List of major animated series ships

Anime Ships are undoubtedly the most popular kind of shipping in the Pokémon fanbase.

List of main character ships

A list of ships involving two main characters who have met.

AlfShipping

AshMax
(サトマサ SatoMasa)

Evidence

  • Throughout their time together, Max has always shown great admiration for Ash. But he has also took pleasure out of taunting him for not knowing something.
Max was extremely excited to meet Ash, whom he recognized from watching the Silver Conference on television.
Max is so upset by Ash leaving that he runs off by himself. When Ash finds him, he reassures him that they will always be friends and promises to battle him someday after he becomes a Trainer. This makes Max happy leading him to accept the separation.

Name origins

  • Alf comes from Max incorrectly referring to Ash by this name when they first met.


AnnemaeShipping

IrisDawn
(アイヒカ AiHika)


Similarities

  • Both own a male walking Pokémon that has not evolved yet and can evolve twice.
  • Both own an Electric-type, squirrel-like Pokémon.
  • Both own an evolved dual Ground-type that used to disobey them.
  • Both have taken extra measures to cheer for Ash during a Gym battle. Dawn dressed up like a cheerleader for some of Ash's Gym battles while Iris played a drum during his battle with Roxie.

Name origins

  • Annemae is derived from the assumption that the name Annemae roughly means "rebellious pearl", but a closer breakdown puts it more at "favored pearl".


DebateShipping

TraceyMax
(ケンマサ KenMasa)

Evidence

Max is thoroughly impressed by Tracey's artistic skills and refers to him as sir. Tracey thanks him and says he could just call him by his first name. Max then imagines drawing Pokémon like he does. A bit later, Max asks Tracey if he could return the Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle that Professor Oak is giving to starting Trainers to their Poké Balls which Tracey lets him do.

Similarities

  • Both wear a similar attire, including a green shirt and shorts. They are also the only male protagonists to wear shorts rather than pants.
  • Both are the only main protagonists not to have an official in-game counterpart.


Trivia

  • DebateShipping is also used for Tracey and Gilbert.


GreeneyeShipping

JamesMisty
(コジカス KojiKasu)

Evidence

Misty is seen bandaging James's wounds after he and Jessie had lost their Pokémon to Butch and Cassidy.
Misty gets separated from Ash and Brock and ends up with James and Meowth. Feeling sorry for the both of them, she gives some of her lunch to them. Later when everyone escapes the raging Ursaring, James and Misty are seen holding each other in happiness.

Alternate names

  • AlternaShipping - Alternate name for James and Cassidy
  • AlternateShipping - Alternate name for Butch and Cassidy
  • OpressionShipping (misspelled)
  • RomeoShipping
  • TwerpyShipping
  • WhinyShipping

Name origins

  • Greeneye refers to James and Misty's eye colors.


GundamSeiyuuShipping

JamesCilan
(コジデン KojiDen)

Evidence

A group of Litwick and their Lampent leader open a mysterious vortex that nearly sucks in James, Jessie, and Meowth. Cilan is nearly sucked in as well after being hit by a Shadow Ball that knocks him off of his feet. He would have been sucked in completely but he is saved by James who grabs his arm. Earlier, James's life force had been drained by the Litwick who were accompanying him and his friends. Despite that and his feelings towards Ash and his friends, James decides to put his own safety aside and use what strength he has left to rescue Cilan. Some might argue, however, that he only rescued him as a return favor for Ash saving Jessie from the same fate. Others note that James chose to help who he may consider an enemy but did not attempt to try and save his friends before hand.

Alternate names

  • GundamShipping

Name origins


MasumiShipping

MaxMisty

Hints

Max shows that he admires Misty, and he adopted her ritual of pulling Brock's ear whenever he goes overboard in flirting with a girl.
A Real Cleffa-Hanger
  • Max and Misty are separated from the rest of the group. During this time, they had a bonding moment through discovering common ground, namely their annoying older sisters.
  • What is most interesting is that Misty's return at the end of Hoenn appears to have more contextual MasumiShipping than the two other popular Misty Ships - Template:S and Template:S.

Names origins

Masumi is derived from a combination of their Japanese names: Masato and Kasumi



SavantShipping

CilanDawn
(デンヒカ DenHika)
Dawn decided to let Cilan battle her first, much to the disappointment of Ash.
During his battle with Dawn, Cilan complimented her on her moves as well as her strong bond with Piplup.

Similarities

  • Both have or have had fear of a certain Pokémon. Dawn was afraid of Plusle and Minun while Cilan is afraid of Purrloin. They also had to battle these Pokémon at some point.
  • Dawn is the first of Ash's female friends to obtain an Electric-type type while Cilan is the first male.

Differences

  • Dawn overcame her fear of Plusle and Minun, whereas Cilan has not yet overcome his fear of Purloin.
  • Pachirisu is a pure Electric type, while Stunfisk is a dual Electric/Ground type.
  • Cilan actually worked alongside a Purloin in the episode Cilan and the Case of the Purloin Witness. It is unknown if Dawn have had to work alongside a Plusle and Minun, although it was revealed in a falshback from Yes in Dee Dee, it's Dawn that Dawn took care of a Plusle and Minun back when she was in Kindegraten, but she smothered them and they shocked her, and that's why she became afraid of them.
  • That's another note, Dawn's reason behind her fear of Plusle and Minun was revealed to Ash, Brock, and the viewers, whereas Cilan's reasoning for his fear of Purloin was only revealed to Ash and Iris.


List of supporting character ships

This is a list of shippings involving a supporting character.

AgainstShipping

PaulZoey
(シンノゾ ShinNozo)

Evidence

  • Normally, Zoey is rather composed when faced with someone who puts down her friends, but with Paul she became more flustered than she usually would. Dawn is seen having to physically restrain her. Many would say that this would disprove the ship, but fans see it as Zoey becoming more emotional about what Paul thinks as compared to other people.

Similarities

Trivia

Name origins

  • Against comes from Paul and Zoey's nature as rivals: both are essentially against Ash and Dawn respectively, despite the bonds (or lack thereof) they have with each other.


BadTasteShipping

AshBurgundy
(サトカベ SatoCabe)

Evidence

Despite there being a long line of people waiting, Burgundy specifically calls on Ash to visit her shop. She also puts her hands on his shoulders several different times.
Burgundy appears concerned when Ash's Scraggy's Hi Jump Kick misses Simisage during the Clubsplosion tournament, enough to declare it a "bad taste".

Similarities


BugShipping

Forrest FranklinMay
Information
Their entire interaction takes place during the episode All in a Day's Wurmple.

Hints
May's

  • When Forrest tells May that she's "independent" and "self-sufficient", she begins to blush.

Forrest's

  • Forrest comes to May's rescue when she is being double teamed by Team Rocket.
  • When May says that she's trying to capture a Wurmple, Forrest offers to help her. He also gives her advice on how to catch one and what attacks it knows.
  • While May and Forrest are scaling a cliff, a rock breaks under May's foot and she almost falls. Forrest catches her by putting his hand around her waist.
  • Forrest told May that she was "independent" and "self-sufficient".
  • Forrest considered traveling with May. He stated that he always wanted to travel, but was afraid to. He ended up not going with her, but he still overcame his fear of traveling thanks to May.
  • When Team Rocket steals May's newly caught Wurmple, he sends his Heracross to stop them.

Name origins

  • Bug is derived from Forrest helping May catch her Wurmple, as well as after Forrest's own Heracross.

Trivia

  • Forrest was May's first tag battle partner.
  • May brings a Pecha Berry to Forrest to snack on. Fans of the Ship note that the Pecha is in the shape of a heart.


BusterShipping

GeorgiaIris
(ランアイ LanAi)

Evidence

  • Both Iris and Georgia seem to enjoy teasing one another often.
  • Though Georgia is Iris's rival, she really wants Iris to succeed in becoming a Dragon Master and those become a more worthy opponent. Though it's common among the "friendly" rivals, it far exceeds what is expected for an "unfriendly" rival who usually expect little of their rival (ex: Trip and Ash) or wish for them to fail (ex: Burgundy and Cilan).
  • Search for the Clubultimate!
Georgia is confident that Iris has the skill to defeat Burgundy in the first round of the Clubsplosion and also notes that she is a lot stronger than the last time she saw her. After Burgundy loses to Iris she declares that she will get her revenge on her and Georgia immediately confronts her about it saying that she is the only one that will defeat Iris. Later on when she battles Grace, Georgia waves her arms to get Iris's attention on the sidelines wanting her to watch her battle.
Georgia is disappointed when Iris loses to Montgomery in the second round.
Georgia told Iris it was only luck that made Iris win and taunted her for not having control over Dragonite.
  • Ash, Iris, and Trip:Then There Were Three While watching the battle between Iris' Dragonite and Ash's Krokorok Georgia seemed to be in awe that Dragonite was listening to what Iris instructed him to do. She even thought to herself "Is Iris truly on her way to becoming a Dragon Master?"
After the evolution of Ash's Krookodile Georgia watched as Dragonite went on a ballistic rampage, using moves such as Ice Beam and Flame Thrower in random directions. As she watched this unfold she went back to making rude remarks, thinking to herself "Iris is far from becoming a Dragon Master."
After Cynathia stated she had faith that Dragonite would one day open up his heart to Iris and trust her, Georgia made a snide remark saying "I have faith you'll fall on your pudgy little face."

Name origin

  • Buster is derived from Georgia's Trainer title, Dragon Buster.


ContestCatShipping

LilaJohanna
Information
They knew each other in their younger years, and were rivals during their time as Coordinators. Their entire interaction takes place during the episode Battling the Generation Gap!.

Hints
Johanna's

  • Johanna seemed disappointed when Lila lost against Dawn in the final round.

Other hints

  • At the beginning of the episode, it shows a flash-back in which Johanna and Lila shake hands, smiling at one another. Another flash-back also shows Lila and Johanna eating lunch together and discussing strategies, showing their close friendship/rivalry.
  • When Dawn later enters the room, Lila and Johanna are smiling and laughing through the screen.

Name origins

  • ContestCat is derived from both of them participating in Contests with feline-based Pokémon: Delcatty and Glameow.


DiamondDragonShipping

StephanIris
(ケニアイ KeniAi)

Evidence

After Iris defeats Stephan in the second round, he asks her to do her best in the semi-finals for him.
When Stephan asks Iris "Hey, does your Emolga know any Flying Type moves?" Iris gives an uneasy reaction and Stephan becomes overconfident stating there was no way Iris could beat him.
When Stephan becomes overexcited for his battle with Iris and jumps out onto the battle field Iris runs after him shouting, "WAIT WE HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED YET! IT'S TOO EARLY!"

Similarities

  • Both of them seemed to get annoyed with Ash a lot during the series; Iris for Ash's immaturity, and Stephan for Ash always pronouncing his name wrong, and although everyone either pronounced his name wrong or called him a completely different name, he seemed the most annoyed when it happened with Ash.



EgoShipping

GaryMisty
(ShigeKasu シゲカス)
Information
Despite the lack of evidence, this pairing has quite a large number of supporters, originally being an alternate to Template:S.

Similarities

  • On several occasions, Misty and Gary first kiss their Poké Balls before calling out their Pokémon.
  • They both have the habit of teasing Ash.
  • Both of their parents were never revealed in the series.
  • They both don't really like Ash in the beginning, but become friendlier towards him later on (more in Misty's case, but Gary does warm up to Ash later).

Hints

Dig Those Diglett!
  • This marks Gary and Misty's first meeting. Misty describes what she thinks of Gary, but Brock finishes her sentence for her, leaving her initial thought incomplete. Fans like to believe she intended to say something indicating the start of an attraction.
Riddle Me This
  • In the early days, Misty usually made up for Ash's lack of wit against Gary's taunts. For example, when Gary mocks Ash by saying, "Ash, I've never seen anyone so pathetic!", Misty retorts by telling him, "Have you looked in a mirror?" Gary is used to being admired by girls, but he didn't get mad at Misty for saying that, implying to supporters he likes her enough to get away with it.
Illusion Confusion
  • Misty asks Gary why he still wasn't out of the forest despite the fact he had a Hoothoot with him. Gary states that he's been so busy catching Pokémon, he lost track of time. Fans see this as an attempt to show off, and some believe it's specifically for Misty's benefit.
Extreme Pokémon
  • While they were at the restaurant, Misty hopes Gary will win the race. But once Ash enters, she cheers for him instead.

Name origins

  • Ego is derived from both having high-esteem of themselves.


FireworksShipping

NormanNurse Joy
Information
During the events of Love, Petalburg Style!, Carolina believed Norman was having an affair with Petalburg City's resident Nurse Joy, around the time of Carolina and Norman's anniversary. It turned out to be a big misunderstanding in the end.

Hints

  • Norman spent a lot of time with Nurse Joy, as she was helping him put together a surprise for his wife. However, the secretive nature that they went about gave Carolina the wrong impression in the first place, believing they were, in fact, having illicit relations. The fact she suspected it validated this pairing's possibility.

Name origins

  • Fireworks is derived from the very display Norman and Nurse Joy were cooking up for him and Carolina.

Trivia

  • The validity of this premise was suspected in canon and then later disproven in the same episode.


GaiaShipping

GardeniaCheryl
(NataMomi or MomiNata ナタモミ or モミナタ)
Information
This is one of the few ships involving Gym Leaders that is comprised of minor characters (who aren't Gym assistants) and isn't a nevermetshipping. Their entire interaction takes place during the episode The Grass-Type is Always Greener!.

Hints
Gardenia's

  • Gardenia expresses genuine interest in Cheryl's "mission" to find the enchanted honey, and offers her services to help without any invite. She also uses the article 'we' instead of 'you', cementing herself to Cheryl's cause, never mind all the helpful advice that give the group a destination to head for. She even admits to wanting to help, using her impulsive request for Ash to battle her as an example, when Cheryl says she doesn't want to be a bother to Gardenia.
  • Gardenia is still bespelled by James's Pokémon when Cheryl mentions her Mothim, temporarily confusing her into assuming James had one too. She reacts to the confusion the same way she does Grass-types (infatuation), despite Mothim being Bug/Flying.
  • She also admits to being happy to help treasure hunters, after rescuing Mothim, making it sound like those are the kind of people she likes compared to many other types of people.

Cheryl's

  • Upon meeting Gardenia and Ash challenging her to a battle, Cheryl is nonplussed by the idea when Dawn reminds Ash they were already on a task: to help Cheryl. In fact, Cheryl even says it "might be fun" and wishes them to have a nice time.
  • Cheryl spends her shot during Ash's introduction to Gardenia looking in Gardenia's direction. There's also no reason for her to be standing there, as she says nothing (Brock and Dawn weren't in the shot, and the situation wasn't anything special). She also only comments on Gardenia's Turtwig during the battle, and spends the rest of her time on the sidelines appearing engrossed in the action, saying nothing of Ash at all.
  • She falls back on a quote her grandfather said later that evening in regards to Gardenia volunteering to help her out: "Witness a good Pokémon battle and something good always happens." She is likely implying that the "something good" that occurred is likely Gardenia herself joining them.
  • After the battle, Cheryl personally introduces herself and tells Gardenia she was impressed with her battling, while only telling Ash she was sorry he lost.
  • Mothim takes an instant liking to Gardenia after a compliment, perhaps reflecting Cheryl's own feelings, as she doesn't sound overly worried or chiding when she tells him not to get "too close to strangers." Given Cheryl's docile personality, it might indicate she's already comfortable with Gardenia and not simply being flighty.
  • She voices self-doubt and concern of being a "bother" when Gardenia volunteers to show the group the way to the Combee wall; this is something she didn't do when Ash and his friends volunteer to help her with her Burmy, another just-as-daunting task, or when they joined her quest to find the Amber Castle themselves the the episode before.
  • Cheryl expresses gratitude for Gardenia's supposed attempt at personally protecting her Mothim from Carnivine.
  • Cheryl cries out, "Gardenia!" immediately after Mothim is freed from Team Rocket's robotic arm, even when Gardenia wasn't the one placed in harm's way. She then personally, much like her introduction, thanks Gardenia for saving Mothim.

Name origins

  • Gaia is derived from their association with nature and Mother Earth, Gardenia being a Grass-type Trainer and Cheryl with her overall arboreal clothing scheme and gentle personality.

Trivia


GoggleShipping

AshGiselle
Information
An early jump in on the Shipping game, GoggleShipping launched the currently dubious validity of characterization that Ash does, in fact, notice pretty girls, an argument used even today for various debates, which aren't limited to Shipping. Their entire interaction takes place during the episode School of Hard Knocks.

Hints
Ash's

  • Giselle so far is the only girl that Ash displayed his affection for saying that she was "really pretty" and acting in a similar manner that Brock does when he sees a pretty girl. Anti-GoggleShippers often argue that this was because Ash's normally oblivious character wasn't developed that early on.

Alternate names

  • SchoolShipping (another name for Joe/Giselle)

Name origins

  • Goggle is derived from Giselle being the first and only girl Ash has ever ogled.
  • School is derived from the setting of the Pokémon Tech, a Pokémon academy.


GrassShipping

JamesGardenia
Information

Hints
Gardenia's

The Grass-Type is Always Greener!
  • Gardenia spends a lot of time fawning over Carnivine and Cacnea. She never spent anytime fawning over Ash's Turtwig. She also doesn't believe James is evil, claiming Grass-type Trainers cannot be evil.

James's

Once There Were Greenfields
  • He battles alongside her. When she offers to train Cacnea, he's a lot nicer to her. He agrees to let her train Cacnea, despite his devoted attachment, and trusts her to train it well.

Name origins

  • Grass is derived from both being seemingly Grass-type predominant when it came to their Pokémon partners.


HueShipping

ZoeyMay
(ノゾハル NozoHaru)

Similarities



IndigoShipping

RitchieMisty
Information
When they met, Ritchie and Misty actually get along well and they both like and respect each other. Since Ritchie is often seen as a clone of Ash, some people see this couple as another kind of Template:S, with less arguing.

Hints

Friend and Foe Alike
  • When Team Rocket calls on Ash's hotel phone, disguised with Ritchie's voice, Misty answers. Jessie insults her calling her a "big mouth". Misty, who thought it was Ritchie, becomes really mad. When she hands over the phone to Ash she, notably, calls "Ritchie" Prince Charming instead of calling him something insulting, although this is probably nothing more than sarcasm. Ash asks who it is, but instead of answering she says angrily, "I knew that kid was too good to be true!" This could point out that Misty felt something for Ritchie, however it's more likely that she thought he was nice.

Name origins



LilacShipping

Officer JennyNurse Joy

Hints

Riding the Winds of Change!
  • Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy work together to get the Gligar back to the forest.

Alternate names

  • CloneShipping (another name for Professor Westwood/Officer Jenny)
  • LesShipping
  • PublicServantShipping


MustardShipping

AshStephan
(サトケニ SatoKeni)

Similarities

  • Both have used a bicycle-powered generator to charge up their Electric-type Pokémon.

Name origin

  • Mustard refers to the color yellow which represents the Electric-type, referring to the fact that the first Pokémon seen in their possession was an Electric-type.


PersShipping

CilanStephan
(デンケニ DenKeni)

Evidence

After Cilan reminiscences about Ash and Georgia's battle, he turns to Stephan, staring wide-eyed at him, then asks if he felt the spiciness of the battle. A little bit later Stephan becomes very interested with the food that Cilan makes for Ash's Snivy and asks if he could make food for his Pokémon too. Cilan happily agrees to it.
Stephan named himself the judge of Cilan and Burgundy's Connoisseur battle. Before there battle even began, Stephan gave Cilan the win for the pre-game battle because he gave some wise words of wisdom. Later on his is greatly impressed by Cilan's evaluation of Ash and Iris's battle, not even bothering to judge Burgundy's skills, and said that it was no wonder that he was named an A-class Connoisseur by the Connoisseur's Association.
After Cilan tells Stephan that he has raised Sawk well at the Pokémon Center, Stephan blushes heavily.
Cilan prepared a special meal especially for Stephan and Sawk after he had made it to the final round of the Clubsplosion. He also smiles brightly at him before telling him to enjoy his meal.

Similarities

Name origins

  • Pers is derived from the French pers, which means blue-green and generally refers to eye colors, which are Stephan and Cilan's eye colors respectively.


PokéSilverShipping

AshLyra
(サトコト SatoKoto)
Main article: Shipping:PokéSilverShipping

Evidence

Lyra admires Ash's courage and tells Khoury that he should be more like him.
While waiting to be rescued, Lyra wonders who she would most like to marry out of Ash, Khoury, and Brock. Lyra believes that Ash is the best candidate and then asks Dawn if she and Ash are a couple. This event can be interpreted two ways. Either she supports Ash and Dawn as a couple or she has a romantic interest in Ash and wonders if he has a girlfriend or not.
Lyra attempts to pair Dawn and Khoury together as a couple. Ash decides to go with Lyra to search for the Gible instead of going with Dawn.

Similarities


RaimonTownShipping

LukeBianca
(ルーベル LuBel)

Evidence

Bianca instantly took a liking to Luke's Zorua and later admired Luke for having her. Throughout the entire Club Battle she'd often kept close proximity with Luke. Luke also comments about Bianca's energy saying that she must take a lot of vitamins.
Luke trusts Bianca to film his battle with Iris despite letting Ash handle filming his battle with Cilan earlier, for him and when he finds out she missed the battle, filming Zorua instead, he shrugs it off pretty quickly.
The next day, Luke wished to get closer to the action as his position in the stands did not capture the action. He wanted a much lower angle to make the battle appear more dramatic. Bianca then suggests that Luke go onto the battlefield and film but he says that they are not allowed to go down there. She starts taunting him afterwards saying that he wouldn't become a great film director if he wouldn't take the chance. Wanting to prove that he could take the chance, he ventures on to the battlefield with Bianca happily following from behind. She even holds the boom microphone for him while filming. At the end of the episode, Bianca leaves with Luke to help him make his documentary and spend more time with Zorua.

Name origins


SakugoShipping

BarryKenny

Similarities

Hints
Barry's

Stopped in the Name of Love!
  • Barry explains that he quickly became friends with Kenny because they are both from Twinleaf Town. However, when Barry learned that Dawn was from Twinleaf Town as well, he didn't show the same enthusiasm.
  • Barry casually throws his arm on to Kenny's shoulder to emphasize their friendliness with one another. Even when Barry begins rummaging his pockets for the Ping Pong Tournament poster, his arm stays on Kenny's shoulder, despite his point having been made.
Old Rivals, New Tricks!
  • When Kenny is leaving, Barry complains about the other's impatience to go. Barry is usually not one to question hastiness, so there is the possibility that he did not want Kenny to leave because he wanted to spend more time with him.

Kenny's

Stopped in the Name of Love!
  • When Barry tells the others that Kenny is his best friend, Kenny confirms it, despite the fact that they only just met. That he doesn't contradict Barry might indicate Kenny already feels a close bond with him, or that he aspires to actually have a close relationship with him.
  • When Barry has an arm around him, Kenny appears completely unfazed by the other's familiarity.
  • Kenny chooses to go with Barry when searching for Piplup instead of staying with his childhood friend, Dawn.

Other

Old Rivals, New Tricks!
  • During the Contest, Barry and Kenny are seen having a conversation by themselves, standing separate from the rest of the group.

Alternate names

Name origins

  • Sakugo is derived from the Japanese characters 錯誤 sakugo (mistake). The name itself was coined prior to the knowledge Barry would exist in the anime, and prior to Kenny's dubbed premier, likely assuming that, despite there being no evidence of Barry's existence, if Barry did exist, they might know each other by local proximity. The exact relation to the name itself is unknown.


ServiceShipping

CilanBianca
(デンベル DenBel)

Evidence

Bianca states that Cilan's food is delicious and that she gives it "five stars" to which Cilan is grateful for.
Bianca takes an interest in Cilan's catchphrases and begins to use them for herself. Later when Bianca leaves the group, Cilan promises to make her a meal the next time they meet.
When the group decides they will enter a fishing competition, Cilan picks out a fishing rod for Bianca without even being asked to. A while later, Cilan briefly leaves the group to turn in his catch to the judges. When he exits the building, he sees Bianca struggling to hold on to something that she hooked. Immediately he runs to her side, even instructing Ash and Iris to move aside, and holds on to her fishing rod. While she was in charge of the reel, Cilan was the one to pull her catch, a Frillish, from the water.
Bianca is clearly the most excited when Cilan announces "It's Evaluating Time!" during his battle with Luke.


ShenlongShipping

CynthiaIris
(シロアイ ShiroAi)

Evidence

When Iris first meets Cynthia, she can be seen blushing heavily. Iris also had a hard time working up the nerve to ask Cynthia if she could have a battle with her.

Similartiies

Name origins


SnapShipping

AshTodd
(トオサト or サトトオ TooSato or SatoToo)

Hints
Todd's

Pokémon Paparazzi
  • Todd sacrificed his camera to save Ash's life, even though earlier in the same episode he'd established that he cared more about his pictures than the feelings of Pikachu.

Name origins

  • Snap is derived from Todd alternate name/surname, Snap, as well as their meeting over Todd 'snapping' a few pictures of Pikachu.


SpokeShipping

StephanBianca
(ケニベル KeniBel)

Evidence

Upon meeting Stephan, Bianca asks him how his name pronounced which is something no one else has done. Both of the ways she asked, however, were incorrect although Stephan did not bother to correct her.
After knocking tripping and knocking Ash into a body of water as she usually does, Bianca collapses on to Stephan and keeps her face planted against his chest for a few moments. Later on after Stephan passes to the second round of the Clubsplosion tournament, Bianca becomes enamored with his Sawk then asks if she could poke his muscles. He agrees and after she's finished she says that Sawk is the greatest. Stephan looks extremely confident and flattered after Bianca says that.
During the intermission of the Clubsplosion tournament, Bianca jumps on top of Stephan for a brief moment and wraps her arms around his neck. She then proceeds to squeeze his arms and his midsection in order to feel his muscles. Afterwards she grabs his arm and raises it in the air before announcing he is the winner of her "Macho Pokémon" contest.
Stephan shows noticeable excitement when he learns that he will face Bianca in the semi-final round of the Clubsplosion. Bianca also winks at him later on.

Similarities

  • Both are rivals of Ash that he met in Unova.
  • Both are part of a running gag. Bianca's is always knocking Ash into a body of water and Stephan's is no one being able to pronounce his name correctly.
  • Both own a Fighting-type Pokémon which tends to be the powerhouse of their teams.
  • Both at times display the similar personality traits of stubbornness and impatience.


SundaeShipping

HarleyMax
Information
This pairing is primarily considered taboo due to the visible age difference between the characters. Regardless, it has its fans, age difference a matter of issue or not. What it lacks in romantic hints, however, it does have events which fans use to turn-about their relationship.

Hints

A Cacturne for the Worse
  • Harley tricks Max into telling him something he can use against May in the upcoming Contest by adopting a kind facade and treating him to ice cream. While not a hint, his willing to be generous with Max in attempt to get something from him is notable, as it did not automatically mean Harley would get the information he wanted. Fans tend to build off this as a platform to a future relationship, since his aim was to hurt May and not necessarily Max, but since Harley has also been 'kind' to May earlier in the episode, 'being nice' is not an inherent trait Harley only shows Max.
  • Harley's plan does bear fruit, but only when Harley claims to be afraid of Pokémon, prompting Max to tell Harley the story of May and the Tentacool. The fact that Max tries to console Harley, a virtual stranger, after believing him suggests a casual acceptance of Harley, though argument stands that Harley's tactic of ice cream bribery worked and it lowered Max's guard to be wary, because children are more honest.
Throughout the remaining course of the Advanced Generation, Max continues to be weary of Harley's actions, even when everyone else, May included, chooses to trust the man. While his personal guilt over having May almost lose the Izabe Island Contest is a factor in Max's continual distrust, it can be taken as slightly more personal, as if he felt overly used and humiliated by his decision to open up to a man who actually had no intention of befriending him. When Harley is around, Max's attention is often on the man, and he later states that he'll never forgive Harley for what he did to his sister even when Brock and Ash seem convinced Harley has changed for the better.
Harley, on the other hand, is quite nonchalant about the fact he used Max, and other times, seems amused to the point where he's comfortable playfully teasing him. On two separate occasions, when Max questions Harley's motives, the man roughly slaps him on the back, as if to let out his frustration that Max has caught onto his antics and is able to read him better than May and her friends.

Name origins

  • Sundae is derived from the ice cream sundae Harley treated Max to.


TarragonShipping

CilanGeorgia
(デンラン DenLan)

Evidence

Georgia calls for Cilan's attention before she leaves and demands that he make her a delicious meal the next time they met.
When Burgundy begins to mock Cilan after his loss to Luke, Georgia is clearly annoyed by her behavior. She then remarks sarcastically to Burgundy that she's "about as nice as they come". Fans see this as Georgia's way of defending Cilan.
Again, Georgia looks annoyed when Burgundy keeps bashing on Cilan after he had lost to Stephan in the Clubsplosion. She then replies to her rantings with "What did he ever do to you?".
Georgia holds her own Connoisseur contest similar to the one Cilan and Burgundy had in Club Battle Finale: A Heroes Outcome! and declares Cilan the winner of it during Montgomery and Stephan's battle.

Name origins

  • Tarragon is derived from a plant commonly called a "dragon herb".


TensionShipping

HarleyDrew
(シュウハリ ShūHari)

Similarities

Alternate names

  • UnrelatedShipping

Name origins

  • Tension is derived from the apparent tension between the two.


List of Pokémon shippings

This is a list involving a Pokémon.

ElectrocuteShipping

Ash's PikachuDawn's Pachirisu
(ピカパチ PikaPachi)

Evidence

Similarities

  • Both are Electric-type rodents that can store electricity in their cheeks.
  • Both are in the Field Egg Group and, if Pachirisu is female, would be able to breed.
  • Both have received the same sickness that caused electricity to build up in their cheeks.
  • Both frequently electrocute their Trainers.

Trivia

  • Pachirisu was the first Electric-type to be obtained by a main character since Pikachu.
  • Pachirisu was shown with balloons tied to its waist in Steamboat Willies! similar to the "flying Pikachu".

Name origins

  • Electrocute is derived from the act of electrocuting, as well as a pun on the word "cute".


IwazaruShipping

CilanPansage
(デンヤナ DenYana)

Evidence

  • Cilan refers to Pansage as his "premium brand" Pokémon which means that he is his most trusted partner.
Cilan begins to gloat how perfectly compatible he is with Pansage while battling Ash and his Oshawott.
Pansage tries to comfort Cilan after he inadvertently knocked over the pot of soup he was making for lunch caused by Ash and Iris's goofing off.
Cilan is seen holding Pansage after he is poisoned by group of wild Foongus. He does not do the same for his Dwebble who is also poisoned.

Name origins


KyoudaiShipping

Iris's AxewAsh's Scraggy
(キバズル KibaZuru)

Evidence

  • Due to their experience levels, the two are often sparring partners with one another. However, Axew is considerably more experienced than Scraggy is.
Even before Scraggy's hatching, Axew took interest in his egg and liked to watch out for it. Later when Scraggy runs off in the middle of the night, Axew is the first to notice and alerts everyone.
Axew and Scraggy are shown to have a strong and friendly relationship in this episode. After their sparring match they are seen playing and splashing each other with water. Later when a Gothita takes a liking to Scraggy, Axew becomes almost jealous of it. He then becomes upset when Gothita's Trainer says that if she defeats Ash in battle that she will take Scraggy for herself. So much so that he has a nightmare about it later in the night. Once again, he's one of the first to notice Scraggy's absent but this time goes off by himself to try and stop Gothita.
Axew was pained to see Scraggy being mercilessly kicked by Angus's Simisage during the Clubsplosion tournament to the point where he had to put his hands over his eyes. However, he was very proud that Scraggy learned Focus Blast shortly after.
Scraggy was the first to notice that Axew was missing after it was taken by a couple of Durant. Aside from Iris, he was clearly the most upset about Axew being missing. After they had found Axew, Scraggy gave him a light scolding for worrying him so much.

Similarities

Name origins

  • Kyoudai is derived from 兄弟 (siblings), referring to their kin-like relationship.


LethalAttractionShipping

Ash's OshawottIris's Emolga
(ミジュエモ MijuEmo)

Oshawott's hints

Oshawott is immediately smitten with Emolga upon first seeing her. Also, Oshawott interrupts her battle with Bianca's Minccino by jumping in front of the Attract meant for the other Pokémon.
Later on when Emolga is surrounded by a group of wild Swoobat, Oshawott lets himself out of his Poké Ball in order to protect her. He was hit by a Swoobat's Charge Beam forcing Ash to recall him to his Poké Ball.
When Emolga wanders off on her own while the others are sleeping, Oshawott and Axew follow after her. When they find her she lies to them in order to get some apples by telling them that she was ambushed by a group of wild Watchog. Angered, Oshawott fights valiantly in order to protect her and retrieves an apple for himself, Emolga, and Axew. Oshawott continues to protect Emolga even standing up to an enraged Simisear. However, he was easily defeated by the angry Pokémon.
At the Pokémon center, Oshawott continued to flirt with Emolga, much to her dicomfort.

Emolga's hints

When Emolga discovered Oshawott fawning over Meloetta, her reaction seemed uneasy and she looked at him with confusion, although the reason could've been due to the fact she was away getting an Oran Berry for Meloetta, and therefore, didn't realize what was going on. When flying down to them, she crashed into Oshawott and the two squabbled very imaturly.
After Meloetta felt better she sang a song that calmed down the fight, and Emolga looked at Oshawott and smiled.
When Oshawott met Dawn's Buneary and welcomed her with wide spread arms, Emolga's mouth was wide open, seeming suprised.

Name origins

  • LethalAttraction comes from the fact that Oshawott usually ends up getting hurt while trying to protect Emolga. It also could be from the fact that Water-types are weak against Electric attacks.

Trivia

  • Oshawott and Emolga are both part of the Field Egg Group and therefore can breed.


LightningPearlShipping

Ash's PikachuDawn's Piplup
(ピカポッチャ PikaPocha)

Evidence

Pikachu and Piplup spent nearly the whole episode hugging each other with hearts in their eyes. Even when Dawn returns Piplup to his Poké Ball, he lets himself out and goes back to hugging Pikachu. Of course, this was all a result of Professor Kodama's affinity machine which made pure Electric and Water-types inseparable.
Piplup becomes emotional knowing that the group is going to go their separate ways. He was hoping that Dawn would go with Ash and Brock to Kanto so that he could stay with Pikachu. When she decides she's going to stay in Sinnoh, Piplup runs off into the forest alone. Fans also note that even though Pikachu is Buneary's object of affection, she did not appear upset at all over the news of Pikachu leaving unlike Piplup. Pikachu becomes concerned and runs off too to look for him. When he finds Piplup, he latches on to him and starts crying. This causes Pikachu to also start crying.
Later on when they accept that they are going to separate, Pikachu and Piplup high five each other before hugging again.

Similarities

  • Both were unwilling to obey their Trainers at first, but became friends after saving them from a group of attacking Pokémon. Pikachu saved Ash from a flock of Spearow, while Piplup saved Dawn from a swarm of Ariados.
  • Both are actively kept outside of their Poké Balls.
  • Both have expressed reluctance to evolve and prefer to remain in their current forms.
    • Both have battled against their evolved forms.
      • The reason both chose not to evolve is because they want to be able to prove themselves as powerful to their Trainers,

Name origins

  • LightningPearl comes from Pikachu being an Electric-type and Pearl, under the basis that Pearl is relative to Dawn as a name and symbol. Also may be related to Template:S.


TaladradoraShipping

ExcadrillIris
(ドリュアイ DoryuAi)

Evidence

Excadrill shows some reaction to Iris's crying after his loss to Georgia's Beartic earlier. As such, he left the to the forest in order to work on Focus Blast and become stronger. Later, he agrees to rematch Beartic and listen to Iris's commands after regaining his confidence. After the second battle with Beartic, Iris hugs Excadrill and tells him that she loves him.

Name origins

  • Taladradora is Spanish for drill.


TwinApplesShipping

AxewIris
(キバアイ KibaAi)

Evidence

  • Axew is never seen in a Poké Ball unlike Iris's other Pokémon an prefers to travel inside her hair showing a close bond. Axew also tends to impersonate some of her actions, such as backing her up when she refers to Ash as a kid.
  • The Bloom Is on Axew!
When Iris becomes upset that she can't help Axew perfect Dragon Rage, he goes off and finds an apple for her to help her feel better. Later when Excadrill refuses to help Iris rescue Axew from a wild Scolipede, she takes it upon herself to save him without the aid of a Pokémon.
After Axew uses Dragon Rage perfectly for the first time, Iris begins to smother him with affection.
After Axew got hurt, Iris ran to him with concern and checked on him.
Iris thought the incident was Emolga's fault and told her to apologize to Axew.
After Emolga flew away in anger Iris said she didn't care and went to take care of Axew.
After Emolga took Axew away from Iris, Iris became worried about him.
Iris sent out Dragonite to help her find Axew.
When Dragonite led Iris to Axew both of them called out to each other in desperation, and their voices became louder each time they called out to each other.
Iris was able to read Axew's mind and that's how she found out he got hurt due to an Electro Ball that was fired at him by a Galvantula, and how she found out the incident wasn't Emolga's fault after all.
When Team Rocket capture Axew (and Emolga) inside a crate with an Exploud, Iris became worried for them both.
When the Exploud ate Axew, Iris gasped in shock and horror.
After Axew broke free from the Exploud, Iris (and Emolga) let out a sigh of relief.
When the gang was all together on the ship, Cilan mentioned that Iris may be one step closer to becoming a Dragon Mastter to which Iris replies "Wow, that's so cool!" Ash asks Axew "Bet you think that too, huh, Axew?" Axew cheered excitedly for Iris expressing his joy.

Name origins

  • TwinApples refers to how Axew uses his tusks to carry apples to Iris.


WatcherShipping

TraceyMarill
(ケンマリ KenMari)

Evidence

  • Marill is Tracey's most recurring Pokémon.
  • In the Pink
Marill becomes frightened when called upon to battle the pink Nidoking and jumps into Tracey's arms for protection. In response, he hugs it back.
While Tracey recalls Scyther and Venonat to their Poké Balls, he clenches Marill to his side during the storm that Maren's boat got caught in.

Name origins


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WinkShipping

AshGliscor

Evidence

As a Gligar
Gligar saved Ash from falling by evolving into Gliscor.
As a Gliscor
Gliscor was upset to leave Ash when offered the chance to stay and train with McCann.

Ash's hints

Gligar tries to break open the cage holding the two of them with X-Scissor, but hurts itself in the process and after the second try, is on the verge of crying. Ash sees this and tells it softly to stop for a moment and let him try to get them out.

Name origins

  • Wink is derived from Gliscor's habit of winking and poking its tongue from its mouth at the same time.


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YellowRibbonShipping

JessieDustox

Evidence

  • Whenever Jessie called Dustox from her Pokè Ball to help out, she'd call her either "dear Dustox" or "Dustox dear".
  • Seeing Is Believing
At first after Dustox evolved, Jessie was disappointed because she thought she was going to have a Beautifly, but she immediately feel in love with her new Pokèmon, even gloating to May saying Dustox was far better than May's new Beautifly.
After winning the Solaceon Contest she hugged Dustox and said "Dear Dustox, we won!"
While practicing for the next Contest with Jessie, Dustox is seen wearing the same yellow ribbons Jessie wears while disguised as "Jessilina"
Dustox laughed the same way Jessie had while the two practiced.
Jessie could tell Dustox was in love with Austin's Shiny Dustox.
Jessie decided to release Dustox so she could be with the one she loved.
After saying goodbye to Jessie, Dustox flew away with Austin's Dustox, but quickly flew back to Jessie.
Dustox must've known what Jessie planned on doing when she saw her holding up her Pokéball, and she shook her head trying to protest to Jessie.
Jessie threw Dustox's Pokéball on the ground and smashed it with her foot and cried as she said "Now there's no Pokéball for you to return to."
Dustox cried as she flew away with Austin's Shiny Dustox.
Jessie remembered great moments she shared with Dustox before smashing Dustox's Pokèball.
  • 2 episodes later in Our Cup Runneth Over Jessie said she was going to dedicate her performance in the Wallace Cup to Dustox.

Name origins

  • YellowRibbonShipping is derived from Dustox wearing the same yellow ribbons Jessie wears in her Contest disguise.


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VoltSwitchShipping

IrisEmolga

Evidence

When Emolga saw Iris she got really excited due to the large plate of apples Iris was holding.
Iris thanked Emolga for being so generous and gave her the giant plate of apples which made Emolga feel overjoyed.
Iris and Emolga (and Axew) got lost in the forest together when Emolga was trying to escape from Bianca.
At the end of the episode Emolga could be seen sitting in a tree and when she heard Iris her ears perked up.
Immediately afterwards, Emolga flew down to the group and landed in Iris' arms snuggling up to her.
Iris let Emolga join her team.
The first time Emolga used Volt Switch to escape from Mincino when he was using Tickle, Iris laughed along with Bianca and said it was hilarious that Emolga's Volt Switch caused Excadrill to come out into the battle.
She then stated that she shouldn't laugh and said politely "Emolga, what's the use of battling if you're just gonna use Volt Switch? Since we're doing this for practice, I hope you'll listen to what I ask you to do."
When Emolga began crying Iris felt guilty and did what she could to cheer Emolga up.
The second time Emolga used Volt Switch Iris said in a calm voice "Emolga, I told you not to use Volt Switch, now didn't I."
The third time Emolga used Volt Switch Iris found her lying down in a tree and yelled "ASH AND SNIVY ARE BATTLING INSTEAD OF US BECAUSE YOU USED VOLT SWITCH AND NOW WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY PRACTICE!"
After Snivy pulled Emolga out of the tree Iris demanded "Emolga, you're going to battle this time, get it?"
Emolga tried once again to use her cuteness to get Iris to let her off the hook.
Iris scolded her "And acting cute won't work!"
Emolga became furious and shocked everyone (except for Snivy who had jumped out of the way) with Discharge.
Iris sent out Emolga to help Archen learn how to fly.
Right away Emolga used Attract on Archen, which failed, revealing Archen to be a female and Emolga used Volt Switch and went to nap in a tree causing Iris to yell at her.
Iris used Emolga in battle and they won their battle against Jimmy Ray and his Watchog.
Before starting her battle with Stephan, Iris kindly stated "Emolga, please promise that when you use Volt Switch you switch with someone else." Emolga looked at Iris with confusion and Iris said cheerfully "Trust me this battle's gonna be lots of fun!" Emolga cheerfully agreed with Iris.
When Attract didn't work on Stephan's Sawk Emolga and Iris were both confused, and Emolga was also quite annoyed by this.
Iris and Emolga both cheered excitedly after they defeated Stephan.
Iris became worried about Emolga when she flew away after getting hit with Ash's Oshawott's Hydro Pump
When the gang found Emolga, Iris ran up to her and worriedly asked if she was alright and said "Poor Emolga."
When Moria and her friends called Emolga "unattractive" Iris was very angered and offended.
When the Iris and the gang were looking for Moria and the other girls, Emolga was riding on Iris' head.
Iris cheered Emolga on as she fought against Mona's Lilligant.
Iris and Emolga both laughed when Cher and her Roserade got covered in mud after losing to them in battle.
Iris scolded Emolga the first time she shocked everyone with Discharge after Ash's Oshawott knocked over her food.
Iris scolded Emolga once again when she used Discharge on everyone after Ash's Scraggy caused her to knock over her food.
Iris thought Emolga was the one who shocked Axew with Discharge and demanded her to apologize.
Emolga got upset and flew away when Iris wouldn't listen to her as she tried to explain she didn't do anything to Axew.
After realizing what happened with Axew, iris apologized to Emolga and the two made up.
Iris became worried when Emolga (and Axew) got trapped inside a box with an agressive Exploud.
After Team Rocket was sent blasting off, Iris apologized to Emolga again.

Name Origin

  • "VoltSwitchShipping" comes from the fact that Emolga used to use Volt Switch to avoid battling, always causing Iris to yell at her when she did this.



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List of nevermet ships

Main article: Shipping:List of anime shippings/Nevermet shippings

Gallery


Project Shipping logo.png This article is part of Project Shipping, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each couple in Pokémon.