https://blacknerdproblems.com/valentines-day-wildest-crossover-ships/

Mikkel: I very clearly recall the very first crossover ship I ever saw. It was fan art by bluedog44 that I saw on Tumblr of Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony and Mordecai from The Regular Show, with lyrics from B.O.B.’s “Airplanes” over their heads.

That said, I mostly left the world of crossover ships alone until the algorithm saw fit to indoctrinate me into the wild realm of crossover ships (inexplicably set to “We Become We” from Journey to Bethlehem), I saw… many, many things. Freddy from Five Nights at Freddy’s x Chuck E. Cheese. The Eye of Sauron x The Bee from The Bee Movie, assorted Genshin Impact characters with Peppa Pig. The crack crossover ships are wild and varied, and I’ve stopped questioning the internet.

Of course, this got the crew thinking about our favorite crossover ships, and well…for Valentine’s Day this year, perhaps you could hear us out.

Where Are They? [Waldo and Carmen Sandiego]

Mikkel: So, when I went to the trusted tomes of TVTropes, the Crossover Ship page’s key art provided an image to a crossover ship that I did not strike me dumbstruck, but one that I could actively get behind.

Tell me this doesn’t work. Iconic game franchise characters characterized by people constantly searching for them. Color coordinated to the T with a vibrant, nay passionate red. Fashionable hats. Furthermore, they are both ostensibly normal humans who occupy a semi-realistic version of the Earth: if not one where Waldo manages to find himself in the constant company of people who inexplicably wear the same red and white striped shirt, and Carmen Sandiego oscillated between international villainous criminal and straight up modern day Robin Hood with the amount of questions you’d expect from governing bodies. Hell, now that I mentioned it, Waldo might be the Manic Pixie Dream Guy out of the two of them.

This is a ship characterized by yearning, longing, and constant seeking. It’s all the makings of a slow burn romance across the globe. Is it as basic as crossover ships get? Yes. But we need to start somewhere and the rest of this list escalates super quickly.

Tianami [Princess Tiana (Disney’s The Princess and The Frog) and Kento Nanami (Jujutsu Kaisen]

Carrie: Y’all, I’m going alllll the way in for one of my favorite (later) pandemic ships that arrived a year ago. Yes, you may have read or seen the JJK men with other female Disney characters–forget all about them. This is the only one that matters. Every Disney Princess or female adjacent type character is on the struggle bus at some point in her story. Born Tiana Rogers, this Disney Princess introduced to us in 2009 has a story of having dreams, being perpetually exhausted, and having to work at achieving her dreams of opening her own restaurant. This puts her in contact with a prince in frog form, who is later revealed to be Prince Naveen: a man who wants to be human again. As a hardworking, courageous, young woman, she’s known to mostly keep her head on her shoulders in the thick of mess and adversity and adventure. We know Tiana and her story. (Speaking of stories, here’s a shameless shout-out to promote my friend, Jamilla Rowser’s Almost There: A Twisted Tale Graphic Novel— a re-imagining of The Princess and The Frog, exploring what might have happened if Tiana had made a deal with the Shadow Man.)

So, when I first stumbled upon fan-art of one of my fave Disney Princesses along with my favorite adult sorcerer from the realm of manga and anime via Jujitsu Kaisen, I admit I was stunned–with how well this ship–while I still acknowledge in the crack ship territory–meshed so well. 

Kento Nanami: Tokyo Jujutsu High graduate, former salary man, and grade one jujutsu sorcerer, operating out of the Tokyo campus. Also known as a mentor to the youth, especially one pink haired cinnamon roll, Yuji Itadori. As the anime adaptation rolled along, we saw just how much of a protector of children he was, how fiercely he fought for and alongside of them, and even what he sacrificed for them. Starting with Yuji, he confidently verbalized that being young shouldn’t be seen as a weakness or a disservice–Nanami has heart. Even if that tie he chooses to wear is atrocious. Hating overtime, being great at the work and being of service to others (curses have to be taken out or at least pushed away from younger, less experienced aspiring sorcerers) has made him a likeable character. 

We also know that he loves bread or at least has enjoyed the local bakeries–so what makes you think he wouldn’t be utterly in love with Tiana after eating Tiana’s famous beignets? Why wouldn’t Tiana be impressed with his similar workaholic nature to get business done? You telling me you can’t imagine these two loving the company of each other with how much QUIET they could have when surrounded by such eccentric and high-strung characters like Charlotte (Tiana’s bestie) and Gojo Satoru (Nanami’s self-proclaimed bestie), really? These two are well loved characters who exude much focus and drive–finding each other? Baby, it works.

So when this ship popped off online in 2023, it took off! Tiktok featured video after video of people planning their cosplays of each character and meeting up a cons, and fan-art exploded along with fanfic. Other than Tiana and Nanami being two really sensible characters who both experienced great loss that shaped them– (Yes, yes never mind, she marries a formerly disinherited prince who redeems himself and Nanami meets his end in the Shibuya arc)–As much as this is a crack ship, it is a comfort ship as these are both deserve a bit of comfort. As I stated in the BNP Slack: “Tiana x Nanami just makes sense tho! Her food would keep him from going to Shibuya. Those beignets would have kept my fave alive!”

From Krakoa to Konoha [Emma Frost and Kakashi Sensei]

Ja-Quan: Ok I’m going a little off the rails with this one, but I can see the chemistry bubbling from Krakoa to Konoha. I have to apologize to my dear editors as I simply could not choose a ship that has been circulating the interwebs. No, I had to go and be extra and pick what I believe is the most obvious ship from the anime x comics universe: Kakashi from Naruto and Emma Frost from X-Men.

Just imagine: Emma Frost is mysteriously teleported to another universe. One still clinging to the era of shinobi and men of substance. She looks around, sees way too many trees for her liking, and heads towards the smell of food wafting through the forest. As she walks into a clearing, 24 carat diamond studded stilettos sinking into the ground with every step, a beautiful mountain range with 5 heads carved into the stone comes into view. Emma is famished after her hike and intrigued at the bustling village before her. Heads turn as she struts down the paved dirt roads in her outfit that leaves little to the imagination. And wouldn’t you know it, the first person brave enough to walk up to this statuesque blonde beauty is none other than Jiraiya Sensei. Unfortunately for him, his binoculars staring directly at Emma’s bosom while standing a mere 5 feet away (as if that was necessary) results in a diamond form backhand smack that sends Pervy Sage flying across the village and back to the peeping bath house he once came from. 

Emma sits down at a quaint joint by the name of Ichiraku Ramen and orders a seaweed salad appetizer and roast pork ramen. As she’s enjoying her salad and the porcelain like shine it gives her already impeccable skin, a loud young man slurps down an ungodly mouthful of noodles and shouts down across the shop, “hey auntie, I’ve never seen you around before. Are you new around here?” Emma being the international tastemaker and elite level telepath, she understands the yellow haired twerp and shoots back in perfect Japanese, “Do you plan to put a muzzle on this brat or show a girl what a real Shinobi is capable of?” The left eye of Kakashi Hatake opens in all its Sharingan glory, takes in all 5 feet and 10 inches of this deadly woman of conviction, and simply says, “Naruto, this one is dangerous. Let the hokage know I’ll be detained indefinitely.” Emma telepathically says to Kakashi, “indefinitely is right,” finishes her ramen, and walks out of Ichiraku Ramen without paying a dime as Teuchi’s jaw remains firmly glued to the ground. Ms. Frost and Kakashi take their leave together.

Tell me that ain’t romanticism of the highest form!! Kakashi Hatake, the Make Out Paradise/Tactics aficionado and man who can replicate damn near any move you can think of. Emma Frost, the woman known for her edgy fashion, sharp wit, and audacious sexy appeal. Put these two into a situationship and you have Emma teaching Kakashi hundreds of different unique intimate positions in seconds all to be utilized at her command. Put these 2 into a real relationship and you have something that could truly blossom into a love with the power to topple governments and unite hopeless romantics worldwide.

Honorable Mentions

Carrie: Usagi and Seiya (Sailor Moon)

ANY ship where either Usagi or Mamoru are romantically coupled with other people pretty much falls into crack ship territory, if I can be honest. Over the years, I’ve seen all manner of ships which include Mamoru and Rei, Usagi and Zoisite, and so many more. I am forever going to be thinking of Usagi and Seiya, hold me please.

DJ: Beat (Jet Grind Radio) x Ulala (Space Channel 5)

The lady bought me a Dreamcast for my birthday so I gotta show love to one of my favorite crossovers of all time. Not as cracked as some others, and arguably endorsed by Sega.

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The post For Valentine’s Day, You Can Hear Us Out: Wildest Crossover Ship Editions appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.