Enter the bizarre and hilarious world of The Amazing World of Gumball. This highly creative and visually unique show follows the misadventures of Gumball Watterson, a blue cat, and his best friend and adoptive brother, Darwin, a goldfish who grew legs. They live in the equally strange town of Elmore, where everything and everyone seems to have a mind of its own. The show is primarily a surreal comedy, constantly breaking the fourth wall and employing a wild mix of animation styles. While it has endearing characters and touches on relatable family dynamics, it lacks the deep serialized plot and overarching emotional narrative that defines Steven Universe. It's more focused on delivering clever jokes, satirical commentary, and inventive visual gags in a largely episodic format, making it a fun watch but different in its core ambition.

Explore the wonders of childhood imagination in Craig of the Creek. This series centers on Craig Williams, a creative and adventurous ten-year-old boy who maps out the local creek, a sprawling natural world where neighborhood kids have formed their own societies, hierarchies, and adventures. Along with his best friends, Kelsey and J.P., Craig explores the creek, helps other kids, and navigates the politics of their unique world. While less focused on deep serialization or intense emotional arcs compared to Steven Universe, Craig of the Creek excels at portraying realistic and diverse friendships and the boundless creativity of children. It's a show with a lot of heart, celebrating community, imaginative play, and the simple joys of being a kid. It has a relaxed, slice-of-life feel with gentle adventures and a focus on positive interactions.

Join the fearless blue-haired explorer in Hilda, a charming series based on the graphic novels by Luke Pearson. The show follows Hilda, a curious and adventurous young girl who moves with her mother from their home in the wilderness to the bustling city of Trolberg. There, she continues to encounter and befriend magical creatures, from elves and trolls to giants and spirits, while navigating school and city life with her friends Frida and David. While more episodic and gentle in its storytelling than Steven Universe's overarching saga, Hilda shares a sense of wonder, a deep appreciation for nature and the magical world, and a focus on the protagonist's kind heart and ability to connect with others, no matter how strange they seem. It's a beautifully animated show with a cozy, adventurous feel.

Enter the world of Xadia with The Dragon Prince, an epic fantasy series created by Aaron Ehasz (head writer on Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Justin Richmond. The story is set in a realm divided between human kingdoms and the magical lands of Xadia, separated by a vast river of lava after humans began using dark magic. The series begins when two human princes discover an egg of the Dragon Prince, believed to be destroyed, and embark on a quest with an elven assassin to return it to its mother in Xadia, hoping to prevent war. Similar to Avatar and Korra, this show features deep world-building, complex political intrigue, and strong character arcs for its main trio. It explores themes of prejudice, understanding, and the possibility of peace between warring factions. The animation style is unique, and the narrative is a compelling, serialized adventure.

Take a walk through a beautiful, slightly unsettling forest in Over the Garden Wall. This critically acclaimed miniseries follows two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who become lost in a mysterious woods called the Unknown. They must find their way home while encountering strange creatures and navigating the eerie landscape, guided by a Woodsman and a talking bluebird named Beatrice. While tonally more melancholic and atmospheric than Steven Universe, this show shares a deep emotional core and a sense of mystery surrounding its world. It's a beautifully animated and scored series that feels like an old, slightly spooky fairy tale. Its concise, self-contained story allows for a focused exploration of its themes of fear, hope, and brotherhood. It's a perfect watch for an autumn evening and leaves a lasting impression.

Get whisked away to a dimension of magic and monsters with Star vs. the Forces of Evil. This show follows Star Butterfly, a magical princess from the dimension of Mewni, who is sent to live on Earth with the Diaz family to learn responsibility and control her magical wand. She befriends their cautious son, Marco Diaz, and together they navigate school, monsters, and interdimensional adventures. The series starts as a relatively episodic comedy but gradually introduces a deep lore, complex antagonists, and a serialized plot that explores the history of Mewni and the true nature of magic. Like Steven Universe, it features strong character development, particularly for Star and Marco, and delves into their evolving relationship and personal growth as the stakes get higher. It balances its quirky humor with surprising emotional depth and exciting action sequences.

Journey through a post-apocalyptic world filled with mutated animals in Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. This visually stunning series follows Kipo, a sheltered human girl from an underground burrow, who is thrust onto the surface world after her home is destroyed. She teams up with a tough human survivor and a pair of mutant animal friends to find her way back home and locate her missing father. Kipo's journey is one of empathy and understanding, as she seeks to bridge the gap between humans and the intelligent 'mutes' who now inhabit the surface. The show excels with its optimistic tone, fantastic soundtrack (seriously, the music is amazing!), and commitment to diversity and representation. Like Steven Universe, it emphasizes the power of connection, finding common ground, and building bridges rather than walls, even with those who seem different or hostile.

All aboard the Infinity Train! This unique anthology series takes place on a mysterious, seemingly endless train where each car is a different bizarre reality. The passengers are people dealing with personal issues, and they are given a glowing number on their hand that decreases as they work through their trauma and emotional baggage. Each season (or 'Book') follows a different protagonist, though characters from previous seasons often reappear. While the structure is different from Steven Universe, the core focus on character's emotional journeys, psychological healing, and uncovering a deep, overarching mystery is a strong parallel. It's a smart, creative, and surprisingly dark show that isn't afraid to delve into complex themes of loss, identity, and overcoming personal demons. It's a show that rewards close attention and discussion.

Continue the saga in the world of bending with The Legend of Korra, the sequel series to Avatar: The Last Airbender. Set 70 years later, it follows Korra, the new Avatar, a headstrong and rebellious young woman who struggles to connect with the spiritual side of being the Avatar. The series is divided into distinct books, each focusing on a different antagonist and theme, allowing Korra to face political unrest, anti-bender sentiment, anarchy, and spiritual conflict. Like Steven Universe, Korra is deeply invested in exploring its protagonist's emotional and psychological journey, depicting her struggles with anxiety, trauma, and identity in a remarkably candid way for an animated show. It builds upon the rich world of its predecessor while introducing new characters, cultures, and conflicts, exploring the complexities of a rapidly modernizing society and the challenges of leadership.

Embark on a legendary journey with Avatar: The Last Airbender, a show widely regarded as one of the greatest animated series ever made. Set in a world where people can manipulate elements called 'bending,' the story follows Aang, the last Airbender and the Avatar, a figure capable of bending all four elements and bringing balance to the world. Aang awakens after a hundred-year absence to find the Fire Nation has waged war on the other nations. Alongside his new friends, Katara and Sokka, he must master the elements to defeat the Fire Lord. While more action-adventure focused than Steven Universe, Avatar shares its commitment to deep world-building, complex characters with compelling arcs (especially Zuko!), and tackling mature themes like war, genocide, destiny, and spiritualism. It's a foundational show for modern serialized Western animation with a rich mythology and powerful emotional core.

Get ready for an epic tale of rebellion and relationships in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. This reboot reimagines the classic 80s character for a new generation, focusing on Adora, a soldier for the evil Horde who discovers she is the legendary hero, She-Ra. She leaves the Horde to join the Rebellion, leading to a complex and often heartbreaking conflict with her former best friend, Catra. The heart of this show lies in its incredible character development and exploration of relationships – friendship, rivalry, and everything in between. It features a wonderfully diverse cast and tackles themes of identity, trauma, and the power of connection with maturity and nuance. The serialized narrative builds towards a thrilling climax, making it a binge-worthy journey. It's a show that understands the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of understanding even your enemies.

Step through a portal to the Boiling Isles with The Owl House, a series that feels like a spiritual successor to the best of modern animation. It follows Luz Noceda, a human teenager who stumbles upon a magical realm and befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and a tiny demon, King. Luz enrolls as Eda's apprentice, despite having no magical abilities herself, and seeks to become a witch. This show shines with its fantastic world-building, deep lore, and incredibly well-developed characters. It fearlessly explores complex relationships, identity, and found family themes, much like Steven Universe. The serialized plot ramps up quickly, delivering high stakes and emotional payoffs. Created by Dana Terrace, who worked on Gravity Falls and was influenced by Steven Universe, you can feel the lineage in its smart writing, engaging mysteries, and commitment to heartfelt storytelling and diverse representation. It's a magical adventure with real emotional weight.

Prepare for a summer of mystery, monsters, and sibling bonds with Gravity Falls. This show centers around twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, who spend their summer in the strange town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, living with their Grunkle Stan. They quickly discover the town is full of secrets, guided by a mysterious journal Dipper finds. Like Steven Universe, Gravity Falls excels at weaving a compelling, overarching narrative through seemingly standalone episodes. The character development, particularly for the Pines twins and Stan, is phenomenal, showing genuine growth and complexity. It's a show that respects its audience, layering in codes, ciphers, and hidden clues that reward rewatching and community discussion. The blend of laugh-out-loud comedy, genuine scares, and heartfelt moments exploring family and identity makes it utterly compelling from start to finish. It's a tightly written masterpiece with a definite ending that sticks the landing.

Dive into the land of Ooo with Adventure Time, a show that masterfully blends absurdist humor with surprisingly deep emotional resonance. It follows Finn, the human boy, and his best friend Jake, the magical dog, on quests through a post-apocalyptic world filled with quirky characters and ancient secrets. What makes it truly special, and a perfect follow-up to Steven Universe, is its commitment to character growth and serialized storytelling. While it starts out feeling very episodic, the show gradually builds a complex mythology and explores the backstories and motivations of its vast cast in incredibly moving ways. It tackles themes of growing up, dealing with change, and the nature of good and evil with a unique, heartfelt perspective. Plus, it's the creative wellspring that influenced many shows that came after it, including Steven Universe itself, as Rebecca Sugar was a writer and storyboard artist on the series!