History Main / RedStringOfFate

* The horror series ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'', which has Damon and Elena's relationship. They are soul mates whose destinies are intertwined for eternity.

* The horror series ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'', which has Stefan and Elena's relationship. They are soul mates whose destinies are intertwined for eternity.

** In ''[[Anime/Naruto7TheLast The Last: Naruto the Movie]]'', [[spoiler:Hinata has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets his mother's old scarf aside in favor of Hinata's as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of his painful past and look to a happier future, with Hinata by his side]].

** In ''[[Anime/Naruto7TheLast The Last: Naruto the Movie]]'', [[spoiler:Hinata has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story.]]

* TheCivilWars' song "Tip of My Tongue" references this.

* In ''{{Series/TeenWolf}}'', Stiles literally ties a red string around Lydia's finger during Season 3 while the two are investigating Japanese mythology. The two are also referred to as each other's "emotional tethers" in addition. Whether the show ends up playing the trope straight is up in the air though.

* In the ''{{TiMER}}''-inspired ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic “[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/287582 Blue Veins]]”, everyone has a magical configuration of veins near the surface on the inside of the wrist that count down to the moment you meet your True Love.

* In ''{{TiMER}}'', {{Magitek}} timers installed on the wrist by a friendly MegaCorp countdown to the day you’ll meet your True Love and beep when you finally set eyes on each other. Angst Alert: you could get your timer and find out you have decades to wait until you’ll meet Mr or Ms Right or it could remain blank because your True Love is a Luddite without a timer of their own.

* In the manga's 139.5 omake of ''Manga/GakuenAlice'', the hands of baby Mikan and Natsume are seen as connected by a (likely red) string.

** SpiritualSuccessor OVA ''PuniPuniPoemi'' parodies this with Poemi, who's attached to her friend Futaba. At that moment, Futaba and her sisters are being taken hostage by [[MarsNeedsWomen incredibly horny aliens]], and as they get dragged away in a net, Poemi is forcibly dragged to them herself. Poemi then follows the red string tied to her finger to find her friend.

* In the ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' fanfic "[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4139575/1/One_Small_Step One Small Step]]", a young Naruto can't find a partner to play Cat's Cradle - a game that involves using string to create complex patterns between the fingers - (the game also functions as an exercise to prepare students for ninja handsigns.) . After searching for someone to play the game with him, he finds Hinata and asks for her help. The two end up tying each other's hands together (with red string, naturally), which leads to them becoming childhood friends and starting to develop feelings for each other.

* In ''PokemonSpecial'', it happened to Red and Yellow twice. Of course, said string (a Caterpie's String Shot and Yellow's fishing line) wasn't actually ''red''...but yes, pinkies and shipping symbolism were still there.

* Used literally in ''KoiCupid''; red strings are seen connecting people together. If necessary, the strings can be cut with magic scissors.

More than LoveAtFirstSight, more than simply two Soulmates destined to be together, the RedStringOfFate is some perceivable clue that identifies your destined True Love.

The RedStringOfFate need not be a literal red string. It could be a timer counting down to alert you at the exact moment that you meet the perfect person for you. It could even be an unusually meaningful birthmark showing your destined’s name in their own handwriting. Whether magic or {{Magitek}}, whether you’re born with it or have to have it installed, whether it actively pulls you together or serves only as a passive identifier, the match it suggests for you is your True Love BecauseDestinySaysSo.

* The concept is used for comedic effect in the ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' series ''TenchiInTokyo'', where Tenchi is connected by red strings to just about every major character. For the unlearned, that's [[HaremSeries around 7 strings total]]. There's a reason MarryThemAll used to named after him.

* In an episode of ''Anime/ChouKuseNiNarisou'', a gay teacher who mistakenly develops a crush on Nagisa suggests to her that there's a RedStringOfFate connecting them. Nagisa can actually ''see'' the string, and yells at the teacher to cut it out....
* A Red String is used as an unseen force in ''Manga/AiYoriAoshi'' that binds Aoi and Kaoru together. It was part of the premise that their relationship is so unshakable that neither Kaoru's [[HaremGenre Harem]] nor Aoi's old fashioned and powerful family can pull them apart. It was featured in the opening sequence and referred to as Enishi (The bonds that tie) in a conversation between Aoi and Kaoru in the second season.

* The first ending to ''[[OddlyNamedSequel Zoku]] Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'' contains lyrics mentioning this, in their usual depressing way:

* In ''Manga/TheMikosWordsAndTheWitchesIncantations'', Letty ties an invisible, magical thread to both her pinky and Tsumugi's so they won't get separated. Naturally, it's red, and Tsumugi [[GirlsLove cheerfully mentions its Japanese significance to Letty and how it probably makes them lovers]].

* Used in an official ''VisualNovel/{{Higurashi|WhenTheyCry}}'' art, for [[http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s355/Sokumei/twin.jpg Mion and Shion]] drawn by the Watangashi/Meakashi manga artist. [[{{Twincest}} Make what you will of this]].

* ''Manga/WeddingPeach'': Played with. Momoko knits a muffler as a present to Yanagiba and {{Imagine Spot}}s them wearing it together. In the next frame a thread leads offscreen, and reveals that Yosuke somehow invaded the ImagineSpot and is also wearing it, [[BelligerentSexualTension much to her displeasure]]
* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' Madoka giving her red hair ribbons to [[spoiler: Homura]] before [[spoiler:AscendingToAHigherPlaneOfExistence]] can be considered a reference to this trope. After [[spoiler: Madoka's disappearance,]] her hair ribbons are [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake the only thing Homura has left of her]] and the only trace that she ever existed.]] [[note]]Interestingly, the ribbons are a sign of both [[TheFourLoves familial love and romantic love]]. They were originally a gift from Madoka's mother, and after [[spoiler:Madoka's human self is erased]], Homura tries to give them back. Junko refuses them [[spoiler:because, after all, she can't remember she even ''had'' a daughter]]. [[/note]]

* In ''Anime/{{Bleach}}:'' ''Fade To Black'', Ichigo and Rukia's red spirit threads are linked to one another, allowing Ichigo to find Rukia when she went missing during the events of the movie.
** A flashback reveals that [[spoiler:Urahara connected Isshin and Masaki together with a red spirit thread so that Isshin's influence would prevent her from Hollowfying.]]

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Eric states that there is one of these between his teammates, Tiza and Nolien. After acquiring an EnlightenmentSuperpower during ''Literature/LoomingShadow'', he says "I can see it! The connection is red and strong and" Tiza shoved a biscuit into his mouth to cut off the rest. [[HeIsNotMyBoyfriend She doesn't want to acknowledge their UST]].

* In FlashForward2009, three characters (Bryce, Keiko, and Olivia) see themselves in love with someone they haven't met yet in their flash forwards leading to two of them (Bryce and Keiko) on a quest to find each other and a third to doing everything she can to avoid her apparently-fated love interest. The recurring question of fate versus free will is never really resolved and it is heavily suggested that Olivia avoiding her match with Lloyd might actually doom the entire world.

* The 2012 series [[{{Series/Touch}} Touch]], in which a young boy appears to be able to sense patterns in the larger world through numbers, specifically calls out to the Chinese legend, though implies connections beyond just love (a person saving someone's life, a person having an object another person desires but wouldn't have met otherwise, etc.)

* The RedStringOfFate is shown in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgdc7-ityPs the video]] for "Brilliant Star" by Creator/NanaMizuki.
* The flash PV of {{IOSYS}}'s [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viPZZYYTSIY Make Us Your Brides]] plays with the imagery by tying [[LesYay Marisa and Reimu to Suika]].

* "Just Be Friends" by {{Vocaloid}} Megurine Luka. Most of the pictures have her and another boy tied together with a red string. [[spoiler:Which just adds to the whole sadness of the video and the song...]]

* ''[[TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost Changeling: The Lost]]'' uses red bands in a person's aura as a signifier of a [[MagicallyBindingContract pledge.]] When people who've made a pledge are near each other, the bands are connected with red threads.

* The recent ''{{Pokemon}}'' games have a red ball of string as an item (called "Destiny Knot" in the English version). Appropriately, if the monster holding this item becomes infatuated, the foe that it "loves" will be infatuated as well.
* In the Anime based fighting game ''{{Naruto}}, Narutimate Hero Accel 2'', the character of Chiyo has an Ougi where her attack puppets (Mother and Father, which are actually modified exhumed corpses) are joined by a literal red string, which is then used to viciously lacerate the opponent.
* ''TearsToTiara'''s [[CMOTDibbler CMOT Dibbler]] Epona has a mysterious red string worth 99999 gold for sale at her shop. It turns out that [[spoiler:she was using it as SchmuckBait to get the PlayerCharacter to buy it, as it has a LovePotion effect on the people it attaches. Yes, it's [[{{Eroge}} that]] kind of game.]]
* In ''TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''. In an interesting bit of FoeYay during their second battle, Ghirahim appears again to tell Link that the reason they keep bumping into each other is because they are bound by a red thread of fate. He also gets behind Link, invading his personal space again, and whispers in his ear. He tells Link to come to him after licking his lips and says they're bound by that red thread of fate, that they're destined to fight. He also says that the thread of fate will be soaked crimson with Link's blood.
* Gepetto from the ''ShadowHearts'' series uses this literally as his ultimate weapon. It's acquired after his sidequest, where it's revealed that his dead daughter's soul lies within his puppet, saving him from a demon. The string manifests as their filial love; Her devotion to her father, and his to his daughter (For reference, he attacks with the puppet, and puppet strings are the weapons, adding attack power and the like)

* In GirlsLove VisualNovel ''AkaiIto'', this is the literal translation of the title. In-game, when someone take Kei's [[SupernaturallyDeliciousAndNutritious blood]] ([[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything with her consent]]), there is a short FMV showing two blood-red sinusoidal wave synchronizing with each others into a straight line, showing adjoining of destiny. [[BloodyHilarious This even become a running gag in Yumei route]]!

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The trope namer is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend called the Red String of Fate (''akai ito'' or ''unmei no akai ito''). The concept is that two people who are destined to be together are attached by an invisible red string bound from a male's thumb to a female's pinky finger (though nowadays it's become more common to show ''both'' parties attached at the pinky).

But the RedStringOfFate need not be a literal red string. It could be a timer counting down to alert you at the exact moment that you meet the perfect person for you. It could even be an unusually meaningful birthmark showing your destined’s name in their own handwriting. But whether magic or {{Magitek}}, whether you’re born with it or have to have it installed, whether it actively pulls you together or serves only as a passive identifier, the match it suggests for you is your True Love BecauseDestinySaysSo.

* The concept is used for comedic effect in the ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' series ''TenchiInTokyo'', where Tenchi is connected by red strings to just about every major character. For the unlearned, that's [[HaremSeries around 7 strings total]]. There's a reason MarryThemAll used to named after him...

** In one episode, Shampoo attempts to use an actual magical red string to bind Ranma to her romantically.

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' Madoka giving her red hair ribbons to [[spoiler: Homura]] before [[spoiler:AscendingToAHigherPlaneOfExistence]] can be considered a reference to this trope. After [[spoiler: Madoka's disappearance,]] her hair ribbons are [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake the only thing Homura has left of her]] and the only trace that she ever existed.]] [[note]]Notably, the ribbons are a sign of both [[TheFourLoves familial love and romantic love]]. They were originally a gift from Madoka's mother, and after [[spoiler:Madoka's human self is erased]], Homura tries to give them back. Junko refuses them [[spoiler:because, after all, she can't remember she even ''had'' a daughter]]. [[/note]]

* The protagonist ([[CloningBlues one of them anyway]]) accidentally discovers this during the events of ''Literature/KilnPeople''. At the end of the novel, he's dropped his job as a PrivateEye and is advertising an agency to link people with their soulmates.

* Done literally in ''MysteriousGirlfriendX'' in the non-manga OVA story.

* In ''TheMikosWordsAndTheWitchesIncantations'', Letty ties an invisible, magical thread to both her pinky and Tsumugi's so they won't get separated. Naturally, it's red, and Tsumugi [[GirlsLove cheerfully mentions its Japanese significance to Letty and how it probably makes them lovers]].

* While not actually shown in the anime, one of the DVD covers for ''HappyLesson'' has each one of the male lead's fingers tied with a red string and all the strings being connected to all his mothers' pinkies. He is not amused.

* ''MamotteShugogetten'' has an episode with mystic threads that bind the fingers of the first two people to pick it up. Although they don't behave much like the threads of the legend, the reference is clear, as the first one to be used is red.

* Parodied in ''{{Yuria 100 Shiki}}''. The titular {{Sexbot}} fantasizes about one of these on her finger . . . connecting to Shunsuke's crotch. (The narration remarks that all of her fantasies end up there eventually.)

* Used in an official ''[[VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi Higurashi]]'' art, for [[http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s355/Sokumei/twin.jpg Mion and Shion]] drawn by the Watangashi/Meakashi manga artist. [[{{Twincest}} Make what you will of this]].

* In ''Manga/{{Nabari no Ou}}'', Miharu is shown with a red string on his finger after [[spoiler: erasing Yoite]].

* {{CLAMP}}'s romances pretty much run on this trope. Every character in the multiverse has a destined person who - as we learn in ''[[Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle Tsubasa]]'' - they will meet in every dimension they exist in. Which, in some cases, sucks ''[[DeconstructedTrope terribly]]'' because they can't help loving that person no matter what the hell they do to them. Some poor bastards come out of that. *cough*looking at you [[TokyoBabylon Sumeragi Subaru]]*cough*

* In the ''{{Naruto}}'' fanfic "[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4139575/1/One_Small_Step One Small Step]]", a young Naruto can't find a partner to play Cat's Cradle - a game that involves using string to create complex patterns between the fingers - (the game also functions as an exercise to prepare students for ninja handsigns.) . After searching for someone to play the game with him, he finds Hinata and asks for her help. The two end up tying each other's hands together (with red string, naturally), which leads to them becoming childhood friends and starting to develop feelings for each other.

* In ''TheSecretOfNIMH'', in what may or may not be an intentional usage: when Mrs. Brisby first meets Jeremy, he is tangled in red string which he is retrieving to build a "love nest" for his future Ms. Right

* At the end of ''{{Gundam 00}}'''s first season, Graham Akre claims that he and protagonist Setsuna F. Seiei are connected by this -- [[FoeYay the fate to face each other in battle.]] Though he's a Westerner, Graham is a massive Japanese culture {{Otaku}} and would likely understand the reference.

* In an episode of ''ChouKuseNiNarisou'', a gay teacher who mistakenly develops a crush on Nagisa suggests to her that there's a RedStringOfFate connecting them. Nagisa can actually ''see'' the string, and yells at the teacher to cut it out....

* In the latter half of the third season of ''Series/TeenWolf'', while it hasn't been outright confirmed as being "the red string of fate," Stiles and Lydia (the show's slowest burn ship) share a tender moment in Stiles's room wherein he uses some of the red yarn with which he connects clues on his wall of investigation material to slowly wrap around Lydia's fingers. [[HeldGaze Gazing]] ensues.

-->"The thread that binds you and I is the color black, of this I am sure. [[SerialEscalation Blacker than pitch...blacker than night...blacker than the darkness itself.]]"

* Quite a few ''AxisPowersHetalia'' fanarts of [[MoeAnthropomorphism America and Canada]] show a red string attached around their hands. Could be to represent their relationship which in real life is one of the closest and most productive international relationships in the world. Or it's to play up the HoYay.

* The RedStringOfFate is shown in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgdc7-ityPs the video]] for "Brilliant Star" by NanaMizuki.

* In ''KimagureOrangeRoad'', as Yukari sings ''Like a salvia flower'' onstage she takes a long red ribbon and playfully wraps a part of it around Madoka, throwing the other extreme to Kyouske. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aXx6TrfmY Here is the video]]

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' Madoka giving her red hair ribbons to [[spoiler: Homura]] before [[spoiler:AscendingToAHigherPlaneOfExistence]] can be considered a reference to this trope. After [[spoiler: Madoka's disappearance,]] her hair ribbons are [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake the only thing Homura has left of her]] and the only trace that she ever existed.]] [[note]]Notably, the ribbons are a sign of both [[TheFourLoves familial love and romantic love. They were originally a gift from Madoka's mother, and after [[spoiler:Madoka's human self is erased]], Homura tries to give them back. Junko refuses them [[spoiler:because, after all, she can't remember she even ''had'' a daughter]]. [[/note]]

-->''I could see the red stings connecting everyone to you... I was a blue thread''.

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' Madoka giving her red hair ribbons to [[spoiler: Homura]] before [[spoiler:AscendingToAHigherPlaneOfExistence]] can be considered a reference to this trope. After [[spoiler: Madoka's disappearance,]] her hair ribbons are [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake the only thing Homura has left of her]] and the only trace that she ever existed.]]
* In ''Anime/{{Bleach}}'', specifically the movie Fade To Black, Ichigo and Rukia's red spirit threads are linked to one another, allowing Ichigo to find Rukia when she went missing during the events of the movie.