten was a reference to Enigma of Amigara Fault.

Dragon Ball references:

• The device Hopper uses to measure power levels is similar to a scouter.
• The explosion of the device after someone exceeds their power levels.
• The power level reader skipped the number "9,000" during its rise even in its increments of thousands, possibly to avoid reference to the "Over 9,000" meme.
• During Garnet's training, she increases her power while holding a pose similar to the most common one in Dragon Ball.
• She takes off her hair (weight), similar to how Piccolo takes off his cape.
• The fact that her hair grows bigger when she increases her power level, resembles the transformation of a Super Saiyan.

Video Games

• A red, powerup mushroom from the Mario Bros. franchise can be seen in Greg's storage unit in the episode "Laser Light Cannon."
• Steven has a toy shaped liked the internet meme Sanic (Gotta Go Fast) in the episode "Steven the Sword Fighter."
• Golf Quest Mini is a mash of Pokémon, Earthbound, Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Digimon, Professor Layton, Persona, Golden Axe, Disgaea, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Skies of Aracida, Fire Emblem, Chronon Cross, Chrono Trigger, Legend of Dragon, Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Xillia, Star Ocean Last Hope, Ni No Kuni, White Knight Chronicles, Super Mario RPG, Samurai Warriors, Ninja Gaiden, Dragon Quest, Cross Edge, Dynasty Warriors, Vagrant Story,  Evolution Worlds, Monster Hunter,dawn of the new world, Shining Force,Dragon's Crown,Granstream Saga,SaGa Frontier,Alundra, Trouble Witches, Time Gal,Summon Night,Valkyrie Profile,grandia,ar tonelico, black matrix zero,breath of fire,magical vacation,golden sun,Acceleration of Suguri X Edition, solatorobo,
  dragon's dogma,nier,last rebellion,seiken densetsu,kingdoms of amalur,atelier totori ,fragile dreams,star ocean,tales of destiny,resonance of fate,Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky ,dark wizard,grandia,power stone,ballerina,eternalsorate,vardal heart,llusioh of gaia,castlevanie symphontof the night,valkyrina chronicles,hyperdomension,quest 64, Ar Nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star, drakengard,Valkyria Chronicles,Ragnarok Odyssey ACE,deception,fairy fencer f,mugen souls z,AquaPazza,Arcana Heart and Sonic Chronicles. Incorporating parodies of the play RPG, styles, character design, and dialogue.
• When Holographic Pearl attacks Steven from above, she appears to be using Sephiroth's Hell's Gate move, the same one he uses to kill Aerith in Final Fantasy VII.
• The Red Eye possesses a Rupee pattern from The Legend of Zelda games. 
• Also, The Red Eye may be a reference to the Moon from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
• The blank-eyed Connie resembles the mythical Minecraft mob: Herobrine.
• Teens of Rage is a tribute to an old Sega Genesis Game called Streets of Rage. Note that they have a slight reference to the character Skate (fights with rollerblades) as a Head with a cap on a skateboard. The game was made by a company called Carpcom, which is a parody of the real game company named Capcom.
• The scene in Onion Trade where Steven lists off the various "G.U.Y.S" looks like a Mega Man stage select, specifically, Mega Man 3's, considering Steven's head in the center.
• In the episode "Garnet's Universe" Hopper seems to be a reference to Frog from the chrono trigger series. Hopper wears an attire similar to Frog's armor along with a broadsword with a few small differences. She also uses what looks like a Wii U gamepad as a "scouter".
• Hopper resembles Frog from Chrono Trigger.
• Hoppy resembles Usagi from Usagi Yojimbo.

• The background on this episode (including the mountain Garnet breaks in half with a punch) is very similar to the one used in Super Mario Bros 3.

• Garnet's "super fast punching" during her training resembles Kenshiro's Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken technique from the Fist of the North Star series. The attack is a very iconic rapid punching move which has been paid homage in many other popular series.
• Ronaldo is using a streaming website called Weirdstar. This may be a reference to Wordstarhiphop, a site infamous for violent fight videos. 
• Amethyst's attack on the Watermelon Stevens highly resembles the Spin Dash from Sonic The Hedgehog.

Movies

• In the episode "Lion 2: The Movie", the movie Dogcopter 3 is an allusion to two other movies, Bolt and The War of the Worlds.
•  The episode "Lars and the Cool Kids" has a title similar to the movie titled 'Lars and the Real Girl.
• Greg's statement about the seeds after Steven's Hurricane Spin Spit is a direct reference to a similar quote in Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Oddyssey.

Shows

• When Amethyst said "Chill it dude" after she turned into a blue jay, it might be a reference to Mordecai from Regular Show.
• The character "Hoppy" seems to be a huge references to the character Usagi Yojimbo.
• Hoppy is a reference to the character Usagi Yojimbo, a rabbit ronin from a comic series of the same name. The character of Usagi Yojimbo also made appearances in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.

Culture

Rose & the other gems.

"Watson and the Shark."

• In the episode So Many Birthdays, a photo is shown of the Crystal Gems in a boat which is an obvious parody of "Watson and the Shark" a 1778 oil painting by John Singleton Copley, depicting the rescue of Brook Watson from a shark attack in Havana, Cuba.
• A Spartan helmet is seen in Greg's storage unit.
• A Chinese, waving lucky cat is seen inside the belly of the Big Bird from the episode "Giant Woman."
• In many cultures, Garnet's third eye represents "sight beyond normal sight" and heightened telekinetic abilities.
• Tiger Millionaire could be a reference to the professional wrestler, Ted "Million Dollar Man" DiBiase, who was known for flaunting his wealth, being a jerk, and stuffing dollar bills in his opponents' mouths after they lost. Just look at how he spends his Thanksgiving.
  • Additionally, his outfit bears a resemblance to "Irwin R. Schyster" (also known as IRS), who was actually Ted DiBiase's partner in a tag team.
• The game console Steven is playing in "Rose's Room" resembles a Nintendo 64.
• There is a Game Boy Color and a Sega Genesis in the Heaven Beetle's room.
• A Gamecube can be seen in Steven's room in "House Guest"
• The quarters shown have the face of Thomas Jefferson flipped to the right.
• Foxman is browsing tumblr on his phone. He can be seen looking at cat images.

  

• One of the poses Garnet does while fighting the Watermelon Stevens resembles the Frogner Park Babyfighter statue in Oslo, Norway.
• In Warp Tour, Amethyst says "Don't let the warp monster bite" which is a parody of the saying "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite".

Steven Universe Referenced in Other Media

• In the show Uncle Grandpa, a boy on a scooter who looks very similar to Steven can be seen.

  

  Steven Universe pictured on a scooter in Uncle Grandpa Haunted RV.