The internet has a very long memory. Sometimes, it’s a little too long. If you’ve spent any time in animation fandoms over the last decade, you might’ve stumbled across a certain rumor. It’s the kind of thing that gets whispered about in Reddit threads or used as "cancellation" fuel on X. We're talking about the infamous Rebecca Sugar Ed Edd and Eddy drawing.
For many, Rebecca Sugar is a hero. They're the non-binary visionary who gave us Steven Universe, wrote the most gut-wrenching songs on Adventure Time, and basically forced the animation industry to acknowledge queer stories. But for others, there’s this weird, lingering asterisk next to their name.
Is it true? Did the creator of the most wholesome show on Cartoon Network actually draw "unsavory" fan art of the Cul-de-Sac crew back in the day? Honestly, the answer is yes, but the context matters a lot more than the shock value.
Why Everyone is Obsessed with a 20-Year-Old Sketchbook
It’s weird to think about now, but before Rebecca Sugar was a household name, they were just another art student. Specifically, a student at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York. This was the mid-2000s. The internet was a different beast back then. It was the era of DeviantArt, LiveJournal, and early 4chan.
During this time, Sugar was part of a tight-knit circle of indie comic artists. They were experimental. They were provocative. And yeah, they were sometimes "edgy" for the sake of being edgy.
The Rebecca Sugar Ed Edd and Eddy drawing—or rather, a series of drawings—surfaced from this pre-fame era. We aren't talking about official production art. These weren't sketches made while working for Danny Antonucci (the creator of Ed, Edd n Eddy). This was pure, unfiltered fan art.
The Cartoon Brew "Call Out"
The most cited "evidence" of these drawings actually comes from a 2008 post on the animation blog Cartoon Brew. At the time, Sugar was only 20 years old. The post was titled "Rebecca Sugar Gets It On," and it showcased her talent while simultaneously pointing out the "disturbing" nature of her subject matter.
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The art featured characters from Ed, Edd n Eddy, Ratatouille, and even old Terrytoons characters in suggestive or explicit situations. To be blunt: it was NSFW fan art.
Why did she draw it? Most experts and peers from that era suggest it was a mix of things:
- Anatomy Practice: Art students often use familiar characters to practice difficult poses and human form.
- Shock Humor: The mid-2000s art scene thrived on taking "pure" childhood icons and making them "gross" or "adult."
- Creative Freedom: Before she had a brand to protect, Sugar was just exploring the limits of her style.
The Connection Between the Eds and Steven Universe
It’s easy to get caught up in the controversy, but if you look past the NSFW aspect, you can actually see the DNA of Sugar’s future success in those old drawings.
Ed, Edd n Eddy was famous for its "boiling" line art and extreme physical comedy. The characters' bodies would stretch, squash, and contort in ways that felt almost painful. If you look at Sugar's early work—even the controversial stuff—you see that same obsession with "squash and stretch."
She clearly loved the show. You can see the influence of the Eds in the way Amethyst shifts her shape or in the raw, messy emotional outbursts of the Crystal Gems. Sugar didn't just draw the characters; she studied the movement.
Honestly, the "scandalous" art is just a tiny, weird footnote in a much larger story of artistic growth. Most people who work in creative fields have a "cringe" folder from their teen years. Sugar's just happened to be public because she became incredibly famous.
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Sorting Fact from Fiction
Let's clear some things up because the internet loves to telephone-game these stories until they're unrecognizable.
1. Was she an adult when she drew them?
Mostly, yes. She was around 18 to 20 years old. She wasn't a "child" herself, but she was definitely a young student still finding her voice.
2. Was this official work?
Absolutely not. Rebecca Sugar never worked on Ed, Edd n Eddy. Her professional career started as a storyboard revisionist on Adventure Time around 2010. Any "Ed" art you see is strictly fan-made.
3. Did she ever apologize?
Not in the way people usually want. She hasn't released a "YouTube apology" video. Instead, she’s spoken broadly about how her early work was a "quest for perfection" and how she used to make art that was self-destructive or meant to provoke. She has pivoted her entire career toward making content that is "helpful and responsible," which many see as her real answer to her past.
Why This Still Comes Up in 2026
In the current "cancel culture" landscape, old art is often used as a weapon. Whenever Steven Universe fans get into a heated debate online, someone eventually pulls out the Rebecca Sugar Ed Edd and Eddy drawing as a "gotcha" moment.
But here’s the thing: most of the animation industry doesn't care.
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In the world of professional animation, having a "messy" portfolio as a student is almost a rite of passage. Many of the people who created your favorite cartoons started out drawing weird, transgressive stuff on the internet.
The real value of looking at this old art isn't the shock factor. It's seeing the transition. You’re looking at an artist who went from drawing cynical, edgy fan art to creating a show centered entirely on empathy, forgiveness, and healthy relationships.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Artists
If you're an artist worried about your own "cringe" past or a fan trying to make sense of your favorite creator's history, keep these points in mind:
- Separate the Art from the Career: Student work rarely reflects the professional standards an artist holds themselves to a decade later.
- Context is King: The internet of 2006 was a "wild west." What was considered a joke or a style exercise then is viewed through a much harsher lens today.
- Focus on the Evolution: The fact that Sugar moved from "edgy" content to "healing" content is actually a pretty powerful narrative of personal growth.
- Check the Source: If you see a claim about a creator, look for the date. Most "scandals" are just people rediscovering things that were already discussed and settled years ago.
Instead of hunting for old sketches to "prove" someone is bad, it’s more productive to look at what they’re doing now. Rebecca Sugar spent the last decade building a world of inclusivity. That work carries a lot more weight than a few sketches in an old college notebook.
If you want to understand the style of that era better, look into the SVA animation graduates from 2007-2010. You'll find a whole generation of artists who were all trying to break the rules of "kid-friendly" art before they eventually became the ones making the rules at Cartoon Network and Netflix.