The devil told me to make this thread.
So basically, shipping is the activity about being overly-interested in the love lives of fictional characters. Usually, this has to be characters that aren't obviously romantically involved in canon.
That's right, they have to be characters that technically aren't couples-- because if they were actually couples in canon, than that would mean shipping actually had a point. It would be the same as just enjoying a romance story instead. We can't have any of that.
Really there is some grey area...
For instance, there is the classic examples of HinaNaru or SakuNaru (Hinata x Naruto or Sakura x Naruto). For a long time these could have been considered genuine ships, but then both female characters confessed their love for Naruto in canon, which kind of screws with it.
But, it's still kind of ok, because Naruto is obviously gay (for Sasuke), which would make any relations with women impossible and therefore not canon.
I think. It's confusing. Wait, let's not even go to the SasuNaru bullshit...
So, I'll talk about another relationship I like, and this one really is a "ship" because romance between these two is in no-way canon.
So there you go-- please post things you ship, hate posts against shipping, etc. etc.
Also answer the poll!
So basically, shipping is the activity about being overly-interested in the love lives of fictional characters. Usually, this has to be characters that aren't obviously romantically involved in canon.
That's right, they have to be characters that technically aren't couples-- because if they were actually couples in canon, than that would mean shipping actually had a point. It would be the same as just enjoying a romance story instead. We can't have any of that.
Really there is some grey area...
For instance, there is the classic examples of HinaNaru or SakuNaru (Hinata x Naruto or Sakura x Naruto). For a long time these could have been considered genuine ships, but then both female characters confessed their love for Naruto in canon, which kind of screws with it.
But, it's still kind of ok, because Naruto is obviously gay (for Sasuke), which would make any relations with women impossible and therefore not canon.
I think. It's confusing. Wait, let's not even go to the SasuNaru bullshit...
I actually like Naruto and Sakura a lot. Probably because, while romance is one of the most minor, downplayed parts of Naruto, this is a relationship that feels really natural. It actually reverberates quite well with real-life romantic relations.
The story is about Naruto, but I do feel like Kishimoto's done a good job writing Sakura's "growing up." Starting from a whiny, puppy-dog-crush-obsessed bimbo brat, to building courage and character through challenges, and building real bonds with both Sasuke and Naruto (Chuunin Exam). Taking her shallow feelings mostly centered around mere physical attraction for Sasuke, to genuine worry and devotion for a Sasuke she came to know and care about.
As the years went by, we watched Sakura grow from a lovesick little girl, to a young woman with strength, courage, and understanding. In love, as a girl in love with love, to a woman with a practical view of the world, understanding the importance of real character (Naruto > Sasuke), and devotion to her community, comrades, and village (again, Naruto > Sasuke).
We've also seen the relationship of Naruto and Sakura develop, especially Sakura's feelings for Naruto. From seeing him as a stupid, immature, prankster (which he was), to a great man deserving of her affection. They got in all sorts of problems and adventures (big and small), saved each other's butts, and built trust and respect. Watching a man like Naruto selflessly and courageously come to her rescue repeatedly would make any girl fall for a guy. Naruto's willingness to go after Sasuke was also the same.
But, with time passing, Naruto looking more and more at his promise about bringing back Sasuke, and an inability or unwillingness to appreciate her budding feelings for him (Naruto), any girl would grow even more frustrated (but also more hell-bent on getting the guy).
I really liked Sakura's confesion seen where she got absolutely pissed at Naruto-- if he's not dumb one way, now he's dumb the next. You see her frustration at the ignorance of her feelings; you feel her bitterness for his paying more attention to Sasuke than to her (and even jealousy), despite one being a reckloose criminal, and the other being a girl at his side. In her speech, you see Sakura's worry for Naruto, both for his sake, and fear of something happening to the man she loves.
The speech also demonstrates Sakura's maturation out of pre-teen angst (and things like "leaving home to become a criminal for the sake of the man she loves"), into a real "adult woman"-- you know, like every adult woman concerned with getting the right guy, a well adjusted guy, with whom she can settle down and get to stable nest building in the community. She's a woman now, looking for happiness as a woman.
Naruto ain't there yet though-- men don't mature as quickly, and a 15 year old guy is still raging for glory and hero talk. Sorry Sakura, maybe when I'm 20, but right now I'm still obsessed with dying for the sake of my village and best friend (homosexual love interest? Ah, who knows). It's Shonen Manga after all.
What I like about NaruSaku is how believable it is. While love is so unimportant to the overall story, I think Kishi's built a really good dynamic here, and I'm rooting for Sakura and how she can eventually convince that dumbass about what's really important in life. Uhhh... Puberty's not over yet... you can still try to sway his sexual orientation back... I think...
The story is about Naruto, but I do feel like Kishimoto's done a good job writing Sakura's "growing up." Starting from a whiny, puppy-dog-crush-obsessed bimbo brat, to building courage and character through challenges, and building real bonds with both Sasuke and Naruto (Chuunin Exam). Taking her shallow feelings mostly centered around mere physical attraction for Sasuke, to genuine worry and devotion for a Sasuke she came to know and care about.
As the years went by, we watched Sakura grow from a lovesick little girl, to a young woman with strength, courage, and understanding. In love, as a girl in love with love, to a woman with a practical view of the world, understanding the importance of real character (Naruto > Sasuke), and devotion to her community, comrades, and village (again, Naruto > Sasuke).
We've also seen the relationship of Naruto and Sakura develop, especially Sakura's feelings for Naruto. From seeing him as a stupid, immature, prankster (which he was), to a great man deserving of her affection. They got in all sorts of problems and adventures (big and small), saved each other's butts, and built trust and respect. Watching a man like Naruto selflessly and courageously come to her rescue repeatedly would make any girl fall for a guy. Naruto's willingness to go after Sasuke was also the same.
But, with time passing, Naruto looking more and more at his promise about bringing back Sasuke, and an inability or unwillingness to appreciate her budding feelings for him (Naruto), any girl would grow even more frustrated (but also more hell-bent on getting the guy).
I really liked Sakura's confesion seen where she got absolutely pissed at Naruto-- if he's not dumb one way, now he's dumb the next. You see her frustration at the ignorance of her feelings; you feel her bitterness for his paying more attention to Sasuke than to her (and even jealousy), despite one being a reckloose criminal, and the other being a girl at his side. In her speech, you see Sakura's worry for Naruto, both for his sake, and fear of something happening to the man she loves.
The speech also demonstrates Sakura's maturation out of pre-teen angst (and things like "leaving home to become a criminal for the sake of the man she loves"), into a real "adult woman"-- you know, like every adult woman concerned with getting the right guy, a well adjusted guy, with whom she can settle down and get to stable nest building in the community. She's a woman now, looking for happiness as a woman.
Naruto ain't there yet though-- men don't mature as quickly, and a 15 year old guy is still raging for glory and hero talk. Sorry Sakura, maybe when I'm 20, but right now I'm still obsessed with dying for the sake of my village and best friend (homosexual love interest? Ah, who knows). It's Shonen Manga after all.
What I like about NaruSaku is how believable it is. While love is so unimportant to the overall story, I think Kishi's built a really good dynamic here, and I'm rooting for Sakura and how she can eventually convince that dumbass about what's really important in life. Uhhh... Puberty's not over yet... you can still try to sway his sexual orientation back... I think...
So, I'll talk about another relationship I like, and this one really is a "ship" because romance between these two is in no-way canon.
Actually, I could enjoy Luffy with any number of female characters in One Piece. Nami, Boah, or Shirahoshi being the main alternatives, Boah being the only one who does actually fall for him in Canon. But the others all would too if they were real women.
See, Luffy's just so f'ing studly. His purity of purpose, and utter devotion are really attractive to a woman. The fact that he almost completely ignores them from a romantic view is also a plus-- he's devoted to them in purest way, not in any perverted obsessed way. Really, if Nami, Robin, or Shirahoshi were real woman, affected by the power of his actions, and sheer masculinity in pursuing his objectives and devotion [to them], there's no way they wouldn't fall in love with the guy.
The fact that in One Piece, none of these characters outwardly says/shows that they *haven't* fallen for him just adds to the pent up. Women don't just confess their love just because they start to like you.
Like Nami, they tease, show light annoyance, and vie for attention (and get touchy-feely).
All three girls show great outward comfort around Luffy. They laugh and smile around him, and genuinely humor and enjoy being with him. These are all possible signs (though not definite indicators) of attraction. Especially for these 3 girls, all of whom were trapped under heavy and haunting burdens, situations of great stress with no end of relief (Nami with Arlong, Robin with the World Government, and Shirahoshi locked in her tower because of Vander Dekken)-- the chance to relax and enjoy life is something they couldn't have for years and years, and a man with whom they can be that way (and who was ultimately the one who "saved them" so they could enjoy life)... it would almost be impossible for them to not be in love with him.
Now of these, I like Robin x Luffy the best, mostly because Robin is sexy, and the most "my type" out of the three. Nyahahaha
But beyond that I was really touched by the entire CP9 Arc, and Luffy's cries to Robin and her eventual plead for saving. It was beautiful~~
And besides, shots like this are really cute:
And it's every Japanese man's romance to be fed bento by the girl he loves:
(I'm not making this shit up, this is actually a really stereotypical thing for Japanese couples to do-- so I was really surprised when Oda sensei snuck this in... It's something you'd almost never do unless you were going out. Just like holding hands or walking together under a single umbrella.)
See, Luffy's just so f'ing studly. His purity of purpose, and utter devotion are really attractive to a woman. The fact that he almost completely ignores them from a romantic view is also a plus-- he's devoted to them in purest way, not in any perverted obsessed way. Really, if Nami, Robin, or Shirahoshi were real woman, affected by the power of his actions, and sheer masculinity in pursuing his objectives and devotion [to them], there's no way they wouldn't fall in love with the guy.
The fact that in One Piece, none of these characters outwardly says/shows that they *haven't* fallen for him just adds to the pent up. Women don't just confess their love just because they start to like you.
Like Nami, they tease, show light annoyance, and vie for attention (and get touchy-feely).
All three girls show great outward comfort around Luffy. They laugh and smile around him, and genuinely humor and enjoy being with him. These are all possible signs (though not definite indicators) of attraction. Especially for these 3 girls, all of whom were trapped under heavy and haunting burdens, situations of great stress with no end of relief (Nami with Arlong, Robin with the World Government, and Shirahoshi locked in her tower because of Vander Dekken)-- the chance to relax and enjoy life is something they couldn't have for years and years, and a man with whom they can be that way (and who was ultimately the one who "saved them" so they could enjoy life)... it would almost be impossible for them to not be in love with him.
Now of these, I like Robin x Luffy the best, mostly because Robin is sexy, and the most "my type" out of the three. Nyahahaha
But beyond that I was really touched by the entire CP9 Arc, and Luffy's cries to Robin and her eventual plead for saving. It was beautiful~~
And besides, shots like this are really cute:
And it's every Japanese man's romance to be fed bento by the girl he loves:
(I'm not making this shit up, this is actually a really stereotypical thing for Japanese couples to do-- so I was really surprised when Oda sensei snuck this in... It's something you'd almost never do unless you were going out. Just like holding hands or walking together under a single umbrella.)
So there you go-- please post things you ship, hate posts against shipping, etc. etc.
Also answer the poll!
