2D covenantal couples – A tanuki’s tribute

A simple but powerful storytelling tool often employed in the 2D realm is the element of contract/covenant. The contract/covenant usually forms the basis of how an unlikely couple with immiscible personalities would meet, stay together and grow together in unexpected (well hopefully under the pen of an anointed writer) ways to delight the viewers. Possibly due to the fantastical leanings of 2D works, we see that a lot in anime. Here I'm not just talking about a verbal pact or a promise but an actual mystical/magic force binding the 2 entities; one that either parties is unable to escape from. (Interestingly,  its near equivalent in the 3D world is marriage and unfortunately or fortunately for some, it's not as permanent as it ought to be.)

This post is first and foremost inspired by Oz and Alice (Pandora Hearts) whose interactions contributed much to my love of the series. So here's a tribute to the other 2D covenantal couples who have also enriched my 2D experience.

Jun/Shinku (Rozen Maiden) - It's interesting how Shinku (who pretends to be adult) forces Jun to grow up in order to baby her.

Ren/Cou (Eremental Gerad) - A sweet romance marred only by the background art, rumoured to be produced in a kindergarten.

Chrno/Rosette (Chrno Crusade) - The main saving grace of the GONZO series. A sad but beautifully fitting end.

CC./Lelouch (Code Geass) - From covenantal couple to peers in 2 seasons? SUNRISE needs to clarify once and for all if Lelouch is RR.

Saber/Shirou (Fate/Stay night) - The series could be renamed the Stupidity of Emiya Shirou and become as popular as Haruhi. Thankfully he gets better. Saber? Lovable stupid bishoujos can do no wrong on account of their bishoujo status.

Zefiris/Shannon (Scrapped Princess) - Between the world's most powerful weapon and their more womanly 2nd generation upgrades, I'd choose lolicious Zefy over Cz anyday too.

Louise/Saito (Zero no Tsukaima) - In any other less than mystical encounter, Saito's innards would have been fed to the other familiars. Ah, the convenient power of covenantal meetings.

The list is surprisingly short since I realised many of the couples I had in mind were not as immutably bounded to each other as first believed. Case in point Shana and Yuuji whom I enjoyed very much as an onscreen couple (despite my support of the lovely Kazumi chan). Anyhow, here's hoping for more well crafted convental couples.

Related posts:

1. Hair-em archetypes for tanukis
2. Disgrace upon the tanukis of Hontou Ni-Land
3. Stripey in Akihabara (1) ~ Enough loli-porn to turn tanukis into zebras