# Fan-Forced Romance Strange ‘Shippers' of Unlikely Character Relationships By - | Published 2009-06-01 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strange-shippers-film-fans-obsessed-with-unlikely-character-relationships References: [en.wikipedia.org](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_fandom) I think we've all shouted at the telly saying, “Kiss her!” or “Get together already!” at some point. Some [TV fans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fans-have-more-friends) have very different ideas on [character relationships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/liveclear-love-clear). For example, some Harry Potter fans, instead of cheering for Ginny and Harry, want Hermione and Snape to snog or Harry and Neville to go on a date…nice. The most famous of these ‘ships’ have their own names, made up of the two characters names e.g. Spangel (Spike + Angel), H/W ([House + Wilson](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-of-hellmann)) and S/K (Spock + Captain Kirk). Check out the “Scrubs Guy Love” video above for more ‘Shipping’…awwwwwwww! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.4/10 - Popularity: 86% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/internet) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Alternative Character Pairings:** The trend of fans shipping unlikely character relationships creates opportunities for storytelling that deviates from traditional romantic pairings. - **Fan-created Terms:** The rise of 'ships' and the creation of unique names for character pairings opens up opportunities for branding and merchandise targeting passionate fan communities. - **Interactive Fan Engagement:** The act of 'shipping' allows fans to actively engage with their favorite TV shows or movies, presenting opportunities for interactive content and fan-driven experiences. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Television and Film:** The trend of alternative character pairings presents opportunities for TV and film producers to explore new relationship dynamics and attract dedicated fandoms. - **Marketing and Merchandising:** The creation of fan-generated 'ships' and unique names for character pairings can be leveraged by marketers and merchandisers to tap into niche fan markets and create targeted products. - **Digital Media and Entertainment:** Interactive fan engagement through 'shipping' offers opportunities for digital media platforms and entertainment companies to develop interactive content and experiences that resonate with passionate fan communities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Romantic Airline Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hallmark-x-united-airlines.md) - [Sitcom-Themed Valentine's Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brachs-x-friends-conversation-hearts.md) - [Interactive Romantic Comedy Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/choose-love-1.md) - [Iconic Fantasy Character Soaps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dr-squatch-x-harry-potter.md) - [Flirty Food Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mccain-fries-and-heinz-ketchup.md) - [Romantic Cartoon Character Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snoopy-friends-hersheys-kisses.md) - [Shoppable Commercial Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/add-to-heart.md) - [Fandom-Honoring Building Block Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fandomhonoring-building-block-sets.md) - [Meaningful Travel Reunion Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/must-be-love.md)