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Akari/Volo
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Japanese: ウォロ×ショウ (Volo x Shou) English: Volo/Akari |
| Alternative name(s): | Japanese: ウォロショウ (Voloshou), ウォショ (Voshou) or ウォロ主♀ (Volo x Female Protagonist) English: Volokari, WielderShipping |
| Gender category: | NL; F/M; Het |
| Fandom: | Pokémon |
| Canonical?: | No |
| Prevalence: | Popular for both characters Common overall |
| Archives: | n/a |
| Other: | n/a |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Akari/Volo, known mostly as Volokari, ウォロショウ (Voloshou), and/or WielderShipping, is a popular ship in the Pokémon fandom. It pairs Akari (Shou) and Volo (Volo), the female protagonist character of Hisui and her morally-ambiguous ally respectively, both introduced in 2022's Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Canon Background
Popular Tropes & Fanon
- Height Difference: Volo is taller, Akari is shorter
- Age Difference: Volo is older, Akari is younger. By how much (canonically) is unclear.
- Aged-Up: Some fanworks have Akari aged-up to be over 18. Canonically, she is around 15.
- Some works have Akari be the same person as Dawn, the protagonist of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.
- Some works do not have the postgame twist, where Volo turns on Akari, be considered canon.
Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta
-Shipping Name Origin
WielderShipping was coined on Twitter soon after PLA came out in 2022. It was coined partially by franstastic-ideas, who interpreted Volo's "Pokémon Wielder" label to mean that he loves his Pokémon and treats them as partners, since he uses three that evolve only with high friendship stats, and that the term was associated more with Volo and the player than any other character, since the term "Trainer" doesn't really exist in Hisui.[1]
Later, in around 2023, it was added to Neverending Romance and became their official -shipping name.
Age Gap Discussion
WielderShipping and its less popular cousin ChosenMerchantShipping, which pairs male protagonist character Rei with Volo instead, are both controversial within in the fandom. Volo is older than both Akari and Rei by a good amount. Gen works involving the three of them are common, and in many circles, are more popular than either of their romantic pairings.
A similar age gap discourse in the Pokemon fandom happened with Isshushipping, which pairs the male protagonist character Hilbert, who is around 16, with early-20s N in 2010's Pokémon Black and White. Both pairings are considerably popular in for their respective games. FerrisWheelShipping, which pairs N with Hilda, the female protagonist character, is also popular.
Some Pokémon fans feel unwelcomed in the fandom for not liking Akari/Volo.[2] Some shippers have noted receiving death threats due to liking the ship, and that the issue is worse on Twitter compared to Tumblr.[3] Fanworks considered to be "dead dove" is also more prominent for the pairing compared to most other Pokémon ships.[4]
Some anti-WielderShippers are also against Volo fans in general, believing him to be an irredeemable character, though this is rare.[5]
Within the WielderShipping community, some may not ship them if Akari is not aged up.[6] Volo being out of character in order to make the ship work is also talked about.[7]
Example/Notable Fanac
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fan Communities/Fan Events
- Volokariweek, Archived version (on Tumblr, Archived version), a fanweek which was held in 2023.
Fan Blogs
Fan Fic
- Mercilessly by Bunbee23 (2022), Volo’s betrayal at the Temple is rattling, and Akari has some complicated feelings about it. How best to get over your feelings of betrayal, than by getting under your friend turned enemy? It’s not a well thought out plan, but it is fun while it lasts! Rated Explicit. Features an aged-up Akari.
- More Than You Realize by FloofyRam (2022), Jubilife Village throws a celebration. Akari and Volo find out they understand each other a little more than they realized. Rated Explicit.
- A Foolish Punishment by fullfirefafar, Archived version (2022), There were times where pride got the best of him. Times where his ego was tested since the day they met. Times where his feelings were ripped apart against his will--especially when he saw her, battered and bloody. Rated Teen.
Fan Art
General Fanworks
Wikis
- ウォロショウ on PixivEncyclopedia
- ウォショ on PixivEncyclopedia
- ウォロ主♀ on PixivEncyclopedia
Zines and Doujinshi
References
- ^ -shipping name explanation by franstastic-ideas, Archived version (20 May 2022)
- ^ post by impulsive-fantasylander, Archived version (24 March 2022)
- ^ post by franstastic-ideas [Unable to archive] (03 May 2022)
- ^ post by franstastic-ideas, Archived version (18 November 2023)
- ^ post by franstastic-ideas, Archived version (22 May 2022)
- ^ meta about Volokari fandom by hydrachea, Archived version (03 April 2022)
- ^ post by rosen-graves, Archived version (06 August 2022)