History Main / MoeCouplet

* ''ICarly'': Carly and Freddie. Pretty much everything they do as a couple is cute [[UpToEleven to the extreme]].

* [[KimPossible Kim and Ron]] have their moments, especially when they were kids.

* Ai Haibara from DetectiveConan describes [[spoiler:Sumiko Kobayashi and Ninzaburo Shiratori]] in terms that fit very well in this trope. [[spoiler: When they actually get together, she turns out to be completely right.]]

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'' has Panthro and Ro-Bear Bill!

-->Ai: "... I think they make a good couple. [[spoiler: Kobayashi-sensei]] is a fan of mysteries and [[spoiler: Inspector Shiratori]] might be able to tell her good case stories"

* The genesis of the [[Literature/HarryPotter Harry/Hermione]] [[{{Shipping}} shippers]] may be this. Hermione is a magical genius, except when it comes to dealing with actual dark wizards, which is Harry's specialty (his life is basically a long series of fighting dark wizards). When it comes to personality, Harry is selfless to an annoying degree even when personal friends are not involved, while Hermione focuses on immediate gain and loss to her close friends (especially when it comes to grades!). While these traits alone would get kind of annoying, together they play off each other quite well, even without going into {{Shipping}} territory.

** Meanwhile, pair the already {{moe}} Orihime with either Ichigo, Uryu, or [[CoolBigSis Rangiku]], and watch the {{Moe}} factor rocket [[UpToEleven into the stratosphere]].

* Ai Haibara from DetectiveConan describes [[spoiler:Sumiko Kobayashi and Ninzaburo Shiratori]] in terms that fit very well in this trope. [[spoiler: When they actually get together, we see that she's right.]]

* Mai Tokiha in ''{{Mai-HiME}}'' evolves into this. Leaving the [[ShipToShipCombat Shipping Wars]] aside in regards to Yuuichi, her relationship with her brother Takumi shows off her [[CoolBigSis mature qualities]]. Later iterations effectively pair her with Mikoto (a highly marketable but otherwise potentially [[TheScrappy annoying]] character) which lets her fully assume a motherly mode that doesn't conflict with her badassness and letting Mikoto's clingy qualities be endearing.

* Latvia and Sealand in ''AxisPowersHetalia''. Sealand helps Latvia not be a twitching emotional wreck and Latvia keeps Sealand grounded in reality.

* Homura Akemi, with her experience and power, protecting the sweetly innocent Madoka Kaname in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', gains this quality as the series progresses. [[spoiler:Even more pronounced in the original timeline where the roles are reversed]].

In practice, only one of the characters really needs be designed like this, often a younger one whom the audience finds 'safe' and non-threatening. They are extremely popular in {{yuri}} and {{yaoi}} works, due to the natural maximization of MoeMoe in the audience, but it's also present in other genres (particularly slice of life works that [[NoHuggingNoKissing lacks romance]]). The WholesomeCrossdresser (who is usually implicitly gay) has this relationship with {{shoujo}} leads. In {{shounen}}, a (usually unattached) female co-lead has this relationship with the male lead if he gets his official girlfriend outside his circle of friends. Couplets are also common gimmicks in designing an EconomyCast. See also TheNotLoveInterest.

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* In Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}, this is the basic idea behind moirails.
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* [[Franchise/MetalGear Snake and Otacon,]] [[HoYay although]] [[ShipTease the]] [[FanPreferredCouple non-romantic]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners aspect]] [[HasTwoMommies is]] [[WordOfGod debatable.]] Otacon [[DefrostingIceQueen warms Snake up]] and [[MoralityChain restrains him from going over the edge,]] while Snake helped Otacon out of his shell and grounded him. The fact that all of their interactions from VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2 on are a barrel of cuteness hovering somewhere between HappilyMarried and LikeAnOldMarriedCouple doesn't hurt.

* BioWare's VideoGame/MassEffect (and sequels) feature this, though by nature of being an RPG, it's up to the player to truly fulfill this trope. Regardless, Ken and Gabby in VideoGame/MassEffect2 have this kind of relationship. As for the optional, player-driven ones: Liara, Garrus, and Tali are the most obvious.

* Imriel and Alais in the KushielsLegacy series. From childhood on each of the cousins see each other as an actual person, not a product of their parentage. It gets to the point where Imriel's interactions with Alais are the most consistently happy moments in his life.

* [[{{Batman}} Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy]] are occasionally treated like this by the fandom, partly due to their team-up being one of ''genuine'' friendship, a way of emphasizing strong female characters, and diffuses much of their underlying creepiness (Harley seeming more comedic than actually crazy, and Ivy being less misanthropic, etc.)

* Mai Tokiha in ''{{Mai-HiME}}'' evolves into this. Leaving the ShippingWars aside in regards to Yuuichi, her relationship with her brother Takumi shows off her [[CoolBigSis mature qualities]]. Later iterations effectively pair her with Mikoto (a highly marketable but otherwise potentially [[TheScrappy annoying]] character) which lets her fully assume a motherly mode that doesn't conflict with her badassness and letting Mikoto's clingy qualities be endearing.

* The genesis of the [[HarryPotter Harry/Hermione]] [[{{Shipping}} shippers]] may be this. Hermione is a magical genius, except when it comes to dealing with actual dark wizards, which is Harry's specialty (his life is basically a long series of fighting dark wizards). When it comes to personality, Harry is selfless to an annoying degree even when personal friends are not involved, while Hermione focuses on immediate gain and loss to her close friends (especially when it comes to grades!). While these traits alone would get kind of annoying, together they play off each other quite well, even without going into {{Shipping}} territory.

This can mirror, but not usually replicate, what could be a romantic pairing. Actual romantic stories tend to involve a lot of drama and seeing characters at their weakest and most awkward, occasionally becoming {{Plot Tumor}}s if they become [[SatelliteCharacter the sole definition of any given character]]. Sufficiently cynical fans are always wary of CharacterDerailment and ShippingBedDeath, while other fans are just very possessive of their beloved characters; they do not even want the ''potential'' to reach the DieForOurShip stage. The problem is fans like the ''idea'' of the situation, but not the procedure and are worried that the hypothetical payoff is not worth it. The main differences between Romantic Couples[[{{Tradesnark}} ™]] and Moe Couplets[[{{Tradesnark}} ™]] are as follows:

* Sakaki and Chiyo in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', who often pair off. Sakaki comes off as [[TallDarkAndBishoujo intimidating]], but really she's just [[ShrinkingViolet shy]] and in love with [[CutenessProximity all adorable things.]] Chiyo is a CheerfulChild who really wants to be an adult. When the team up, they cover each other's weaknesses and the {{Moe}} increases exponentially. Add in their pets, [[BigFriendlyDog Tadakichi-san]] and [[KindheartedCatLover Maya]], and things get even better.

* [[IllGirl Yutaka]] [[{{Moe}} Kobayakawa]] and [[HugeSchoolgirl Minami]] [[TheQuietOne Iwasaki]] from ''Manga/LuckyStar'' also counts, and it's probably an allusion to Chiyo-chan and Sakaki respectively from Azumanga Daioh as mentioned above. But it doesn't stop [[ShipperOnDeck Hiyori]] [[YuriFan Tamura]] activating her ShippingGoggles.
* [[spoiler:{{Meganekko}}]] Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''.
** [[spoiler:The current Homura and Madoka]] can also count, but note that [[spoiler:the roles are reversed]].

* [[MetalGearSolid Snake and Otacon,]] [[HoYay although]] [[ShipTease the]] [[FanPreferredCouple non-romantic]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners aspect]] [[HasTwoMommies is]] [[WordOfGod debatable.]] Otacon [[DefrostingIceQueen warms Snake up]] and [[MoralityChain restrains him from going over the edge,]] while Snake helped Otacon out of his shell and grounded him. The fact that all of their interactions from MetalGearSolid 2 on are a barrel of cuteness hovering somewhere between HappilyMarried and LikeAnOldMarriedCouple doesn't hurt.

* [[{{Adorkable}} Gus]] and [[TheCutie Cornchip Girl]] from ''{{Recess}}''

** Meanwhile, pair the already {{moe}} Orihime with either Ichigo, Uryu, or Rangiku, and watch the {{Moe}} factor rocket to even greater heights.

* While [[BloodKnight Kenpachi Zaraki]] is the farthest thing you're gonna get from moe in ''{{Bleach}}'', pair him and [[KillerRabbit Yachiru]] up, and their interactions are either funny or totally adorable.

** Similarly, Akira's overly serious {{ninja}}-like demeanor is balanced by Takumi who is given the excuse he needs someone to take care of him because of [[IllGirl his delicate health]], letting Akira show off her [[{{Tsundere}} tender side]]. It also helps that Takumi is [[YamatoNadeshiko very gentle, polite and even homey.]]

* Mai Tokiha in ''{{Mai-HiME}}'' evolves into this. Her detractors could describe her original romantic crush on Yuuichi being detrimental and wishywashy, while her relationship with her brother Takumi shows off her [[CoolBigSis mature qualities]]. Later iterations effectively pair her with Mikoto (a highly marketable but otherwise potentially [[TheScrappy annoying]] character) which lets her fully assume a motherly mode that doesn't conflict with her badassness and letting Mikoto's clingy qualities be endearing.
** Similarly, Akira's overly serious {{ninja}}-like demeanor is balanced by Takumi who is given the excuse he needs someone to take care of him because of [[IllGirl his delicate health]], letting Akira show off her [[{{Tsundere}} tender side]]. It also helps that Takumi is very gentle, polite and even homey.

** Similarly, Harry and Luna seem to be a more canon MoeCouplet. Luna is a CloudCuckoolander who hardly seems troubled by anything and helps her father run the magical equivalent of a tabloid magazine, while Harry becomes more [[HurtingHero traumatized as increasing numbers of his friends and loved ones die. Some of them right in front of him.]] Yet Luna understands what losing a loved one feels like, enabling her to empathise with his grief over Sirius--and Harry knows what being picked on feels like, so he naturally wants to help her out when people hide Luna's things and mock her behind her back. They serve as two sides of the same coin, and are [[FanPreferredCouple much more convincing as a couple than Harry/Ginny]].

** Also, in ''SuperSmashBros Brawl'', there's [[http://emeraldexe.deviantart.com/art/SSBB-Cute-little-partner-81384019 Samus and Pikachu]]. In the adventure mode, Samus is trying to find her PoweredArmor, and she finds poor little [[{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] being used to power a generator, so she breaks the cage. Later, after Samus gets her PoweredArmor back, [[spoiler: Ridley nearly kills her, but Pikachu saves her]].

In practice, only one of the characters really needs be designed like this, often a younger one whom the audience finds 'safe' and non-threatening. They are extremely popular in {{yuri}} and {{yaoi}} works, due to the natural maximization of MoeMoe in the audience, but it's also present in other genres (particularly slice of life works that [[NoHuggingNoKissing lacks romance]]). The {{Wholesome Crossdresser}} (who is usually implicitly gay) has this relationship with {{shoujo}} leads. In {{shounen}}, a (usually unattached) female co-lead has this relationship with the male lead if he gets his official girlfriend outside his circle of friends. Couplets are also common gimmicks in designing an EconomyCast. See also TheNotLoveInterest.

** Meanwhile, pair the already {{moe}} Orihime with either Ichigo, Uryu, or Rangiku, and watch the {{Moe}} factor rocket to even greater heights.

* Similarly, Yumi in ''[[{{Maria-samaGaMiteru}} Marimite]]'' has this kind of relationship with several characters compared to the one she has with Sachiko, leading to the fan-joke that Yumi could create her own ReverseHarem.

* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' has this type of relationship between most of the characters, both of the romantic side sort and the non-romantic. Sakuya almost forces other characters into these with her thinking the world is a {{Boke And Tsukkomi Routine}} and tries to make many of the other characters her other half in them. Nagi with Isumi treads the line [[spoiler: When they were young, Nagi forced Isumi to imprint a 'marriage certificate']] and Isumi understands (and helps to expand on) Nagi's self-made-manga.

* Well-expressed in ''{{The Sacred Blacksmith}}'', especially the ending theme. Lisa paired with any of the other characters increases her own moe and significantly brings out at least one trait of the other characters.

* ''{{iCarly}}'': Carly and Freddie. Pretty much everything they do as a couple is cute [[UpToEleven to the extreme]].

* [[{{Adorkable}} Gus]] and [[TheCutie Cornchip Girl]] from ''{{Recess}}''

** Similarly, Harry and Luna seem to be a more canon MoeCouplet. Luna is a CloudCuckoolander who hardly seems troubled by anything and helps her father run the magical equivalent of a tabloid magazine, while Harry becomes more [[HurtingHero traumatized as increasing numbers of his friends and loved ones die. Some of them right in front of him.]] Yet Luna understands what losing a loved one feels like, enabling her to empathise with his grief over Sirius--and Harry knows what being picked on feels like, so he naturally wants to help her out when people hide Luna's things and mock her behind her back. They serve as two sides of the same coin, and ([[YourMileageMayVary to some]]) are [[FanPreferredCouple much more convincing as a couple than Harry/Ginny]].