History FanPreferredCouple / WesternAnimation

** While support for this pairing is near nonexistent everywhere else, the [=SU=] fandom on Website/FourChan's /co/ board is very fond of Greg/Pearl, both as a present-day pairing and as an AU where he fell for her instead of Rose. For the first half of the show, this was purely a CrackPairing thanks to Pearl absolutely ''loathing'' Greg due to having been the RomanticRunnerUp in a LoveTriangle involving Steven's mother. This ship would become a little less crazy when they became friends who hang out regularly after Steven forced them to talk things out in Season 3. [[spoiler:Factory reset Pearl's devotion towards Greg in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'' also helped this pairing out a bit.]]

** The season three episode "What Was Missing" caused an ''explosion'' in the popularity of Bubblegum/Marceline, and from there it grew until it almost dominated the whole fandom, with the largest chunk of fanart and fanfiction devoted to them. Combined with the large amount of ShipTease within the show and comics, plus WordOfGay, most AT fans effectively treated the pairing as canon. [[spoiler:Then they had TheBigDamnKiss in the finale, properly rekindling their relationship.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': Even with its BrokenBase status, it's undeniable that Starco (Star/Marco) was insanely popular from the get go. This includes Adam [=McArthur=], Marco's voice actor, who openly shipped it. Fans were shipping it several months before the show even premiered. While the dragged-out WillTheyOrWontThey caused a hit to its popularity, the majority of the fandom rejoiced when they ''[[LastMinuteHookup finally]]'' [[LastMinuteHookup got together 3 episodes prior to the finale]].

** Peridot/Lapis started out as [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a ship passing in the night]], as it was just a pairing of two unrelated but popular new characters. Then they became roommates in the third season, slowly becoming LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. On both [[Website/{{Fanfictionotnet}} FF.net]] and Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn, their pairing has the most works dedicated to it, surpassing canon ships like Rose/Greg and Ruby/Sapphire.

** Peridot/Lapis started out as [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a ship passing in the night]], as it was just a pairing of two unrelated but popular new characters. Then they became roommates in the third season, slowly becoming LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. On both Website/{{Fanfictiondotnet}} and Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn, their pairing has the most works dedicated to it, surpassing canon ships like Rose/Greg and Ruby/Sapphire.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Peridot/Lapis started out as [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a ship passing in the night]], as it was just a pairing of two unrelated but popular new characters. Then they became roommates in the third season, slowly becoming LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. On Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn their pairing has the most fan fiction dedicated to it passing out the canon-ships like Rose/Greg and Ruby/Sapphire.

** Even though almost nothing is known about Rani, another lion cub character announced for season 3, she's been shipped with Kion by some already.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sidekick}}'', Eric has a crush on Vana, but fans like him better with [[DatingCatwoman Mandy]] or Kitty instead, due to them being the very, ''very'' short list of people who don't treat him terribly. Helped by the fact that Vana would take any opportunity to leave Eric for dead, and usually needs serious coercion to help save him.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sidekick}}'', Eric has a crush on Vana, but fans like him better with [[DatingCatwoman Mandy]] or Kitty instead. Helped by the fact that Vana would take any opportunity to leave Eric for dead, and usually needs serious coercion to help save him.

* Fans of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' took no time at all to land on Adora/Catra. It's very easy to read their relationship as "girlfriends who broke up due to outside circumstances and are pretending they don't still love each other", and atypically for FoeYayShipping, given the showrunners, this was most likely intended. It's seen as less a question of "were they together", and more "will they get back together", with most fans leaning towards "yes."
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sidekick}}'', Eric has a crush on Vana, but fans like him better with [[DatingCatwoman Mandy]] or Kitty instead, never mind the fact that Vana would take any opportunity to leave Eric for dead, and usually needs serious coercion to help save him.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': Even with its BrokenBase status, it's undeniable that Starco (Star/Marco) was insanely popular from the get go. This includes Adam [=McArthur=], Marco's voice actor, who is very openly shipping it. Fans were shipping it several months before the show even premiered. While the dragged-out WillTheyOrWontThey caused a hit to its popularity, the majority of the fandom rejoiced when the ''[[LastMinuteHookup finally]]'' [[LastMinuteHookup got together 3 episodes prior to the finale]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Peridot/Lapis started out as [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a ship passing in the night]] as it was just a pairing of two unrelated but popular new characters. Then they became roommates in the third season, slowly becoming LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. On Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn their pairing has the most fan fiction dedicated to it passing out the canon-ships like Rose/Greg and Ruby/Sapphire.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Beast Boy/Raven. The creators and writers of the show repeatedly stated that the two character would never be more than PlatonicLifePartners, though such a relationship was often joked about in the [[ComicBook/TeenTitansGo tie-in comic series]]. The ship became increasingly popular, quickly becoming the [[ShipMates preferred complementary ship for Starfire/Robin shippers]]. At the very least, a substantially large amount of people prefer it to the official canon couple of Beast Boy and Terra (the difference on FF.net is about ''twelvefold'' in the romance category). The popularity is noted in other versions of the ''Titans'', however; the mainstream comics had them as a couple at varying points during the mid-2000s, and the animated comedy ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' completely embraced the pairing, dedicating several moments and whole episodes to their relationship.

** ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' introduced several possible love interests for Ben before settling with Kai, a character from the original series. Unfortunately for Kai, she had two things going against her: 1) the shipping was heavily focused in the final arc, with the writers introducing [[KidFromTheFuture Spanner]] to actively ''force'' the pairing, and 2) Looma Redwind and Esther were very popular since their debut, while Kai was popularizing since her debut thanks to her treating Ben like a literal dog. Esther/Ben itself is the more popular het ship for Ben.

** While the vast majority of the cast is shipped with everyone else, [[FanNickname Lyra and Bon Bon]] tend to be paired almost exclusively which each other. Case in point, do a search for either character and you'll get almost nothing but Lyra/Bon Bon pictures, whereas if you try a similar search with any other characters you'll probably get five or six different pairings before you get past the first page. There are outliers that pair them up with other characters, of course, but the pairing is so widespread in the fandom that in most fanworks its assumed to be the case unless it's explicitly stated otherwise. When the two met up at a Ponyville market in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown Putting Your Hoof Down]], their saddle bags had each other's cutie mark on them And ''then'' [[GoesToEleven sent over the top]] by their human versions' "love duet" performance in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks''. While "Slice of Life" had them constantly refer to themselves as 'best friends', their constantly looking at each other with bedroom eyes and having blatantly romantic body language has many in the fandom convinced that not only has their ship sailed it is on an around-the-world journey.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', Despite the occasional hint towards Jeopardy Mouse and Danger Mouse, and much teasing from the show concerning DM and chief science advisor Professor Squawkencluck, fans have gravitated to the idea of Penfold having a relationship with Squawk. Other fans gravitated to the thought of Penfold and Danger Mouse together also. The show eventually began catering to all of these preferred couples in selected episodes and now it's a question of which one will emerge triumphant at the end of it all. In the early days of the series, Danger Mouse was also paired with the often calamity prone and endearingly polite Danger Moth. Jeopardy is often paired up with Count Duckula due to a throwaway script-editing gag in one episode where Duckula tried to write Jeopardy dating him into the story. The recent festive musical episode ''Melted' also raised the possibility of Danger Mouse having feelings for Dawn, the daughter of arch-nemesis Crumhorn, but this in itself is a complicated subject considering Dawn is underage.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', while there are some hints made towards Jeopardy Mouse and Danger Mouse, and the show recently revealed the close friendship between Danger Mouse and Penfold would lead ultimately to their descendants marrying one another in the far future, fans have gravitated to the idea of Penfold having a relationship with chief science adviser Professor Squawkencluck, and Danger Mouse with the often calamity prone and endearingly polite Danger Moth. Jeopardy is often paired up with Count Duckula due to a throwaway script-editing gag in one episode where Duckula tried to write Jeopardy dating him into the story. The recent festive musical episode ''Melted' also raised the possibility of Danger Mouse having feelings for Dawn, the daughter of arch-nemesis Crumhorn, but this in itself is a complicated subject considering Dawn is underage.

** The Zuko/Katara (aka "Zutara") fanbase is legendary, considerably outstripping both {{Official Couple}}s Kataang (Katara/Aang) and Maiko (Mai/Zuko) put together. The "Ember Island Players" episode [[FandomNod lampshaded this tendency heavily]] with a play that put Zuko and Katara together and having her refer to Aang, repeatedly, as [[LikeBrotherAndSister "like a little brother"]]. Not to mention, that this couple provides the literal cover image for this trope. It was a long-standing rumor that this pairing was one of the bigger arguments the show's creators and the head writer had, with the latter wanting to explore this relationship while the former steadfastly kept for Kataang, which became the OfficialCouple[[note]]Said writer would confirm in a Reddit [=AMA=] that the interview in which he allegedly said this never happened, only adding to the "Fan-Preferred" aspect of the ship.[[/note]]. Even later material like the comics depicting the official pairing hasn't done much to dent Zutara, with many even calling out ShippingBedDeath; it's to the extent that the fanbase still exists for ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', with these fans operating under the idea that Katara and Zuko began a relationship in their old age following the deaths of their respective partners.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': Even with its BrokenBase status, it's undeniable that Starco (Star/Marco) was insanely popular from the get go. This includes Adam [=McArthur=], Marco's voice actor, who is very openly shipping it. Fans were shipping it several months before the show even premiered.

** The Zuko/Katara (aka "Zutara") fanbase is legendary, considerably outstripping both {{Official Couple}}s Kataang (Katara/Aang) and Maiko (Mai/Zuko) put together. The "Ember Island Players" episode [[FandomNod lampshaded this tendency heavily]] with a play that put Zuko and Katara together and having her refer to Aang, repeatedly, as [[LikeBrotherAndSister "like a little brother"]]. Not to mention, that this couple provides the literal cover image for this trope. It's rumored that this pairing was one of the bigger arguments the show's creators and the head writer had, with the latter wanting to explore this relationship while the former steadfastly kept for Katara/Aang (Kataang), which became the OfficialCouple[[note]](This rumor being confirmed as something made up whole cloth by a fan in 2018 simply adds to the 'Fan-Preferred' aspect of the ship)[[/note]]. Even later material like the comics depicting Kataang and Maiko hasn't done much to dent Zutara, with many even calling out ShippingBedDeath.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': Among the show's fandom, the Gumball and Carrie ship remains popular even after Gumball and his love interest, Penny, became an official couple in season 3 while Carrie got together with Darwin. Interestingly, Ben, the creator of the show, finds the fans' pairing amusing. This is referenced in "The Shippening", in which Carrie's fan fiction comes to life: when the brothers come across an adult Gumball and Carrie with a baby, Darwin yells at Gumball for stealing Carrie from him.

* From ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' Kim/Ron before they became an Official Couple.

** The season three episode "What Was Missing" caused an ''explosion'' in the popularity of Bubblegum/Marceline, and from there it grew until it almost dominated the whole fandom, with the largest chunk of fanart and fanfiction devoted to them. Combined with the large amount of ShipTease within the show and comics, plus WordOfGay, most AT fans effectively treated the pairing as canon. [[spoiler:Then they had their BigDamnKiss in the finale, properly rekindling their relationship.]]

** The Zuko/Katara (aka "Zutara") fanbase is legendary, considerably outstripping both {{Official Couple}}s Kataang (Katara/Aang) and Maiko (Mai/Zuko) put together. The "Ember Island Players" episode [[FandomNod lampshaded this tendency heavily]] with a play that put Zuko and Katara together and having her refer to Aang, repeatedly, as [[LikeBrotherAndSister "like a little brother"]]. Not to mention, that this couple provides the literal cover image for this trope. It's rumored that this pairing was one of the bigger arguments the show's creators and the head writer had, with the latter wanting to explore this relationship while the former steadfastly kept for Katara/Aang (Kataang), which became the OfficialCouple. Even later material like the comics depicting Kataang and Maiko hasn't done much to dent Zutara, with many even calling out ShippingBedDeath.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'', while there are some hints made towards Jeopardy Mouse and Danger Mouse, and the show recently revealed the close friendship between Danger Mouse and Penfold would lead ultimately to their descendants marrying one another in the far future, fans have gravitated to the idea of Penfold having a relationship with chief science adviser Professor Squawkencluck, and Danger Mouse with the often calamity prone and endearingly polite Danger Moth. Jeopardy is often paired up with Count Duckula due to a throwaway script-editing gag in one episode where Duckula tried to write Jeopardy dating him into the story.

* Keith and Lance in ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'', so much so. Something like half of all Voltron fics on [=AO3=] are these two getting together - they've had varying levels of HoYay throughout the show, but that's about it. This even earned the fandom [[FandomRivalry a somewhat cold reception]] when Klance outtrended fellow red-and-blue gay pairing [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Rupphire]] on Tumblr, on the week that the latter pairing got ''[[OfficialCouple married.]]'' This was emphasized in later seasons with the lion switch, where Keith becomes the leader and Lance becomes his right hand man. There is also preference from the fans due to the writers noting that they had influence from Macross, an anime with a famous LoveTriangle. As of the end of the series, though, it's still non-canon. There are some accounts that there was disagreement, with things like the animation team choosing to light scenes involving Lance with the colors of the bisexual pride flag, while the executive producers stuck firmly to "no."

** The Zuko/Katara (aka "Zutara") fanbase is legendary. The "Ember Island Players" episode [[FandomNod lampshaded this tendency heavily]] with a play that put Zuko and Katara together and having her refer to Aang, repeatedly, as [[LikeBrotherAndSister "like a little brother"]]. Not to mention, that this couple provides the literal cover image for this trope. It's rumored that this pairing was one of the bigger arguments the show's creators and the head writer had, with the latter wanting to explore this relationship while the former steadfastly kept for Katara/Aang (Kataang), which became the OfficialCouple.

* Keith and Lance in ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'', so much so. Something like half of all Voltron fics on [=AO3=] are these two getting together - they've had varying levels of HoYay throughout the show. This even earned the fandom [[FandomRivalry a somewhat cold reception]] when Klance outtrended fellow red-and-blue gay pairing [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Rupphire]] on Tumblr, on the week that the latter pairing got ''[[OfficialCouple married.]]'' This was emphasized in later seasons with the lion switch, where Keith becomes the leader and Lance becomes his right hand man. There is also preference from the fans due to the writers noting that they had influence from Macross, an anime with a famous LoveTriangle.

** Nedna, being outstanding Christian neighbor citizen yet always widowed Ned Flanders with lonely and embittered divorcee teacher Edna Krabapple, is ''literally'' a fan-preferred couple: FOX held a vote to see if they should break up or become an OfficialCouple. Nedna won (but not before Marcia Wallace died, leaving Ned Flanders a widower once again).
** Nelson/Lisa, being local impovershed tough guy bully Nelson Muntz with child prodigy Lisa Simpson, is generally considered a better future outcome than Milhouse/Lisa, by fans and voice actors alike. So much so that in ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsTappedOut'', Nelson and Lisa spend significantly more time referencing their relationship than Milhouse does expressing his crush.
** Bart/Laura Powers, being the fanship of Bart Simpson with the new young teenager from the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E8NewKidOnTheBlock New Kid On The Block]]", is very beloved and touted, due to the chemistry between the two's rebel and fun loving prankster personalities, and hearing Laura's promise of how she'd date Bart once he grew up a bit more was icing on the cake. Even ''Bartkira'', a 2014 fanwork combining the story of ''{{Manga/Akira}}'' with the aesthetics of The Simpsons, was more than happy to pair Bart/Laura together as the main duo. In the face of everything else in the romantic affairs of Bartholomew Simpson, several of Bart's future relationships are considered [[FlatCharacter uninteresting and bland]], and are considered [[RecycledScript recycled scripts]] of [[{{Flanderization}} overblown]] [[FailedAttemptAtDrama forced drama]] on the levels of Homer trying to salve and soothe his "rocky" marriage with Marge throughout future seasons of the show.
** Milhouse/Samantha Stankey, being Bart's {{Adorkable}} friend with another remarkable one shot character, the innocent and charming Samantha from the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E23BartsFriendFallsInLove Bart's Friend Falls In Love]]". Much in the vein of Bart/Laura, Milhouse/Samantha is especially adored due to the authentic acts of youth love and affection the two display throughout the episode, and for once seeing poor victimized Milhouse [[ThrowTheDogABone seeing things truly going Milhouse for him.]] Due to later instances of SeasonalRot, out of spite in regards to future seasons forcibly portraying him as a dork incapable of getting any girl to like him, along with hooking him with a hopeless crush on Lisa and portraying him as fated as a hopeless loser, many fans prefer having him go after TheOneThatGotAway who was undeservedly PutOnABus, and [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl winning back Samantha against all odds and cruel fate]].

* Keith and Lance in ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'', so much so. Something like half of all Voltron fics on [=AO3=] are these two getting together - they've never had anything more than varying levels of HoYay, and both have been pushed in the direction of female love interests. This even earned the fandom [[FandomRivalry a somewhat cold reception]] when Klance outtrended fellow red-and-blue gay pairing [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Rupphire]] on Tumblr, on the week that the latter pairing got ''[[OfficialCouple married.]]'' It's often been compared to [[Series/{{Supernatural}} Destiel]] in that regard - the fandom loves it and the writers know it, but they don't seem to have much interest in making it happen.