Bulbapedia - User contributions [en]

User:Leighe44

2011-11-21T01:07:25Z

Leighe44: second edit today on my userpage

==Who.I.Am.==

* 1st place in four Pokemon Video Game National Championships in a row.
* Why do I do it? I'm driven. My purpose? AdvanceShipping, if you can believe it. I live, sleep, dream, think, and breathe AdvanceShipping. Every day of my life. Am I dedicated? Yeah, you could say that.
* Who Am I? I'm the biggest, most dedicated, optimistically-awesome, most driven AdvanceShipper out there. I might not seem like it, but I am. Do you dream about AdvanceShipping? Do you think about AdvanceShipping every second of every day in your life? I do. That's what makes me who I am.

Look. If you've got a grudge against AdvanceShipping, then don't take it out on the page. Don't take it out on the ''obviously true evidence''. Take it out on yourself for not liking this shipping. You don't like it? Deal with it. I don't mean to be rude, but jeez, people. It's pretty obvious from here where they stand.

==Favorite Shippings==
My favorite shippings in all of the Pokemon world. My #1 ship is Advance, because they belong together.

==Straight Shippings==
* [[AdvanceShipping]]: [[Ash]] and [[May]]. (I mean, come on. Luvdisc? Yeah. But ''swimming'' with them? Look up Luvdisc in the Pokedex, people. It's a definite hint.
* [[OrangeShipping]]: [[Tracey]] and [[Misty]].
* [[WishfulShipping]]: [[Cilan]] and [[Iris]].
* [[PenguinShipping]]: [[Kenny]] and [[Dawn]].

==Least Favorite Shippings==
* [[PokeShipping]] Ash x Misty (Misty may like Ash, but Ash obviously doesn't like her. No offense to PokeShippers.)
* [[PearlShipping]] Ash x Dawn (Dawn is annoying, in my opinion. Sometimes not, but still...
* [[NegaiShipping]] Ash x Iris (Nothing that wrong with Iris, although she's occasionally annoying, but Ash just doesn't belong with her...)
* [[AbilityShipping]] Another one-sided shipping, oh joy. Ever heard of 'dense' and 'just friends'?
* [[IkariShipping]] Dawn x Paul (Opposites attract? I don't think so. Besides, Kenny is already in love with Dawn, so back off.)

User:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:49:08Z

Leighe44: All about me...gosh you don't need to check this, too xD

Who.I.Am.
1st place in four Pokemon Video Game National Championships. Why do I do it? I'm driven. My purpose? AdvanceShipping, if you can believe it.
I live, sleep, dream, think, and breathe AdvanceShipping. Every day of my life. Am I dedicated? Yeah, you could say that.

==Favorite Shippings==
My favorite shippings in all of the Pokemon world. My #1 ship is Advance, because they belong together.

==Straight Shippings==
* [[AdvanceShipping]]: [[Ash]] and [[May]]. (I mean, come on. Luvdisc? Yeah. But ''swimming'' with them? Look up Luvdisc in the Pokedex, people. It's a definite hint.
* [[OrangeShipping]]: [[Tracey]] and [[Misty]].
* [[WishfulShipping]]: [[Cilan]] and [[Iris]].
* [[PenguinShipping]]: [[Kenny]] and [[Dawn]].

==Least Favorite Shippings==
* [[PokeShipping]] Ash x Misty (Misty may like Ash, but Ash obviously doesn't like her. No offense to PokeShippers.)
* [[PearlShipping]] Ash x Dawn (Dawn is annoying, in my opinion. Sometimes not, but still...
* [[NegaiShipping]] Ash x Iris (Nothing that wrong with Iris, although she's occasionally annoying, but Ash just doesn't belong with her...)
* [[AbilityShipping]] Another one-sided shipping, oh joy. Ever heard of 'dense' and 'just friends'?
* [[IkariShipping]] Dawn x Paul (Opposites attract? I don't think so. Besides, Kenny is already in love with Dawn, so back off.)

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-21T00:38:04Z

Leighe44: Fine, even though it technically is a similarity. Also, no offense, but why are you on an ADV page is you hate it?

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Both have competed in at least one Pokemon Contest.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

==Additional Notes==
AdvanceShippers have chosen red and green, referring to their outfits (Ash's hat, and May's clothes in the Diamond and Pearl Saga), as the unofficial AdvanceShipping colors.

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-21T00:28:04Z

Leighe44: Okay...even though it was a shiny sudowoodo, I guess we'll leave that out. Ribbon-in-half does not misrepresent rumors or opinions, is an accurate fact and may be useful to know. Thank you.

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
* Both have competed in at least one Pokemon Contest, and both share half of the same ribbon.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

==Additional Notes==
AdvanceShippers have chosen red and green, referring to their outfits (Ash's hat, and May's clothes in the Diamond and Pearl Saga), as the unofficial AdvanceShipping colors.

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

User talk:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:22:27Z

Leighe44: /* Intro */

{| cellspacing="7" class="roundy" style="border: 1px solid #3e7614;" align="center"
| class="roundytop" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; font-size: 160%; padding-left: 20px;" align="left" height="50px" | '''Welcome to Bulbapedia, Leighe44!'''
|-
| valign="top" |
{| align="right" style="background: #E0F2B6; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding:8px; {{roundy|100px}}"
| [[File:Bulbapedia bulb.png|100px|center]]
|}
By creating your account you are now able to edit pages, join discussions, and expand the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia. Before you jump in, here are some ground rules:
* Be nice to everyone. It's in the {{bp|code of conduct}}.
* Make good edits. Preview them before you save to make sure they're perfect the first time around.
* Use {{bp|wikicode}} and {{bp|link templates}} when adding content to a page.
* Use proper grammar and spelling, and read the {{bp|manual of style}}.
* You can't create a userpage until you've added to the encyclopedia. It's a privilege. See the {{bp|userspace policy}}.
* Use {{bp|talk pages}} to resolve editing disputes. Don't "edit war," or constantly re-edit/undo the same thing on a page.
* If you have a question about something, be proactive. Ask for help. The {{bp|staff}} won't bite.
* Sign all talk page posts with four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>). This will turn into your name and the time you wrote the comment.
* For more handy links, see the {{bp|welcome|welcome portal}}.
|-
|
|-
| class="roundybottom" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding-left: 20px;" | '''<div style="float: left; font-size: 110%;">Thank you, and have a good time editing here!</div>'''<div style="float: right; height: 20px; background: white; border-left: 10px solid #f3f5f1; {{roundybr|10px}}">  [[User:Carmenstar97|Carmen]] ''([[User talk:Carmenstar97|Talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Carmenstar97|Contributions]])'' 18:02, 19 February 2011 (UTC)  </div><div style="float: right; height: 20px; width: 10px; background: #DFF2B1; border-left: 10px solid #D3EC95;"> </div>
|}

Oh. Okay. xD

== ChessShipping ==

That's box is about ChessShipping, the ship between {{ga|Hilbert}} and {{ga|Hilda}}. You're providing evidence for AgencyShipping, the ship between {{adv|Black}} and {{adv|White}}.--[[User:MisterE13|Mister]][[User talk:MisterE13|'''E''']][[Special:Contributions/MisterE13|13]] 01:01, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

== Shipping ==

Please keep all references to non-canon ships off of main pages. Not everyone will agree with that view. Thank you. --[[Tracey Sketchit|'''ケンジ''']][[User talk:Kenji-girl|'''の''']][[User:Kenji-girl|'''ガール''']] 22:04, 7 November 2011 (UTC)

== The Preview Button ==
Instead of editing a page several times in a row, try using the preview button to make sure your edit looks the way you want it to. It's right next to the Save Changes button... Please try it out, so as not to clog up the Recent Changes. Thanks! --[[Typhlosion (Pokémon)|★]][[User:Jo The Marten|Jo the Marten]][[Flygon (Pokémon)|★]] [[User_Talk:Jo The Marten|ಠ_ಠ]][[Cilan (anime)|♥]] 23:58, 20 November 2011 (UTC)

== Talk page comments ==

Please do not remove any comments made on your talk page. They are needed for record purposes. Thanks. --[[Tracey Sketchit|'''ケンジ''']][[User talk:Kenji-girl|'''の''']][[User:Kenji-girl|'''ガール''']] 00:18, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:13:44Z

Leighe44: /* Intro */ working on this going to finish tomorrow

This page is currently under construction, please do not edit. Thank you.

User talk:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:12:30Z

Leighe44:

User talk:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:12:22Z

Leighe44:

{| cellspacing="7" class="roundy" style="border: 1px solid #3e7614;" align="center"
| class="roundytop" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; font-size: 160%; padding-left: 20px;" align="left" height="50px" | '''Welcome to Bulbapedia, Leighe44!'''
|-
| valign="top" |
{| align="right" style="background: #E0F2B6; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding:8px; {{roundy|100px}}"
| [[File:Bulbapedia bulb.png|100px|center]]
|}
By creating your account you are now able to edit pages, join discussions, and expand the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia. Before you jump in, here are some ground rules:
* Be nice to everyone. It's in the {{bp|code of conduct}}.
* Make good edits. Preview them before you save to make sure they're perfect the first time around.
* Use {{bp|wikicode}} and {{bp|link templates}} when adding content to a page.
* Use proper grammar and spelling, and read the {{bp|manual of style}}.
* You can't create a userpage until you've added to the encyclopedia. It's a privilege. See the {{bp|userspace policy}}.
* Use {{bp|talk pages}} to resolve editing disputes. Don't "edit war," or constantly re-edit/undo the same thing on a page.
* If you have a question about something, be proactive. Ask for help. The {{bp|staff}} won't bite.
* Sign all talk page posts with four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>). This will turn into your name and the time you wrote the comment.
* For more handy links, see the {{bp|welcome|welcome portal}}.
|-
|
|-
| class="roundybottom" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding-left: 20px;" | '''<div style="float: left; font-size: 110%;">Thank you, and have a good time editing here!</div>'''<div style="float: right; height: 20px; background: white; border-left: 10px solid #f3f5f1; {{roundybr|10px}}">  [[User:Carmenstar97|Carmen]] ''([[User talk:Carmenstar97|Talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Carmenstar97|Contributions]])'' 18:02, 19 February 2011 (UTC)  </div><div style="float: right; height: 20px; width: 10px; background: #DFF2B1; border-left: 10px solid #D3EC95;"> </div>
|}

== The Preview Button ==
Instead of editing a page several times in a row, try using the preview button to make sure your edit looks the way you want it to. It's right next to the Save Changes button... Please try it out, so as not to clog up the Recent Changes. Thanks! --[[Typhlosion (Pokémon)|★]][[User:Jo The Marten|Jo the Marten]][[Flygon (Pokémon)|★]] [[User_Talk:Jo The Marten|ಠ_ಠ]][[Cilan (anime)|♥]] 23:58, 20 November 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Leighe44

2011-11-21T00:12:07Z

Leighe44: Removing unnecessary text off of talk page

{| cellspacing="7" class="roundy" style="border: 1px solid #3e7614;" align="center"
| class="roundytop" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; font-size: 160%; padding-left: 20px;" align="left" height="50px" | '''Welcome to Bulbapedia, Leighe44!'''
|-
| valign="top" |
{| align="right" style="background: #E0F2B6; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding:8px; {{roundy|100px}}"
| [[File:Bulbapedia bulb.png|100px|center]]
|}
By creating your account you are now able to edit pages, join discussions, and expand the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia. Before you jump in, here are some ground rules:
* Be nice to everyone. It's in the {{bp|code of conduct}}.
* Make good edits. Preview them before you save to make sure they're perfect the first time around.
* Use {{bp|wikicode}} and {{bp|link templates}} when adding content to a page.
* Use proper grammar and spelling, and read the {{bp|manual of style}}.
* You can't create a userpage until you've added to the encyclopedia. It's a privilege. See the {{bp|userspace policy}}.
* Use {{bp|talk pages}} to resolve editing disputes. Don't "edit war," or constantly re-edit/undo the same thing on a page.
* If you have a question about something, be proactive. Ask for help. The {{bp|staff}} won't bite.
* Sign all talk page posts with four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>). This will turn into your name and the time you wrote the comment.
* For more handy links, see the {{bp|welcome|welcome portal}}.
|-
|
|-
| class="roundybottom" style="background: #c4e673; border: 1px solid #3e7614; padding-left: 20px;" | '''<div style="float: left; font-size: 110%;">Thank you, and have a good time editing here!</div>'''<div style="float: right; height: 20px; background: white; border-left: 10px solid #f3f5f1; {{roundybr|10px}}">  [[User:Carmenstar97|Carmen]] ''([[User talk:Carmenstar97|Talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Carmenstar97|Contributions]])'' 18:02, 19 February 2011 (UTC)  </div><div style="float: right; height: 20px; width: 10px; background: #DFF2B1; border-left: 10px solid #D3EC95;"> </div>
|}

== Shipping ==

Please keep all references to non-canon ships off of main pages. Not everyone will agree with that view. Thank you. --[[Tracey Sketchit|'''ケンジ''']][[User talk:Kenji-girl|'''の''']][[User:Kenji-girl|'''ガール''']] 22:04, 7 November 2011 (UTC)

== The Preview Button ==
Instead of editing a page several times in a row, try using the preview button to make sure your edit looks the way you want it to. It's right next to the Save Changes button... Please try it out, so as not to clog up the Recent Changes. Thanks! --[[Typhlosion (Pokémon)|★]][[User:Jo The Marten|Jo the Marten]][[Flygon (Pokémon)|★]] [[User_Talk:Jo The Marten|ಠ_ಠ]][[Cilan (anime)|♥]] 23:58, 20 November 2011 (UTC)

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-21T00:05:56Z

Leighe44: /* Additional Notes */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
* They have both seen a Golden {{p|Sudowoodo}} (both in [[AG173]]).
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

==Additional Notes==
AdvanceShippers have chosen red and green, referring to their outfits (Ash's hat, and May's clothes in the Diamond and Pearl Saga), as the unofficial AdvanceShipping colors.

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-21T00:05:21Z

Leighe44: /* External links */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
* They have both seen a Golden {{p|Sudowoodo}} (both in [[AG173]]).
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

==Additional Notes==
AdvanceShippers have chosen red and green, referring to their outfits (Ash's hat, and May's clothes in the Diamond and Pearl Saga), as the unofficial AdvanceShipping colors.

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:58:17Z

Leighe44: /* Similarities */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
* They have both seen a Golden {{p|Sudowoodo}} (both in [[AG173]]).
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:57:26Z

Leighe44: /* Similarities */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
* They have both seen a Golden {{p|Sudowoodo}} in [[AG173]].
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:56:45Z

Leighe44: /* Similarities */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
* They have both seen a Golden {{p|Sudowoodo}}.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:52:10Z

Leighe44: /* Similarities */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:51:36Z

Leighe44: /* Similarities */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
* Ash and May both have one-half of the ribbon from the Terracotta Pokemon Contest.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:49:38Z

Leighe44: /* Movies */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc. It can be noted that, even though Dawn has seen Luvdisc with Ash as well, Ash and May were the only ones that swam with them, further encouraging the Ruby Pokédex description below.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:45:10Z

Leighe44: /* Battle Frontier saga */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. When May sees Max, she seems surprised, then angry at him for coming. This could suggest that she wanted to travel with Ash alone. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]

* ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path]]''
:May falls off a rope bridge and clutches for her life. Once again she cries out for Ash several times, despite the fact that Brock is standing with Ash as well. Ash calls out May's name as he pulls her to safety, but not once does May give any gratitude toward Brock for saving her, only Ash (this does not occur in the English dub). In the English dub Ash calls out only May's name but Max was there as well. This could be taken that May relies more on Ash than the others to help her, but is not necessarily a romantic hint.

* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:40:29Z

Leighe44: /* Alternate names */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: '''Sato'''shi and '''Haru'''ka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:39:56Z

Leighe44: /* Alternate names */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance". 
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: Sato in Satoshi, and Haru in Haruka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:39:24Z

Leighe44: /* Alternate names */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".
''SatoHaru'' - refers to their Japanese names: Sato in Satoshi, and Haru in Haruka.

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:36:35Z

Leighe44: /* Battle Frontier saga */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:35:46Z

Leighe44: /* Battle Frontier saga */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. When May shows up at Ash's house, Delia recognizes her on sight, even though she has never seen her before. This could suggest that Ash has told her a lot about May.
Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees, while Delia is watching them converse, and blushes. This could ''possibly'' be due to how close she thinks the two are.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:23:03Z

Leighe44: /* Battle Frontier saga */ Ash offers to help may instead of helping Max, even though Max's job is harder, et cetera...

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

* ''[[AG173|All That Glitters is Not Golden!]]''
:After setting up camp, May says that she'll go get them some water. Ash, instead of finding something else to do, or helping Max with the firewood, because that is arguably harder than getting water, offers to help May, saying, "I'll help with that." in a kind tone that he rarely uses.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:10:53Z

Leighe44: /* Notable AdvanceShippers */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.
:As the flock of Tailow prepare to attack the group, Ash as if instinctively, moves his body to protect May. May also called out "Satoshi! They're going to attack!" And he calls thunderbolt immediately afterwards. When the Tailow start to get up, May hides behind Ash, showing how she depends Ash for protection.

*''[[AG011|A Bite to Remember]]''
: When the group of Mightyena shows hostility towards the group, May again hides behinds Ash, making it the second time she goes to him for protection, even though Brock could provide protection as easily.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.
* [[Brock]] -
: [[AG078]] - After [[May]] walks away after having an argument with [[Ash]] over battles vs. contests, Brock looks at Ash, then at [[Drew]] as he shrugged. He has a concerned look and sweat on his face, as if he thought Drew was making May act so rude. This could ''possibly'' show that Brock wants Ash to be with May instead of Drew.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

AdvanceShipping

2011-11-20T23:08:34Z

Leighe44: /* Notable AdvanceShippers */

{{ship}}
----
[[File:AdvanceShipping.png|thumb|220px|Ash reassures May]]'''AdvanceShipping''' (Japanese: '''サトハル''' ''SatoHaru'') is the belief that {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} belong in a romantic relationship. This [[Shipping|Ship]] is among the most popular of those based in the anime, along with {{s|Poké}}, {{s|Contest}}, and {{s|Pearl}}.

This Ship is considered by some to be similar to {{s|Apprentice}}, with Ash in the role of tutor and May in the role of student.

==Evidence==
There are many points in the anime that seem to support AdvanceShipping. Below is a list of such points from the multiple sagas in which Ash and May appear.

===Hoenn League saga===
* ''[[AG001|Get the Show on the Road]]''[[File:May Ash AdvShip.png|thumb|200px|Yes!]]
:After Ash destroys May's [[bicycle]] accidentally, she angrily goes to tell him off while he is resting in the [[Pokémon Center]]. As she quietly opens the door, she sees Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} resting contently together, and she forgives him without telling him. Later on, May guilts Ash into letting her travel with him. Once he says that she could come along, May strikes a triumphant pose by the camera and yells, "YES!" to show her enthusiasm to the audience. This, coupled with the previous scene where she secretly spies on him and forgives him for his kindness toward Pikachu, shows that May might be taking a liking toward him.

* ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''
:During the middle of the episode, Ash is eager to ask a few other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s about the Petalburg Gym Leader. Hearing this, May desperately grabs Ash's hand and asks him if they could go eat instead, and if he could show her around the Pokémon Center so Ash wouldn't find out her dad is the Gym Leader; some say this is so Ash would not treat her any differently. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, Ash agrees and they eat. During their meal, Ash and May talk, and Ash becomes May's mentor for the very first time, teaching her how to [[Caught Pokémon|capture]] and [[Pokémon battle|battle]] with Pokémon.
: When Ash goes off to spy on Team Magma, May refuses to be left alone and goes along with him.

* ''[[AG003|There's no Place like Hoenn]]''
:When [[Team Rocket]] steals [[May's Torchic]], she falls to her knees in despair. Seeing this, Ash crouches down next to her and tells her not to worry, promising that he will get her Torchic back for her. Additionally, at the end of the episode, when [[Max]] voices his desire to travel with Ash and May, they both show a shocked expression on their faces, possibly implying that they wanted to travel together, alone.

*''[[AG004|You Can Never Taillow!]]''
:While Ash, May, and Max are walking through the [[Petalburg Woods|forest]], May and Max begin to argue about what they should do (stop for lunch or keep looking for Pokémon). May grabs on to Ash's arm, telling him that she wants to eat lunch. Max looks taken back, and then pulls on his other arm, debating his own point. Ash, who has had enough of it, goes with May's idea of getting lunch first. This could ''possibly'' show that he cares about what May has to say, but he could have simply picked her idea first because it was more practical.
:As the flock of Tailow prepare to attack the group, Ash as if instinctively, moves his body to protect May. May also called out "Satoshi! They're going to attack!" And he calls thunderbolt immediately afterwards. When the Tailow start to get up, May hides behind Ash, showing how she depends Ash for protection.

*''[[AG011|A Bite to Remember]]''
: When the group of Mightyena shows hostility towards the group, May again hides behinds Ash, making it the second time she goes to him for protection, even though Brock could provide protection as easily.

* ''[[AG017|Stairway to Devon]]''
:When Ash and May discover that a [[Team Aqua]] intruder is in the [[Devon Corporation|building]] and Max could be in potential danger, she clasps her hands and asks Ash for reassurance and support. Once Ash comforts her, she is relieved. This is the first of many scenes where May continually looks toward Ash for support and reassurance, further expanding on the mentor/student dynamic.

* ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]''
:On [[Dewford Town|Dewford Island]], May decides to strip into a bikini right on the beach. However, instead of just running down to the shore to take a swim, she purposely poses in her bikini in front of Ash and her brother and asks what they think. Ash appears to be embarrassed by the situation, but so is Max (who could arguably seem even more embarrassed), for understandable reasons.

*''[[AG033|Now That's Flower Power!]]''
:When Drew was criticizing May’s ability as a coordinator, Ash stands up, the camera moving to show his face only, and he quickly went in May’s defense, clearly upset.

* ''[[AG035|Win, Lose or Drew!]]''
:After witnessing May lose her first [[Pokémon Contest]], Ash takes the blame for her loss. He says, "It’s my fault. I wish I’d spent more time with May, teaching her." Later, May cries backstage as everyone tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up.

*''[[AG064|True Blue Swablu!]]''
:When May wants to stay and help {{p|Swablu}}'s injuries get better, Ash generously tells her, "You're going to take any time you need to help your buddy out," even though his first priority is making it to the [[Fortree Gym]]; however, some argue that Ash also cared about the Swablu.

* ''[[AG067|Go Go Ludicolo]]''
:When confronted by Max about whether she wants Ash to win over her Dad—[[Norman]] of the [[Petalburg Gym]]—or not, May gives flustered responses. While Max is quick to make up his mind and cheer for his father, May cheers for Ash. Max yells, "What, how can you want Ash to win over our Dad?" May blushes and says, "Well I want Dad to win...but I don't want Ash to lose!"

* ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]''
:During the ending of the episode, May once again seems torn about whom should she cheer for in the upcoming gym battle.

* ''[[AG070|Balance of Power]]''
:Expanding on the previous hints, When {{AP|Pikachu}} is hit by a {{M|Flamethrower}} from Norman's {{p|Vigoroth}}, May tries to help Ash by telling him to [[Recall|switch]]. Brock then says that it's not a good idea, causing May to hastily shut her mouth with her hands in terror. Moreover, at multiple points during the battle, May seems worried and terrified when Ash is losing and happy when Ash is winning. This behavior highly implies that May chose Ash over her own father, at least subconsciously.

* ''[[AG072|The Bicker The Better]]''
:Considered to be the first episode where the idea of AdvanceShipping was first introduced, Ash and May are confronted by [[Oscar and Andi]], a young couple who are obsessed with the idea of love and romance.
:When Oscar and Andi call Ash and May a "happy couple," the two of them quickly deny it and turn their backs to one another, crossing their arms. Ash says sarcastically, "That's a laugh!" and May adds, "Hardy har har!" Oscar and Andi do not stop there, and continue to call them a couple. Ash and May scream, "We're not a couple!" in unison, with the same body language, followed by, "And we're not happy either!" in the same tone in which Oscar and Andi state that they 'both answered together' further causing tensions between the two.
:As the episode pours on, Ash and May continue to argue and bicker back and forth, presumably to get their minds off the idea of being called a couple by Oscar and Andi. After a [[double battle|tag battle]] against [[Jessie]] and [[James]] at the end, Ash and May bashfully forgive each other for their argument, and apologize as they stare at each other while the sunset closes behind them.

* ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''
:When May is lost in the forbidden land of the {{t|Grass}} Pokémon, Ash once again steps in to save her despite the warnings. After his Tarzan-esque entrance to save May from the fierce and threatening Grass Pokémon that were about to attack her, he grabs her by the hand and runs with her to clear a path to safety. Ash and May continue to hold hands as they are running away from the menacing Pokémon, a rare sight between them, despite being for safety reasons.

* ''[[AG074|Hokey Poké Balls]]''
:This episode further brings up the parallelism between Ash and May, by having their two {{p|Bulbasaur}} meet each other. Moreover, the two Bulbasaur show signs of liking one another, a ship that is called {{s|Vine}}. Throughout the episode, May makes several comments about how their Bulbasaur are such a great team, and how they are, "Two peas in a Poképod." Before Ash sends {{AP|Bulbasaur}} back to {{an|Professor Oak}}, it pats [[May's Bulbasaur]] on the head sweetly with its vine, saying goodbye.
:May's Bulbasaur is impressed as Ash's Bulbasaur is sent back. {{s|Vine}} is one of the parallels that is used to push Advanceshipping, as canon characters such as Professor Oak and Brock have said in the past that Pokémon represent the feelings of their Trainers, and that when two Pokémon fall in love, there is a good chance that their Trainers will as well. While the Bulbasaur haven't fallen in love with each other yet, it is the first step in their parallel romance. It can be noted that their respective Bulbasaur's seem to reflect the current relationship of their Trainers, with Ash's Bulbasaur as a guide and mentor to May's Bulbasaur. However, the claim has also been refuted at various points during the series, so the feelings of the Pokémon are ''not always'' definitive to the feelings of the Trainers.

* ''[[AG078|Cruisin'for a Losin]]''
:May is sulking on a bench outside the [[Contest Hall]] because she lost her match. Ash comes alone to comfort her, cheering her up while patting her Bulbasaur on the head and sitting next to her on the bench. This is followed by a sheepish smile and a "Thank you Ash," from May.
:Ash is known to be rash and short tempered, and is not one to apologize easily, yet, when he and May were arguing about contest/gym battles before, Ash never raised his voice at her. Afterwards, when confronting her about running from contest after losing to Savannah, his tone is both kind and compassionate; and says that he doesn’t blame her for yelling at him before. This is a side of Ash we rarely see.

* ''[[AG098|The Scuffle of Legends]]''
:When Ash is about to hop on top of {{TP|Lance|Dragonite}} and go with [[Lance]] to save Pikachu from its bonding with the {{DL|List of key items in Generation III|Blue Orb}} and {{p|Groudon}}, May approaches Ash and says, "Don't do anything crazy Ash," in a concerned tone.

* ''[[AG105|Once in a Mawile]]''
:In another love-themed episode, Ash is confused about the concept of love. May teases him and says, "Spoken like a maaaaaan," in the [[dub]] while she says, "And he doesn't get it," in the original Japanese. As the episode continues, Ash says, "No sense in going out of your way just to make somebody like you," to which May responds, "And he still acts like a man," in the dub while in the raw, "And he reeeaaaally doesn't get it." This is the second episode in which May teases Ash about love.

* ''[[AG108|Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt]]''
:May holds onto [[Ash's hat]] while he is lost with {{AP|Snorunt}} in a {{m|blizzard}}, and continues to do so during the entire search, frantically hoping to find him again, which is seen as a romantic gesture. Once they meet up again, she says, "I believe this is yours!" and hands Ash back his hat.

* ''[[AG114|Date Expectations]]''
:In the middle of the episode, Ash and May are separated from the group. May does her expedition routine and thinks about the concept of being lost with Ash in the woods forever. This idea causes her to have little red blushes on her cheeks. During the last act of the episode, May misses her chance to catch the ferry to her final Contest. In despair, she starts to cry. Sensing her pain, Ash puts his hands firmly on her shoulders and and stares intensely into her eyes, giving her the courage to go on while he takes care of her little brother. Moved, May rejects Ash's offer of moving on without them, and tells him about the promise she made with her [[Caroline|mother]]. As she talks, she gradually perks up and suggests that they go to look for Max and Brock. Touched, Ash agrees.

* ''[[AG123|Rhapsody In Drew!]]''
:As soon as May finishes talking to Drew, Ash holds up an ice cream to her face and said he thought she may have wanted dessert. This shows the thoughtfulness Ash has for May.

===Battle Frontier saga===
* ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]''
:May decides that she wants to continue traveling with Ash after Hoenn ends, which compels her to travel from the [[Hoenn]] region on her own to meet up with Ash in [[Pallet Town]]. This was before she found out there were Contests in [[Kanto]], so she decided that she wanted to be by Ash's side even if it meant not continuing her [[Coordinator]] dream for the time being. Ash and May share a scene on the couch together, where Ash asks her if she wants to come along with him through Kanto. May of course agrees.
:During the battle with [[Team Rocket]], May can be seen glancing towards Ash's direction after her [[May's Venusaur|Bulbasaur]] used {{m|Petal Dance}}. Soon after, Ash used ''his'' {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, to use {{m|SolarBeam}}, and blast away Jessie and James's Pokémon. It could suggest that May wanted Ash to battle with her.

* ''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]''
:When May steps on the Contest Stage, Ash is the only one (of the three) that cheers, saying, "Let's go May! All right!"
:This is also reflected in all of May's other Contests, in which Ash always seems to be emotionally involved and always helping May when she is in a dilemma by shouting helpful advice to her, though being enthusiastic and supportive seems to be part of Ash's personality, as he has done that for pretty much everyone he has wanted to win a battle or contest.

* ''[[AG146|Fear Factor Phony!]]''
:When May hears sounds made by scary {{t|Ghost}} Pokémon, she frantically goes to Ash and tries to wake him up in his sleeping bag. She presses her hands desperately against his chest to wake him up, yet she didn't do the same to Brock, who could have come to her aid just as easily. This is another example of May choosing Ash over anyone else when she is in fear or doubt.
[[File:Ash May Sleep.png|thumb|right|May trying to wake up Ash]]


* ''[[AG160|Harley Rides Again]]''
:James says to Ash that they were helping ''his'' girl (May) in the Contest.

*''[[AG174|New Plot-Odd Lot]]''
:While May worries about the contest, Ash volunteers right away that he “would be happy to help her train.” May looks at him gratefully and thanked him. Later, after being infuriated by Harley, May quickly says, “Ash! Want to train?” Ash quickly finishes his food and stands up, then replies, “Right behind you!” in a determined fashion

* ''[[AG178|Battling the Enemy Within!]]''
:After Ash's battle with [[Brandon]] and Ash returning to normal, he says to May, Brock, and Max, "You guys are the best." May replies, "Ash, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to blush."

* ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is]]''
:Ash and May end the Terracotta Contest in a tie; there is only one ribbon, and they can't decide whom to give the ribbon to. May looks at Ash, Ash looks at May, and they nod at each other, and then Ash tells Sceptile to Leaf Blade the ribbon in half. This demonstrates that, occasionally, neither Ash nor May need to speak to know what the other is thinking because they share such a close bond, though some argue that this could also just be strong friendship.
:In ''[[AG115|Mean With Envy!]]'', [[Erica]] and [[Joshua (coordinator)|Joshua]] were seen in a fantasy holding a split ribbon while [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] was referring to a couple winning a Contest. Ash and May's victory and split ribbon parallel this.
:In the Japanese version, when Haruka announces that she wants to go to Johto, Masato runs off. When Satoshi goes to comfort him, Masato asks, "Why is {{tt|Onee-chan|Big Sister}} so happy? It's really fun when Satoshi and Onee-chan are together...." This could suggest that Masato wants Haruka and Satoshi to be together.

===Diamond and Pearl saga===
[[File:Ash May Split Ribbon.png|right|thumb|150px|Ash and May with the ribbon halves]]
* ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]''
:May joins up with Ash, Brock, and Dawn in [[Sinnoh]]. Later that day, in the evening, Ash and May both pull out their halves of the ribbon that they tied for, and hold the pieces together. May also says how the ribbon reminds her of Ash's encouragement, and how it has saved her numerous times in [[Johto]].

* ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''
:Before May leaves to return to Johto, she and the rest of the group share goodbyes. She and Ash speak last, each telling the other to do their best in their respective paths. It is only when May is speaking with Ash (despite the fact she was exchanging farewells with everyone) that she holds her heart. Further indication is that when both May and Ash say their goodbyes, each of their eyes glimmer. In the anime, when a character's eyes glimmer it represents a type of {{tt|passion|Not necessarily romantic passion, but possibly passionate determination}}.

===Movies===
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
:On one of the nights when May folds a tab on the wishing star, she afterward looks toward Ash who is skipping rocks across a river. The camera then goes back to May, showing the very anxious look on her face. Because of this scene, many AdvanceShippers believe that May's wish involves Ash, although the nature of the wish is never confirmed. In this example, however, one must account for the fact that Max and Jirachi are skipping rocks with Ash, as well as the fact that nothing else is going on at the time. When she looks "anxious" after viewing the scene, it could be partially due to sadness, since she knows that her little brother and Jirachi have very few days left together and will never see each other again afterward. As she looks away from the scene, she glances back at her wishing star and views the final two leaflets, which remind her that the week is coming to an end.
:It could be noted that May made the wish before Jirachi hatched, so it would be impossible have made the wish about Max and how he would miss Jirachi. Arguably, there is the possibility of the wish being a top coordinator, yet having her stare at Ash, and have her smile fall brings doubt on the theory.
[[File:Advance Shipping 2.png|thumb|right|Ash and May in [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]]]
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
:Ash tries to pick a fight with [[Tory Lund]]. In order to stop him, May throws her body on top of Ash and tells him to please stop. She places her hands on his shoulders and desperately tries to convince him to calm down. Ash is surprised by her action, and quickly says, "Oh-kay."

* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
:Ash once again loses his cool and is mad at {{an|Lucario}}. May quickly rushes down into the lake where Ash is standing and clutches his arm, trying to prevent him from getting himself in trouble. May holds onto him frantically until the situation is resolved. Afterward, May follows Ash around "mothering" him, telling him to get himself dry before he catches a cold.

*''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''
:As Ash and May go swimming with {{mov|Manaphy|Manaphy|9}}, a school of {{p|Luvdisc}}, the Pokémon thought to symbolize love, follows and swims with them. This is accompanied by shots of Ash and May looking at each other and smiling, while still surrounded by the Luvdisc.
:It could be interesting to note that the Sapphire Pokédex has stated that "any couple" (Suggesting even friends) "meeting" Luvdisc's "is promised a loving relationship that never ends"; whilst the Ruby Pokédex has stated that Luvdiscs would "swim after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves." This could suggest that May and Ash have a deep connection with each other, romantic or not.

:When Manaphy goes missing, May begins sobbing, heartbroken. Ash gazes at her with a pained expression and glistening eyes.

:While [[Samiya]] is being flooded with water, Ash puts May, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and Manaphy in a capsule left behind by [[The Phantom]], allowing them to survive in the event that his plan to replace the crystal fails. Distressed, May calls out to Ash with tearful eyes, but Ash only asks her to remain safe in there, and leaves with the brown in his eyes seen; this usually happens only when Ash is very upset or very emotional. May continues to pray for Ash's safety and is nearly driven to tears by the thought that he may not return. Manaphy sends May's prayers to Ash using Heart Swap, and with these thoughts spurring him on, Ash recoveres from his near-drowned state and replaces the crystal, saving Samiya.

:After Samiya is raised, May leaves the capsule, initially thrilled that the temple has been saved. (In the Japanese language version of the movie, she acknowledges that Satoshi is the one who saved the Temple by saying "This is Satoshi's doing, isn't it?") Her happiness, however, is quickly replaced by sadness and the fear that Ash will not return. "It can't be..." she says. "No way..." Her joy returns as soon as Ash flies up out of the water, chases down Captain Phantom, and saves the abducted Manaphy. In the manga adaption of the movie, when May and Pikachu are unsure of whether or not Ash survived trying to save the Sea Temple, she clutches Pikachu and is tearing up, but still retains hope in Ash by saying, "Ash wouldn't leave us like this..."

:Additionally, at multiple points during the movie, Manaphy seems very happy around Ash, best exemplified by the fact that it seemed content and happy in Ash's arms, when it's seen to only to accept May's company, even using {{m|Heart Swap}} to switch between Ash and [[Jack Walker]] when the latter held it, immediately regaining its happiness after doing so. Many AdvanceShippers suggest that Manaphy has chosen Ash to be his 'father'.

:When Ranger Jack moves to return into the Temple, Ash calls and warns him that it is too dangerous. Although, he submits when Jack tells him he will be fine. However, when May runs back into the Temple to follow Manaphy, Ash instinctively runs after her, presumably because, of everyone, he doesn't want to put her in danger.

:It can also be noted that Jackie Walker recognized that Ash, not Max, was the closest to May and specifically asked him to separate May and Manaphy.

==Similarities==
*They have both seen the same legendary Pokémon at different times:
:{{p|Ho-Oh}} (Ash in [[EP001]] and May in [[AG178]])
:{{p|Celebi}} (Ash in ''[[M04|Celebi: Voice of the Forest]]'' and May in [[AG155]])
*They both have a particular fondness for food.
* Both are the only main characters that received a Pokémon from more than one regional {{pkmn|professor}}. Ash obtained {{AP|Pikachu}} from {{an|Professor Oak}} and {{AP|Oshawott}} from [[Professor Juniper]] while May received {{TP|May|Torchic|Blaziken}} from [[Professor Birch]] and {{TP|May|Squirtle|Wartortle}} from Professor Oak.
**In addition, both have received a Pokémon from Professor Oak.
*Bulbasaur was the fourth Pokémon they caught.

===Pokémon===
Ash and May have caught members of several of the same evolutionary lines:
* Both have owned a {{p|Bulbasaur}} and a {{p|Squirtle}}.
** The relationship between their two Bulbasaur has extended to the point where a separate Shipping has been named for them: {{s|Vine}}.
* Ash has caught a {{p|Snorlax}} while May owns a {{p|Munchlax}}.
* Both have owned a fully evolved {{2t|Bug|Flying}} Pokémon that evolved from the first Pokémon that they caught ({{AP|Butterfree}} and {{TP|May|Beautifly}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Fire}} [[starter Pokémon]] from their home region ({{AP|Charizard}} and {{TP|May|Blaziken}}).
* Both have a fully-evolved {{type2|Grass}} starter Pokémon from ''each other's'' region ({{AP|Sceptile}} and {{TP|May|Venusaur}}).
* Both have managed to use a Pokémon before catching them (Ash with {{AP|Torkoal}} and May with Bulbasaur).

==Alternate names==
''AdvancedShipping'' - the original name that became the parent to the variant ''Advance''. 
''AaMayL'' - stands for "'''A'''sh '''a'''nd '''May''' '''L'''ove". 
''MaSh'' - an uncommon, if not defunct term; stands for "'''Ma'''y and A'''sh'''". 
''AS'' - an in-context abbreviation; stands for "AdvanceShipping". 
''ADV'' - another in-context abbreviation; comes from for "ADVance".

==Notable AdvanceShippers==
* [[Oscar and Andi]] -
: [[AG072]] - They believe that Ash and May are, in reality, a happy couple.
* [[Brock]] -
: [[AG078]] - After [[May]] walks away after having an argument with [[Ash]] over battles vs. contests, Brock looks at Ash, then at [[Drew]], sweat on his face. This could ''possibly'' show that Brock wants Ash to be with May instead of Drew.

==External links==
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56010 AdvanceShipping Nation] on BMGf (New/Open Thread)
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9689 AdvanceShipping General Discussion] on BMGf (Old/Closed Thread)
* [http://adv.wikidot.com/ ADVpedia]
* [http://satoharu13.webs.com/ Advanceshipping - Home]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/starpoke/index.htm Advanceshipping Hope]
* [http://ashandmayalltheway.webs.com/ Ash and May All The Way!]

{{Project Shipping notice}}

[[Category:Shipping|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime ships|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with Ash|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ships with May|{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[ja:サトハル]]

May (anime)

2011-11-07T21:58:03Z

Leighe44: /* Character */

{{CharInfobox|
color={{ruby color}} |
corecolor={{ruby color light}} |
bordercolor={{ruby color dark}} |
name=May |
jname=ハルカ |
tmname=Haruka |
slogan=no |
image=MayDiamondPearl.png |
size=250px |
caption=May in the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}} |
age=yes |
years=10 (as of [[AG001|debut]]) |
colors=yes |
eyes=Blue |
hair=Brown |
gender=Female |
hometown=[[Petalburg City]] |
region=[[Hoenn]] |
relatives=[[Max]] (brother), [[Norman]] (father), [[Caroline]] (mother) |
trainer=yes |
trainerclass={{pkmn|Coordinator}} |
game=counterpart|
counterpart={{ga|May}}|
leader=no |
team=no |
anime=yes |
epnum=AG001 |
epname=Get the Show on the Road |
enva=[[Veronica Taylor]] ([[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]]) [[Michele Knotz]] ({{TPCi}})|
java=[[KAORI]] |
}}

'''May''' (Japanese: '''ハルカ''' ''Haruka'') is a ten-year-old [[Pokémon Coordinator]] from the {{pkmn|anime}} and a former {{ashfr|traveling companion}} of {{Ash}}. Her goal is to compete in [[Pokémon Contest]]s and win [[ribbon]]s, win the [[Grand Festival]]s of the different regions, and become a top {{pkmn|Coordinator}}. She traveled through [[Hoenn]] and [[Kanto]] with Ash, {{an|Brock}}, and her little brother [[Max]]. She is the daughter of [[Norman]] and [[Caroline]], and her [[starter Pokémon]] was a {{p|Torchic}} given to her by [[Professor Birch]].

==Character==
[[Image:May Anime Artwork.png|thumb|left|150px|May in the {{series|Advanced Generation}}]]
May has secretly been [[Ash]]'s girlfriend ever since the christmas special that has never aired in the USA. May is a young {{pkmn|Coordinator}} who loves shopping and eating treats. She has a particular fondness for food, especially noodles. When someone steals her food, she gets angered, to the point of yelling at people. May is generally very sweet and optimistic, though she shows a tougher side sometimes, such as when she argues with her little brother, [[Max]]. Even though they argue often, she has shown that she deeply cares for her brother. [[File:May rage.png|thumb|right|230px|May's rage at her loss of food]]

She loves cute {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, dazzling techniques, and has a tendency to rely on luck, often using her {{TP|May|Skitty}}'s {{m|Assist}} or her {{TP|May|Munchlax}}'s {{m|Metronome}}. She sometimes takes an interest in helping other people with their romantic problems. She loves making her own [[Pokéblock]]s with recipes that she thinks up, including ones called "May's Purple Surprise" and "May's Pink Surprise" (Japanese: ''Haruka's Delicious'' and ''Haruka's Delicious 2''). The only ones who liked her Purple Surprise were [[May's Munchlax|her Munchlax]] and [[Jessie]]. "May's Pink Surprise" came from the recipe for food {{an|Professor Oak}} uses to feed [[Ash's Snorlax]]. Thus, after May [[AG118|first fed]] it to her Munchlax, it was automatically made full. This was subsequently used to feed Munchlax to prevent it from eating the food of others.

[[File:May Wallace Cup.png|thumb|right|230px|May at the [[Wallace Cup]]]]
It was revealed by [[Max]] in ''[[AG103|A Cacturne for the Worse]]'' that as a small child, May was afraid of Pokémon. There was one instance in particular that truly embarrassed May. One day she was swimming in the ocean and was suddenly surrounded by a school of {{p|Tentacool}}. May got scared and called to her parents. She was wearing a blue swimsuit and a matching blue swimmer's cap, leading her mother to believe she was actually a Tentacool. Her mother tried to catch her with one of her [[Poké Ball]]s. [[Harley|One of May's opponents in a contest]] recorded Max telling him this to embarrass May into losing.

When May debuted in the anime, she did not like Pokémon at all and was only interested in becoming a [[Pokémon Trainer]] so she could travel. Everyone expected her to become a Trainer, to follow in her [[Gym Leader]] [[Norman|father's]] footsteps. However, after seeing a Contest in ''[[AG013|All Things Bright and Beautifly!]]'', she decided to become a Pokémon Coordinator. Though she was initially shown to not know much about Pokémon or [[move|attack]]s, she gradually gained experience through her journey and soon became a talented coordinator, with her skill being displayed in her [[Grand Festival]] rankings in the [[Hoenn]] and [[Kanto]] regions. {{an|Dawn}} once referred to her as the "Princess of Hoenn" when they met.
[[Image:Younger May.png|thumb|left|Younger May, in a flashback]]

As a Coordinator, May was able to learn more about Pokémon. For her Contests, she was able to come up with different attack combinations. She was able to use these combinations in battle. An example of this would be using her Combusken's {{m|Fire Spin}} and her Squirtle's {{m|Bubble}} to create a combination of fire and water, dubbed ''Fire and Water Whirlwind'' by [[Lilian Meridian|Lilian]]. This even got a [[Harley|rival]] of hers mad, thinking she thought he was not worthy of the move so May did not use it against him.

During her journey, she finds a rival in [[Drew]], a skilled and sometimes arrogant Coordinator who was one of her main inspirations to try harder to further her skills. Another rival of hers, [[Harley]], is a flamboyant man who goes to extremes to beat May. At the Kanto Grand Festival, May competed against [[Solidad]], an experienced Coordinator to whom she lost to in the semi-finals. At the end of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, she left to compete with Drew, Harley and Solidad in the [[Johto]] region, aiming to find her own style. May has [[Contest Pass]]es to compete in [[Hoenn]], [[Kanto]] and [[Johto]].

May reappeared from ''[[DP075|Our Cup Runneth Over!]]'' to ''[[DP079|Strategy With a Smile!]]'' to participate in the [[Wallace Cup]] alongside {{Ash}}, {{an|Dawn}} and [[Zoey]]. During this period, she wore the {{v|Emerald}} of her outfit. May made it all the way to the finals of the Wallace Cup, but narrowly lost to Dawn in the end.

May has a personal [[List of Japanese ending themes|ending theme song]], ''[[I Won't Lose! ~Haruka's Theme~]]'', performed by [[KAORI]]. It was first used as background music in the episode ''[[AG166|Curbing the Crimson Tide]]'' and again in next episode, ''[[AG167|What I Did for Love]]''. The theme was also used in the Appeals Round at the Wallace Cup for May's performance.

==Pokémon==
===Currently in rotation===
{| align="center" width="100%"
|-
| {{ActivePoké|May|Blaziken|May Blaziken.png|fire|fighting|fir=Torchic|mid=Combusken}}
| {{ActivePoké|May|Beautifly|May Beautifly.png|bug|flying|fir=Wurmple|mid=Silcoon}}
| {{ActivePoké|May|Skitty|May Skitty.png|normal}} ♀
|-
| {{ActivePoké|May|Venusaur|May Venusaur.png|grass|poison|fir=Bulbasaur|mid=Ivysaur}} ♀
| {{ActivePoké|May|Wartortle|May Wartortle.png|water|fir=Squirtle}}
| {{ActivePoké|May|Munchlax|May Munchlax.png|normal}}
|-
| {{ActivePoké|May|Glaceon|May Glaceon.png|ice|fir=Egg|mid=Eevee}}
|}

===Temporary===
{{TrainerPoké
|trainer=Kyle Hamm
|pkmn=Hitmonchan
|gender=male
|type1=Fighting
|img=Kyle Hitmonchan.png
|epnum=AG145
|epname=Pasta La Vista
|desc=May borrowed {{p|Hitmonchan}} from [[Kyle Hamm]] after [[Master Hamm]] broke his back.

Hitmonchan's known moves are {{m|Comet Punch}}, {{m|Mach Punch}}, {{m|Agility}}, {{m|Focus Punch}} and {{m|Sky Uppercut}}.}}

{{TrainerPoké
|main=Manaphy (movie 9)
|trainer=May
|pkmn=Manaphy
|type1=Water
|img=Manaphy movie 9.png
|epnum=M09
|epname=Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
|desc=May befriended {{p|Manaphy}} after its egg hatched. It speaks without the need for telepathy.}}

==Ribbons==
[[File:MaysHoennRibbons.png|thumb|220px|May's [[Hoenn]] Ribbons]]
[[File:May Kanto Ribbons 5.png|thumb|220px|May's [[Kanto]] Ribbons]]
[[Image:Mayjohtoribbons.png|thumb|right|220px|May's [[Johto]] Ribbons]]
===Hoenn===
* [[Fallarbor Town]] [[Ribbon]] (''[[AG051|Come What May!]]'')
* [[Verdanturf Town]] Ribbon (''[[AG062|Disguise Da Limit]]'')
* [[Lilycove City]] Ribbon (''[[AG091|Lessons in Lilycove!]]'')
* [[Izabe Island]] Ribbon (''[[AG103|A Cacturne for the Worse]]'')
* [[Pacifidlog Town]] Ribbon (''[[AG116|Pacifidlog Jam]]'')

===Kanto===
* [[Saffron City]] Ribbon (''[[AG144|A Hurdle for Squirtle]]'')
* {{Ka|Silver Town}} Ribbon (''[[AG151|Weekend Warrior]]'')
* [[Chrysanthemum Island]] Ribbon (''[[AG162|Spontaneous Combusken!]]'')
* [[Gardenia Town]] Ribbon (''[[AG167|What I Did for Love!]]'')
* [[Mulberry City]] Ribbon (''[[AG175|Going for Choke!]]'')

===Johto===
* Three unknown Ribbons (prior to ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]'')

==Grand Festival ranking==
May placed in the following [[Grand Festival]] competitions:
* [[Hoenn]] Grand Festival (Top 8)
* [[Kanto]] Grand Festival (Top 4)

==Other achievements==
* [[Pokémon Orienteering]] - Runner-up
* Unofficial {{to|Terracotta}} Contest - Winner (tied with {{Ash}})
* [[Wallace Cup]] - Runner-up

==Voice actors==
{{vatable|color={{ruby color}}|bordercolor={{ruby color light}}
|ja=[[KAORI]] (currently credited as 鈴木カオリ ''Kaori Suzuki'')
|en=[[Veronica Taylor]] ([[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] dub) [[Michele Knotz]] ({{TPCi}} dub)
|zh_cmn=傅曼君 ''Fù Mànjūn''
|da=Annevig Schelde Ebbe
|cs=Klára Šumanová
|nl=Nicoline van Doorn Unknown Voice Actor (movies 6-7)
|fr_eu=Maia Baran
|el=Stella Bonatsou (Στέλλα Μπονάτσου)
|fi=Aksa Korttila
|de=Nicola Grupe Stephanie Kellner (movies [[M06|6]] and [[M07|7]])
|he=דון לני-גבאי Dawn Lanny-Gabay
|id=Dewi Arifiani
|it=Serena Clerici
|pl=[[Julita Kożuszek-Borsuk]] (Julita Kożuszek)
|pt_br=Tatiane Keplmair
|pt_eu=Carla ([[AG001]]-[[AG108]]) Isabel Ribas ([[AG109]]-[[AG192]]) Marta Mota ([[DP075]]-[[DP079]])
|es_eu=Cristina Yuste
|es_la=Ana Lobo ([[AG001]]-[[AG044]]) Liliana Barba ([[AG033]]-[[AG034]]) Mariana Ortiz ([[AG045]]-Present) Agustina Priscila (movies [[M06|6]] and [[M07|7]])
|fil=Charmaine Cordoviz
|th=อรุณี นันทิวาส Arunee Nuntiwass}}

==In the TCG==
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring May or her Pokémon in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].

{| border="1" style="border: 1px solid #999; border-collapse: collapse; background: white;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background: #{{tcg Fire color}};"
!Name
!Type
!Level
!Rarity
!Set
!Set no.
|-
| {{TCG ID|8th Movie Half Deck|May's Munchlax|8}} || {{e|Colorless}} || - || - || {{TCG|8th Movie Half Deck}} (no English release) || 008/020
|-
| {{TCG ID|9th Movie Half Deck|May's Combusken|2}} || {{e|Fire}} || - || - || {{TCG|9th Movie Half Deck}} (no English release) || 002/019
|-
| {{TCG ID|ADV-P Promo|May's Torchic|37}} || {{e|Fire}} || - || - || {{TCG|ADV-P Promotional cards}} (no English release) || 037/ADV-P
|}

==Trivia==
[[File:May wishmaker.png|250px|thumb|right|May's wishmaker]]
* May is the only female companion of Ash's not to have a [[walking Pokémon]].
** In addition, she is also the only female companion that did not have a Pokémon fully disobey her.
* Both May and her brother Max are the only friends of Ash to have a central role in a [[Pokémon movie]].
* May and Max are two of three of Ash's friends who have had their father make an appearance in the anime. The other is Brock.
* May's contest cry is "Take the stage!" (US) and "Stage on!" (Japan). In the dub, she also uses variations, such as "On stage!"
* All of May's major rivals have {{type2|Bug}} Pokémon. [[Drew]] has {{p|Masquerain}} and {{p|Butterfree}}, [[Harley]] has {{p|Ariados}}, and [[Solidad]] has {{p|Butterfree}}.
* Five out of seven of May's Pokémon have an 87.5% chance of being male in the games, namely {{TP|May|Munchlax}}, {{TP|May|Blaziken}}, {{TP|May|Glaceon}}, {{TP|May|Venusaur}}, and {{TP|May|Wartortle}} (however out of these, May's Venusaur has been confirmed to be female).
* May has competed in at least one contest in each region seen in the anime with the exception of [[Unova]] and the [[Orange Archipelago]] as contests are not held in those locations.

==Names==
{| class="roundy" align="left" style="background: #{{ruby color light}}; border: 3px solid #{{ruby color}}"
|- align=center
! style="{{roundytl|5px}}" | Language
! Name
! style="{{roundytr|5px}}" | Origin
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|Japanese
| ハルカ ''Haruka''
| From 春花 ''haruka'', spring flower. May also be taken as 遥か ''haruka'', far away, in relation to her father, [[Norman|Senri]] (千里), 1000 {{wp|li (length)|li}}.
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|English
| May
| Could be a reference to her Japanese name, as May is a month in spring.
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|French
| Flora
| Similar to ''Fleur'', which means "flower".
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|German
| Maike
| From ''Mai'', which means "May".
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|Italian
| Vera
| From ''primavera'', which means "spring".
|- style="background:#FFF;"
| Spanish
| Aura
| From ''aura'', a figure of speech that means "gentle breeze" and is commonly associated to spring, as in ''aura primaveral'' ("spring breeze").
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|Korean
| 봄이 ''Bom'i''
| 봄 means "spring"
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|Chinese ({{tt|Mandarin|Taiwan and Mainland China}})
| 小遙 / 小遥 ''Xiǎo Yáo''
| 遙 (distant) is taken from 遥か ''haruka''.
|- style="background:#FFF;"
|Chinese ({{tt|Cantonese|Hong Kong}})
| 小遙 ''Síu Yìuh''
| Same as Mandarin name.
|}
{{-}}

==Related articles==
* {{Cat|Episodes focusing on May}}

==External links==
===On Bulbagarden forums===
* [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=9031 May Club] on the Bulbagarden forums

{{May's Pokémon}} 
{{Ringertrainers}}
{{Coordinators}} 
{{Animecharacters}} 
{{Project Anime notice|no}}

[[Category:Anime characters|May]]
[[Category:Ash's friends|May]]
[[Category:Female characters|May]]
[[Category:Ash and Pikachu characters|May]]

[[de:Maike]]
[[es:Aura (anime)]]
[[fr:Flora (dessin animé)]]
[[ja:ハルカ]]
[[pl:May]]
[[pt:May]]

AG072

2011-11-07T21:52:27Z

Leighe44: /* Trivia */

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG071 |
prevtitle=A Six Pack Attack! |
nextcode=AG073 |
nexttitle=Grass Hysteria |
series=Advanced Generation series |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=AG072 |
altepcode=EP346 |
colorscheme=Hoenn |
title_en=The Bicker the Better |
title_ja=タッグバトル！サトシVSハルカ！？ |
title_ja_trans=Tag Battle! Satoshi VS Haruka!? |
broadcast_jp=April 15, 2004 |
broadcast_us=April 2, 2005 |
screen=yes |
en_series=Pokémon Advanced Challenge |
en_op=[[This Dream]] |
ja_op=[[Challenger!!|チャレンジャー!!]] |
ja_ed=[[Smile|スマイル]] ② |
olmteam=Team Ota |
scenario=松井亜弥 |
storyboard=浅田裕二 |
director=渡辺正彦 |
art=志村泉 |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=AG071-AG080 |
footnotes=*{{filb-eppics|ag|072}} }}

'''The Bicker the Better''' (Japanese: '''タッグバトル！サトシVSハルカ！？''' ''Tag Battle! {{tt|Satoshi|Ash}} VS {{tt|Haruka|May}}!?'') is the 72nd episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 347th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 15, 2004 and in the United States on April 2, 2005.
{{spoilers}}

==Synopsis==
{{Ash}}, {{an|Brock}}, and [[Max]] step outside the [[Pokémon Center]], ready to depart to [[Fortree City]]. However, {{AP|Pikachu}} warns the group that {{an|May}} isn’t ready yet. Ash goes back inside, finding her just finishing up packing. Still, he scolds May for being too slow, and pushes her out of the center. She stops in front of a mirror, further irritating Ash. May states that its normal to do so, but Ash doesn’t, shocking May. When Ash responds that he isn’t a girl, May condescends him, making Ash even more angry.

As the group walks, Ash and May rant about each other, setting off a direct argument, while the others watch. The group runs into the couple [[Oscar and Andi]], challenging Ash and May to a tag battle, proclaiming the two a [[AdvanceShipping|couple]]. Although both deny the couple connection, Ash and May accept the challenge.

Oscar summons {{p|Nidoking}} while Andi summons {{p|Nidoqueen}}. Ash summons {{AP|Corphish}}. However, May’s pondering for her choice irritates Ash. After deciding, she chooses Skitty. Unfortunately, Corphish and Skitty are unable to work together, canceling each others attacks. Oscar and Andi pull the win when Corphish and Skitty are both hit with {{m|DynamicPunch}} from both Nidoking and Nidoqueen. Ash and May are left bickering.

[[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} are sulking about their lack of progress when Oscar and Andi run into them, challenging Jessie and James to the same match as Ash and May. James uses {{TP|James|Cacnea}} while Jessie uses {{TP|Jessie|Seviper}}. Seviper ends up attacking Cacnea, causing Jessie and James to argue, allowing Oscar and Andi to take the win with dual Hyper Beam attacks, sending Team Rocket flying.

Ash and May are still fighting about the loss, blaming each other, while Max and Brock watch. Jessie and James are also bickering. The two arguing groups cross paths, and another tag battle ensures. James teams up with Ash while Jessie takes May. Although Ash and May are hesitant to fight, they decide to accept. The teams use the same Pokémon used in the previous tag battles.

Corphish and Cacnea work better together than Seviper and Skitty, shifting the battle to James and Ash. Jessie starts to get angry at the thought of losing, so she summons {{TP|Jessie|Dustox}}. The guys protest at her breaking the rules, but she doesn’t care. The battle quickly grows out of control when attacks start to fly undirected. Brock declares the women disqualified, but it is meaningless.

While the battle rages on, Meowth and the others watch from behind cover. Meowth realizes that the chaos could allow them to snatch Pikachu, so he manages to stop Jessie and James from fighting long enough to realize it. They create diversionary attacks with Seviper’s Haze and Cacnea’s Sandstorm, allowing Meowth to snag Pikachu in a net.

Team Rocket tries to run, but May’s Skitty uses Assist-turned-String Shot to stop Team Rocket. Corphish protects Skitty from Seviper, rebuilding the trust between Ash and May, allowing them to work together to free Pikachu and send Team Rocket flying as usual. Ash and May apologize to each other, and the fight ends.

==Major events==
* {{Ash}} and {{an|May}} participate in a tag battle for the first time.
{{animeevents}}

===Debuts===

==Characters==
===Humans===
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|May}}
* {{an|Brock}}
* [[Max]]
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* [[Oscar and Andi|Oscar]]
* [[Oscar and Andi|Andi]]

===Pokémon===
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Wobbuffet}} ({{OP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}})
* {{p|Corphish}} ({{OP|Ash|Corphish}})
* {{p|Skitty}} ({{OP|May|Skitty}})
* {{p|Seviper}} ({{OP|Jessie|Seviper}})
* {{p|Dustox}} ({{OP|Jessie|Dustox}})
* {{p|Cacnea}} ({{OP|James|Cacnea}})
* {{p|Nidoking}} ([[Oscar and Andi|Oscar]]'s)
* {{p|Nidoqueen}} ([[Oscar and Andi|Andi]]'s)

==Trivia==
* Considered to be the birth of AdvanceShipping.
* This episode wasn't aired in some countries due to the fact that the episode was regarded as a "battle of the sexes".
* The episode's dub title is a pun on the phrase "the bigger the better".
* Blaziken is also legally correct on the Pokémon Trainer's Choice because Ariados is half {{t|Bug}} type and {{t|Fire}} moves are effective.

===Errors===
* {{p|Onix}} is misspelled as ''Onyx'' in the Pokémon Trainer's Choice for this episode.
* Ash's [[EP108|double battle]] with [[Luana]] in the [[Orange Archipelago]] is not mentioned, despite it being the first official double battle in the series. Ash and {{an|Brock}}'s tag battle in ''[[EP006|Clefairy and the Moon Stone]]'' is also disregarded.
* When May checks her Pokédex on Andi's Nidoqueen, she is wearing Ash's gloves.
* Jessie commands Dustox to use Pin Missile instead of Poison Sting.
* During Ash and May's argument, May's left hand disappears.
* Brock says that, according to the rules of Pokémon battles, no Trainer is allowed to use more than one Pokémon in any battle. This is, of course, not true. He may have meant "in any '''single battle'''", which was the norm back in Generations I and II.

[[File:AG072 deleted scene.png|thumb|right|200px|Shot that wasn't shown outside of Japan]]

===Pokémon Trainer's Choice===
* Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle {{p|Ariados}}?
* Choices: {{p|Raichu}}, {{tt|{{p|Onix|Onyx}}|spelling error}}, {{p|Blaziken}}
* Answer: Ok, Trainers! If you chose {{tt|{{p|Onix|Onyx}}|spelling error}}, you were {{tt|right|as mentioned above, Blaziken would also be a correct answer}}!

===Dub edits===
* There is a 2 second shot of Jessie performing an ''{{wp|akanbe}}'', which involves pulling her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue at the same time. Like in ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]'' and ''[[EP006|Clefairy And The Moon Stone]]'', this was cut from the dub. This is mainly because it was a common action in Japan, but not outside Japan (especially US). However, other episodes featuring akanbe [[EP046|before]] and [[DP113|after]] this and AG002 had no such edits.

==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=9999FF|bordercolor=FF7777
|zh_cmn={{tt|雙人合作賽！小智對抗小遙！？|Tag Battle! Ash vs. May!?}}
|de=Top-Teamwork
|fi={{tt|Sukupuolten taistelu|The battle of genders}}
|fr_eu={{tt|Le match filles/garçons|The boys/girls match}}
|he=רבים ואוהבים{{tt|ravim ve'ohavim|Fighting and loving}}
|it={{tt|In nome dell'amore|In the name of love}}
|pt_br={{tt|Quanto mais Brigas, Melhor|The more Fights, the Better}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Quanto Mais Confuso, Melhor|The More Confused, the Better}}
|es_la={{tt|¡Entre más peleas, mejor!|The more fights, the better!}}
|es_eu={{tt|Discutir es lo mejor|Arguing is the best}}
}}

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG071 |
prevtitle=A Six Pack Attack! |
nextcode=AG073 |
nexttitle=Grass Hysteria |
series=Advanced Generation series |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{Project Anime notice}}

[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|072]]
[[Category:Banned episodes|346]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Aya Matsui|346]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada|346]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Masahiko Watanabe|346]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Izumi Shimura|346]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Ash|346]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on May|346]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Team Rocket|346]]

[[de:Top-Teamwork! (Episode)]]
[[ja:AG編第72話]]
[[pl:AG072]]

AG114

2011-11-07T21:51:18Z

Leighe44: /* Trivia */

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG113 |
prevtitle=Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut? |
nextcode=AG115 |
nexttitle=Mean With Envy |
series=Advanced Generation series |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=AG114 |
altepcode=EP388 |
colorscheme=Hoenn |
title_en=Date Expectations |
title_ja=ころがれ！恋するドンファン！ |
title_ja_trans=Rollout! Loving Donfan! |
broadcast_jp=February 10, 2005 |
broadcast_us=April 1, 2006 |
screen=yes |
en_series=Pokémon Advanced Battle |
en_op=[[Unbeatable]] |
ja_op=[[Pokémon Symphonic Medley|ポケモンシンフォニックメドレー]] |
ja_ed=[[GLORY DAY ~That Shining Day~|GLORY DAY 〜輝くその日〜]] ② |
olmteam=Team Ota |
scenario=大橋志吉 |
storyboard=秦義人 |
director=秦義人 |
art=志村泉 |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=AG111-AG120 |
footnotes=*{{filb-eppics|ag|114}}}}
'''Date Expectations''' (Japanese: '''ころがれ！恋するドンファン！''' ''Rollout! Loving {{tt|Donfan|Donphan}}!'') is the 114th episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 388th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on February 10, 2005, in the UK on January 30, 2006 and in the United States on April 1, 2006.
{{spoilers}}

==Synopsis==

Everyone is going to [[Pacifidlog Town]] so {{an|May}} can participate in a {{pkmn|Contest}}. Two islands come into sight, and the engine breaks. They land on the left island while the captain fixes the engine. He tells {{Ash}} it might take a few hours to fix, and tells them that if they want to be on time for the Contest, they could take a ferry on the other side of the island.

Soon, they come across a group of {{p|Donphan}} using {{m|Rollout}}, and almost get run over. {{an|Brock}} explains that it is mating season and they are trying to impress the females. The same Donphan rolls towards them again, so they run away and leave the area. When they find a deserted area, they stop to rest.

Suddenly, a female Donphan shows up and a bunch of males come over to impress it. Ash and co. run away again. They call out {{TP|Brock|Mudkip}} and {{AP|Corphish}} to protect them, since {{type2|Water}}s are super effective on {{type2|Ground}}s.

While this is going on, [[Team Rocket]] watches the Donphan from the top of a hill. As usual, Meowth suggests catching one and giving it to their boss. They start setting up some nets as a female rolls by. They try to figure out where it was going, but get squashed by more males chasing it. Jessie tells James to have {{TP|James|Chimecho}} heal them, but he startles them instead by making it use {{m|Astonish}}.

They notice some Donphan with mates up ahead. Everyone comments on them, but another Donphan starts chasing them. The Pokémon attack it, and knock it into a rock. Brock bandages its nose, but suddenly a shiny Donphan comes over and the injured Donphan chases after it.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is trying to catch a Donphan, but they just get squashed.

Ash sees the injured Donphan again as it tries to impress the female, but it just gets knocked out of the way by some other Donphan. As they watch, {{AP|Snorunt}} comes out of its [[Poké Ball]] and uses {{m|Ice Beam}}. Excited, Ash tells it to use the move again, and it freezes the ground under the Donphan, making them slip. The shiny female expresses its disapproval and walks away. [[Max]] says they shouldn't have brought out Snorunt, so Ash tries to recall it. However, it just runs away so they chase after it.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has made a pitfall trap, and they're all congratulating each other. Unnoticed, Snorunt walks up and freezes them. Before the ice can melt, more Donphan roll by and crash into them, blasting them off again.

Suddenly, a number of Donphan roll at Ash. Brock and Max run one way, while Ash and May go the other. Ash and May get to the ferry, but May tells Ash that she won't get on, because even though she'll miss the contest, she won't leave her brother. She remembers leaving her house and promising her mom to take care of Max, and Ash agrees. They head off.

Brock and Max see the injured Donphan, and ask it if it had any luck. It tells them that it didn't.

Meanwhile, May and Ash see the shiny female. May gives it some Pokémon food and tells it about the injured Donphan. Brock and Max find Ash and May. The injured Donphan also finds the shiny Donphan and starts using Rollout, but is knocked away by another male. All the other Donphan start rolling around the female, but the injured Donphan gets annoyed and knocks them all away. It starts to roll off with the female, but they both get caught in a net as Team Rocket appears. Ash wants to battle them, but May interrupts and scolds them, complaining that she would be in Pacifidlog if it wasn't for them. Team Rocket gets worried.

May sends out her Pokémon. {{TP|May|Beautifly}} pulls the Donphan away with {{m|String Shot}}, {{TP|May|Bulbasaur}} cuts the net with {{m|Razor Leaf}}, {{TP|May|Skitty}} uses {{m|DoubleSlap}} on them, and {{TP|May|Combusken}} uses {{m|Flamethrower}}. Finally, the two Donphan use Rollout and blast them off again. Everyone thanks them and congratulates the injured Donphan on getting the shiny female. Both Pokémon smile.

In the evening, they reach the harbor. As they look at Pacifidlog on the horizon, Ash says that they could have done it if Max hadn't gotten lost. Max says sorry but May tells him it was the Donphan messing everything up, not him.

Suddenly, they hear the captain calling out that he fixed the engine, so they get on board the boat. While they head toward Pacifidlog, the captain says that they are lucky because if he hadn't gotten there then, he would have thought that they got on the ferry. Max tells May that now she can be in the Contest.

== Major events ==
* [[Ash's Snorunt]] tries to use {{m|Ice Beam}} for the first time.
{{animeevents}}
=== Debuts ===

== Characters ==
=== Humans ===
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|May}}
* {{an|Brock}}
* [[Max]]
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* [[Carlos]]
* [[Caroline]] (flashback)

=== Pokémon ===
[[Pokémon Trainer's Choice]]: {{p|Lunatone}}

* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{op|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Wobbuffet}} ({{op|Jessie|Wobbuffet}})
* {{p|Chimecho}} ({{op|James|Chimecho}})
* {{p|Phanpy}} ({{op|Ash|Phanpy}}; flashback)
* {{p|Corphish}} ({{op|Ash|Corphish}})
* {{p|Snorunt}} ({{op|Ash|Snorunt}})
* {{p|Combusken}} ({{op|May|Combusken}})
* {{p|Beautifly}} ({{op|May|Beautifly}})
* {{p|Skitty}} ({{op|May|Skitty}})
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{op|May|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Mudkip}} ({{op|Brock|Mudkip}})
* {{p|Seviper}} ({{op|Jessie|Seviper}})
* {{p|Dustox}} ({{op|Jessie|Dustox}})
* {{p|Cacnea}} ({{op|James|Cacnea}})
* {{p|Donphan}} (multiple, including a female one of {{shiny|alternate coloration}})
* {{p|Wingull}}

== Trivia ==
[[File:AG114 Error.png|thumb|Chimecho with Wobbuffet's face]]
* The English dub title is a play on the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations".
* This episode is considered my millions of people to contain AdvanceShipping.
* When [[Team Rocket]] was blasting off at the end of the episode, {{TP|James|Chimecho}}'s face was similar to {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}}'s.

=== Pokémon Trainer's Choice ===
* Question: Trainers, which Pokémon would not be affected by {{m|Earthquake}}?
* Choices: {{p|Sandshrew}}, {{p|Lunatone}}, {{p|Whiscash}}
* Answer: OK, trainers! If you chose {{p|Lunatone}}, you were right!

=== Errors ===

=== Dub edits ===

==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=9999FF|bordercolor=FF7777
|zh_cmn={{tt|滾動吧！愛河中的頓甲！|Rollout! Donphan in Love!}}
|de={{tt|Die rollende Romanze|The rolling romance}}
|nl={{tt|Donphan man zoekt Donphan vrouw|Donphan male searches Donphan female}}
|fi={{tt|Suuria odotuksia|Great expectations}}
|fr={{tt|Désillusions|Disenchantment}}
|he=ציפייה לדייט ''{{tt|tzipia ledate|Date Expectation}}
|it={{tt|La stagione degli amori|Love season}}
|pt_br={{tt|Expectativas de Encontro|Date Expectations}}
|es_la={{tt|La fecha esperada|The expected date}}
|es_eu={{tt|Época de emparejamiento|Season of pairing}}
}}

{{-}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG113 |
prevtitle=Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut? |
nextcode=AG115 |
nexttitle=Mean With Envy |
series=Advanced Generation series |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|114]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi|388]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yoshito Hata|388]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Izumi Shimura|388]]
[[Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears|388]]

[[de:Die rollende Romanze (Episode)]]
[[ja:AG編第114話]]
[[pl:AG114]]

Bulbapedia:Project Shipping

2011-09-26T11:21:17Z

Leighe44: /* Participants */

{{Project leader|{{u|ArcToraphim}}}}
[[Image:Project Shipping logo.png|right|200px]]
Some Bulbapedia members have formed a [[Bulbapedia:Project|project]] to better organize efforts to write and improve articles about '''Shipping'''. If you would like to help, please inquire on the [[{{NAMESPACE}} talk:{{PAGENAME}}|talk page]] or the [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/forumdisplay.php?f=195 Bulbapedia forum] and see the [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/To-do list]].

==Project Shipping==
===Scope and aims===
Project Shipping covers all articles about Shipping. When developing new pages or adding to old ones, adhere to this: [[Bulbapedia:Shipping]] for guidance on content.

===Participation===
'''PLEASE READ''': "All" is a misnomer; it is impossible to actively construct articles for all the known Ships. Bulbapedia is also an encyclopedia, and encyclopedias are professional tools. All information is relevant if it relates directly to the medium it spawns from, and is FACT. It is fact Ash is oblivious to the many crushes he's gotten; it is not fact he might currently reciprocate on any of them.

Shipping articles do offer bias, as Shipping itself is as bias as it is factual. It's fact Shipping is a major part of the fandom; it's not fact everyone agrees with everything that will be represented as evidence. Therefore, if you are going to participate in cleaning up the articles or creating them, please be aware of what is acceptable within the article. You might insert information another does not believe belongs, even though it fits possible "evidence"; unlike the main space, information here is not judged the same, only because everything on the main space is generally ironclad and there is no room for fanon, weak evidence, or lazy information. In that frame of mind, even bias information is subject to disbelief, and can be deleted if the evidence is not sustainable.

tl;dr - Crap is still crap. You can grasp at straws, but you're better off not, for the sake of an article's integrity. Know your information, and if you have to, explain it coherently (just not over-glossed and embellished).

===Participants===
To join the project, simply add your name to the '''bottom''' of this list:

* '''{{u|ArcToraphim}}''' - {{bp|Project Leaders|Project Leader}}
* {{U|Archaic}}
* {{U|Haruka uzumaki}}
* {{u|Netto-kun}}
* {{u|Ayame}}
* {{U|EVAN AAML}}
* {{U|Pachirisulover12}}
* {{u|AmberFire284}}
* {{U|Avegaille}}
* {{U|HikariTajiri}}
* {{U|PokePal}}
* {{U|Rucario64}}
* {{U|Wikid}}
* {{U|Jigglypidgeot}}
* {{U|MayumiKyoku}}
* {{U|DawnXash}}
* {{U|Pokemonboy}}
* {{U|FatalWhispher}}
* {{U|PokéRocksTeamRocket123}}
* {{U|Pokegirlsheart}}
* {{U|hihihikari}}
* {{U|yarrboots}}
* {{U|LoveLoverGrl}}
* {{U|Buizel99}}
* {{U|Hai24}}
* {{U|Icelilly}}
* {{U|AGGRON999}}
* {{U|pikachu1534}}
* {{U|Marillrocks}}
* {{U|Pkmn veteran}}
* {{U|Simpsonsdude13}}
* {{U|Themagikarpsalesman}}
* {{U|GuyNamedSean}}
* {{U|LightningKimba}}
* {{U|Alexa9966}}
* {{U|Dragonbeastx}}
* {{u|Ced12}}
* {{u|Alec9}}
* {{u|BKG201}}
* {{u|DAWN FAN}}
* {{u|LucarioSinnoh}}
* {{u|Firefly292}}
* {{u|ShinjiLover}}
* {{u|Ctesjbuvf}}
* {{u|Dragonbane}}
* {{u|050294}}
* {{u|Cherry blossom haiku}}
* {{u|Tandra88}}
* {{u|Tsukaiz}}
* {{u|BAC510}}
* {{u|Kenji-girl}}
* {{u|Psychoticneko}}
* {{U|Csisps 26}}
* {{U|Pokegirl444}}
* {{u|Alpha Totodile}}
* {{u|ottomaniac123}}
* {{u|Tyetyez}}
* {{U|Galladeon}}
* {{u|Jczala}}
* {{U|TwilightRocket}}
* {{U|Cerulean 15}}
* {{u|Pokelover195}}
* {{u|ForeverAndNevermore}}
* {{u|Hiidora}}
* {{u|Elneth}}
* {{u|Lunick v sonela}}
* {{u|Polo150}}
* {{u|Tommy-SAN}}
* {{u|BreakDanzKat}}
* {{u|Kaitie50}}
* {{u|Hikari Haruka luver}}
* {{u|Yoyozoo}}
* {{u|Legendhunter32}}
* {{u|Smartkidhen}}
* {{u|CuboneKing}}
* {{u|Lam alwin}}
* {{u|BubbleGuntheCat}}
* {{u|Stinkola}}
* {{u|Mudkipluvr4ever}}
* {{u|Krida}}
* {{u|Kazzy}}
* {{u|JasonTongRulz}}
* {{u|DialgaMaster105}}
* {{u|NekoMX}}
* {{u|Sapphiirexo2}}
* {{u|Hongyunsub}}
* {{u|Fooboo24}}
* {{u|Rubybrendan}}
* {{u|IvysaursBiggestFan}}
* {{u|duardognn}}
* {{u|TheAwesomerandom}}
* {{u|Emovampire1}}
* {{u|PeridotRox}}
* {{u|Chiramii}}
* {{u|CrystalMarina97}}
* {{u|Gizamimi Pichu}}
* {{U|aaml1101}}
* {{u|Almiaranger}}
* {{u|PokeZelda6664}} - What, no comments?
* {{u|Chocos0}}
* {{u|Lull}}
* {{u|FryyGuyy}} - Look ma, no hands!
* {{u|Thedavidcon}}
* {{u|BeeBwakka}}
* {{u|Mash4eva}}
* {{u|Loghomewill}}
* {{u|Desukaan563}}
* {{u|Sagetemp}}
* {{u|Adder}}
* {{u|CharmanderKitten}}
* {{u|Musicgirl272}}
* {{u|Landfish7}}
* {{u|Gohan5}}
* {{u|Ggb81}}
* {{u|Blackthorning}}
* {{u|PikaMunchgirl12}}
* {{u|bulbamelia}}
* {{u|Charmeleon24}}
* {{u|tmazzy}}
* {{u|keekk1}}
* {{u|Rayquaza8129}}
* {{u|Rook}}
Leighe44

===Page Creation===
If you want to create an article that is not listed on the [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/To-do list|to-do list]], it would be wise to ''ask'' the current project leader if it's actually okay, with ''a valid argument for it''. There are over 6,000 Ships in the Pokémon fandom alone; not all of them deserve articles on the merit of existence alone.

AUGUST 21, 2009: There will be '''no more''' pages for nevermets without prior consultation with the Project Leader. Any future articles will need to have a founding basis for the article, and will be given a week-long trial on its worth. Meaning, unless it's an article on a somewhat canon interrelation, such as ChikoShipping, AdvanceShipping, or CollideShipping, it will be rightly judged if it's worth notability. So before publishing the page, please construct it to an adequate size. If there is little to be said for the couple past popularity and straw-clutching (IkariShipping), then chances are it's not worth it. However, we will be the judge of that, if it's worth its weight or not.

===Structure===
====Title====
All articles should be known as 'Shipping:{name}Shipping' and a page, '{name}Shipping' should be created with only the template <nowiki>{{Shipping redirect}}</nowiki>. There is no need to put <nowiki>{{Shipping redirect|PAGENAME}}</nowiki> because the template has that covered.

Also, at the start of each article in the Shipping namespace you should add a [[Template:Ship|<nowiki>{{ship}}</nowiki>]] template so as to warn people.

If the article is a stub, use the template mentioned below.

====Other====

:''For further structure templates, including multi-ship articles, see [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/Article Structure]]''

===Goals===
# Write comprehensive and upstanding articles on Ships.
##This means they are to be substantial, well written (even if they are short articles), and with substance.
# Ensure that all hints/evidence/facts are in the originating media and not from fanfiction. All fanon information is to be eliminated.
##All given hints/evidence/facts should also be meaningful and not tossed in there because it made the Shipper in you go squee.

===Infoboxes===
* {{Template|Shipping redirect}}

{{Shipping redirect}}
* {{Template|ship}}

{{ship}}
* {{[[Template:Stub|stub{{!}}Shipping]]}}
{{Stub|Shipping}}
 

===Other templates===
* {{Template|Project Shipping notice}}

{{Project Shipping notice}}

* {{Template|User Project Shipping}}

{{User Project Shipping}}
 

==Other projects==
===Parent project===
This project has no parent project.

===Subprojects===
No subprojects have been defined.

===Related projects===
No related projects have been named.

[[Category:Bulbapedia projects|Shipping]]

Bulbapedia:Project Shipping

2011-09-26T11:20:45Z

Leighe44: /* Participants */

{{Project leader|{{u|ArcToraphim}}}}
[[Image:Project Shipping logo.png|right|200px]]
Some Bulbapedia members have formed a [[Bulbapedia:Project|project]] to better organize efforts to write and improve articles about '''Shipping'''. If you would like to help, please inquire on the [[{{NAMESPACE}} talk:{{PAGENAME}}|talk page]] or the [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/forumdisplay.php?f=195 Bulbapedia forum] and see the [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/To-do list]].

==Project Shipping==
===Scope and aims===
Project Shipping covers all articles about Shipping. When developing new pages or adding to old ones, adhere to this: [[Bulbapedia:Shipping]] for guidance on content.

===Participation===
'''PLEASE READ''': "All" is a misnomer; it is impossible to actively construct articles for all the known Ships. Bulbapedia is also an encyclopedia, and encyclopedias are professional tools. All information is relevant if it relates directly to the medium it spawns from, and is FACT. It is fact Ash is oblivious to the many crushes he's gotten; it is not fact he might currently reciprocate on any of them.

Shipping articles do offer bias, as Shipping itself is as bias as it is factual. It's fact Shipping is a major part of the fandom; it's not fact everyone agrees with everything that will be represented as evidence. Therefore, if you are going to participate in cleaning up the articles or creating them, please be aware of what is acceptable within the article. You might insert information another does not believe belongs, even though it fits possible "evidence"; unlike the main space, information here is not judged the same, only because everything on the main space is generally ironclad and there is no room for fanon, weak evidence, or lazy information. In that frame of mind, even bias information is subject to disbelief, and can be deleted if the evidence is not sustainable.

tl;dr - Crap is still crap. You can grasp at straws, but you're better off not, for the sake of an article's integrity. Know your information, and if you have to, explain it coherently (just not over-glossed and embellished).

===Participants===
To join the project, simply add your name to the '''bottom''' of this list:

* '''{{u|ArcToraphim}}''' - {{bp|Project Leaders|Project Leader}}
* {{U|Archaic}}
* {{U|Haruka uzumaki}}
* {{u|Netto-kun}}
* {{u|Ayame}}
* {{U|EVAN AAML}}
* {{U|Pachirisulover12}}
* {{u|AmberFire284}}
* {{U|Avegaille}}
* {{U|HikariTajiri}}
* {{U|PokePal}}
* {{U|Rucario64}}
* {{U|Wikid}}
* {{U|Jigglypidgeot}}
* {{U|MayumiKyoku}}
* {{U|DawnXash}}
* {{U|Pokemonboy}}
* {{U|FatalWhispher}}
* {{U|PokéRocksTeamRocket123}}
* {{U|Pokegirlsheart}}
* {{U|hihihikari}}
* {{U|yarrboots}}
* {{U|LoveLoverGrl}}
* {{U|Buizel99}}
* {{U|Hai24}}
* {{U|Icelilly}}
* {{U|AGGRON999}}
* {{U|pikachu1534}}
* {{U|Marillrocks}}
* {{U|Pkmn veteran}}
* {{U|Simpsonsdude13}}
* {{U|Themagikarpsalesman}}
* {{U|GuyNamedSean}}
* {{U|LightningKimba}}
* {{U|Alexa9966}}
* {{U|Dragonbeastx}}
* {{u|Ced12}}
* {{u|Alec9}}
* {{u|BKG201}}
* {{u|DAWN FAN}}
* {{u|LucarioSinnoh}}
* {{u|Firefly292}}
* {{u|ShinjiLover}}
* {{u|Ctesjbuvf}}
* {{u|Dragonbane}}
* {{u|050294}}
* {{u|Cherry blossom haiku}}
* {{u|Tandra88}}
* {{u|Tsukaiz}}
* {{u|BAC510}}
* {{u|Kenji-girl}}
* {{u|Psychoticneko}}
* {{U|Csisps 26}}
* {{U|Pokegirl444}}
* {{u|Alpha Totodile}}
* {{u|ottomaniac123}}
* {{u|Tyetyez}}
* {{U|Galladeon}}
* {{u|Jczala}}
* {{U|TwilightRocket}}
* {{U|Cerulean 15}}
* {{u|Pokelover195}}
* {{u|ForeverAndNevermore}}
* {{u|Hiidora}}
* {{u|Elneth}}
* {{u|Lunick v sonela}}
* {{u|Polo150}}
* {{u|Tommy-SAN}}
* {{u|BreakDanzKat}}
* {{u|Kaitie50}}
* {{u|Hikari Haruka luver}}
* {{u|Yoyozoo}}
* {{u|Legendhunter32}}
* {{u|Smartkidhen}}
* {{u|CuboneKing}}
* {{u|Lam alwin}}
* {{u|BubbleGuntheCat}}
* {{u|Stinkola}}
* {{u|Mudkipluvr4ever}}
* {{u|Krida}}
* {{u|Kazzy}}
* {{u|JasonTongRulz}}
* {{u|DialgaMaster105}}
* {{u|NekoMX}}
* {{u|Sapphiirexo2}}
* {{u|Hongyunsub}}
* {{u|Fooboo24}}
* {{u|Rubybrendan}}
* {{u|IvysaursBiggestFan}}
* {{u|duardognn}}
* {{u|TheAwesomerandom}}
* {{u|Emovampire1}}
* {{u|PeridotRox}}
* {{u|Chiramii}}
* {{u|CrystalMarina97}}
* {{u|Gizamimi Pichu}}
* {{U|aaml1101}}
* {{u|Almiaranger}}
* {{u|PokeZelda6664}} - What, no comments?
* {{u|Chocos0}}
* {{u|Lull}}
* {{u|FryyGuyy}} - Look ma, no hands!
* {{u|Thedavidcon}}
* {{u|BeeBwakka}}
* {{u|Mash4eva}}
* {{u|Loghomewill}}
* {{u|Desukaan563}}
* {{u|Sagetemp}}
* {{u|Adder}}
* {{u|CharmanderKitten}}
* {{u|Musicgirl272}}
* {{u|Landfish7}}
* {{u|Gohan5}}
* {{u|Ggb81}}
* {{u|Blackthorning}}
* {{u|PikaMunchgirl12}}
* {{u|bulbamelia}}
* {{u|Charmeleon24}}
* {{u|tmazzy}}
* {{u|keekk1}}
* {{u|Rayquaza8129}}
* {{u|Rook}}
* [[U|Leighe44}}

===Page Creation===
If you want to create an article that is not listed on the [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/To-do list|to-do list]], it would be wise to ''ask'' the current project leader if it's actually okay, with ''a valid argument for it''. There are over 6,000 Ships in the Pokémon fandom alone; not all of them deserve articles on the merit of existence alone.

AUGUST 21, 2009: There will be '''no more''' pages for nevermets without prior consultation with the Project Leader. Any future articles will need to have a founding basis for the article, and will be given a week-long trial on its worth. Meaning, unless it's an article on a somewhat canon interrelation, such as ChikoShipping, AdvanceShipping, or CollideShipping, it will be rightly judged if it's worth notability. So before publishing the page, please construct it to an adequate size. If there is little to be said for the couple past popularity and straw-clutching (IkariShipping), then chances are it's not worth it. However, we will be the judge of that, if it's worth its weight or not.

===Structure===
====Title====
All articles should be known as 'Shipping:{name}Shipping' and a page, '{name}Shipping' should be created with only the template <nowiki>{{Shipping redirect}}</nowiki>. There is no need to put <nowiki>{{Shipping redirect|PAGENAME}}</nowiki> because the template has that covered.

Also, at the start of each article in the Shipping namespace you should add a [[Template:Ship|<nowiki>{{ship}}</nowiki>]] template so as to warn people.

If the article is a stub, use the template mentioned below.

====Other====

:''For further structure templates, including multi-ship articles, see [[Bulbapedia:Project Shipping/Article Structure]]''

===Goals===
# Write comprehensive and upstanding articles on Ships.
##This means they are to be substantial, well written (even if they are short articles), and with substance.
# Ensure that all hints/evidence/facts are in the originating media and not from fanfiction. All fanon information is to be eliminated.
##All given hints/evidence/facts should also be meaningful and not tossed in there because it made the Shipper in you go squee.

===Infoboxes===
* {{Template|Shipping redirect}}

{{Shipping redirect}}
* {{Template|ship}}

{{ship}}
* {{[[Template:Stub|stub{{!}}Shipping]]}}
{{Stub|Shipping}}
 

===Other templates===
* {{Template|Project Shipping notice}}

{{Project Shipping notice}}

* {{Template|User Project Shipping}}

{{User Project Shipping}}
 

==Other projects==
===Parent project===
This project has no parent project.

===Subprojects===
No subprojects have been defined.

===Related projects===
No related projects have been named.

[[Category:Bulbapedia projects|Shipping]]

BW004

2011-02-19T18:02:40Z

Leighe44: /* Synopsis */

{{undubbed|661}}

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=BW003 |
prevtitle=A Sandile Gusher of Change! |
nextcode=BW005 |
nexttitle=Triple Leaders, Team Threats! |
series=Best Wishes series |
colorscheme=Unova}}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=BW004 |
altepcode=EP661 |
colorscheme=Unova|
screen=hd|
title_en=The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice! |
title_ja=バトルクラブ！謎のポケモン現る！！|
title_ja_trans=Battle Club! A Mysterious Pokémon Appears!! |
broadcast_jp=October 7, 2010 |
broadcast_us= February 26, 2011 |
en_series= |
en_op=[[Black and White (song)|Black and White]] |
ja_op=[[Best Wishes! (song)|ベストウイッシュ！]] |
ja_ed=[[心のファンファーレ]] |
olmteam=Team Kato |
scenario=武上純希 |
storyboardn=1 |
storyboard=小山賢 |
directorn=1 |
director=牧野吉高 |
artn=1 |
art=篠原隆 |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=BW001-BW010|
footnotes=*{{filb-eppics|bw|004}}
}}
'''The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice!''' (Japanese: '''バトルクラブ！謎のポケモン現る！！''' ''Battle Club! A Mysterious Pokémon Appears!!'') is the fourth episode of the {{series|Best Wishes}}, and the 661st episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It aired in Japan on October 7, 2010 and is scheduled to air in the United States on February 26, 2011.
{{spoilers}}

==Synopsis==
{{incomplete synopsis}}

As {{Ash}} leaves the forest from the previous episodes, he is amazed to see a large city in front of him. Thinking of it as [[Striaton City]], he is pumped for the Pokémon Gym. However, {{an|Iris}} says that Striaton City is in fact the next town.

Ash is feeling down but Iris tells him not to despair as there is a "Pokémon Battle Club", this piques Ash's curiosity.

Ash and Iris appear in front of a large green building, and they both enter. Iris explains how the battle club works on a computer inside. Four panels appear on the screen and Iris chooses the top left one with a picture of two trainers. She goes on and says this is the trainer's profile as pictures of Pokémon with their trainers appear. As Iris goes on Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}} get more excited by the minute.

Ash and Iris enter a room with a Pokémon battle already started between two trainers. One trainer has a {{p|Futachimaru}} and the other {{p|Janovy}}. Ash looks them up on his Pokédex. The trainer with Janovy tells it to use {{m|Leaf Blade}}, but Futachimaru blasts it back with a blast of water. Janovy falls near Ash and Iris and a rather large announcer declares Janovy's defeat. Janovy's trainer runs up and asks it if it is alright. The trainer then runs out carrying the injured Pokémon. The announcer introduces himself as the battle manager and Ash and Iris introduce themselves. The announcer notices his Pikachu as it is not native to Unova. The winning trainer asks Ash if his Pikachu is strong, then challenges Ash to a battle, which he accepts.

As Ash gets ready to battle with Pikachu, {{AP|Oshawott}} stumbles out of its Poké Ball, wanting to battle. Despite Ash and Pikachu's reasoning, it pushes Pikachu to the ground and gets ready to battle. The other trainer sends out Futachimaru, and upon seeing its evolution Oshawott has its doubts and urges Pikachu to battle for it. Ash returns Oshawott to its Poké Ball, and Pikachu and Ash get their game face on for a brawl.

Ash tells Pikachu to start off with {{m|Thunderbolt}}, which Futachimaru evades. Iris comments on the Pokémon's speed. Ash then tells Pikachu to use {{m|Iron Tail}}, this time landing a clear shot. Futachimaru falls back near its trainer it then tries to get up. Seeing this as a chance, Ash tells Pikachu to use {{m|Volt Tackle}}, however Futachimaru evades at the last moment. The trainer smiles and instructs Futachimaru to use {{m|Razor Shell}}, landing a clear hit.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket try and break into a nearby building, inside of which a silhouette of Pokémon can be seen. The Pokémon dashes out, casing Team Rocket to make noise, setting off the alarm. Meanwhile, Ash's battle is put to a halt by the alarm. The announcer goes out and checks with his subordinates. Ash, Pikachu, and Iris dash out, curious on what happened. Over at the building, they inspect but find nothing. They decide to check the security cameras. They are all then gathered in a room where a monitor shows the building's rooms in a 3D view. The video shows Team Rocket leaving the building in a hurry, followed by a dark black Pokémon. Ash uses his Pokédex to manually bring up the entry on the Pokémon {{p|Umbreon}}. Ash and Iris decide to help the manager find it. Ash leaves Oshawott and Pikachu to guard the [[Pokémon food]] he left. Instead, Oshawott eats all the food, and knocks Pikachu backwards into some boxes when the Mouse Pokémon tries to stop him. Many falling boxes hit Pikachu on the head, followed by a metal container, knocking him out. Ash then sees a {{p|Tepig}} try to eat the food, but fails because it has a rope tied around its mouth. Ash attempts to help it, but Iris appears and scares it away. Ash manages to corner it and take the rope off of it. After feeding and cleaning Tepig, Ash and Iris take it back to the manager, who explains that Tepig belonged to an arrogant trainer, who, after Tepig's defeat to a {{p|Deerling}}, abandoned it. In a sad attempt to follow its trainer, Tepig got the rope tied over its mouth. Just then, Team Rocket attacks, and tries to steal Pikachu. Ash attempts to use Oshawott to free Pikachu, but is unable to. Then, Tepig decides to fight beside Ash. Ash orders an {{m|Ember}} attack, freeing Pikachu. However, Team Rocket manages to escape. Iris then decides to catch Tepig. However, Tepig decides to go with Ash instead. At the end of this episode, Ash gains a new friend and partner: Tepig.

==Major events==

* {{Ash}} captures a {{AP|Tepig}}.
* [[Jessie]], [[James]] and {{MTR}} receive a mission by [[Giovanni]] to head to [[Striaton City]].
{{animeevents}}
===Debuts===
* [[Don George]]

====Pokémon debuts====
* {{p|Janovy}}
* {{p|Futachimaru}}
* [[Ash's Tepig]]

==Characters==
===Humans===
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Iris}}
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* [[Giovanni]]
* [[Giovanni's secretary]]
* [[Don George]]
* Don George's Assistants (submanagers)
* Trainers

===Pokémon===

* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Oshawott}} ({{OP|Ash|Oshawott}})
* {{p|Tepig}} ({{OP|Ash|Tepig}}; new)
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Axew}} ({{OP|Iris|Axew}})
* {{p|Umbreon}} (Pokédex)

====Trainers'====
* {{p|Futachimaru}} (debut)
* {{p|Janovy}} (debut)
* {{p|Patrat}} (computer screen)
* {{p|Deerling}} (computer screen; flashback)
* {{p|Woobat}} (computer screen)

==Trivia==
* [[Professor Oak's lecture|Professor Oak's Live Caster]]: [[Battle Club]]
* This is the first time since early in the [[original series]] that Ash has caught three Pokémon in three consecutive episodes.
* This is one of the very few times that Ash, or any main character, uses the Pokédex manually to find a Pokémon's information, rather than scanning it in the flesh. In this case, Ash looks up {{p|Umbreon}} after mistaking a blackened-up Tepig for it on a monitor.
* The female Trainer in this episode looked just like [[Alanna]] from ''[[AG039|A Poké-BLOCK Party]]'', only with pink hair. Another Alanna look-a-like appeared in ''[[DP175|Opposites Interact!]]''.

===Errors===
*While hiding from the Battle Club workers, after Jessie blinks her eye color is the same as James's.
*In one of the scenes where Futachimaru uses Razor Shell, its tail was light blue instead of dark.

===Dub edits===
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=C3C3C3|bordercolor=2C2C2C
|ja=
|en=
|ar=
|eu=
|bg=
|ca=
|zh_yue=
|zh_cmn='''{{tt|對戰俱樂部！神秘的神奇寶貝現身！！|Battle Club! A Mysterious Pokémon Appears!!}}'''
|hr=
|cs=
|da=
|de=
|nl=
|et=
|fil=
|fi=
|fr_ca=
|fr_eu=
|el=
|he=
|hi=
|hu=
|is=
|id=
|it=
|ko=
|no=
|pl=
|pt_br=
|pt_eu=
|ro=
|ru=
|sk=
|sl=
|es_la=
|es_eu=
|sv=
|ta=
|te=
|th=
|tr=
|vi=
}}
{{-}}
{{stub|Anime|Episode}}

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=BW003 |
prevtitle=A Sandile Gusher of Change! |
nextcode=BW005 |
nexttitle=Triple Leaders, Team Threats! |
series=Best Wishes series |
colorscheme=Unova}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
[[Category:Best Wishes series episodes|004]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Junki Takegami|661]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Masaru Koyama|661]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Yoshitaka Makino|661]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Takashi Shinohara|661]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a new Pokémon|661]]

[[de:Battle Club! Nazo no Pokémon Arawaru!! (Episode)]]
[[fr:Épisode 661]]
[[ja:BW編第4話]]