OrangeShipping: Difference between revisions

This article is about shipping. As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain POV.

OrangeShipping (Japanese; ケンカス KenKasu) is the belief in a romantic relationship between Misty and Tracey.

Misty and Tracey first met in EP084. Tracey is a vocal fan of Professor Oak, and after realizing that Ash knew him quite well, decides to join the group in the hopes of meeting his idol. At first, Misty didn't like the thought of a complete stranger simply inviting himself to their group, but soon they develop a great friendship while traveling the Orange Islands.

There are many who will contend that the Orange Islands (the only series at present in which Tracey was part of the main cast) was more suggestive to a romantic relationship between Ash and Misty, and will state that Tracey even hinted at the relationship itself. Other people believe differently.

When Ash finishes the Orange League, the group returns to his house. Here, they reunite with Brock, and Tracey stays with Professor Oak as Ash, Misty and Brock travel the Johto League.

Misty and Tracey only meet again after the Johto League, when she recieves word that she needs to return home to Cerulean Gym. Though no longer travelling in the main cast, there are a series of side-episodes called Hosos in which give detail to Misty's activities as a Gym Leader. With Tracey and Misty now being allowed to interact with each other much more easily due to proximity, their friendship has been allowed to grow, and it is these episodes which many shippers will use to argue the plausibility of a romantic relationship developing between them.

Hoso Episodes

In H005, Sakura meets Tracey for the first time, and asks if he is Misty's boyfriend. This is also the case with Casey in H011. Interestingly enough, there are people who will contend that Misty is in fact blushing (albeit a small one) in the second case.

There is also the scene in which Misty is asked by Georgio whether or not she 'likes someone else' - This has been a matter of great debate between shippers. There are many who will contend that the line is a reference to Misty's 'feelings' for Ash, whilst others will believe otherwise, stating that it is far too ambiguous, and given the previous blush, may in actuality refer to Tracey, or simply embarrassment over being asked such a personal question. The debating continues.

Interestingly, the dub of H016, (which can admittedly be considered pretty non-canonical), has the narrator saying

"Well, here we are at the Cerulean Gym, where love is in the air. A love so true and so powerful that nothing can stop it. No, this love isn't between Misty and Tracey, this love is not even between two people"

Again, different interpretations have arisen. Whilst there are some who have taken the line to have a somewhat Anti-Orangeshipping connotation, there are people who believe otherwise. In any case, the lines are different (and spoken by Tracey) in the original.

Trivia

• One notable similarity between the two is the fact that they are the only main protagonists never to have their parents revealed.
• While Tracey seems to have a love for Bug-type Pokémon, as seen in EP097, Misty has a morbid fear of them.
• Misty and Tracey were the only two characters to own Generation II Pokémon prior to the Johto series.