RocketShipping

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370Luvdisc.png This article is about shipping.
As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain personal points of view.
File:AG jessie james.jpg
Jessie and James

RocketShipping (Japanese: コジムサ KojiMusa) is the theory, belief, or hope that Jessie and James of Team Rocket are or will become romantically involved in the anime. It is also known as JAJL, or Jessie and James Love.

History of RocketShipping

File:Rocketshipping.jpg
An image from the epilogue to Electric Tale of Pikachu

The term "Rocketshipping" was the first time the suffix "shipping" had been applied to any couple outside of the X-Files fandom where it originated. Maria Rocket and other fans on the message board of TRHQ applied the term to Jessie and James. Other names for the pairing were coined later.

The RocketShipping fandom has seen some changes over the years. In the beginning, there was only one kind of RocketShipper- the one who thought that Jessie and James were attracted to each other. Some fans hoped they would eventually become a full-fledged couple. The situation grew more intense when a member of TRHQ came across an untranslated graphic novel in a bookstore.

Upon first glance, it appeared to be simply the last volume of Toshihiro Ono's Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, which was in the process of being released in the United States. However, inside the book was something that changed the face of the fandom. Inside the epilogue were two important scenes: one was James confessing his love to Jessie; the other was a full-page illustration in which Jessie and James were married and Jessie visibly pregnant. Most importantly of all, this was all official and approved by Nintendo.

The RocketShipping fan community went crazy. It finally had officially sanctioned proof that Jessie and James were a romantic couple. Some believed that it was only a matter of time before something similar happened in the TV anime series.

Eventually, the famous manga was translated and released in the United States, and RocketShippers rejoiced now that they could hold the evidence in their own hands. Around the same time, a website named Pokemopolis was getting attention for rebutting the "evidence" found in the manga. Pokemopolis became and has remained the most prominent anti-Rocketshipping site in Pokemon fandom, as well as the main proponent of the theory that James is gay.

Around the same time, the number and frequency of the Rocketshippy hints on the anime decreased, along with other changes in characterization. As a result, the RocketShipping fan community split into several sects, each with different takes on Rocketshipping.

Sects of RocketShipping

These sects were in use to differentiate between various "types" of RocketShipper who each had a different perception of the ship. It should be noted, however, that they have not actively been in use in the fandom since the Advanced Generation series of the anime started airing in America.

RocketShippers

This is the general term for anyone who supports the idea of Jessie and James being a couple, whether past, present, or future. It is was also a term for a sect consisting of people who believe that Jessie and James are currently not in love but believed that they eventually would be.

R*cketShippers

This was a more extreme type of RocketShipper, who believed that Jessie and James are currently attracted to each other. They fervently denied that James is anything but heterosexual.

QueerShippers

Self-proclaimed "in-character RocketShipping". Supporters generally believed that James plays the role of a woman and Jessie plays the role of a man, but that they would become a couple nevertheless.

WrongRocketShippers

Smaller sect which believed that Jessie and James are currently in a "friends with benefits"type relationship. They didn't necessarily believe that they are in love with each other, but did believe that they have some kind of secret physical relationship going on. They took a more relaxed and joking stance to the ship.

AntiRocketShippers

Supporters denIed any sort of romantic relationship between Jessie and James. They liked to see them as best friends, but nothing more. In most cases, they believed that James is undeniably gay, based on the more camp portrayal of James by Eric Stuart and James' crossdressing. Opinions on Jessie's sexuality varied.

Evidence

The following is a list of points that point to a potential relationship between James and Jessie.

Anime evidence

Jessie's hints

File:H012 jessie blush.jpg
Jessie blushing after James accidentally falls on top of her in Training Daze!
When the ghost is dragging James away and he cries that he doesn't want to go, Jessie pulls out a bazooka and shoots the ghost.
Jessie blushes and looks at James adoringly when he is doing well in battle against Ash and company.
Despite having had 12 previous partners and managing to abandon them all without regret, when James is in the hospital and cannot join her for the final task, Jessie almost gives up. She then blushes when James accidentally falls on top of her.
Jessie looked annoyed when James freaked out at the idea of being married to her.
After Jessie, James, and Meowth decide to split up, Cassidy convinces James to join her. Jessie sees her drag him away and kicks a fire extinguisher in anger.
Jessie tries to cheer James up by stealing Buizel for him (and Aipom for herself). When she sees how happy this has made him she smiles and holds his hands.
When a shiny Metagross was about to kill Jessie and James, Jessie said that if there were another world after they die, they'd meet again there.

James' hints

After losing to Misty, James hold Jessie's hands and tries to cheer her up by giving her a Team Rocket version of the doll set she wanted.
Jessie is feeling down and James holds her hands and tells her things to cheer her up. They also hug.
When Jessie left to pursue a career in Contests, James was visibly hurt and wondered how strong their bond really was. He then ran off and cried. Later in the episode after Jessie saved him, James got on his knees and cried because he was happy she came back. When a Template:Shiny2 Metagross was about to kill them James smiled sweetly at Jessie and said that life wasn't a waste because he spent it with good friends. After that Jessie said that if there's another world after they died, they'd meet again there. James no longer looked afraid and smiled.

Shared hints

Jessie and James have a tendency to hug or hold onto each other when they are scared (dubbed "fearhugs" by RocketShippers) or happy.

James wants the others to leave him behind, but Jessie tells him they'll go across together. James looks touched. They hug and say how they'll never forget each other.
Jessie is upset that James might have left to marry his fiance and inherit his money, but he appears in their Meowth balloon and picks her up. They say they'd rather have their freedom than money, then smile and stare into each others eyes. They completely forget to pick up Meowth.

Movie evidence

Jessie's hints

At the end of the movie Jessie and James are holding onto each other and talking about how they don't care about wishes anymore and are just happy to be alive. They smile and Jessie says she's fine just doing this.

James' hints

After the leukocytes gets Jessie, James uses his Cacnea to try and rescue Jessie. He gets out of the way when it tries to hug him showing how serious he is taking this. After he fails to rescue Jessie they both cry out to each other and she is dragged down. James stands there speechless and then gets engulfed as well.

Shared hints

Jessie and James are hugging each other throughout most of the movie.
Meowth says that Jessie and James act lovey dovey all the time causing Jessie and James to get upset and blush. A few minutes later they are seen hugging each other.
Jessie and James are seen holding onto each other after they are freed from the leukocytes.

Trivia

File:EP005 firstfearhug.jpg
Jessie and James' first fearhug in Showdown in Pewter City

Notable RocketShippers

On Bulbagarden forums

External links

RocketShipping support

AntiRocketShipping support

Project Shipping logo.png This article is part of Project Shipping, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each couple in Pokémon.