Let’s be honest, all the best ships are queer. That’s because the very nature of shipping — pairing up characters from your favorite series into a relationship — is an act born out of fans’ desires to see more diverse couplings than show runners were willing to explore explicitly. But it’s 2017 now, and we’re flush with AMAZING couples that span the spectrum. So whether you’re Team Bubbline or Team Rubbaphire, embrace and celebrate ALL the love—and check out Shipping Wiki to explore more favorites.
Ruby & Sapphire (Steven Universe)
Ship name: Rubbaphire
Ruby and Sapphire are two characters from the Steven Universe fandom. They’re members of a magical team of guardians sent to protect the world, and together, are able to fuse to form Garnet, your all-around badass and the leader of the Crystal Gems. Even though Ruby and Sapphire are complete opposites, they form a connection and prove that love really is love is love.
Korra & Asami (The Legend of Korra)
Ship name: SS Korrasami
Avatar fans were completely vindicated upon learning that their long-awaited shipping between Asami and Korra had come to fruition. In the final shot of the animated series The Legend of Korra, Korra and Asami hold hands while heading to the Spirit World, gazing, some would say lovingly, at each other. According to the show’s creators, the pairing was something they’d been working on for a while. It was progressive for a kids cartoon, sure, but the pair was only confirmed during the series finale, which is sort of disappointing.
Tara & Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Ship name: Tillow
Ahh, Tillow! This pairing probably has the most fan-created music video compilations on YouTube based on our extensive research, and for good reason. One of the main characters in Joss Whedon’s titular Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow is the Scooby Gang‘s resident goody-two-shoes/awkward redhead. Then she goes off the college and starts experimenting…with witchcraft. It’s there that she meets fellow Wiccan Tara. It doesn’t end well for these two, but their love will always stand the test of time.
Sheriff Blubs & Deputy Durland (Gravity Falls)
Ship name: Unknown
Gravity Falls pulled a Legend of Korra here, but we can forgive them since this shipping had one of the best coming out stories we’ve seen in years. And from a Disney show, no less! After speculation from the show’s fanbase, the shipping became canon during the series finale. In the episode, the Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland embrace each other and confess: “We’re mad with power… and love.”
Princess Bubblegum & Marceline (Adventure Time)
Ship name: Bubbline
This shipping may be the most contentious on our list, since there is no official statement from Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward. We only have the word of Olivia Olsen (who voices Marceline), who mentioned that Pendleton (allegedly) told her that Princess Bubblegum and Marceline previously dated. But because it’s a kids show, they can’t be explicit about the pairing. Allegedly. (On a related note, we recently learned that Adventure Time is ending after 9 seasons. Do we see a Legend of Korra-type scene for PB and Marceline in the works? Make it happen, Pendleton. DO THE RIGHT THING.)