#i really should make a meta on nalu and how its such a good romance please stop being in limbo

[rose-void-789]

Okay but the biggest thing for me that has always kept me from liking Izuocha is that I come from fairytail. I know shonen romance isn't boring. I know what it's like to see the two main leads love and fight and admire each other. And that's the thing that I always wanted for Ochako. I wanted badly for her to have what Lucy has.

And I did ship them at first because they were cute and I thought oh the hero name. The helping Deku win his entrance exam. Her having her own goals. Being broke the friendship. it seemed so much like Nalu. Better too because I could see Izuku blushing at her too.

And then someone says something about twin stars. About Izuku and Bakugou being intertwined. About win to save save to win. And then I see the second movie and my mind explodes. I reread the manga and realize what Katsuki did. Izuku was always pushing chasing looking at him. And that wasn't to say that izuocha couldn't happen but that interconnection I saw with Nalu wasn't it more with bkdk. And it kept getting worse. Ochako kept getting sidelined to better explore the relationship between Izuku and Bakugou.

Izuku never looked at her like she did him. Never thought about her like she did him. A blush or two wr got at most. But Ochako whole character started to soley revolved around her feelings towards him. She was the only one carrying the romance plot.

Mha isn't a show about romance but neither is Fairytail. And yet Lucy never got sideline in fact even with all the stuff on Zeref and Gray Lucy found herself interconnected to Natsu through her own bloodline. And they always had moments ones where he's scared of her getting hurt, of catching her from falling, of going berserk because he thought she died, of protecting her, of finishing a big villan off together, of being on missions together. Hell when he ran away shes the one that found him. When Izuku ran away bakugou found him. When Ochako was in danger Tsyu was there or any number of other heros, when she almost died Toga held her safely. Nalu gave me such a high expectation for shonen romance and female leads. So of course it's so frustrating seeing people call the obvious love intest boring when it can be anything that. To act like the female lead has to carry the romance plot and contribute nothing else. That the male lead can just walzt up to the that stupid clif and say that he loves her and that he always has when it was only ever iluded that he even thought that much about her in the last half of the war. And for her to so easily accept because when her whole arc is about her feelings for the guy isn't it only fair that they end up together.

Where is the interconnectivity, the care from him. Where is him looking at her the same way she looks up to him. How is the fanservice show better at writing a strong heroen! A strong partnership!

I'm so tried. I'm so sorry to everyone that's watch shonen and are expecting this out of female characters. That it's typical for the romance plot to be given to the girl and the big moments where I seen love intrest shine are given to the "rival." Ochako deserves better.

[natsubeatsrock]

Studio Ghibli Films that remind me of Fairy Tail ships

It's hard running a blog about one anime series when you know that there's plenty of good (read: better) anime out there. For example, I've been watching all the Ghibli films this year and many are really good. So I figured that the easiest way I can justify talking about them is comparing the main relationships in them to ships in Fairy Tail. 

Keep in mind that some comparisons are better than others, none of them are 1:1 and all of these comparisons are my opinions after seeing every Ghibli film released in theaters. 

Except for technically Ocean Waves. I got the DVD at home and I’m going to watch it soon.

Princess Mononoke reminds me of Natza

I lost it when this parallel was brought up to me. Considering this couple involves two incredibly skilled fighters, I could see people arguing this one for Jerza. But it's Natsu’s potentially lethal curse that seals this one for me.

“How could you forget Nalu?”

I didn't.

Kiki’s Delivery Service reminds me of Nalu

Yes, I'm adding as many ships as I think apply to this list. What about it?

This was a tough one for me. Personal biases aside, I was seriously fighting between this and Nausicaa, because the main character of that is incredibly reminiscent of Lucy. However, I'm giving it to this because Tombo is very much like Natsu and he takes priority over Lucy. Much like Lucy, Kiki plans to follow in the magical footsteps of her mother when she meets Tombo. He introduces her into group of fun people and she ends up saving his life.

Fun fact: this is the most popular Ghibli film a Big 4 ship will get on this list.

Ponyo reminds me of Nali

Most everyone agrees that if there was a time when Nali was at its, it was their childhood. What better film for them than a movie that's about the love between two children. Not to mention, both the girls have animal powers, which I didn't think of at first.

Tales of Earthsea reminds me of Graytear

I could point to fun stuff, like the guy and his dad and help through projection. But I give it to this one specifically because, not unlike the next one, these two don't start out on friendly terms, mostly because of the guy. But they end up growing closer over time. On a more meta note, I think this deserves more recognition than people seem to give it.

Castle in the Sky reminds me of Graylu

Pazu continually trying to protect Sheeta reminds me of Gray’s quip about protecting Lucy during Phantom Lord. While that remind some people of Nalu, my mind goes to this one. Not to mention, the image of Gray playing trumpet is one I think more people should get used to.

Whisper of the Heart reminds me of Gajevy

I know I chose a pretty obscure movie for this couple, but this one was through my mind the entire time I watched the movie. Thankfully not because one hurts the other. Rather, because the main couple goes from annoyed by each other to in love with each other. Also, the female character is an avid reader.

Porco Rosso reminds me of Jerza

I was genuinely ready to say Jerza reminded me of Howl’s Moving Castle, which is my favorite Ghibli film. My siblings told me that was the right choice and I even wrote up reasons why. But then I realized that if I was going to say Jerza was reminiscent of a movie where a guy is too busy self-loathing to realize he's liked by someone he also likes and is on the run from people because of his past, I should probably give it to the one that I won't feel bad comparing a ship I don't like a lot.

The Cat Returns reminds me of Gruvia

I know that this probably will look terrible, regardless of whether you've seen this movie. However, I chose this one because, thanks to Gray, Juvia is introduced to a world that's more interesting and exciting than the one she was in. If that sounds like reason enough to give it to Spirited Away, I almost thought so too. However, this gets the nod because clear romantic feelings develop in this one.

The Wind Rises reminds me of Zervis

In trying to achieve his dreams, Zeref ends up creating things that kill people. And considering events that would be considered by many to be double spoilers, I can't think of a better movie for these two.

My Neighbors the Yamadas reminds me of Albis

On one hand, I feel weird giving my favorite ship in the series a comparison to a movie I didn't enjoy a whole lot. But, this is the only good Ghibli film that focuses on a married couple with children. And, after OVA 9, I could imagine Asuka accidentally being left behind on a shopping trip.

And for fun, a couple of generic choices in no particular order.

Bonus: From Up On Poppy Hill would remind me of the Worst Written Ship

From Up On Poppy Hill is a pretty decent movie. It would be one of my favorites if it weren't for the handling of the romantic couple. So, imagine your NOTP as this if they were to end up as canon. It might be that bad.

Bonus: Tale of Princess Kaguya would remind me of the Adultery Ship

I don't add this because I support the idea of adultery, but because I don't believe that people in this fandom are above adultery headcanons if their ship doesn't happen. And there is a scene where a guy is about to leave his family to be with someone else. And then he wakes up from his fantasy. As I hope anyone who supports adultery headcanons does.

Bonus: Only Yesterday reminds me of the Most “Forced” Ship

To a certain extent, all things happen in a story because of the writer’s impact. However, some things happen with the delicate force of two planes crashing into each other. The couple in Only Yesterday get together in the last half hour in a way that's so bad, it feels like Takahata tried to stop people from liking this more than other Ghibli ships and, in my opinion, succeeded. Keep this film in mind as the series ends.

Bonus: The Secret World of Arriety reminds me of ships that involve people how are “Just Friends”

I'm sure you've heard this one: “Why would you ship that? They're just friends?” There are no romantic relationships in this film. There are boy/girl interactions in the film, but nothing about them imply romance. Except for the parents.

Bonus: Grave of the Fireflies reminds me of ships that people say are “Literally Siblings”

Every once in awhile, someone will say, “How can anyone ship *insert ship here*? It's practically incest.” This movie is literally about siblings. There is no romance between them. They're just siblings. Also, there's a huge age gap. Also, spoilers.

Bonus: When Marnie Was There reminds me of a Bad Retrospect Ship

In the same vein as the last few, there are/will probably be a ship or two that you'd think would make sense now, but later realize that they're bad in the long run. The couple in When Marnie Was There is laid out by the first half of the movie. But if you're watching it and thinking it’s “the obvious choice”, you're going to be disappointed. Severely.

Special thanks to @gabbaray for the ideas behind some of these. In all honesty, all the Ghibli films are pretty good and worth watching. Except for Pom Poko.

See you!