Amethyst

Lore & Background

Unlike Pearl and Garnet, who were allies of Steven's mother Rose Quartz in the ancient Gem war, Amethyst joined the Crystal Gems after the war ended. She was created on Earth to be one of many Amethyst soldiers in the Gem empire's army. However, she was created smaller and weaker than other Amethysts, and emerged long after the others had departed, leaving her isolated for many years before being taken in by Rose Quartz. Michaela Dietz has spoken about how her experience as an adoptee informs her performance of Amethyst in this respect. She was initially hostile to Greg, but they eventually became friends. Her character arc centers on coming to accept the burden of responsibility and overcoming her poor self-image arising from her smaller stature and "defective" creation. As the series moves forward, she becomes more self-confident. During the fourth season, she meets the other Amethyst soldiers who were created alongside her, and their support and affection for her become a source of emotional validation. In Steven Universe Future, Amethyst runs the Gem Human Excellence Mentorship (GHEM) as an educator in Little Homeworld and remains Steven's friend, even as he tries to deal with his trauma.

In Their Own Story

From the gemstone in her chest, Amethyst can summon a purple whip. Although most Gems possess the ability to shapeshift, Amethyst uses it to her advantage the most, especially when pulling pranks. Her dance style is "freeform," a mix of club dancing and dancehall styles, with the show's crew being "pretty loose with it" and Amethyst doing "whatever feels right." In the show's music, Amethyst is represented as an "eclectic drum kit, with electric bass and some...synths" and when she fused with Pearl becoming Opal, both characters are "distinguishable in the music." Reviewer Caroline Framke described Amethyst's drums as "spastic." Amethyst appeared in Steven Universe: The Movie, a film that is an offshoot from the series, bringing the events of the original Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future, with Steven working to restore her memories after they are wiped by Spinel, and that of the other Crystal Gems, while she later helps Steven try and restore Pearl's memories. Amethyst also appeared in a 2018 crossover episode of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes titled "Crossover Nexus."

Reader's Guide

Amethyst is one of the three Crystal Gems (with Pearl and Garnet), who, along with the titular Steven Universe, form the main characters of the series. She is more hedonistic and carefree than the other Gems, and behaves as more of an older sister figure to Steven. She often encourages Steven to enjoy himself and is the only Gem to engage in eating for fun, as Gems do not require food to survive. From the gemstone in her chest, she can summon a purple whip. Although most Gems possess the ability to shapeshift, Amethyst uses it to her advantage the most, especially when pulling pranks. Her visual design is based on a sphere, as inspired by the Bauhaus theory of design. Amethyst's look was redesigned between the pilot episode of Steven Universe and the first regular episode. In a July 2014 interview, Dietz said she was excited to have a panel on the show, to see "the fans of the show and hear their thoughts," and praised the show's cast and crew. In August 2014 interview, she noted that Amethyst was her "first experience voicing a cartoon character" and said that she was "having such a blast" voicing Amethyst. Sugar said, in a 2014 AmA that Amethyst's room in the Crystal Temple is closest to her "actual lifestyle."

Did You Know?

• Amethyst is the only Gem who engages in eating for fun, as Gems do not require food to survive.
• Michaela Dietz has spoken about how her experience as an adoptee informs her performance of Amethyst.
• Amethyst's dance style is described as "freeform," a mix of club dancing and dancehall styles.
• In the show's music, Amethyst is represented by an "eclectic drum kit, with electric bass and some...synths."
• Amethyst's visual design is based on a sphere, inspired by the Bauhaus theory of design.