Food for Thought #3 - What's Shipping?

Have you ever heard of the phrase "I'd ship them?" What does the word "shipping" have to do with Anime and why has it become a thing? It seems that that word carries a lot of weight when it comes to pitting two characters together and wanting to see them get romantically involved. Well, that's pretty much the concept of Shipping. There's no other way to explain it and, for just about any work of fiction involving anyone, audiences can ship couples just on the basis that they see compatibility. A prime example of Shipping is in Bleach, fans have debated for years two specific couples ~ Ichigo X Rukia (Ichiruki) or Ichigo X Orihime (Ichihime). Of course it's indecisive at the moment, but fans are bracing for impact if one of the two will happen at all. Sometimes people's anticipation of what could happen vs. what actually is probable conflicts with one another and thus, arguments ensue over who should end up with whom and for this and such reason. As an avid fan of entertainment, there's no limit to how much a fan can ship a couple. Here are some examples of couples I'd ship

1) Hiro & Gogo from Big Hero 6
2) Bolin & Asami from Legend of Korra
3) Luffy & Nami/Nico Robin from One Piece
4) Simon & Yoko from Gurren Lagann
5) Rock & Revy from Black Lagoon

Although some are probably, the likelihood and potential of it happening is very slim. There are many arguments that could destroy a Shipping such as:

1) Hiro & Gogo ~ Age difference
2) Bolin & Asami ~ No attraction + Asami went out with Bolin's brother
3) Luffy & Nami/Nico Robin ~ Luffy isn't thinking about a relationship
4) Simon & Yoko ~ Age difference/Yoko fell for Kamina
5) Rock & Revy ~ Vaguely hinted, but Revy is too damaged to convey her feelings

So it's alright for people to ship couples, but just know that the probability, likelihood, & potential behind it isn't always picture perfect. There'll always be debate on couples and, like children, we'll end up only hurting ourselves before we actually see the full picture of what could happen. In Teen Titans, people shipped Robin & Starfire and, guess what, the two actually got together. That's an example of a shipping that is probable and turned out to be legit. The hardest genre to ship are Harem(s) just on the basis that there's a lot of options. To-Love-Ru is a prime example of a difficult shipping just on the basis that every damn girl he's friends with is f*cking cute as sh*t. It depends on the scenario as well ~ there have to be conditions on why you'd think certain people should end up together. Likely reasons are:

1) Compatibility - "They look do cute together."
2) Chemistry - "No denying that friendship/teamwork."
3) Similarities - "It's like looking at a mirror."
4) Opposites Attract - Rich vs. Poor scenario

Shipping is a very basic concept, but the debate on who should end up with whom on the reasons is very structural and so bias that shipping, to me anyways, sometimes gets irksome. Ichiruki or Ichihime fans will argue that one will happen over another and vice versa ~ it's an endless cycle of pointing finger and proving the other wrong. You just have to wait & see. Shipping is but self-gratification from seeing couples get together ~ the anticipation is so demanding that we want to see that person end up with "the one."

Food for Thought? Comment below and let me know your thoughts on this topic. FFTs will be posted every Tuesday. Like always, you stay classy as always! Here's the order of FFTs

1) Anime: Subbed or Dubbed?

2) When does a Harem become stale?

3) What's Shipping?