Pairings With the Most Canon Support & Examples - Ranma Fans Discussion Board Forum

Topic: Pairings With the Most Canon Support & Examples

I think this would be a good little guide for authors that like to stay within the realm of canon or for those who like to write "what-ifs" in fictions. So, in order from greatest amount of canon material to least, here is my list and evidence:

1. Ranma/Akane. Numerous story arcs, pokes, prods, and a nod from Rumiko herself.

2. Ranma/Shampoo. Cursed Jewel, Ghost Cat, first Shampoo arc, Hot Spring arc, and the numerous times they've worked together to trick someone/get what they want.

3. Mousse/Shampoo. Magic Statue arc, Mousse's arrival arc, bit of the Cursed Jewel arc, and a few pokes and prods.

4. Kasumi/Tofu. Just a lot of pokes and prods. Fairly obvious.

5. Ranma/Ukyo. Ukyo arrival arc, cursed okanomiaki arc. I'm actually surprised that this is all I could come up with.

6. Ryoga/Akane. Waterproof Soap arc, Akane defending Ryoga pokes and prods, and Ryoga's one-sided obsession.

These are the ones I could think of that really stood out when you read the manga. Anyone else got any that I've missed/other evidence/another list?

#1 Feb 19th, 2:06pm

Ryouga/Ukyou is somewhat reasonable, provided they both get over their respected obsessions considering they teamed up a lot and were fairly friendly.

#2 Feb 19th, 2:11pm

I don't mean what-if pairings, I mean pairings with actual canon evidence to back up your argument for it. The only thing for Ryoga/Ukyo would be the love tunnel. After that I don't think they're even in a panel together again. >.>

#3 Feb 19th, 2:14pm

Yes they are. They worked together during the hot spring race(or some race like it, i dont recall exactly), Ryouga even stuck around afterward for a bit at least. There are several others, if I recall.

Ukyou also helped Ryouga get a date with Akane, and I'm certain he helped her out several times in a similar way.

#4 Feb 19th, 2:25pm . Edited Feb 19th, 2:30pm

There are no canon pairings but Ranma/Akane.

Everything else is inferred bullshit, or worse, made up bullshit.

I made my preferred pairing clear a while ago with my old avatar, but that sure as hell ain't gonna happen.

#5 Feb 19th, 2:31pm

Koi Rod gone wrong.

Simple enough, no?

#6 Feb 19th, 2:32pm

I didn't say that this thread was about the canon pairing, just about pairings with canon evidence. ~,~

#7 Feb 19th, 2:39pm

Happosai and Cologne, because they used to date or something, and occasionally are actually pretty nice to eachother until Happosai does something perverted.

Still never gonna happen XD

#8 Feb 19th, 2:41pm

And I'm saying that there's no pairings with canon evidence. Koi Rod gone wrong? I can think of several ways for this to happen, but it's all fanon beyond the one-sided 'pairing' involving Ranma and Ryoga. Anything that diverges from "Ranma liked Ryoga, but Ryoga did not like Ranma" is fanon.

#9 Feb 19th, 3:21pm

And I'm saying that there are. It's just that some pairings are more canon than others. Just because one pairing is the canon pairing doesn't mean that all the other evidence towards other pairings should just be tossed out.

#10 Feb 19th, 3:26pm

If I recall, at one point the Koi Rod-ed Ranma tried to use it on Ryouga, but I may remember wrong.

In any case, if you make it go wrong the "right" way, it wouldnt be so one-sided. Still fanon-ish, but much more reasonable.

I dont really think Shampoo showing a hint over anything then hatred for Mousse when he gets hurt in her defence or something similar counts as "evidence".

#11 Feb 19th, 3:27pm

Honestly, there's only about a dozen possible pairings you could pull out of your ass with canon evidence, without delving into minor characters or Kunos that is.

Ranma/Akane

Ranma/Nabiki

Ranma/Shampoo

Ranma/Ukyo

Ryoga/Akane

Ryoga/Akari

Shampoo/Mousse

Ukyo/Konatsu

Kasumi/Tofu

Soun/Hinako

Genma/Nodoka (The most unrealistic!)

#12 Feb 19th, 3:49pm

And I'm saying that there's no pairings with canon evidence.

Everything else is inferred bullshit, or worse, made up bullshit.

By saying "There's canon evidence for pairing AxB" you are automatically making an inference. If canon doesn't outright say "There's a chance AxB could happen" Then you are making an inference. Canon outright says "Ranma loves Akane."

#13 Feb 19th, 3:49pm

It also outright says Ryouga loves Akane.

#14 Feb 19th, 3:50pm

Doesn't outright say Akane loves Ryouga, though. I was going to comment on that but I figured you'd know better.

#15 Feb 19th, 3:54pm

Hey, you didnt say it said Akane loved Ranma outright, you said it said Ranma loved Akane outright XD

#16 Feb 19th, 3:58pm

Lathis

Damn, no Cologne/Happi support?

#17 Feb 20th, 2:44pm

Well, theyre more like a post-pairing. They had a relationship of some kind, it doesnt make things clear really, but I guess that can sorta count.

They do seem to somewhat get along occasionally and kind of talk about old times until they remember they hate eachother XD

#18 Feb 20th, 9:34pm

Just like real old people!

#19 Feb 20th, 9:47pm

Heheh, I guess that is true XD

#20 Feb 20th, 10:36pm

There are two Canon Pairings.

Ranma/Akane

Ryoga/Akari

That's it.

#21 Feb 21st, 1:34pm

...Ryo's right, I can't find any evidence for any others (at least not in the manga, and the anime doesn't really count...)

#22 Feb 21st, 2:08pm

Genma/Nodoka XD

#23 Feb 21st, 2:22pm

Actually Xero, That's debatable. Nodoka seems to give less than a shit about Genma these days. I think she's holding a grudge over the whole 'I took your son for 10 years' thing.

Plus, Genma flees at the sight of her. There's little romantic interest to be had at all in this married couple.

#24 Feb 21st, 2:24pm

Once again, the point goes to Ryo...wait, what about that one anime pairing with the tea ceremony and all of that? I forget the names of the couple (primarily because I hated the episode itself) but they are in fact a legitimate pairing.

#25 Feb 21st, 2:39pm . Edited Feb 21st, 2:40pm

You mean Sentaro/Satsuki? I suppose that counts, but they're incredibly minor characters. I had to look up their names.

#26 Feb 21st, 2:44pm

Thats true, I guess.

What about whoever Herb was supposed to marry?

EDIT: Ryo, why would you bother lookin gup their names?

#27 Feb 21st, 2:52pm . Edited Feb 21st, 2:54pm

No such person was ever named.

#28 Feb 21st, 2:54pm

Do you mean named or mentioned? I'm only vaguely recalling something about it, but I may be mistaken.

#29 Feb 21st, 2:56pm

It was never specified, just that Herb was going to interview a female martial artist from the region, and used the monkey for practice. Who that female martial artist was or where she was from was never said.

#30 Feb 21st, 2:58pm

Ah.

Does that still count? No? Okay >.<

#31 Feb 21st, 3:01pm

I would like to point out my list was the ones that require the LEAST Work to make work, as in you don't have to spend 200 thousand words just building up to it realistically or making a minor character not so minor.

Also, mine have at least SOME evidence behind all of them.

#32 Feb 21st, 4:27pm

Ranma/Akane

A given.

Ranma/Nabiki

What are you smoking? Where's the evidence here? Since when does Nabiki give two shits about Ranma? Since when does Ranma even tolerate Nabiki?

Ranma/Shampoo

Another given.

Ranma/Ukyo

Could be done.

Ryoga/Akane

Good fucking luck. This relationship is doomed, even if you could miraculously get Akane to participate.

Ryoga/Akari

Another given.

Shampoo/Mousse

Eh. Debatable. I simply don't see this working without seriously overhauling Mousse's character. I'd throw this in the 'needs 200 thousand words' pile, personally.

Ukyo/Konatsu

Could work.

Kasumi/Tofu

Not doable. Both are minor characters with minimal development. The only way to even use them as main characters would be to write much of their characters from scratch.

Soun/Hinako

Doable.

Genma/Nodoka

Doable.

#33 Feb 21st, 4:45pm

Ryouga/Akane is doomed because Ryouga is in, as they say, "The Friend Zone". There is no escape from it XD

#34 Feb 21st, 4:47pm

Xero's right, once you're in "The Friend Zone" there's no way in hell you're getting out of it unless you want to doom whatever relationship it is you already have. Ryouga's screwed, and seriously needs to move on...

On a side note: DAMN YOU FRIEND ZONE! YOU'VE CAUGHT ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN! I SHOULD JUST GO OUT WITH A GIRL WHEN THEY FIRST APPROACH ME!

Word of advice: Do not try to get to know a girl better before you date them (well, maybe just a little. They might be crazy...), otherwise you will envitably be thrown head long into "The Friend Zone!"

#35 Feb 21st, 5:45pm

Well, Nabiki and Ranma have been engaged once, it's easily the flimsiest of all in the list though.

#36 Feb 21st, 6:10pm

Eh, but that wasnt "real". It was just another... whatchamacallit. Neither one were serious whatsoever. I dont recall the full details though, but I think it was one big scam/guilt trap or something.

#37 Feb 21st, 6:21pm

Well if we consider the forced engagements, then both Kasumi and Nabiki are still viable romantic interest since Soun and Genma could easily force one (or perhaps in some crazy OC world both) of them on Ranma if things didn't work out with Akane...just thought I should point that out.

#38 Feb 21st, 6:39pm

Oh, thats true then I guess. Since an engagement exists, its more then reasonable. Its not like Kodachi or Kuno, where those two are just deluded.

#39 Feb 21st, 6:50pm

Note that Ryo mentioned "Even if you could get Akane to participate"

The real reason she's ignored him as a REAL possible suitor for so long? Go look into the water-proof soap arc, you'll find out there.

Escaping the 'friendship zone' is ridiculously easy. The only way I could see it becoming awkward if it doesn't work is if both you and the girl are complete idiots.

Also,

Engagement=/=Loving, or even caring about for that matter

Nabiki'd probably run away, and as for Kasumi, Married=/=Pairing. Pairing implies romantic attachment.

#40 Feb 21st, 7:15pm . Edited Feb 21st, 7:27pm

Ha. Then you have never actually been in the friend zone. "friendship" is just when your friends with them and could still possibly get somethign started. Once you go in the friend zone, there is no chance of that.

#41 Feb 21st, 7:29pm

Sounds like some kind of Nerdlore.

#42 Feb 21st, 7:56pm

It isnt.

I'm not sure how to explain it accurately... humm...

#43 Feb 21st, 8:00pm

While Nabiki could run I dobut she would simply because I couldn't see her leaving all of that money behind (I mean even if they were engaged she'd probably just use that to get choice pictures of Ranma in his girl form). As far as Kasumi is concerned, well she'd do it simply because of the kind of character, according to the series, she's been shown to be. If Soun actually forced her to do it, she might become a little subdued, but she would still keep up a cheerful facade. Anyway, no one ever said pairing had to equal love...

Don't worry Xero, I've got this one. Think of it this way, Roy, you may have a female friend (for the males out there) who is slightly rotund, if you will, but it is otherwise a very nice person to be around and converse with. Now there is no way in hell you'd date her, either she's too much like a sister to you or you're just not into pudgy girls (or whatever else the case may be), so you place her in the MALE version of "The Friendship Zone". Now the female zone is slightly less discriminate (but it's the same in a lot of ways), and most of the time they simply see you as a brother or another "girlfriend", so to speak, but do not see you as a viable option for dating. That's what it's like being in the dreaded "Friendship Zone", and that's why there's almost no escape, unless you don't see each other for over two years...then you have a chance...maybe.

#44 Feb 21st, 8:43pm

you guys just aren't trying hard enough. If you impress the pants off a chick (literally), you can kiss the friend zone goodbye.

If that doesn't seem possible, then just remove yourself from the zone manually. The key part of 'friend zone' is the 'friend' part. Be less friendly. It's a tried and true method.

#45 Feb 21st, 8:47pm

Thing is, that can trash the whole thing. Sure, it will prevent falling into the friend zone in the first place, but if your already there... I t can be a pretty complex thing depending on how deep in the zone you are.

#46 Feb 21st, 8:57pm

there is no such thing as being too deep. Be less friendly, problem solved. Cause really, there's only two situations here.

1: You don't want to be her friend, you want to be her boyfriend.

There are only two possible outcomes to being less friendly. Getting out of the friend zone, or becoming estranged entirely. Neither one is bad, as either way, you're only losing something you didn't want to begin with.

2: You enjoy being her friend...

...What the fuck are you complaining about? The friend zone is where you belong.

#47 Feb 21st, 9:01pm

The thing is, as long as you remain friendly you can still hope to jump somehow to boyfriend. But if you get put on the shit list just to get out of the friend zone, well you cant be boyfriend then either.

Its not that its hard to stop being a "friend", its that its hard to move from "friend" to "boyfriend". What good is it if you end up "jerk"?

#48 Feb 21st, 9:08pm

You're contradicting yourself. What you just said suggests that it's possible to get out of the friend zone by being friendly, while previously you admitted it was an inescapable fate.

What good is it if you end up "jerk"?

Statistics show that Jerks actually get more chicks. So, lotsa good, if that's your goal.

#49 Feb 21st, 9:12pm