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springtime-creations · 4 months

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Longwinded over-explanation as to why I DON'T think these Wanderful PreCure leaks are real or at the very least not be taken as 100% accurate if they are real.

POTENTIAL SPOILER FOR WANDERFUL PRECURE AHEAD!

As someone who's been into PreCure for almost a decade, and has been studying art in an informal setting (self taught artist go brrr) I've noticed some issues with these leaks.

First is obviously the names. Never in the entire history of PreCure have we had a cure whose name lines up with the title. No Cure Smile in Smile, no Cure Suite in Suite, no Cure Fresh in Fresh- you get my point. Cure Wonderful is a highly suspect name, however could still be real as PreCure is always experimenting. Cure Friendy on the other hand is WAY more egregious. Friendy isn't a word, and PreCure isn't known for making mistakes that bad. But it could have either slipped through the cracks OR as these photos look like prototypes that were meant to be destroyed, it's possible Friendy is a typo and she's meant to be Cure Friend, Cure Friendly, or an idea my phone gave me via autocorrect Cure Trendy. Any of which could fit my theorized theme of dog styling or the latter to with a blanket theme of dogs. But they could also be placeholder names. Fake names used to differentiate the characters before they're ready to start publishing their real names.

Secondly is the design. Although I'm not classically trained (see above for self taught artist go brrr) I have a good grasp on art fundamentals via independent study. I was wondering why the designs looked so off to me, and outside of it looking like it was traced off of Aikatsu, I realized that these silhouettes SUCK. Having a strong silhouette is an important aspect of making an identifiable cartoon character. Case and point, a few previous seasons compared with these leaks:

(Pardon the rough nature of the silhouettes, I had to make my own on my phone) without the details, I have no idea what I'm looking at with these designs. With previous seasons, the silhouettes themselves gave us an idea of the vibes or even themes for the upcoming season. Here though? I mean my crappy silhouette of Cure Wonderful made her pigtails look like a cat sitting on her head when I asked my boyfriend for input. These silhouettes are incredibly weak with their long hair basically ruining their design by hiding their dresses. Fun fact! These are the same issues I had with Colgate-chan- oh sorry Alear from Fire Emblem Engage that made me think those were fake too. The minor details were the only thing that separated them from other characters since their silhouette was awful.

Now weak silhouettes aren't always a crime against art, however for a piece of media that is meant to sell toys, is in animation, and for children? Yeah no you need a strong silhouette for the audience to easily identify. The only reason such a weak silhouette would work in PreCure is because no other Cure has one this bland. You can tell which PreCure is Cure Wonderful because "oh that's the least fun looking one". Since her charm comes from the details you can't see when it's just her silhouette, that means that although they're all still cute, they could have been MUCH cuter, which Toei is typically really good at.

So in conclusion, are these definitely fake? I'm not sure. Given these products were probably taken home without permission from the manufacturer, it's possible these leaks are one of three things.

1. An INCREDIBLY well done fake leak, potentially by Toei themselves since they do that sometimes.

2. Real prototypes made with VERY early drafts of the characters and placeholder names that were intended to be destroyed once the designs/names got updated.

3. This is the real deal and this is going to be a fairly weak season in terms of aesthetic.

I'm personally leaning towards 1 or 2 since PreCure usually has higher standards of production. But hey, this is just my theory regarding these leaks. I know one of my girlfriends loves Cure Friendy, and I'm always here for more green rep in PreCure. I'm still excited for this season even if the aesthetic might be a bit weak. If there's anything I've learnt from PreCure, it's that even the most casual of seasons can get real dark real quick and somehow still work. Didn't Cure Grace literally leave someone to die... idk I haven't been able to watch a full PreCure season since like Go! Princess first came out 😭 fuck I'm getting old-

#wonderful precure leaks #wonderful precure theory #wonderful precure spoiler #wonderful precure #precure 2024 #theory #hyperfixation #over analyzing #art analysis #design analysis #wanderful precure #wanderful precure 2024

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theodore-the-chipmunk · 9 months

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So yes i understand that The Dragon Prince Season 5 came out not long ago (like 7 hours) But i have already over analyzed it and it is my time to rant/talk about it Sooooo

SEASON 5 OF THE DRAGON PRINCE SPOILERS AHEAD

IM WARNING YOU MEGA SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING OF THE SEASON⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

Okay, You have been warned😎

Basically in the last few minutes of Episode 9 of the season a-lot happens as it wraps it up.

One of these things is very important to Virens Character as Viren is one known only to go the route that gives power and/or what he “believes” is best for his family. So in the final moments of the episode Viren realizes that he is going to die and that he has to accept that he didn’t win once again, and that all the power he believed he had is now gone, which is so important for him to do. As the he lies on the sand, Aaravos’s words go through his head, they are the words “Tomorrow the sun will rise. And you will not.” as those words rush around his mind, we are shown only one of his eyes as it wells up with a tear, all the while he stares up into the sky. This event and moment is so momentous for his character as he finally accepts this fate that as he had mentioned to himself in a dreamscape, had already been written and it cannot be changed, as he looked to his younger self. So all in all this scene is very important for his character. (i genuinely didn’t know how to end this off as it is kinda bleak but it is what was needed for Viren as a character)

Now knowing from what you read above, Viren is known to likely be dead the next time the sun rises, as said by Aaravos, and Claudia (his only daughter) knows this. Before the scene where we see Virens acceptance, we see Claudia, and she is obviously not well. She has finally realized that all the tiresome work and power she had put into trying to save her dad, was not worth it. As she realizes this she is just barely surviving from drowning and she is washing up on the beach, where her boyfriend Terry (i have mixed emotions for this man) rushes too her and she collapses in a mix of tears and exhaustion.

As this is happening Terry notices Claudia only has one leg, as due to the octopus breathing spell thingy she lost one of her legs. So im guess this means next time we see present time Claudia she wont have a leg (im specifying present time just incase of dreams, very common this season, or flashbacks happen later on in the show) So ya girly is missing a leg, lovely jubly.

The final thing I wanted to write about was how we finally learned what Aaravos did to Janai’s Grandmother. Throughout the season we are shown very similar scenes of a dream of Janai’s that basically puts her in the place of her sisters death. It is a very trauma-induced dream, which from what I can see seems to happen in scenes after anxiety induced events. So, in the last few minutes we see this dream for a final time, but unlike the others in past times, we actually are able to hear what Aaravo’s whispers to Janai. What he whispered genuinely shocked me, he said that he swallowed her grandma. Honestly giving crab guy from Moana, but yk its okayyyy. I think. Who knows. BUT YA BACK ON TOPIC, Janai wakes up from the dream terrified and upset as normal and the scene ends with Amaya calming her down and its super cute and gay and stuff, lovely gays.

So ya, that’s basically what happened and i needed to rant and tumblr is the place to talk about fandoms so i did! Byeeee! (i started this at 10:50, it is now 1:43am😭)

#the dragon prince #lord viren #aaravos #tdp janai #claudia tdp #tdp spoilers #tdp season 5 #yippie #tdp #rant post #talking #adhd things #over analyzing

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ymdslf · 4 months

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this picture of julien looking at la gare de perpignan by salvador dalí

right, this one?

i don’t mean to flex but i sat in that exact same spot

here’s a picture i took.

but circling back to that painting: the lady from the museum told us (i went with my art class) that dalí painted this about his own relationship to god and religion. she asked us to describe what this painting made us feel, and i couldn’t put it into words then and i still don’t know how to, because it took my breath away and left me speechless. the light bursting out in the center, dalí himself floating there, and jesus hanging on the cross right behind him, almost invisible.

it also features people in prayer, pausing their work to take a moment and speak to their god. dalís wife stands behind the cart in the center bottom. a train cart is floating above dalí, above jesus’ head. at the center top, another version of the falling, or floating, dalí can be seen. beneath that version, the clouds are parting and letting the light shine through. the bottom of the painting is the ocean, with a singular boat floating along.

the first thing i noticed, when i looked at this painting, was the light. and when i looked closer, what stood out to me was the crown of thorns. what i noticed next was the bleeding wound.

this was on november 25th, less than a month after the halloween show, and i still had this vivid picture of julien dressed as jesus burned into my eyes. and so when i saw this picture, all i could think about was her. the first thought that popped into my head when i realized the religious context of this painting was julien-the jesus parallel of course, but also because i had listened to sprained ankle on the way there. i can’t pretend to know her, but that album has a lot of religious imagery, and i couldn’t stop thinking about it. i didn’t remember that first picture, it didn’t stand out to me when i first saw it, because i didn’t know what was happening. i just thought ‘oh another museum photo how cute’ and that was that. now i can’t help but wonder how julien felt when she saw that painting.

i didn’t know what to feel- i felt calm, at peace, and yet this churning feeling of everything clawing at me. i’ve struggled with my faith and my religion for as long as i’ve had critical thinking skills. this painting perfectly encapsulates whatever it is that i try to say but can’t. i don’t know exactly what dalí wanted to express with this painting, but to me it feels that way. it makes me feel so many things.

i kept circling back to that room. it was almost like the painting was magnetic and pulling me toward itself. i still think about it.

all this to say: sometimes i forget that people i only ever see inside my little phone screen actually exist, and this just reminded me that, yes they do, and sometimes everything and everyone is connected by tiny little strings.

#julien baker #boygenius #salvador dali #la gare de perpignan #this kind got away from me #sorry #religious imagery #over analyzing #probably #oh welp #mattis talks

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maybeedoodles · 2 years

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The ending of Spy x Family episode 9 was so good because it displayed how kids can be affected by their parents behavior even if they aren’t always physically displaying it negatively. It shows how important it is to not argue and show such Ill intent toward your spouse when a child is present even if you just had a fight. Of course it happens sometimes and might be unavoidable, but I like that it shows the effects and how anxious Anya was because even though Anya is telepathic, Loid picks up on how perceptive kids can be and it’s so true in life.

#anime 🏷#over analyzing #spyxfamily #ramble 🏷#spy x family episode 9 #loid x yor #sxf loid #loid forger #yor briar #yor x loid #sxf anime #sxf anya #anya #anya forger

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nandorbbg · 2 years

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(here’s the actually episode list for reference ⬇️)

if these are hints im going to lose my mind i swear.

im going to dissect and over analyze this tweet for no reason:

ep 401: self explanatory, everyone comes back from their travels and reunites.

ep 402: this is “The Lamp” episode, nandor will make his wish for all of his ex-wives to return (as seen in the trailer)

ep 403: again pretty self explanatory, nadja opens her night club, things probably go a little crazy.

ep 404: we can only hope the secret is a nandermo confession (probably not but i don’t care let me be hopeful). it could be him telling everyone he found a new wife

ep 405: nandor… what did you do this time…

ep 406: NANDERMO CONTENT PLEASE IM BEGGING!1!1!1!1!!!!! the actually episode title is “Pine Barrens”, i looked it up and i think it’s referring to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. a nandermo confession in new jersey?????? im here for it tbh.

ep 407: im going to kind of reach on this one but there’s a scene in the trailer of guillermo doing a backflip during a fight with someone. “Go Flip Yourself” reminds me of that scene. in it, it appears they’re in the night market again so that’s what the “what they did in the shadows” could be referencing.

ep 408: désirs familiers is french and translates to “familiar desires”. im assuming this is a double entendre of sorts. this episode is the one with guillermo’s alleged new boyfriend, freddie. freddie desires guillermo and guillermo is a familiar, so “familiar desires”. but at the same time it could be nandor having mixed feelings and “familiar desires” toward guillermo that are the same as how he felt about gail and meg. it could be nandor embracing his feelings just like guillermo in the “Gail” episode last season

ep 409: …bae don’t do this to me. this is “The Wedding” episode. maybe something goes horribly wrong at nandor’s wedding, or possibly he turns guillermo into a vampire (since you have to die to become a vampire hence the “everybody dies”)

ep 410: everybody gets together again, i feel like throughout the season laszlo, nadja, nandor, and guillermo won’t be all together most of the time because they each have individual plot lines going on. nandor’s still searching for a partner, guillermo finds a boyfriend, nadja opens her nightclub, and laszlo is busy taking care of baby colin.

conclusion: im going insane and i can’t wait for season 4.

#guillermo x nandor #nandermo #wwdits #wwdits season 4 #guillermo de la cruz #nandor the relentless #what we do in the shadows #wwdits leaks #wwdits season 3 #wwdits spoilers #over analyzing #help im losing my mind

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overobsessedfanboy23 · 8 months

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Guys, I solved Ryoken

He doesn't actually hate the Ignis.

He hates that his dad cared more about them than him.

Think about it, he has valid reasons to think that, like when his dad says this shit in response to Ryoken asking him if killing all the Ignis hurts:

To his face, he's told that his death would hurt his father just as much as the Ignis's deaths would yet later, or perhaps before this scene, his father also told him that if all else fails, he should start up the Tower of Hanoi and kill himself and everyone he cares about to destroy the Ignis. So in an indrect way, what he actually says, to his own fucking son, is that Ryoken's death means even less to him than the Ignis's deaths.

Not to mention the fact that Ryoken spent years of his life up to this point being neglected by his father in favour of the Ignis. Six months of that was him torturing children, which 8 year old Ryoken witnessed. Reporting it put his father in jail for three years:

Then he immediately dies after being released from prison and reveals that during his time there, he finished creating the Ignis:

So to find out a mere two years after this that the Ignis he created were, from their point of view, definitely gonna rise up and kill all of humanity, probably pissed him off. He's been neglected for at least five years in favour of these Ignis. It's not directly stated but honestly, the fact that he was willing to go along with the Tower of Hanoi, and that even after his father is gone, he still clings to his words and beliefs, makes me very certain that Ryoken was neglected and emotionally/psychologically abused.

That I think is the true reason why he hates the Ignis. He doesn't realise it and that's why even after so many seemingly obvious loud signs throughout season 2 that his racist view of them was unjustified, he didn't change his mind. Or rather, he did:

Yeah, okay I go back and forth on this scene and I'm back to thinking it meant something when on the surface, it really does just feel like it was retconned by season 3, but HEAR ME OUT! For this one moment, when he thought he was dying, he did change his mind. He did let go of his bitterness and hate, if just for Ai since he knew Ai and Playmaker would have what it took to defeat Bohman and save humanity, since they'd done it before.

It was when he came back from being dead and the threat was gone that his stubborn pride and anger took over again. Not once did any of the constant "you're wrong" clues in season 2 ever get to the heart of the real issue. If anything, it's worse now. He's still obsessed with his father's legacy, he never got over that, and recently discovered that Lightning was the real murderer of his father. Of course he's spouting bullshit like this:

Even if he may deep down have been starting to think the Ignis may not be a threat anymore at this point (I don't know if I fully believe that, I'll have to rewatch season 3), he's not going to express that because that would mean his father was wrong, his father who put more attention into the Ignis than his own son. Besides, I wouldn't put it past Ryoken to lie through his teeth about his more vulnerable emotions at this point. After all, he said THIS while fighting for the fallen Hanoi:

Fucking liar.

Maybe all of this sounds too much like headcanon or tin foil hat territory but honestly it makes more sense to me than any other interpretation I've personally had about Ryoken. It genuinely answers so many of the frustrating questions I've had for... a year now, good lord that I'm adopting this as headcanon even if everyone disagrees.

Still doesn't justify how Duel Links wrote him in his event though.

It does make me forgive season 3 just a little bit though, I don't know, I haven't rewatched it yet. I'll update this if something I rewatch in season 3 changes anything.

#yugioh #ygo #yugioh vrains #ygo vrains #vrains #ryoken kogami #revolver #revolver vrains #analysis #rambles #over analysis #over analyzing #Hawk the show's been over for 4 years just chill out #okay but wait this kinda also validates every Ryoken/Ignis ship-#or most of them at least screw Lightning #Rev babe if ya just want love and affection the rest would be glad to give it #or me- what who said that

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theoniprince · 1 year

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"Ist das dein Partner?

Ihr passt gut zusammen."

.. dieses kurze Lächeln macht mich wahnsinnig!!!!!!!! Wieso tut Adam das? Ist es ein Reflex... den er rasch unterbinden muss? Gefällt ihm der Begriff Partner? Beruflich? Privat? Denkt er kurz daran, wie schön es ist, dass Leo an seiner Seite ist? Das Lächeln dauert kaum eine Sekunde. Ganz so... als bemerke er schockiert, dass seine Mimik ihn verrät und kehrt rasch zur mürrischen Miene zurück.

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mrgoodenough254 · 1 month

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Something about their door picture is that it’s split in half, but that’s harder to see when you’re looking at it father away. Kinda like how the other prisoners view him as dangerous/scary (?) now because John’s scaring them off (or at least that what I understand). Also since his angry face is closer to the viewer and easier to see (first part I see at least), it’s kind of showing that John’s fronting more than Mikoto now.

#milgram #mikoto kayano #john kayano #john milgram #milgram mikoto #over analyzing #also the art style is similar to the 2nd anniversary’s

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yonemurishiroku · 1 year

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Thinking about Jason Grace who has never had a decent experience with romance.

His first contact with it was with his best friend and fellow praetor, one forged by Rome’s expectations but not his will.

His second experience - also the last - was a fake girlfriend given upon his manipulative step-mother’s ideas, who later turned out to be into girls. It also created a rift between him and his previous almost-girlfriend, who above all was his best friend.

And the only time he got to meet a god of love - the supposedly cute and sweet Cupid - was only to watch, in helplessness, the god brutally threaten his friend to come out as a payment for helping them save their world.

All of that - and he died before he got to know what love’s supposed to mean.

Why did love forsake you, Jason.

#jason grace #someone pls teach this kid what love is #yone rambling #pjo #hoo #toa #heroes of olympus #trials of apollo #riordanverse #piper mclean #jasper #percy jackson and the olympians #over analyzing

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a-simple-traveler-anon · 5 months

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This has spoilers, you've been warned!

So after months of debate I finally watched Nimona and I don't know why I waited so long to travel into this wonderful world, but one thing I'm surprised I've seen such little talk about is that the kingdom this movie takes place in can literally be described as a dystopia. The kingdom was made to try and be this utopia where everyone is safe from monsters, but they failed in making it perfect and made it so controlled and fear run it became a dystopia. I honestly can't believe I've seen no one else talk about this. So, we all know one of the biggest parts of this movie is the wall surrounding the kingdom to "keep the monsters out" and how at the end of the movie it's torn down to reveal nothing was there all along. It's just been acres and acres of untouched land for likely centuries. They literally built a useless wall around the kingdom letting no one out and, if there ever was anyone to get in, get in. They have lived like this in that kingdon for 1000 years, with their strict institute training these children into literal weapons, practically making they themselves see their own bodies as weapons, and the pushed belief that has been implanted in them that they need this system to survive. Lets not forget to mention how basically every common citizen is ignored and mistreated in favor of anyone who is of descent of Gloreths knights or ofc the descendants of Gloreth herself. Gloreth forbid you be a common child trying to talk to the child of a descendant. Not even to mention trying to train along side them. We all saw what happened to little Ballister. The moment it was noticed that some common boy was training alongside these future knights, around 5-7 (if I remember correctly) GROWN ADULTS covered in FULL METAL ARMOR tackled this CHILD who had to have been around 7-8 years old and piled onto him, crushing him. They were TRAINED to do such things, by, you guessed it, the fucking institute. With how everything was run, and with all the Directors little bits in the movie, we could even very well assume she knew all along there was nothing beyond that wall. She was terrified for one reason, the queen let a commoner boy hold a knights sword. That goes against the way they've controlled this kingdom for centuries. If they start breaking the strick rules they've implimented into everyones minds, what's next? She had to do something to keep everything running as horribly as it was. She couldn't let the walls around their dystopia crack, she had to keep control, because if she didn't, everyone, common and noble, would see the one true monster was standing at the head of their institute all along.

#nimona #nimona 2023 #nimona netflix #ballister boldheart #nimona ballister #dystopia #over analyzing

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dandymaximilian · 2 years

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One of my favourite qualities about The Butcher is how his voice actor plays him so well, even if he isn't the typical voice actor.

The Butcher sounds authentic whenever he mispronounces words, because he genuinely struggles to articulate when he speaks in general. His "word butchering" isn't forced at all.

Sometimes The Butcher's words slur together in his more casual way of speaking. While other times he can speak with better clarity. Usually the latter occurs when he's reading, he's trying to make a point, there's a strong emotion behind what he's saying, or he's just trying to be polite.

Regardless, I just love how The Butcher could've been depicted as a typical "oaf" caricature in his speech and mannerisms, but instead, he acts remarkably human. Just like the way his character is written to be more than he appears.

He has enough of a distinctive voice to be memorable, but it's not so over the top that he becomes a stereotype. His very existence shows kids that, hey, even adults struggle with speech and pronunciation, and they're not dumb for it either.

#he's such a good character #I will stand by that forever #wordgirl #the butcher #over analyzing #rambles

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casperrscapes · 1 year

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over-analysis of ash ketchum's relationship with his companions,, part 2

Disclaimer: I will be looking at each relationship from first a platonic standpoint, and then a romantic standpoint. Some of the romantic standpoints will also have a sub-category of AroAce!Ash (I am not on the a-spectrum, so feel free to correct me if I get anything wrong). When looking at a possible romance between Ash and a male companion, I will be ignoring the actual possibility of Pokemon allowing a non-heterosexual relationship, and looking at it from an emotional standpoint rather than a logical one. I will try my best to let my past history as a SatoSere shipper, AureliaShipper, and a SatoGou Shipper not impact my views. I have not watched all of the animes, so feel free to correct me on certain parts. I will only be looking at companions from the main anime (no movies).

Dawn:

Platonic:

If Misty and Ash are the kind of siblings who are constantly in each other's faces, then Dawn’s dynamic with Ash is the opposite. Their sibling-like relationship is a more supportive one, with both of them cheering the other on. They each heavily influence the other throughout the Diamond and Pearl series. Their signature high five is a symbol of the trust they put in each other. At this point in the anime, Ash isn’t portrayed as very touchy-feely with other people (at least not like he is with his Pokemon). Ash only gives high fives and handshakes occasionally, with the extremely rare side hug. His high fives with Dawn are constant and shown as a comforting act between the two of them. It’s their equivalent to 2 close siblings' secret handshake. It’s a sign of active trust put between the two of them. Their relationship is supportive and positive, they’re each others’ (literal) biggest cheerleaders. It’s quite wholesome and sweet.

Romantic:

In the same way that their relationship is sibling-like, it can also be looked at from a romantic standpoint. The hints at a possible romantic attraction between the two exist, even if a bit hard to catch. Their high-fives can instead be seen as romantic rather than familial/platonic, and the support they give each other can seem more romantic. Dawn dressing up as a cheerleader to cheer Ash on can definitely be seen as a romantic attraction. The possibility of a romantic relationship between the two is there, even if never acted upon. Their close bond would provide a healthy, cute relationship between the two.

Iris:

Platonic:

Iris’s friendship with Ash is a bit complicated, to say the least. Iris and Ash are definitely friends, though their dynamic is a little odd. Iris constantly undermined Ash’s abilities, at least in the first bit of Black and White. Her arguments and teasing with Ash are often hypocritical and unnecessary. Though, this teasing can also be looked at from a ‘tough love’ perspective. Most of the quips and remarks she makes about Ash are definitely annoying, but you can tell that a lot of them come from a place of love. Her remarks are her way of showing that she does, in fact, care about Ash. This is also shown in her reappearance during Pokemon Journeys, where she's had time to develop off-screen. Both Iris and Ash have matured, so their friendship is less strained, and it’s easier to see that they both care about each other, even through all the teasing. As annoying as all her teasing is, you can tell that she cares about her friendship with Ash somewhere deep down.

Romantic:

The two do have some similar traits that would possibly make for a good romantic relationship. This includes their tendency to act stubborn, impulsive, headstrong, and impulsive. Iris’s reason for joining Ash on his journey is also a bit odd, and could imply some sort of romantic feelings. The look she gives him while watching his gym battle also seems to imply other… motives(?)in their friendship. Though, even if Iris does ever hold feelings for Ash, it is not likely that Ash would’ve ever returned them. Ash shows no signs of liking Iris and the signs that Iris shows are few and far between. Their dynamic is definitely better suited for friendship than a romantic relationship.

Cilan:

Platonic:

Ash and Cilan’s relationship is easily comparable to Ash and Brock’s; with the ‘soft reboot’ of Black and White providing Ash with the need for a new mentor figure. Cilan’s relationship with Ash is a stark contrast to Ash’s relationship with Iris; Cilan provides softer, more constructive criticism. He isn’t as quick to turn to insults, preferring to give advice in a more likeable way. Unlike Iris’s care for Ash which is buried deep under several layers of teasing, insults, and quips, Cilan is more upfront and easygoing. It is easy to tell that he enjoys being a mentor and cares deeply for his travelling companions.

Romantic:

Like Brock and Ash, Cilan’s age gap with Ash is quite large, with Cilan shown to be somewhere around 15 or 16. Ignoring that, the 2 have a more mentor-mentee dynamic, so the two wouldn’t be compatible in a romantic relationship.

Clemont:

Platonic:

Clemont and Ash’s dynamic is very close, and it’s easy to see that the two have a lot of mutual respect between them. They respect each other both personality-wise and trainer-wise. Clemont does sort of have the Brock position, him being the one taking care of all the cooking and cleaning. Though, I wouldn’t say he’s a mentor exactly. Since this is the first time the male companion is portrayed as close to Ash’s age, we can see that the dynamic between the two is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Previously, Ash has always been the one to look up to the male companion, but this time around, both of them admire each other. Their relationship is a stark contrast to Ash’s relationship with Brock, Tracey, and Cilan.

Clemont is often portrayed as more insecure; for a majority of the show, he has low self-esteem, low athleticism and is incredibly fearful, though incredibly intelligent. On the other hand, Ash is the opposite, he’s low in book smarts, but is confident and athletic. This creates a dynamic of admiration and respect that the two hold for the other’s strengths. Ash always cheers Clemont up with what is put as his “boundless optimism.” The two are both supportive of each other, and the respect they hold for each other is endless.

Romantic:

Ash and Clemont already have a bromance-like relationship, so it’s easy to portray their relationship as romantic. The respect they hold for each other can be easily twisted into a more romantic nature, and the admiration too can be looked at as romantic. This respect and admiration would be great in a romantic relationship if it were to ever be pursued. The two certainly have chemistry, and there are signs that can be seen as attraction. Clemont constantly blushes around Ash, especially when physical contact is initiated, and Ash goes all sparkly whenever Clemont introduces his inventions.

→ Sub Category. AroAce! Ash Ketchum

I’ve seen people discuss the possibility of a QPR/Queerplatonic relationship between them, so we’re going to quickly discuss that. For the people who don’t know, a QPR is a term for an intimate, but non-romantic relationship. It refers to a relationship that bends the line between a romantic relationship, and a non-romantic one. Queerplatonic relationships are most common between people on the a-spectrum, though are not exclusive to them. If you want to learn more, you can do some quick research before you continue reading.

There are many people that see/headcanon Ash as on the A-spectrum, so let’s discuss the possibility of a QPR between Ash and Clemont. Though Ash and Clemont are close, the amount of actual romantic signs (blushing, bashfulness, and mentions of attraction) aren’t really there. So, some people have discussed the possibility of a QPR between the two. We’re definitely diverging from canon quite a bit, so I’ll be trying to keep this brief. The possibility of a QPR between Ash and Clemont is there, and their budding bromance would make for a great Queerplatonic relationship. Ash’s ‘touchiness’ around Clemont, along with the respect and admiration they hold for each other, is never seen as romantic, so a QPR is definitely a possibility to be explored. Though, this is definitely a lot more of a non-canon/headcanon thing the Pokiani community has going on, so this is the most I’ll be saying.

Bonnie:

Platonic:

Many people have put Bonnie, as ‘Max done right.’ This applies to Ash and Bonnie’s friendship, too. Bonnie is also a bit of a tag-along, but definitely became a real part of the gang. People may have been wary of her being a part of the group at first, but she certainly became well-liked. Bonnie, despite her age and childish nature, can also show maturity whenever necessary. She has a sweet, motivating personality, and has helped Ash out with his Pokemon. Bonnie is quick to cheer on Ash and his team during battle, always motivational in her own way. Bonnie shows real maturity when dealing with Pokemon, which applies to her relationship with Ash’s Pokemon too. Bonnie’s comedic relief aspect and Ash’s naturally funny nature provide some hilarious moments between her and Ash. Bonnie respects Ash as a trainer, which is something that Max didn’t show for most of his time with Ash, which I see as the main difference between Ash and Bonnie’s friendship compared to Ash and Max’s. The respect aspect is a key factor in their differing relationships. This leads to Ash and Bonnie’s friendship being much more fulfilling and pleasant to watch.

Romantic:

… I swear, even having to write the word ‘romantic’ in Bonnie’s section is killing me. No darn way. Bonnie is seen to be somewhere from 5-8, the prospect of even thinking about this… yuck.

Serena:

Platonic:

Serena and Ash have a great friendship. They share a close bond, built off of both mutual respect and a whole lot of admiration. You can tell that Serena values her friendship with Ash a lot, from both her actions and the fact that she started travelling with Ash simply because she knew him from childhood (and other reasons that we won’t be discussing in the platonic section). She is influenced heavily by Ash, and a lot of her character development was indirectly because of him. Ash also holds the same respect for Serena, and obviously cares about his and Serena’s friendship just as much. Serena being the one to snap him out of his anger/moping in episode 121 shows that Ash cares deeply for Serena (and the others). Were he to not care about Serena, he would probably not have snapped out of his moping, and would’ve continued being a bit of a prick for a while longer. Also, Ash gifting Serena the ribbon is another show of their bond and friendship. The two of them are definitely great friends.

Romantic:

Serena and Ash definitely have chemistry, especially with the amount of build-up in their relationship that happened during the show. Serena shows many signs of her crush on Ash, blushing incredibly often around him, and obviously The Kiss™. She holds a large amount of affection for him, as shown by both her actions and decisions. Her decision to start her journey to return the handkerchief, the way-too-many cookies she’s given him, and her wearing the blue ribbon she gave him, are all signs of her crush. On the other hand, Ash also shows a handful of signs that he may like Serena back, even if much less than Serena. He has many more ‘bashful’ moments around Serena, and his bond with her seems a bit different than all the other female companions. He’s given her gifts and has often complimented her. His reaction to Serena in the Fennekin costume can also be interpreted as attraction (though, it can also be seen as something similar to shock at Serena wearing something so different, it’s very much up to interpretation). Even if he’s never actually blushed, a lot of his reactions can still be seen as romantic feelings. The chemistry between the two of them is played up a lot more than it has ever been with any of Ash’s other companions. The Kiss™ has caused the pairing between Serena and Ash to be closer to canon than any other ship before them.

Now, when a ship is so popular, there are going to be some criticisms, and I have my fair share of them too. I’ll try to be careful and mention the more unbiased criticisms that have floated around. Firstly, the snowball scene. Serena states, “You’re [Ash] not acting like the Ash I know!” During this scene, Ash has temporarily reverted back to how he acted in previous seasons of Pokemon, where he is less mature. Though it was nice of Serena to try and comfort Ash, and it wasn’t right for Ash to respond to Serena in such a harsh manner, Serena’s approach to snap him out of it is a bit odd. I mean, obviously throwing snowballs at someone while they're upset is questionable, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. At this point in the anime, Serena has only properly known Ash for a few months. No matter how close they are, Serena doesn’t know everything about Ash just yet. The way she’s interacting with Ash can kind of be taken as her saying that Ash has to always be happy-go-lucky and that he can never show any signs of being upset or angry. Serena has this idealisation of Ash, an always happy and positive person. Her admiration of Ash has caused her to see Ash in a light where he is always positive, always energetic, and never upset, sad or angry. As some have put it, she is ‘liking [loving] a shadow’. Serena has feelings for the perfect, ideal version of Ash. After this episode, we don’t know if Serena has fixed her views on him, or if she has continued seeing Ash as this perfect shadow.

Now, note that this particular criticism is quite questionable, and is definitely on shaky ground. Firstly, the line, “You’re not acting like the Ash I know!” is only said in the dub. The sub states something more similar to, “The Ash in front of me isn’t the real Ash!” Serena is more so saying that Ash isn’t Ash at all. Also, we do have to consider that she’s a human child. She doesn’t have endless amounts of patience, so when she can’t get Ash to tell her what’s wrong, it’s not unreasonable for her to snap. Serena started off wanting to help Ash, and she only got mad when Ash started lashing out. Though, the snowball scene and how you interpret it is completely up to you. It’s certainly a questionable scene, but I’m in no place to state whether or not how Serena went about it correctly. Also, remember the whole point of this is that I’m overanalyzing everything! I’m well aware that this is just a classic scene between the main character and the love interest, where the love interest is telling the MC to get a hold of themselves.

Another criticism that has been brought up is whether or not Ash likes Serena back. His response to Serena in different outfits has been mediocre, and can also be interpreted as platonic. During The Kiss™ Ash’s eyes sparkle for a second, before he “completely ignores” anything that has happened (The Kiss™ will be discussed more in the next paragraph). Ash has also had a similar reaction to other romantic gestures Serena has made towards him. Though, this criticism people have brought up is one of the more biased ones.

Now, The Kiss™. Before I say anything, I would prefer to stay well and alive, so no matter how intense of a shipper you are, please stay respectful. I will be trying to state arguments and opinions from both sides. So, The Kiss™. Serena tells Ash while going down the escalator, “Hey, Ash! There’s just one more thing!” She runs back up, and gives him a quick kiss (assumed to be on the lips), before going back down and leaving. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, so before giving my criticism, let’s discuss the scene itself. Though Ash isn’t blushing, he’s got an extra sparkle/highlight in his eyes during and after the kiss before he blinks. This has been interpreted as him liking Serena back/realising that he likes Serena. It’s a quick, cute scene to wrap up their relationship. After the kiss, he also smiles, possibly implying that he enjoyed the kiss and returned Serena’s feelings. On the other hand, some have said that it doesn’t seem like Serena’s crush is mutual. While Serena moves to kiss him, Ash instead moves his head back, which can be interpreted as him being apprehensive/not wanting to kiss her. Also, it’s unclear whether or not he returned this kiss, or if it was just Serena kissing Ash. His pose has stayed the same, which once again gives us no clue as to whether or not he returned the action. There is no obvious answer to whether or not Serena’s feelings are mutual. This scene is mostly up to your own interpretation and leaves room for shippers to speculate.

Let’s also discuss the subbed version, as the original dialogue is quite different from the dubbed version. We’re going to start a bit earlier. Serena is still at the top of the escalator and says, “I’m really glad that I got to journey!” Followed by, “You are my goal.” Ash looks a bit surprised, though some have also seen it as understanding at the same time. Serena then continues saying, “The next time we meet, I’ll be a more attractive woman for you.” Ash replies with a “Yeah!” Serena heads down the escalator, and Ash takes a few steps forward. Serena turns back, saying, “Ash!” Could I have one last moment?” She runs back up, and kisses Ash, before heading back down. Serena tells Ash, “Thank you!” while heading down, and Ash smiles. He gives Serena a farewell, and that’s how it ends. Now, the Japanese version seems a bit more romantic. Ash stepping forward is sometimes seen as him knowing what is happening. Though, with how dense he is, it is likely this was just him making it easier for himself to say goodbye. Now the line about being a more attractive woman is… questionable in its intentions. First of all, we can’t forget that Serena is 10. She’s sort of implying that she’ll be more attractive so that Ash will like her better (remember, she said that Ash was her goal), which is both problematic for her age and problematic in general. If she thinks that Ash will only like her when she’s more attractive, then there’s definitely something wrong there. She also says that Ash is her goal. Was her goal not to be a Pokemon Performer and pursue her career? Why is Ash stated to be her goal? Isn’t this sort of invalidating or ignoring what her actual goal is? Though, since the whole point of this is I’m overanalyzing everything, I’m trying to look at this from every angle. What she says could’ve been completely innocent. (Remember, the criticisms I gave weren’t necessarily my opinions and were more so a quick summary of different opinions in the Pokeanime community.)

→ Sub Cat. AroAce! Ash Ketchum

How clueless Ash is towards Serena’s feelings have sometimes been interpreted as Ash being aromantic/a-spec. His lack of response to Serena’s actions can easily be seen as him simply not being able to reciprocate her romantic feelings. Though, it’s also likely that Ash is just incredibly, incredibly dense. (I really like AroAce! Ash, so I don’t trust myself to go further in this part of the analysis without starting to sound more biased.)

Gosh, Part 2 was a long one !! I almost gave Serena a whole post for just her (￣﹏￣；). Once again, (constructive) critism is appreciated!! This’ll hopefully be turned into a video on my channel, so critism is heavily appreciated to ensure I can create the best video possible. As stated before, I haven’t watched all the animes, so please point out any incorrect details you notice. I’m a bit worried that I was too harsh for Serena’s section, so please offer your insight!! Thanks, and Part 3 coming soon! It will have the Alola gang’s analysis... Maybe Goh and Chloe?? Unsure, as I haven’t finished writing theirs yet...

Part 1 Part 3

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