Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Hello, this is the second work I posted on AO3, and I hope someone reads it. So, a few months ago I created a favorite ship list, featuring my favorite pairings from animated media, including pairings from anime and video games as well. But unlike other people who’d just do a list, I did something more interesting! I organized my ships by fandom—putting the fandoms in alphabetic order— and categorized them by status, tropes, and dynamics, along with describing my thoughts and feelings about this ship and what I like about them.

The reason went above and beyond was simply for fun, to discover what type of ships I like, and what does that say about me.

* IMPORTANT: I DID NOT INCLUDE SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SHIPS. The reason: There are too many characters and far too many pairings to choose. And I AM NOT going to unintentionally start a shipping war.
* IMPORTANT: I DID NOT INCLUDE TOTAL DRAMA OR DISVENTURE CAMP PAIRINGS. The reason: I can’t find any ship that I like. I tried.
*PROSHIPPERS, ADULT X MINOR, INC*ST SHIPPERS DNI! GET THE FUCK OUT!

RULES.

*DON’T SUGGEST FOR ME TO ADD A SHIP IN THE COMMENT SECTION. IF YOU DO, I WON’T DO IT.

*CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS WELCOMED. HARRASSMENT & BULLYING ARE NOT. IF YOU TRY TO ATTACK ME, I WILL BLOCK YOU AND REPORT YOU!

*IF YOU DON’T LIKE ANY OF THE SHIPS IN THIS ANALYSIS, THEN JUST GO AWAY.

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Amphibia.

Anne x Marcy= Marcanne.

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Battle Couple. Friends to Lovers. Opposite Attracts. Protective Instincts. Dynamics: Flustered x Chill. Nerd x Adventurer. Green & Blue (or Purple, due to Anne’s skirt). Childhood Friends. Brains & Heart.

Why I Like This Ship?

Amphibia is one of my favorite shows, and one of the many things I loved about it was the relationship between Anne Boonchuy and Marcy Wu. Before the latter’s debut, everyone thought she was going to be another toxic friend to the protagonist, just like Sasha was, but she proved us wrong when she first appeared in the episode “Marcy at the Gates”, where it was shown to us that she was a sweet girl with short-attention span. While many people prefer Sashanne or Sashannarcy, I pair Marcanne due to the fact they interacted the most with one another in Season 2, and their bond was significantly healthier than the one Anne had with Sasha as Marcy didn’t have any of the blonde’s controlling tendencies that put a strain on her and Anne’s friendship.

Let’s dig deeper into the characters. First, we have Marcy Wu, a clumsy nerd with autism and ADHD (confirmed by the creator), she gets distracted all the time and sometimes ignores danger when she’s “in the zone” but makes up for it with her intelligence and knowledge in “fantasy JRPG” that comes in handy in risky situations. Then, we have Anne Boonchuy, a friendly, easy-going girl who used to get pushed around by others, to later learn how to stand up for herself as the story progressed. Even though, she’s not academically smart, she’s resourceful and quick-witted. Back on Earth, she used to look out for Marcy and save her from her own klutziness, however, when they got separated, it was Marcy’s turn to protect herself in a dangerous, unknown world, without her friend’s help. The moment they reunited, Anne was ready to protect the nerd from the Barbari-ants, while unintentionally causing more problems for them, and it wasn’t because she didn’t trust Marcy, but because she was afraid to loser her again. They worked out their problems before things could escalate and saved the day together. In later episodes, we saw that whenever one of them was having a problem, the other tried to help them either with actions or with words, just so the other could be happy.

Then, their bond was tested in “True Colors”, when it was revealed that Marcy was the one who got the girls stranded on Amphibia on purpose. Anne was HURT by this…but didn’t HATE Marcy, she only felt betrayed, and even was horrified when she saw her getting stabbed. In season 3, Anne made her mission to go back to Amphibia, to stop Andrias and save her friends. During her time on Earth, we can assume she had time to think about the whole situation with Marcy and what to do about it, and when the moment came in the penultimate episode, she decided to forgive her as she still wanted to be friends with her, and that Marcy’s betrayal, reminded her of Hop Pop’s own betrayal to her, and how they worked it out and forgave him. This showed us that they deeply care about and are willing to go to hell for each other as they view their friendship as the most important thing in the world.

Olivia x Yunan= Yulivia

Status: CANON!

Categories: Opposite Attracts. Battle Couple. Dynamics: Butch x Femme. Knight x Lady Warrior. Large Ham x No Nonsense person. Brains & Brawn.

Why I Like This Ship?

Lady Olivia and General Yunan are two supporting characters that appeared, separately, in Season 2 and have been on-screen together for FIVE episodes, yet during that short time, they’ve proved to have a lot of chemistry with each other. I think what I like most about them is that their dynamic is Knight x Royalty type, even though Lady Olivia is not royalty, she is a respected woman who comes from a high-class family.

Lady Olivia is King Andrias’ royal advisor, she’s a polite, proper, and nice newt, who is not afraid of fightning if necessary. General Yunan is a loud, boisterous woman who likes to shout her name for everyone else to hear it, but she’s also fierce, strong, and will end your life is she sees you as an enemy. While their respective personalities give the illusion they clash with one another, they don’t! They might be different but they’ve one thing in common: they are loyal to their world/kingdom. Olivia comes from a long line of newts that swore to protect Amphibia’s land, Yunan, on the other hand, joined the force to restore her family’s honor (spoilers for Marcy’s Journal), and while it might have seemed they were going to work with Andrias in the beginning of Season 3, they decided to betray him for the following reasons: Olivia was angered that the king, indirectly, made her break her family’s vow and was destroying everything she cared about. Yunan felt the same as her co-worker? She agreed that Andrias had gone too far and that she was not going to serve a “mad king”.

During their titular episode, they worked together to rescue Marcy Wu, and it was shown they NEEDED each other to achieve it. Yunan is strong but reckless, so she needs someone like Olivia to make sure she doesn’t get killed. Meanwhile, Olvia’s greatest strengths are her intelligence and patience, but she lacks strength, and this is why she needs someone like Yunan to protect her from greater threats such as the frobots. They are fiercely protective of each other which makes them a great power couple.

Sprig x Ivy x Maddie= Sprivyddie

Status: Canon (Sprivy). Fanon (All 3 of them)

Categories: Polyamory. Opposite Attracts (Sprig/Maddie) (Ivy/Maddie). Puppy Love. Friends to Lovers (All 3). Birds of a Feather (Sprig/Ivy). Dynamics: (Cancelled) Arranged Marriage. Goth girl x Sunshine boy (Sprig/Maddie). Light & Dark. Crackship (Maddie/Ivy). Childhood Friends. Pink & Yellow or Green & Blue (Sprig/Ivy)

Why I Like This Ship?

At first, I only liked shipping Sprig with Ivy, I never pictured him (or Ivy) with Maddie. This poly ship was born after reading some fanfictions that featured cute interactions between the three. I liked these scenarios, so… why not ship them all together? Let them be a Polycule! Some might say this ship wouldn’t work or that Sprig and Maddie should just stay friends, and that’s fine as that’s their opinion. But think about it...

Sprig and Ivy are childhood friends, and he has had a crush on her since “Dating Season”, said crush became an official relationship in the penultimate episode of Season 1. These two have a lot in common: an adventurous spirit, unseen parents (the Plantar parents died on a Heron attack, while the whereabouts of Ivy’s father are left unknown), hat wearers, etc. not to mention their interactions are the cutest thing in the show, whether it’s Ivy ambushing Sprig, or just them holding hands, you can’t deny how adorable it is.

Now, Sprig and Maddie’s relationship is a bit more complicated as they previously got engaged in the episode “Hop Luck”—thanks to Anne’s meddling—when they met, the frog boy was terrified of Maddie due to her creepiness, and continued fearing her until the events of “Cursed”, where he broke their engagement. Later, he and Anne got cursed, they thought it was Maddie’s doing, only to get proven wrong when she leads them to the real culprit. After defeating the bad guy, Sprig apologized for misjudging his ex-fiancé, and learned that despite her dark nature, she was a good person, and the two became friends. I think they would’ve been more than friends if Anne hadn’t made that deal with Maddie’s father, and if Sprig took the time to get to know her. Though, this is just an idea.

Finally, we have Maddie & Ivy, two characters who never interacted with each other. If there’s one thing I hate is a wasted opportunity. Despite being different, they share things in common: aside from being friends with Sprig, they share an unseen parent (Maddie’s mom is never mentioned), a curious mind, and a fascination for the unknown, and a love for macabre stuff as Ivy likes to scare people. Plus, their dynamic is the Light x Dark type, Ivy has the word “sun” on her last name, and Maddie is a goth girl, their interactions would’ve been funny and adorable. Wasted potential friendship there, writers. You better show their dynamic in the Strange Voyage graphic novel.

Avatar: The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra.

Azula x Zirin= Azirin

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Unholy Matrimony. Belligerent sexual tension. Dynamics: Big Bad x minion. Toxic Yuri. Outlaw couple. Bickering couple.

Why I Like This Ship?

Avatar: The Last Airbender wasn’t just a series ahead of its time; it was a masterpiece that captivated its audience with its outstanding animation, creative writing, and unforgettable characters, like the villainous Princess Azula, who’s arguably the most iconic villain in the entire franchise. Due to her popularity, she’s paired with almost half of the ATLA cast…to a disturbing level. However, the two people she’s paired with the most are her (former) childhood friends, Mai & Ty Lee, thanks to their shared history, iconic interactions, and dynamics, not to mention the grand amount of “romantic subtext” between them. I can see why people want them to be together; Maizula’s dynamic is the “Snark x Snark” type, while Tyzula’s a case of “Opposites Attract.” I see the appeal. Despite all this, I’ve never been drawn to either of those ships, as they just never clicked with me. They just didn’t.

For those unfamiliar with Zirin, she’s a minor character that appeared in the Smoke & Shadow graphic novel, serving as Azula’s pawn during that time. Initially, she didn’t make much of an impression on me, but that changed when I saw a fan comic of her and Azula on X. That made me reread the original comic, and after observing their interactions, I began to ship them together.

While her panel time was short, in her debut appearance we learned that she was institutionalized in a mental facility until Azula broke her and the other patients out and convinced them to join her in a plan that involved kidnapping kids to mess with Zuko. But when we see her again in the “Azula in the Spirit Temple” comic, Zirin ends up abandoning Azula due to the latter’s poor treatment of the Fire Warriors and because she grew disappointed with the princess’ leadership. By leaving her, Zirin proves that she’s not a mindless follower or a one-dimensional character. She has DEPTH. She’s loyal to her friends and knows that Azula is NOT her friend because she only sees them as pawns. We all know that Azula HATES insubordination and has reacted poorly to others not respecting her authority; she uses fear to control others… But that won’t work on Zirin, and that’s what makes their dynamic so intriguing! While she did show fear when she was threatened, instead of continuing to work for the princess, she made the right call and went to rescue her comrades in need.

Their dynamic had a LOT of potential… There could’ve been so much potential. The writers could’ve crafted a story centered around the conflict between the two girls, having them work out their differences, learn something new about the other—like the real reason Zirin ended up in the mental ward—and have Azula gain the trust of the Fire Warriors without resorting to intimidation. All of this could’ve happened without softening Azula’s character; she still could’ve remained the same powerful antagonist we know, while turning the Fire Warriors into a far more dangerous and unified threat! But sadly, that wasn’t the case. I don’t have anything against the comic, but it left much to be desired. Now back to the pairing! In the hypothetical scenario where they do become a couple, their relationship would be complicated. Toxic even! It would be a mutual codependency. Azula, despite all her denial, is a lonely person who needs someone by her side to help her regain her sanity by controlling said someone, and since she’s deceitful enough to play her cards right, she could make Zirin see her as that one individual who can give them the life she wants. Zirin would instantly be drawn to that vision of the fire princess, along with the desire to have a better life. (UPDATED)

Zuko x Sokka= Zukka

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Enemies to Lovers. Birds of a Feather. Battle couple. Dynamics: Red & Blue. Fire & Water.

Why I Like This Ship?

When you’re not a Zutara or a Zumai shipper (and you just happen to be a yaoi fangirl), you’ll find yourself liking Zukka. Starting off as enemies from opposite sides, the exiled fire prince and the son of the SWT chief’s enmity developed into a genuine friendship ever since Zuko’s redemption arc began. I would like to clarify that I don’t think this pairing is superior to Sukka (Suki x Sokka), as I like that ship as well, though not to the same extent as Zukka.

When it comes to defining a character’s main traits, people focus on one part and ignore the other parts; some fans treat Zuko as the “grumpy edgelord” and Sokka as the “idiotic goof,” and that is a huge mischaracterization. Prince Zuko starts as short-tempered, impatient, and sullen, but as the story progresses, we see he’s also an honorable, determined, and kind person. The reason he’s so serious is because he grew up in a militaristic place and had a lot of pressure for being the prince; this is why he can get awkward when trying to socialize with other people. Meanwhile, Sokka starts as rash, arrogant, and a bit sexist—though that mostly comes from his tribe’s view of gender roles. After his visit to Kyoshi Island and meeting the female warriors there, he quickly lets go of those ideas and becomes a lot more humble. Additionally, he’s protective, resourceful, and good-hearted, and even though he acts silly sometimes, let’s not forget he’s the one to come up with plans, made a sword out of a comet, KILLED Combustion Man with his boomerang, and did a lot of other impressive feats. And while the boys seem different in terms of personality, they are actually quite similar in terms of background…

Zuko was born in an abusive environment; he was always belittled by his father—who once told him that he was lucky to be born—and compared to his prodigy sister, which caused him to have self-esteem issues. Things took a drastic turn after his mother disappeared, making him look for himself at a young age. While Sokka was not abused, he grew up during a time of war, his mother was killed by a Fire Nation general, and his father left with all the adult men to fight, leaving him as the “man of the house.” And as the oldest boy, he had to take care of Katara, his grandma, and the whole tribe, as there were no other options. How hard that must have been! And when he met Aang and started his journey with him, Sokka became the only normal guy in a team full of superpowered kids, and whenever he couldn’t contribute due to his “uselessness,” he started questioning his place in the group. Both boys share parental loss, self-esteem/self-worth issues, and trauma from the war. All this makes them connect with each other, as they KNOW what the other has gone through. (UPDATED)

Korra x Asami Sato= Korrasami

Status: CANON!

Categories: Friends to Lovers. Opposite Attracts. Battle couple. Protective Instincts. Dynamics: Blue & Red. Butch x Femme. Brains & Brawn.

Why I Like This Ship?

When I watched The Legend of Korra, I never paired the protagonist with anyone; I didn’t even see Korra and Asami as a couple, but that changed when I read the Turf Wars trilogy. The moment I saw them kissing, I literally teared up!!! That was my first time seeing a woman kiss another woman, and the only word that could’ve described the experience back then was “majestic.” Since then, I started loving Korrasami more than anything.

Detractors say this pairing came off as a “last-minute” ship, that was created to “push the gay agenda”—but that is a load of BULLSHIT! The relationship between these two women was built and tested from the start of the series! Let’s recap!

Korra and Asami met in S01E04, the audience—especially the Makorra fans—thought Asami was going to be the protagonist’s main love rival, someone who would fight Korra for Mako’s attention. But we were proven wrong in S1E07, when the beautiful engineer invited the Avatar to a car race. Later Korra admitted she misjudged Asami—just like we had. Asami never saw Korra as a rival but as a friend.

Let’s also not forget she never showed any jealousy or animosity toward Korra—not when Ikki revealed the Avatar’s feelings for Asami’s then-boyfriend, or when Mako’s unresolved feelings for the Korra became clear. Asami wasn’t mad at Korra—she was mad at her supposed boyfriend. Looking back, the only time she got upset with the protagonist was when Korra accused her father of working with the Equalists. That reaction, however, was justified—Hiroshi Sato had always been seen as a good man and a loving father. But once Asami learned the accusation was true, she didn’t turn against the heroes; instead, she chose to fight alongside them.

Then came the rollercoaster of the love triangle in Season 2. To make things more bearable, I’ll summarize: Makorra broke up, and then Masami briefly hooked up until an amnesiac Korra kissed Mako, thinking they were still together. Mako didn’t say anything, and that ended Masami, and so did Makorra after the water tribe woman regained her memories and Mako came clean.

Despite ALL of this, Sato was NOT mad at Korra but (yet again) at Mako. I think she didn’t reveal the truth to Korra because she knew that it was Mako who needed to tell her that. Asami told Korra about her brief rekindling with Mako in Season 3, and to her surprise, Korra wasn’t upset with her, as she kind of did the same to Asami in Season 1.

In Season 3, their relationship began to blossom into a beautiful friendship—with romantic subtext—as they spent more time bonding. Whether in a battle or just hanging out, it was clear they enjoyed being together. Not to mention, during the three-year Timeskip in Season 4, Korra only wrote to Asami, which speaks volumes. There were also several subtle hints foreshadowing their eventual romance.

And while they DID become a couple at the end of the series, it was for the best given the circumstances. The show aired from 2012 to 2014, a time when network executives still wouldn’t allow two women to kiss on-screen. That’s why the Turf Wars comics exist.

One of the things I like about this ship is how they break the “angry red x calm blue” dynamic. Korra, who’s associated with the blue color, is a brash, reckless, and hot-headed—traits that clash with the peaceful, serene connotations of blue. But as the same time, she’s heroic, protective and compassionate, ready to help those in need—qualities that do align with blue symbolism. The same goes for Asami Sato, who’s associated with red. She’s smart, strong-willed, and a total sweetheart—matching red’s positive traits—but she can also be impulsive, emotional, and a little too trusting (i.e., when it came to trusting Varrick).

All these traits bring out the best in each other. Korra’s brashness morphs into a kind of courageous decisiveness when it comes to protecting her girlfriend. And Asami, in high-stakes situations, channels her impulsiveness into quick thinking to keep Korra safe.

Both women have been through a lot together, so of course they trust the other one to protect them and be there for them, and that’s what makes their relationship so perfect! (UPDATED)

The Bad Guys

Mr. Wolf x Diane Foxington= Wolfington.

Status: Canon!

Categories: Opposite Attract. Battle couple. Interspecies Romance. Protective instincts. Enemies to Lovers. Dynamics: Leader x Leader. Thief x Thief. Love Redeems. Charismatic x Charismatic. Mutual Respect. Not So Different.

Why I Like This Ship?

When I first watched The Bad Guys in 2022, I instantly fell in love with the story, the characters, the unexpected twists, and the animation style. But what I really loved the most was the relationship between Mr. Wolf, the villain protagonist, and Diane Foxington. Their whole dynamic falls into the “Love Redeems” trope, and it was portrayed in a way that felt realistic—it wasn’t rushed or forced; it felt natural.

Let’s begin with the characters. First, we have Mr. Wolf, the smooth, charismatic leader of a criminal gang called “The Bad Guys,” whose main goals are committing crimes for the thrill of it and gaining notoriety along the way. But it’s clear that they’re only “evil” because that’s what everyone expected them to be; no one ever gave them a chance. Then we have Governor Diane Foxington, formerly known as “The Crimson Paw,” a famous thief who one day vanished into thin air. Her story mirrors Wolf’s in many ways. The key difference is that Diane grew tired of a life of crime and rejected the villainous fox stereotypes society imposed on her. Because of this, she sees a lot of her past self in the Bad Guys, particularly Mr. Wolf.

Let’s recap! They first meet when Wolf enters the gala undercover and approaches Diane to get a retinal scan for the mission. Their conversation is flirty and friendly. Later, when Mr. Wolf accidentally helps an “old lady” at the gala, he gets praised and is told he’s a good boy—which completely shocks him. Judging by his reaction, it was the FIRST time someone had ever said that to him. This feeling was new to Wolf, and he didn’t know how to handle it, which led to him screwing up the mission and almost getting him and his team sent to jail.

To avoid doing time, Wolf convinces Diane to let Professor Marmalade teach his crew how to be “good”. Though skeptical of his sudden change of heart, she gives them the benefit of the doubt.

Later, when the Bad Guys’ first mission as the “Good Guys” goes EPICALLY wrong, Diane confronts Wolf. After pushing a few buttons, the criminal leader snaps and says that even if he and his friends changed, people would still see them as criminals— and that Diane couldn’t understand any of that. But to his surprise, she does. She tells him that he should change for himself and not for anyone else. That conversation truly inspires him to do good—for real this time!

 The two meet again at the gala and share a dance together, where they really connect with each other; there Wolf admits that it feels good to be good! (Aww!) Sadly, this doesn’t last long. The Bad Guys get set up by none other than Prof. Marmalade. Before they get captured, Wolf decides to give Diane the location of their hideout, where all the things the Bad Guys stole are stashed. This is enough to convince Diane to trust him—and enough step in when she notices Marmalade’s suspicious behavior.

After that, Diane breaks the Bad Guys out of jail and reveals her backstory. Later, she and Wolf team up to stop Marmalade! (Spoilers: It doesn’t go well…) But with some help from Wolf’s gang, they manage to defeat the evil hamster.

Now, for the second movie—Since it was released recently, I am going to summarize a few things. The Bad Guys get coerced into turning evil again when their enemies blackmail them with a video exposing Diane’s criminal past. Chaos ensues. Diane finds out, rescues the gang, and then…

The fox KISSES her wolfy prince. A truly magical moment.

In summary, Mr. Wolf loves Diane because she was the first person to genuinely believe in him. Diane loves Wolf because he impressed her with his determination and loyalty to his friends. While their romance starts off as a case of “Opposites Attract”—with her being cautious and by-the-book, and him being reckless and on the wrong side of the law—it also falls into the “Birds of a Feather” category. After all, they’re both natural-born leaders, skilled thieves, and have a magnetic charm. (UPDATED)

Codename: Kids Next Door.

Numbuh 1/Nigel Uno x Numbuh 362/Rachel McKenzie. = 1/362.

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Better than Canon. Birds of a Feather. Puppy Love Dynamics: Leader x Leader. Red & Orange/Cyan. Mutual respect.

Why I Like This Ship?

Kids Next Door was one of my childhood shows, and I still watch it from time to time. One of the many things I liked about it was the protagonist, Numbuh 1/Nigel’s dynamic with his boss, Numbuh 362/Rachel. Their bond was stronger and more endearing than the one that Nigel had with his (ex) girlfriend, Lizzie Devine.

I don’t want to sound like I’m attacking Lizzie’s character, but let’s be honest—her relationship with Nigel was far from perfect. It was, arguably, the worst pairing in the show. While Numbuh 1 wasn’t the ideal boyfriend, since he was always prioritizing his missions over his love life, he still tried to please her and make things work. Lizzie, on the other hand, was always complaining, demanding attention, yelling at him for focusing on his duties, and treating his friends like garbage. But the worst thing she did was put a mind control on Numbuh 1 so he could become her “perfect boyfriend.” The moment Sector V found out and tried to stop it, Lizzie ordered the leader to attack his team. Even after he broke free, instead of ending the relationship, he forgave her and continued dating her until Season 6. The most baffling thing that's ever happened in the show, if you ask me.

Then we have Rachel McKenzie, AKA Numbuh 362, the Supreme leader of the KND. While she and Nigel had interacted before, their dynamic got expanded in S05E13. In that episode, Rachel starts a game of tag to find a new Supreme Leader because she’s overwhelmed by the stress of the job. When hiding, Nigel finds her, and they share a heartfelt conversation about the burdens of being leader. They later team up to stop Father from infesting the treehouses with broccoli. Rachel makes a heroic sacrifice and eats the vegetable to make Father give back her position, and it works, but at the cost of her ending up in a short coma. When she wakes up, she finds Numbuh 1, who stayed at her side and was waiting for her to wake up. (Aww!) This episode really showcased their mutual respect and care.

She also knows how to balance friendship and authority; a perfect example of this is when she calls out Numbuh 1 for recklessly attacking Stickybeard during an assault on the Moonbase. Even so, she didn’t stay mad at him for long, as she thanked him for saving the world from Grandfather. Another moment that stands out is when Numbuh 1 disobeys her direct order to rescue Lizzie, who got taken prisoner by the treehouse (all thanks to the splinter cell’s involvement). Instead of reprimanding him, Rachel meets up with him, and the first thing she does is ask if she can help. After seeing things didn’t go well for him and Lizzie, Rachel gives him space to process his feelings—while showing some hesitation, as if she wanted to say more.

There are a few hints that imply they have a crush on each other. And honestly it wouldn’t be surprising. They have a lot in common: both are natural born leaders (Nigel leads Sector V, Rachel leads the whole KND), they’re committed to stop adult tyranny, and they’re dedicated to their jobs. However, while Numbuh 1 is serious and intense, Numbuh 362 knows when to take a break and relax. These small differences complement their personalities rather than clash with them. Not to mention that Numbuh 1 talks about Rachel as if she’s the coolest person in the world, and Rachel treats him as an equal—someone she trusts and values. Compared to Lizzie, she’s a better pick for Nigel. She understands him, respects his decisions, and treats him as more than just her subordinate. (UPDATED)

Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Katz x Cajun Fox= Katzjun or Catz.

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Unholy matrimony. Interspecies couple. Birds of a feather. Dynamics: Bastard x Bastard. Sociopath x Cannibal. Partners in Crime. Red & Orange.

Why I Like This Ship?

I never imagined I’d end up shipping Katz with Cajun Fox—a character who appeared in two episodes of the show. That changed when I stumbled across some ship art of them on Tumblr. The artist captured their dynamic in an entertaining way that, before I knew it, I’d fallen in love with the ship. Personally, I’m more drawn to this ship than the Katz x Courage pairing since I never saw the appeal for that fan couple. While I respect the people who enjoy pairing the villain with the hero, Katz is NOT going to change because of Courage. He won’t treat him with kindness, especially since he has a personal vendetta against the canine for constantly ruining his plans—not to mention his implied racism toward dogs.

Now, the big question is: “Would Katz x Cajun work?”

Probably? While these two villains are different species, they have one thing in common (aside from being Courage’s enemies): they’re both sociopathic killers.

Sociopathy is typically characterized by a lack of empathy or remorse, aggression or hostility, disregard for social norms, and use of threats/emotional manipulation to control others. These traits apply to both characters. Let’s start with Katz: a sadist whose schemes have put the lives of others in danger, who manipulates people with ease, used his spiders to try and kill the protagonist (and likely others off-screen), is a well-known criminal, and at one point “tortured” Muriel to lure the cowardly dog into the basement. Then, we have Cajun Fox. While some might argue he doesn’t share Katz’s “cold sociopath” vibe, let’s not forget—he’s a cannibal (or could be considered one). He kidnapped Muriel, an elderly woman, to make a stew out of her! Kidnapping and attempting to COOK someone is a clear “disregard for social norms” trait. And his total lack of remorse for it just proves he’s just as bad as Katz.

And, what exactly would bring them together?

Simple: evil. Their relationship would start as a simple partnership. Katz needs someone to get rid of “potential inconveniences” to his plans, and who better than Cajun Fox—who would gladly eliminate those obstacles to cook them into his next meal. But what happens if Katz gets bored or angry at the fox and tries to kill him? Well, let’s not forget; Cajun is clever, sneaky, and strong. He would fight back. Hard. And if the roles were reversed, Katz would do the same. But I also get the feeling that the red feline might get aroused by fighting with his partner. Internet research suggests that antisocial traits—such as sociopathy—can sometimes be linked to general masochistic tendencies. (UPDATED)

The Cuphead Show.

The Devil x King Dice= DevilDice

Status: Fanon.

Categories: Unholy matrimony. Dynamics: Master & Servant. Beauty & Beast. Big bad x Dragon. Bastard x Bastard.

Why I Like This Ship?

When there's an animated adaptation of a game, I usually fall into the “person who never played the game yet is a fan of the cartoon show” category. The Cuphead Show! won me over with its rubber hose art style, the animation crew managing to capture the essence of 1920s cartoons, and how well they’ve written the characters, especially the villains! When I watched the cutscenes of the game on YouTube, I noticed that the Devil and King Dice were rather “bland” villains. Both were written as the stereotypical “pure evil” game bosses who imposed a threat in the narrative and had two goals in mind: steal the souls of the Inkwell Isles citizens and be an obstacle for the Cup Bros. But beyond that? Nothing. They weren’t given backstories or interests/hobbies that had nothing to do with their villainous lifestyle—not even minor personality quirks. As a result, they come off as one-dimensional, which makes them feel uninteresting. I want my villains to have depth and layers.

On The Cuphead Show! The Devil and King Dice are still villains—but they’re completely different from their game counterparts.

The Devil doesn’t run a casino (at first) but still collects/steals souls. He remains a threat, but now he has a flamboyant, hammy, and slightly “silly” personality. These odd combinations make him more engaging! Same goes for King Dice! In the show, he’s a smooth-talking radio host, and unlike his game version—who is openly cruel, sadistic, and a skilled combatant—the cartoon version’s character is toned down. He’s still a bad guy but hides his true colors behind a charming persona. He also lacks the power he had in the game and relies on his wits, best shown in the episode “Release the Demons.” Not to mention, he’s bombastic, suave, and has a voice so beautiful it’s hard not to fall for him.

The main reason people like this ship is because of the whole "master/servant" dynamic and the homoerotic vibes the pairing gives. They find it hot—and so do I. But there's more to it.

Despite his silliness, the Devil HATES disappointment and goes out of his way to punish those who've failed/angered him. But with Dice, it's different. When Dice fails to get Cuphead's soul in S01E05, instead of killing him, he REPLACES Dice as a radio show host with Henchman. He could've burned him alive or taken away his soul, but no, he didn't. But why?

In S03E08, we see that Dice has become a hobo after failing again in the second season. Then the Cup Bros. help him regain his former glory—unaware that Dice has a hidden agenda. As that happens, the Devil gets bored after having to deal with Strickler (and who could blame him?), so he and Henchman go to the club Dice is playing at. When Dice takes a break, the Devil surprises him, ready to use his flaming pitchfork on him, only for Dice to reveal he's going to steal Cuphead's soul by getting him to sign a fake contract, so Big D decides to give him one more chance. Unsurprisingly, Dice fails a third time, and instead of ending him, the Devil just leaves, but the moment he sees Dice sadly walking away, he stops him and says he NEEDS him. To quote him, he says, “I need your glitz, your pizzaz, your razzle-dazzle.” Predictably, Dice agrees to come back to his boss’ side as he also NEEDS him because it’s the only way to keep the fame and recognition that he has built over the years. Anyone who watched this scene is instantly reminded of a lover begging his partner to come back to him, and that's what the Devil does. They are lovers, your honor. (UPDATED)