The new animated superhero series Kid Cosmic is essentially a mash-up of creator Craig McCracken's The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. It follows Kid's journey of becoming a superhero after discovering five powerful cosmic stones. Using these stones, Kid compiles a team of superheroes, including his grandpa, Portal Girl, Big Little Girl and Tuna Sandwich. While others fall into their new powers with ease, Kid struggles to keep up and master his abilities.
Kid Cosmic's plot is similar to Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, which features Steven's coming-of-age story among three magical aliens known as the Crystal Gems. Steven is a half-Gem, who frequently grapples with his emerging powers. Much like Kid, Steven's abilities start out as the least powerful of his super squad. As a result, the boys' respective teams set up fake obstacles to make Kid and Steven think they've had a victory.
Despite following similar storylines, the protagonists differ in how they react to their fake tasks. Kid tends to lash out at his team in anger, whereas Steven typically holds back his hurt feelings to make his guardians feel better. This is best exemplified in Steven Universe's Season 1, Episode 38, "The Test." Steven discovers that a previous mission to the Lunar Sea Spire was actually a non-crucial mission staged by the Crystal Gems to test his developing abilities. Realizing he failed the mission, Steven demands a new one to officially test his powers.
While navigating a custom-made dungeon designed by the Gems, Steven discovers the dangers are holograms, and the puzzles lead to success no matter how he solves them. Initially, Steven is distraught by the Gems' trick. However, before exiting the dungeon, he overhears his guardians discussing the best way to teach him because a half-Gem like Steven has never existed before. Realizing they only had his best interest at heart, Steven pretends to be ignorant of their trick to spare their feelings.
On the other hand, Kid is easily frustrated that he is less adept at managing his new powers. Unlike Steven, Kid tries to establish himself as the leader of the superhero group right from the get-go. Therefore, he feels the pressure to prove himself worthy of the position, which is extremely challenging when he blatantly struggles with his flying ability.
Despite Kid Cosmic and Steven Universe's staggering similarities, the differences are driven by the protagonists' unique personalities. Steven is kind-hearted. Although he wants to protect humanity and help those in need, he takes more of a reluctant hero role at the beginning of the series. In contrast, Kid is a dreamer who has fantasized about becoming a superhero for as long as he can remember. He, too, believes in saving humanity, but sometimes his eagerness and immaturity get the better of him. Despite his noble goal to protect the world from the evil Stuck Chuck, Kid could stand to learn a thing or two about forgiveness from Steven.