Animated Romance
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Heidi Lamoureux
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There was a decent amount of conversation on this subject within another thread that I made, so I thought I’d get this thread created in order to further delve into the murky depths of animated romance. I hope that this thread becomes more than a list thread; even though I encourage people to share their favorite couples, whether canon or non-canon, I hope that people will take the time to explain why they feel the way that they do. I will also provide a few questions for the sake of generating some discussion, which I hope people will answer.
Personally, I only support canon relationships. I believe that the people who work on a series are in the best position to know the personal thoughts and desires of the characters. However, with that said, I do like some of the unofficial pairings that are out there. I don’t support them, as I wouldn’t request that they be canonized, but I think some of them are rather clever. Unfortunately, a lot of people attempt to pair characters that would never like one another, and even though people like to say that “opposites attract”, they seldom actually do when it comes to romance. I also dislike some of the bizarre relationships, but to be fair, there are some bizarre canon relationships as well. An episode of 101 Dalmatians: The Series had Lucky and Two-Tone fall in love and go to a dance together, despite the fact that they’re biologically related: brother and sister. I do believe that was the first and only time incest has been used in a children’s animated program. You can’t get much more bizarre than that.
I don’t usually enjoy animated programs that rely too much on romance, but I usually enjoy the occasional romantic plot. Unfortunately, romantic plots can be hard to handle and it’s easy for them to pass the point of subtlety; typically, once a romantic plot becomes too blatant, it loses quality and causes some fans to denounce it.
That’s really all I can say at the moment, though I’m sure I’ll add more to this discussion in due time. I’m going to ask a few questions now.
Do you like seeing romance in an animated program? What has been the best canon relationship in an animated program? What has been the worst canon relationship in an animated program? Are there any non-canon relationships that you like and/or support?
Please take the time to answer these questions, and if possible, explain why you chose the answer that you did.
Personally, I only support canon relationships. I believe that the people who work on a series are in the best position to know the personal thoughts and desires of the characters. However, with that said, I do like some of the unofficial pairings that are out there. I don’t support them, as I wouldn’t request that they be canonized, but I think some of them are rather clever. Unfortunately, a lot of people attempt to pair characters that would never like one another, and even though people like to say that “opposites attract”, they seldom actually do when it comes to romance. I also dislike some of the bizarre relationships, but to be fair, there are some bizarre canon relationships as well. An episode of 101 Dalmatians: The Series had Lucky and Two-Tone fall in love and go to a dance together, despite the fact that they’re biologically related: brother and sister. I do believe that was the first and only time incest has been used in a children’s animated program. You can’t get much more bizarre than that.
I don’t usually enjoy animated programs that rely too much on romance, but I usually enjoy the occasional romantic plot. Unfortunately, romantic plots can be hard to handle and it’s easy for them to pass the point of subtlety; typically, once a romantic plot becomes too blatant, it loses quality and causes some fans to denounce it.
That’s really all I can say at the moment, though I’m sure I’ll add more to this discussion in due time. I’m going to ask a few questions now.
Do you like seeing romance in an animated program? What has been the best canon relationship in an animated program? What has been the worst canon relationship in an animated program? Are there any non-canon relationships that you like and/or support?
Please take the time to answer these questions, and if possible, explain why you chose the answer that you did.
karibeautygirl
New member
Romance can work, as long as it doesn't overshadow the show itself. Some of the relationships I've enjoyed:
- Flint/Lady J - G.I. Joe
They always had a fun, playful relationship. Sure, they never did anything even remotely romantic (onscreen) but their bantering during the fight scenes against Cobra were always fun.
- Skinner/Krabappel - The Simpsons
Kill me, I LIKED them together, until the writers ruined them.
- Elisa/Goliath - Gargoyles
Beasitality element aside, they had that fun 'Beauty & The Beast' thing going.
- Fred/Daphne - Scooby Doo
Especially when later parodies/shows made it OBVIOUS what they were doing when they the gang split up to find clues.
- Egon/Janine - The Real Ghostbusters
It was fun the way they built these two up through the first movie and every season. Unfortunately Extreme Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II made this pairing null and void.
Pariings I didn't like
- Jem/Rio/Jerrica - Jem
I know what you're thinking. This was the CORE relationship of the series, but Jem/Jerrica constantly strung Rio along, constantly making him have to choose between the two, keeping the poor guy in the dark the whole time, when she could have EASILY told him the truth after the Battle of the Bands at the end of the first episode.
I'll post more when I can think of them.
- Flint/Lady J - G.I. Joe
They always had a fun, playful relationship. Sure, they never did anything even remotely romantic (onscreen) but their bantering during the fight scenes against Cobra were always fun.
- Skinner/Krabappel - The Simpsons
Kill me, I LIKED them together, until the writers ruined them.
- Elisa/Goliath - Gargoyles
Beasitality element aside, they had that fun 'Beauty & The Beast' thing going.
- Fred/Daphne - Scooby Doo
Especially when later parodies/shows made it OBVIOUS what they were doing when they the gang split up to find clues.
- Egon/Janine - The Real Ghostbusters
It was fun the way they built these two up through the first movie and every season. Unfortunately Extreme Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II made this pairing null and void.
Pariings I didn't like
- Jem/Rio/Jerrica - Jem
I know what you're thinking. This was the CORE relationship of the series, but Jem/Jerrica constantly strung Rio along, constantly making him have to choose between the two, keeping the poor guy in the dark the whole time, when she could have EASILY told him the truth after the Battle of the Bands at the end of the first episode.
I'll post more when I can think of them.
Should this even be an issue in kid-aimed fandoms, however? That's what bugs me most about that stuff - stories and especially art are posted on the net where any kid can see it. If the people involved would invent their own characters, fine, but using someone else's like that is pretty low IMO.
Most romances in animated shows consist of the main character's attempts to get noticed by someone who is oblivous to their advances, avoiding the person they have no interest in, or if they are in a relationship, their misadventures dealing with that person in hoping they don't find out about something, or some Three's Company-like misunderstanding that takes place.
rutoughenough2002
New member
Alright so it looks like Goliath and Elisa don't do anything beyond kissing and that's it.
How so? If the characters are not gay in canon, I see no reason to make them gay in fanon. My main problem of course is that fanon yaoi/yuri is not about gay tolerance or any such matter, it's there because guys and girls get off on that kind of thing. As Raven would say, it's just pointless. :raven:
hondagrl83
New member
Filler? The only liable proof is in the manga. I dunno if I can link to it under the rules, but (chap. 98 pages 7-13. =P...Yes, I checked. >.>)
TokioHotel&Kassi(:
New member
The way I see it, romances suck.
I don't care how awesome their romance was in the comicbook. The cartoon should be able to stand on its own two feet.
I understand what you mean. It bothers me when weirdo fans turn obviously straight characters gay just because thats their kink (anime fangirls are the worst offenders here). However, I still don't see anything wrong with fanartists indulging their offbeat ship for a kids' show like Kim Possible as long as they don't make anything too explicit.
I understand what you mean. It bothers me when weirdo fans turn obviously straight characters gay just because thats their kink (anime fangirls are the worst offenders here). However, I still don't see anything wrong with fanartists indulging their offbeat ship for a kids' show like Kim Possible as long as they don't make anything too explicit.
....:sweat: ...I'd actually forgotten that about Gargoyles,that Lexington was intended to be gay...Still,despite the fact they're both aimed at children,Gargoyles just doesn't seem as "Kiddy"(for lack of a better word,and not meant in a bad way) as Kingdom Hearts and most other Disney properties...
pontique4two
New member
I don't really understand what you are saying here. :sweat:
Romance can also be the show's driving force.Look at American Dragon,Jake and Rose's enemy/lover sort of romance has given away to some great plotlines.While it has overshadowed some aspects of the show,the forbidden complication of their blossoming relationship over the course of two seasons plays into the Huntslcan's (probably the best villians on the show) evil plans excellently.
Also,their romance provides humor.For example in one episode of season 1 Jake and Rose ( unknowing of one another as Dragon and Dragon Slayer at this point) are trying to reherese lines for a Shakespearean play and kiss while comically stumbling around to retrieve a life-giving beatle in their alter egos.
The main idea I'm giving is that while it isn't always a good thing for a romantic aspect to divert away from a show's other potentional plotpoints,there are occasions (like Amdrag for instance) where it becomes the greatest and most well-received focal point of a show.Not all shows need to have this,but I think romance can play very important roles in shows and even become the favored plotline.
Also,their romance provides humor.For example in one episode of season 1 Jake and Rose ( unknowing of one another as Dragon and Dragon Slayer at this point) are trying to reherese lines for a Shakespearean play and kiss while comically stumbling around to retrieve a life-giving beatle in their alter egos.
The main idea I'm giving is that while it isn't always a good thing for a romantic aspect to divert away from a show's other potentional plotpoints,there are occasions (like Amdrag for instance) where it becomes the greatest and most well-received focal point of a show.Not all shows need to have this,but I think romance can play very important roles in shows and even become the favored plotline.
It depends on how it's written. Jem/Rio/Jerrica was clearly one of the worse- just look up "Glitter and Gold". Kinda reminds me of the spoof musical "Drowsy Chaperone", actually. But what do you expect? Jem was made by the same people who did GI Joe with its secret Cobra theme park bases and those lawyer twins who actually fought the Joes themselves- pure Silver Age stuff.
tweekduece
New member
Few things in life are more annoying than fan forced romances, especially when fans decide to "ship" 2 characters from a TV show for some purely superficial reason. Someone once suggested that Raven and Robin (from Teen Titans) be a couple just because they're both named after birds. Someone else suggested that Raven hook up with Herald just because they both wear cloaks. Or people who put Cyborg and Bumblebee together just because they're both black, which is dumb. Just because 2 characters have the same color skin tone, that doesn't automatically mean that they're made for one another.
I only support canon couples. Fan generated romances I support not at all.
I only support canon couples. Fan generated romances I support not at all.
talkitive_kiwi
New member
Yeah, I read it. It's cute so far, and I'm curious how it plays out. The quote I posted earlier was in reference to the tv show but I'm inclined to think the comic will work within the current bounds of kids tv. Disney still looks over the books before they go to press.
My stance, to borrow the Gargoyles once more... If Goliath and Elisa can do it, so can Lexington and whoever he's with. I don't like explicit relationship stuff either. And I don't think a pairing being same gender makes it any more adult than an opposite one is. I was maybe 7 when totally out of the blue, it ocurred to me that sometimes people of the same sex just get married.
The issue is that most canons don't allow the possibility yet. Do I have issues with most fandom slash? Yes, yes, and yes. I wrote a Bobobo fic that totally skewered yaoi cliches, but I still want the canon. The genre stuff. Brokeback Mountain as a real Western with gay leads, not a pathetic Larry Craig emo-fest. And I'm writing my own comic with that in mind, but I reserve the right to explore some ships that canon won't allow yet.
That's it for the most part, but I can't be the only person out there who'd rather see Shuichi and Yuki deal with the PTA rather than rut. Slashcast actually includes GLBT news for example.
My stance, to borrow the Gargoyles once more... If Goliath and Elisa can do it, so can Lexington and whoever he's with. I don't like explicit relationship stuff either. And I don't think a pairing being same gender makes it any more adult than an opposite one is. I was maybe 7 when totally out of the blue, it ocurred to me that sometimes people of the same sex just get married.
The issue is that most canons don't allow the possibility yet. Do I have issues with most fandom slash? Yes, yes, and yes. I wrote a Bobobo fic that totally skewered yaoi cliches, but I still want the canon. The genre stuff. Brokeback Mountain as a real Western with gay leads, not a pathetic Larry Craig emo-fest. And I'm writing my own comic with that in mind, but I reserve the right to explore some ships that canon won't allow yet.
That's it for the most part, but I can't be the only person out there who'd rather see Shuichi and Yuki deal with the PTA rather than rut. Slashcast actually includes GLBT news for example.
music0for0lyfe
New member
Is very nice that special of Avatar style chibi the three episodes I like a lot.:anime:
But really what Aang was desperate for inviting to Katara.:sweat:
But really what Aang was desperate for inviting to Katara.:sweat:
Thats a good point (can't believe I didn't think of it :sweat
.
The Goliath/Elisa pairing has always grossed me out a little. Even as a kid, I was surprised that Disney censors let that stuff go on the Disney Afternoon!
Also, it would seem really unfair if Disney allowed Goliath and Elisa to violate the laws of nature with their unholy union and then didn't let poor Lexington have a Gargoyle boyfriend.
And before any Gargoyles fan jumps down my throat, I already know that Elisa and Goliath's relationship was well developed, romantic, totally meant-to-be, and all that good stuff. Doesn't make it any less gross.
. The Goliath/Elisa pairing has always grossed me out a little. Even as a kid, I was surprised that Disney censors let that stuff go on the Disney Afternoon!
Also, it would seem really unfair if Disney allowed Goliath and Elisa to violate the laws of nature with their unholy union and then didn't let poor Lexington have a Gargoyle boyfriend.
And before any Gargoyles fan jumps down my throat, I already know that Elisa and Goliath's relationship was well developed, romantic, totally meant-to-be, and all that good stuff. Doesn't make it any less gross.