Pokémon Legends: Arceus
| Video game fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pokémon LEGENDS Arceus |
| Japanese name | Pokémon LEGENDS アルセウス |
| Abbreviation(s) | PLA |
| Developer(s) | Game Freak; Nintendo |
| Release date | January 28, 2022 (Worldwide) |
| Genre(s) | Role-Playing Game |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a video game. On it's own, the most popular ship for this game is Akari/Volo (WielderShipping). This ship is also called Volokari. Other popular ships include Emmet&Ingo, Ingo&Akari and Ingo/Melli (HighlandsWardenShipping).
Other popular pairings, as seen on Archive of Our Own, are Irida/Adaman (ClanLeaderShipping), Akari&Rei and Akari&Volo[1]. Palina/Iscan (SecretSeaShipping) is canon. Volo&Cogita is common as well. Both are ancestors of Cynthia and related. Other characters of note include Professor Laventon and Cyllene, leader of the Galaxy Team's Survey Corps. Their ship, SurveyShipping, is also common, as is Cyllene&Cyrus. Cyllene is Cyrus's ancestor. Both Volo and Adaman are popular for self-shipping.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus was ranked 11th in Tumblr Fandometrics' Year in Review 2022 for most reblogged Video Game fandom that year.
Legends: Arceus Fandom
This game is well-regarded by the Pokemon fandom at large, but has a somewhat cult following. Its mechanics differ from the rest of the core series, so it caught the eye of many who otherwise wouldn't be interested in playing a Pokemon game. Despite this separation of fans, around half of all PLA works on Archive of Our Own involve crossing this game (Generation VIII) over with either Generation IV or V. There are many a longfic focusing on time-travel AUs where characters from other generations are flung back to the past of Hisui by Giratina, or characters once flung to the past, (Ingo, Dawn, and Lucas,) come home post-game by Arceus. When other generations are put into account, Emmet&Ingo skyrockets to the most fanworked ship in this game's AO3 category. This is further discussed on their own page. Unlike other games, fandom consensus considers Akari (Dawn) to be the canonical protagonist, not the Male protagonist Rei (Lucas). Volo[2] and Cogita[3] can also arguably be called Tumblr Sexymen.
WielderShipping and its far less popular cousin ChosenMerchantShipping are both controversial in the fandom. Volo is older than both Akari and Rei, and there are many works surrounding the two interacting in ways that do not make them a couple. Shippers of Akari/Volo and Rei/Volo may not be too kind to their romantic counterparts. Unlike with IsshuShippers, It is also up to WielderShipper's discretion on how old Volo is, which itself can cause conflict between WielderShippers themselves on what is and isn't acceptable ages for him to be. While WielderShipping wank has enough content for its own page, here is a sample of fan opinions.
Example of anti-WielderShipping anon hate.
Anonymous asked:Akari is 15 years old. Volo is an adult. Stop being a freak.
chocolilate replied:
where's the proof he's an adult? 👍
For me, he's 18 and that's it 😚
Anyways, enjoy my art or block me lol i won't be replyinghttps://www.tumblr.com/chocolilate/677955608486477824/akari-is-15-years-old-volo-is-an-adult-stop
A fan's opinion on the matter, who suggest shipping Volo with an OC instead of using Akari as a fan's self-insert.
I don't have a problem with people in the Pokemon fandom making self-inserts and shipping them canon characters. That's totally fine, you do you. I DO take issue with people who ship the protagonists of Pokemon games (all of whom are canonically 15 or younger, in case you needed a reminder) with adult characters in the series because that's fucking gross.
If you really like a specific character, make a goddamn OC. Please.
#this is specifically aimed at people who ship volo and akari btw.#akari and rei are both canonically 15 in the game#volo may not have a canon age but it's pretty obvious that the guys in his early 20's at least#even if we wanna make the argument that he's 18 or 19 that's still pushing it a little too much for my taste#anyway i'm just tired of looking for cool volo fanart and seeing people post v*lokari is all#i'm turning off reblogs because i just. do not want to argue with people about this.#this is the hill i will die on and if you don't like it you can block me. i don't care.
An example of further disagreements within fans of WielderShipping.
Anon is right I want a volokari server
#there's only one volo server and it's sfw no problematic content allowed#which is the safest way to be power to them#except I'm deranged and wanna talk deranged stuff and also refuse to share a space with antis#i'm cool with people who don't like certain ships it's fair#but my god do i not want to be around people who will lecture/threaten me because i don't care whether akari is aged up or not in fics#problem: no time to make or mod my own server so i'm stuck sitting in my thoughts and browsing pixiv#pokemon
https://www.tumblr.com/hydrachea/680491358140694528/anon-is-right-i-want-a-volokari-server
This Anti-WielderShipper claims Volo's character is often incorrect in WielderShipping fanworks.
i went through the dawn tag and got BOMBARDED with akari x volo oh my godreally wish volo was allowed to exist without being forced into ships and losing his entire personality in the process sometimes
#ooc#canon volo is a lovely character#fanon volo is a twitter twink whose only personality trait is being ~obsessed~ with the people he's shipped with#which is horribly out of character considering that in canon he doesn't show any genuine interest in other people except for maybe cogita#the whole ~obsession~ thing is just to force him into the abusive shoujo male lead box
Another fan's opinion on the matter, which aims to strike down a common(?) defense for shippers as a strawman. This post sparked further discussion regarding shipping either protagonist with Adaman or Irida, itself quite controversial.
If i see someone ship akari with volo and say "if they are old enough to work they are old enough to date" to justify that despite akari being canonically 15 and that all points to Volo being much older than that i WILL maul them until dont even VAGUELY resemble a human person
I also feel weird about people shipping adaman and akari/rei. Like I could belive irida’s 18 but Adaman is definitely 20+. He’s supposed to be the clan leader with experience in his role they wouldn’t put someone super young in charge
The quote below was written when AO3 was down and displays how this sentiment also applies to ChosenMerchantShipping.
A03 is being a Volorei anti rn this is unbelievable. Can't believe they'd take this stance by going so far as to prevent ACD from updating today. When will the ship wars end? Why can't you just let my tired Gen Z man kiss the tall 18th century supervillain of his dreams?
*banging fist dramatically on table with tears in my eyes*
Anti-WielderShipping is often mentioned in the tags of fanworks featuring Volo&Akari
Example/Notable Fanac
Fancollections/Fanevents
- Volokari Week 2023, a ship week for WielderShipping which was held from April 3rd to the 9th. It is also on Tumblr.
Fanart
- a cruel volos thesis by nemirutami, fanart for WielderShipping
- CONSULTANT!? by foxceus, fanart of Volo pulling Akari and Rei on strings. This fanart is an example of anti-WielderShippers mentioning their dislike of the ship in their tags on their fanworks. "#don't tag as ship - stay away from me and my art thanks#hate that i even have to state this... :|"
- I just have a lot of feels about them two ok by traineraino, fanart of SecretSeaShipping.
Fanfiction
- It's Good in a Peculiar Way by SilverheartSP, a complete English one-shot where Akari and Ingo fall from the sky with modern tools and eccentricities. Rated Gen.
- Petals, Prose, and Shining Stones by BinaBina, a complete English fanfiction about Melli trying yet succeeding in courting Ingo. HighlandsWardenShipping. Rated Teen.
- Judgement | Forgiveness by hopeless_aromantic, a complete Gender Neutral!Reader/Volo English fanfiction. Tagged slow burn and hurt/comfort. Rated Gen.
- No Time Like the Present by cherimayo, an English series of assorted Gender Neutral!Reader/Adaman English fanfiction. Rated Expicit.
- When Darkness Falls by SilverPurity, an English work-in-progress fanfiction where Piers falls into Hisui. Rated Teen. Features Piers&Adaman, Piers&Melli, Piers&Ingo and Piers&Akari.
- The More a Creature’s Life Is Worth the Less It Is Alive by Rujii, an English completed Akari/Adaman (TemporalDawnShipping) fanfiction. Rated Mature.
- leave it to the land (this is what it knows) by synchronicities, a complete English one-shot where Irida and Adaman contemplate their future after Akari is sent home. ClanLeaderShipping. Rated Gen.
Meta
- What Your Favorite PLA Ship says about you by ur-favoriterecord, a humorous take on shipping.
- A character in Scarlet and Violet's DLC is Perrin. "Fans were quick to point out the strong genes she inherited from Adaman, and also quickly noticed how she has the light green highlights of Irida's hair alongside her paler skintone compared to the former. She also appears to share a similar hairstyle as the latter. Because of this character reveal, many fans are excited about inevitably getting to pull for Perrin in Pokémon Masters in the distant future."[4] Linked is a Perrin design analysis which highlights their similarities.[5]
- This fan's defense of WielderShipping and its comparison to IsshuShipping. An example of fans aging Akari up when shipping her with Volo.
References/Further Reading
- ^ (Accessed Sept. 18, 2023)
- ^ https://sexypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Volo
- ^ https://sexypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Cogita
- ^ https://shipping.fandom.com/wiki/ClanLeaderShipping
- ^ https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/shipping/images/1/14/ClanLeaderShipping_-_Perinn_design_comparison.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20230810090433
