#yanrita

Why I Started Shipping YanRita: Facebook Roleplay and a Friendship

Because of course this couldn’t start any other way than with literary roleplay… and Facebook roleplay, on top of that (yes, that kind where you create an account exclusively to roleplay different characters with other people).

At that time, I got in contact with someone who had a character from the same fandom as one of mine, and we could potentially make a ship happen. So we added each other and started talking.

In the middle of casual conversation, we started talking about personal tastes. And I, slightly embarrassed, admitted that I liked the “original Power Rangers”. And that changed everything.

Turns out we both really liked tokusatsu. What started as a simple contact to roleplay an anime ship ended up turning into long conversations about our favorite toku series.

And then King-Ohger came up. It was still airing, but I was a few episodes behind, and he had dropped it several episodes earlier than I had. We liked the idea of roleplaying King-Ohger so much that we agreed to catch up with the series.

However, while discussing which characters we were going to roleplay, an important question came up. Which characters would we use? What ship were we going to build?

My friend didn’t have any particular ship in mind. The one I liked the most at the time was YanHyme (yes, ladies and gentlemen, before becoming YanRita Nation, I was this close to applying for YanHyme citizenship). I told him my favorite character was Yanma, so if I had to choose, I would prefer him to play Yanma. He was fine with that, but I wasn’t very excited about the idea of roleplaying Hymeno. I don’t know… I just didn’t like her enough to fully commit to that.

This is when my friend casually mentioned that if he had to choose a character he’d like to ship with his, regardless of who he was playing, it would be Rita. He really liked Rita as a character.

We spent a couple of days discussing who each of us would roleplay. Maybe I would be Fem!Yanma and he would be Male!Hymeno. Maybe I would agree to play Rita, but then we didn’t know which character he would want to pair with her.

And then something funny happened.

My friend started calling me “Raccoon” in our native language because of a joke about me stealing food from his kitchen. And in the fansub we were watching, they translated “Sukapon Tanuki” as something along the lines of “Stupid Racoon” in our language.

At that moment, noticing that both my friend and Yanma were using the same insult, at least in our language, I told him "fine, you win. You’re playing Yanma, and I’ll play Rita". Basically, we each took the other person’s favorite character.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how, based purely on internal jokes between us, we decided to roleplay Yanma and Rita as a ship.

It was just roleplay. Just something between us. There was no reason for it to go beyond casually shipping two characters for fun… right?

Ah.

If only you knew the level of brainrot this roleplay created.

Why I Started Shipping YanRita SERIOUSLY: that damn Episode 28

I don’t know how to properly explain what happened inside my brain with this episode. What I can say is that, because I was already getting attached to YanRita thanks to the roleplay, I guess my brain was fully open and defenseless against any kind of accidental ship propaganda.

And Episode 28 took full advantage of that.

Let’s start with the scene where Rita, in Yanma’s body, asks Yanma, in Rita’s body, if he brought what she asked for. And Yanma hands over her tiny emotional support Moffun. At the same time, he starts fixing the pseudo-pompadour she destroyed while trying to make herself bangs to hide her face the way she does in her original body.

That is a LOT of interaction. That’s physical contact. That’s chaos. All within like twenty seconds at the beginning of an episode.

The best crumbs of my life.

Then we have the governing scenes, where they have to pretend to be each other while ruling their respective kingdoms. Rita, as Yanma, decides the most reasonable solution is to arrest the entirety of Nkosopa and send them to Gokkan. Yanma, as Rita, immediately releases everyone the second they arrive. And this becomes an endless cycle.

You got me. It’s peak comedy.

Bonus points for Rita inventing her own insult just to sound more like Yanma while pretending to be him. The commitment. The dedication. The method acting.

And then the fight against Goma Rosalia. They’re so mutually annoyed that they’re willing to shoot in each other’s direction if it means hitting the enemy, which results in them actually hitting each other a couple of times. But in the end, they still manage to coordinate and fire a powerful combined shot.

And me, someone who has always had a weakness for the “rivals to lovers” trope, watched all of this and felt something click inside my brain.

And something clicked.

Like, audibly.

And from that moment on, I was never the same.

That being said, I think I can finally start talking about what I actually love about this ship.

YanRita

I don’t know if I should start with more general things or go in chronological order… maybe a bit of both (?

Okay. First of all, there’s something I genuinely enjoy about their dynamic, and it’s specifically their fight scenes.

There is something particularly beautiful and almost magical about their combined attacks. Since they’re the only two who use projectile weapons (Rita Bow, Yanma Gun), at least until Jeramie shows up, and I’m not sure if I should count him because the Venomix Shooter is kind of… its own thing with the dual function situation, they often get these coordinated sequences where one shoots right after the other, or they perform actual combined attacks.

I LOVE that.

And I will probably keep bringing it up during this entire ramble.

But let’s go back to the beginning.

From Episode 1, something is already established. Yanma, being as shameless and disrespectful as only he can be, challenges everyone. And the only person who immediately steps up to confront him and question him directly is Rita.

That already sets the foundation for their dynamic.

And since I already included a screenshot from the manga/webtoon “Gokkan No Rita”, let me just say that the chapters focused on Yanma fed me incredibly well.

Rita investigating different kingdoms, including Nkosopa, which in the show lasted maybe a minute, was extended into several chapters in the manga. And honestly, I think it perfectly summarizes how they function.

Two monarchs who, at first glance, don’t seem capable of tolerating each other because their ideologies are fundamentally different. Literally a Judge who embodies the law and lives in a near-absolute frozen metaphor where the most modern things are electricity and a tube TV, versus a monarch leader who embodies the yankī trope, a delinquent aesthetic, ruling a country that looks like Cyberpunk 2077.

And yet, give them a few minutes alone in the same space, and they start understanding each other.

Tell me this isn’t the definition of a power couple.

This image goes SOOOO FKING HARD

I’m genuinely glad we got to see their dynamic not only in civilian settings, but also as a combat duo. And I even feel slightly privileged that moments like these happened in such a focused way with Yanma specifically. With the other kings, it’s either vaguely implied or simply not there.

But obviously, my favorite scene from this manga is the post-fight moment.

The trust. The camaraderie. Yanma allowing himself to be physically supported because of his injuries, while opening up just a little about how much he loves his kingdom. Rita realizing that Yanma isn’t a bad ruler, that he simply governs differently, and that Nkosopa is what it is because of him. And you can feel that she respects him more afterward.

LOOK AT HOW STRONGLY RITA IS HOLDING YANMA. BY THE WAIST. *Desk Slam*

Stay with someone who looks at you the way Rita looks at Yanma.

Yanma is not innocent either when it comes to intense staring.

Now, another one of my favorite early-series scenes, which I’m grateful was also adapted in the manga, is this one.

“The Judge is right, don’t talk badly about my beloved” (????

There was absolutely NO need for Yanma to intervene there. None. But there he is, acting all cool for his Judge.

And as the cherry on top, here’s an early preview of their teamwork in Episode 5.

I don’t know. I just love how they relate to each other. Even though they’re not the characters who interact the most throughout the series, whenever they do, whether in civilian conversations or in battle, it always feels meaningful (at last for me).

And honestly, beyond shipping, I genuinely think there was so much potential to explore their dynamic even more on screen.

Now, remember what I said about Episode 5 being a preview?

Exactly.

Another small but important interaction happens in Episode 11, when they discuss faking Gira’s death.

Beyond how powerful it feels to see Yanma stand up from his seat just to sit next to Rita (delicious crumbs), the fact that he openly includes her in the plan, explicitly stating that everyone will believe her because she is the Supreme Judge, says a lot about how much he respects and trusts her authority.

They may disagree on many things, but there is genuine mutual respect there.

Another example of that is when Jeramie was still a complete stranger who only spoke beautifully in poetic riddles. When Rita tried to interrogate him, she traveled all the way to Nkosopa to use Yanma’s totally-not-dangerous lie detector.

Nothing dramatic. Nothing scandalous. But I love these small details that show that, once again, beyond their differences, they trust each other.

They’re so stupid. I love them.

In general, there are many small interactions like this. Like when Yanma assigns Rita another task, and they exchange those looks.

Or when Yanma clears enemies out of the way to defend Rita so she can continue acting as referee in Gira vs Rcules.

Another small but meaningful scene is their conversation in Hākabāka in the movie Adventure Heaven, which chronologically happens near the end of Episode 23.

I can’t post the entire scene here or I’ll waste all my image slots just on that sequence in gif form. Thankfully, someone already made a gif set, so I’ll leave it below.

But in general, seeing Yanma pull Rita out of her catatonic state, showing that there is genuine concern there, even if expressed in a very Yanma way, and then, after listening to a truly shaken and destabilized Rita, he stops making teasing comments and tries to offer sincere advice.

It’s brief. It’s concise. But there’s no sarcasm. No mockery.

Rita doesn’t speak much. Yanma speaks too much. But here, both of them say exactly what is necessary. She expresses sudden fear. He offers guidance without ridicule or anger.

And then, at the end, Yanma watching Rita sit on her throne during Gira’s coronation ceremony.

Yes. This movie also gave me crumbs.

And well, Episode 28 exists, but I already talked about that.

In general, their interactions tend to follow that pattern. Short conversations, but meaningful in their own way. Or them being an absolute dream team in combat.

(At this point I had run out of raw, so that gif are from the Spanish fansub. That’s why the watermark is there.)

And while this isn’t exactly an interaction, I admit I felt soft seeing that in the scene where all the kings return from the final battle against Dagded, Yanma and Rita are walking side by side while their civilians run toward them in relief.

Even though everyone was celebrating and gathering around their respective rulers, the idea that for a few seconds there were Nkosopa and Gokkan citizens mixed together felt oddly charming to me.

I would have uploaded even more images and gifs, including the tiniest details, but I’m already at 28 and the limit is 30. So I’d better see how to use the remaining slots wisely.

Yanma & Rita

Well, I’m not sure if this section is going to be a direct comparison between them, but I do think it’s worth pointing out their similarities and contrasts.

One of the things I really like is their Dragonfly/Butterfly gimmick. I know they’re not the only winged insects in the team, but they are the only two whose identities are explicitly built around that concept. The fact that, out of all the senshi, the only two whose black visors are specifically shaped like wings are Yanma and Rita is such a tiny detail that I absolutely adore (and yes, it fuels my delusions).

When they activate Ryōga Issen, while others manifest stingers or claws or insect legs, Yanma gets dragonfly wings that let him fly and move at high speed, and Rita materializes butterfly wings that allow her to reach impossible heights.

One of my dreams is to see fanart of these two flying together with their powered-up armor active. If I knew how to draw tokusatsu suits, I would attempt it myself, but I can barely draw normal people decently.

And moving into more biological territory, or taxonomical I guess, while their relation technically stops at “they both have wings,” visually they feel like the most compatible pair. Structurally similar. Complementary.

Also, the image of a dragonfly patrolling its pond while a butterfly visits to hydrate and gather minerals is weirdly beautiful to me.

“I know we’re different, but I know I can go to your territory when I need to.”

… Well. As long as the dragonfly already had a feast of mosquitoes and isn’t hungry when he sees the butterfly.

Yes, I want Yanma to devour Rita, but not in that way. I am not a fan of cannibalism as a metaphor for love xD

Another thing I want to mention specifically is their aides.

Hymeno has Sebastian. Kaguragi has Kuroda. Gira has Dūga. Jeramie has Gerōjīm. And while it’s very clear that all of them are devoted to their respective kings, there’s something slightly different about Yanma and Rita.

Shiokara and Morfonia are not just aides. They are their king’s best friend.

A daughter of convicts who was born in prison, learned how to pick locks, studied law alongside Rita, and eventually becomes the successor ruler of Gokkan once the Judge steps down.

A former delinquent who initially intimidated Yanma, but after recognizing his worth and natural leadership, chose to follow him and help rebuild Nkosopa from nothing.

Rita hates the idea of Morfonia suffering or putting herself in danger, even if she trusts her as a future successor.

Yanma would burn all of Nkosopa to the ground to save Shiokara, fully aware they would just rebuild it again afterward.

Both of them have a unique relationship with their aides, because they’re not just assistants. They’re their closest loved one, their best friend, their confidant.

And I genuinely think that’s something the other kings don’t quite have in the same way.

… Now, moving into less dense and more fanon territory, the idea of Morfonia and Shiokara secretly conspiring together to push Yanma and Rita into a relationship is incredibly funny to me.

There’s also the more obvious contrast: their differences.

First of all, yes, all the kings and kingdoms are different. You could technically build almost any ship between them and frame it as opposites attract. However, I particularly enjoy YanRita because even though all the kings ultimately stand on the side of good, Yanma and Rita maintain that subtle “Cop x Criminal” flavor.

And I want to expand on that a bit.

You have Rita. A Judge. The walking embodiment of the law. Serious. Stoic. Striving for neutrality and objectivity even when it’s unnecessary. Traveling constantly to investigate. Always ready to judge any potential crime she witnesses. Threatening prison and punishment at the slightest infraction.

And then there’s Yanma. The yankī boss. The leader of what is essentially a near-bōsōzoku-coded group. If problems can’t be solved by hacking, they’re solved with fists. Disrespectful toward anyone he believes doesn’t deserve respect. Physically incapable of insulting someone in a normal tone. Addicted to soda because this is still Super Sentai and therefore technically for children.

These tropes are softened and adapted to work in a context where both are monarchs of their own nations, but the essence is still there. And genuinely, I think that’s what gives their rivalry dynamic so much flavor.

Even though I haven’t written or drawn much of them publicly beyond the Day 1 one-shot, I have imagined countless scenarios outside canon using this dynamic as a base. My personal favorite is a school or university AU.

Student Council President Rita x juvenile delinquent Yanma who is absurdly intelligent in specific subjects.

Or law student Rita obsessed with becoming a judge in Japan x gang leader Yanma who gets perfect scores in computer science while tuning his motorcycle engine for fun.

And you might say, “Isn’t this just a very elaborate Bully x Nerd?”

And I say NO, because the charm here is that both are nerds in their specific field, who can beat each other up equally if necessary, and they absolutely will, only to end up sitting on the ground exhausted afterward while Yanma offers Rita a soda and says something stupid like, “Your kick to my stomach didn’t even hurt,” and Rita replies with something like, “When I become a judge, you will be the first person I prosecute.”

There are other things I could mention. Their completely opposite governing styles and relationships with their kingdoms. The fact that visually their colors are analogous tones, which makes them look aesthetically pleasing together even if their personalities clash. The fact that despite their outward tropes, they are both massive nerds/otaku in their own ways, Rita with Moffun and idols, Yanma with technology and video games. Or even the fact that in the finale, Yanma accepts having Gokkan personnel overseeing Nkosopa.

But I’m already writing this in a Word document and it says I’m at nine pages, and that’s not even counting the images.

So I think I’ll move on to the next point.

What YanRita Means to Me

Okay, this is where I get a little personal again. But I wanted to end this entire bible by talking about how King-Ohger, and specifically shipping YanRita, created a very particular change in my life.

On a social level, I gained what is probably the best interpersonal relationship I’ve ever had.

I won’t go into too much detail because I’m not trying to accidentally dox myself. But that idiot I used to roleplay Yanma and Rita with? He’s still in my life. And he’s one of the people I value the most.

Because thanks to this brainrot, we connected in a way that went far beyond the ship, beyond sentai, beyond tokusatsu. And yet, our love for the ship is still there. It still comes up in conversation every now and then, because in the end, we both genuinely fell in love with it.

On a more… artistic level, I guess?

I started drawing.

You know that person who “likes drawing” but only touches a pencil once or twice a year?

That was me.

I was the person who HATED everything I drew. The kind of person who would draw something, despise how it turned out, abandon it for months, and then come back later just to repeat the exact same cycle.

Then this wonderful person said, “What if we do a daily drawing challenge?”

He stopped after a couple of days.

I drew for ten days straight.

And since then…

I haven’t stopped.

And why?

Because at some point I said, “I wish I actually knew how to draw so I could make content for my OTP.”

So yes.

Thanks to YanRita, I rediscovered my love for drawing.

And even though I know I’m not the best artist in the world, I want to believe that over time I’ve improved.

At least I hope so.

And now, with all the embarrassing vulnerability in the world, I want to show my drawing evolution based purely on YanRita, from the very first one I made on March 13, 2024, to the most recent one, which was the Day 7 prompt piece.

You can probably even see my old signature somewhere in there.

That being said, if you genuinely took the time to read this entire unhinged wall of text until the end… I am honestly impressed.

So. Do you want to ask something? Comment something? Did I somehow convert you into my religion?

Jokes aside, I truly appreciate you taking the time to be here. Any comment, any tag, even a reblog, means more than you think.

Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Koniro, the only unfortunate soul out here consistently making content for this ship.

¡VIVA EL YANRITA SHUSHETUMAREEEEEE!