Combi
| Synonyms: | Platonic |
| See also: | Gen, GL, BL, NL, Coupling |
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Combi (コンビ)「こんび」is a term used in Japanese-speaking fandom for platonic and familial character pairings. A combi can refer to a duo, a trio, or even a larger group. Coupling refers to romantic character pairings. Smush combi labels are rare, and most are keywords/phrases.
Although these two labels are used on PixivEncyclopedia, they are not universal in Japanese-speaking fandom spaces. Practices in labeling vary from fandom to fandom.
GL pairings often count as both Combis and Couplings, even if they are romantic.
History
Combi may have began usage in Hetalia: Axis Powers fandom. In Hetalia, straightforward pairing names, (such as America & England,) where far too broad of searches for fans. Japanese-speaking fandom spaces created special combination tags to categorize these pairings. In early Hetalia fandom, these platonic pairing tags were added to all works featuring two or more Hetalia characters, romantic or platonic, and romantic pairing labels were only added if necessary. Although this same practice later spread to Kemono Friends fandom, it's not common, generally, in Japanese-speaking fandom spaces. In English-speaking fandom spaces, it appears solutions such as, "Platonic USUK," were used instead.
For media fandoms aimed towards men, mainly Seinen manga, Combi and Coupling names are often used interchangeably.
Popular Combi
- Rin & Yukio Okumura from Blue Exorcist. Often tagged as 奥村兄弟 (おくむらきょうだい, lit Okumura siblings).
- Atsuya & Shirou Fubuki from Inazuma Eleven. Often tagged as 吹雪兄弟 (ふぶききょうだい, lit Fubuki siblings).
- Shinsuke Takasugi & Kamui from Gintama. Often tagged as メラメラコンビ (めらめらこんび, lit Meramera combi).
- Taiga Kagami & Tetsuya Kuroko from Kuroko's Basketball. Often tagged as 光と影コンビ (めらめらこんび, lit Light and shadow combi).
- Fennec Fox & Raccoon from Kemono Friends. Often tagged as ばすてきコンビ (ばすてきこんび, lit Great combi).
- Hetalia has many for practically every country.
- Osomatsu-san has many for all six sextuplets.
- BanG_Dream! has many that cross into Yuri territory.