It's strange to compare a show about a 'football-headed' boy in a suburban city with Peanuts-inspired characters to a show about a boy who is part of a trio of powerful extra-terrestrial women powered by Gemstones. One is very unrealistic with likable characters (minus two or three) in an anime-inspired story line that can leave the viewer either sad, scared, or confused (SU), while the other one has more realistic characters and settings with some mature themes (HA). The character Helga Pataki is a good example: She has an alcoholic mother, an emotionally abusive father, and an older sister who hogs all the attention from Helga. Her parents barely notice her, not even if she's going to school on a rainy day with no bus, no umbrella, and no coat. To top it all off, Helga's family is the reason why she kept her unhealthy crush on Arnold a secret for half her childhood! Apparently, one of them told Helga go 'sweep it under the rug', meaning she should bottle her emotions and keep it an unhealthy secret. She didn't even tell her best friend Phoebe about her secret! Also, Arnold's grandmother seems to be mentally, but hilariously, confused. For example: In the Thanksgiving special, Grandma celebrates Independence Day on Thanksgiving. Also, there's an obese bully who's apparently Jewish (Harold Berman), a 38-year-old man who never works and can't read (Oscar Kokoshka), an Asian man who left his country to save himself and his daughter from war (Mr. Hyunh), and threats from Helga that are now considered bullying.
There are mature themes in Steven Universe as well. There's two female characters that are in love with one another, Steven's mom Rose 'dying' after giving birth to Steven, characters sacrificing themselves, and many more. Also, there are certain scenes that are unimaginably frightening and unsettling, like Steven's body turning into cat faces, a French fry costume coming to life and bleeding ketchup, one of the Gems almost killing Steven by launching him into outer space, and multiple terrifying mismatched Gem fusions (Alexandrite, Malachite, and just about every Cluster Gem). Because of this popularity and tones of the show, it is safe to nickname Steven Universe the Hey Arnold of this generation. I personally don't watch Steven Universe because I feel like it messes with my emotions and my mind.
So, which show is the winner? Well, once again, you decide! Put in the comments section below on which show you think is better! See you on July 19th when I compare Avatar: The Last Airbender to Over the Garden Wall!
Two shows Ive actually seen and like very much. I give the edge to Hey Arnold even though Steven is probably more creative
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