5 Reasons Why The 'Cheluby' Ship (Ruby Gillman X Chelsea) Became A Massive Fandom Sensation
The 'Cheluby' ship, pairing the shy, heroic Kraken Ruby Gillman with the captivating, villainous mermaid Chelsea Van Der Zee, has exploded across fandoms since the release of *Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken*. This pairing, also affectionately known by fans as 'Chelsby' or 'Rubsea,' captures a classic, yet thrilling, forbidden romance trope: the hero falling for their charismatic, arch-enemy.
As of late December 2025, the sheer volume of fanfiction, fan art, and sophisticated character analysis dedicated to Ruby Gillman x Chelsea continues to grow, demonstrating a powerful desire among viewers for a narrative where the film's antagonist, Queen Nerissa (in her Chelsea disguise), could have found redemption and love with the protagonist. This deep dive explores the canonical complexities and the five major reasons why this unlikely pairing became one of DreamWorks' most discussed recent femslash ships.
The Central Conflict: Ruby Gillman and Chelsea Van Der Zee's Complex Profiles
The foundation of the Cheluby ship rests on the stark contrast and surprising chemistry between the two main characters. Understanding their canonical roles is key to grasping the fan-driven narrative.
Ruby Gillman’s Canonical Profile
- Full Name: Ruby Gillman
- Species: Giant Kraken (Teenage Form)
- Role: Protagonist, shy high schooler discovering her true heritage.
- Family: Agatha Gillman (Mother), Arthur Gillman (Father), Sam Gillman (Brother), Grandmamah (Grandmother, Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas).
- Key Traits: Anxious, intelligent, loyal, initially desperate to fit in, eventually accepts her destiny as a powerful protector.
- Love Interest (Canon): Connor.
Chelsea Van Der Zee’s Canonical Profile (Queen Nerissa)
- Full Name: Chelsea Van Der Zee (Alias for Queen Nerissa)
- Species: Mermaid (The most powerful and ancient of her kind).
- Role: Main Antagonist, initially posing as a popular, seemingly friendly mermaid to manipulate Ruby.
- Key Traits: Charismatic, manipulative, power-hungry, deeply bitter, and driven by a desire for revenge against the Krakens.
- True Identity: Queen Nerissa, the tyrannical mermaid queen imprisoned by the Krakens.
The initial dynamic—Chelsea acting as Ruby's mentor and friend—created an intense, albeit temporary, bond. This brief period of connection is the 'what if' that fuels the entire Ruby Gillman x Chelsea fandom.
The 5 Pillars of the Ruby Gillman x Chelsea Fandom
The popularity of the Cheluby pairing is not accidental; it’s a direct response to classic narrative tropes and specific elements within the film's structure. Fans have latched onto these elements to craft their own preferred storyline.
1. The Allure of the "Forbidden Romance" and Arch-Enemy Trope
A significant portion of the Cheluby fanbase is drawn to the "enemies-to-lovers" or, more specifically, the "lesbian arch-enemies shipping" trope. This dynamic is inherently dramatic, pitting a shy, good-natured hero against a powerful, charismatic villain who initially pretends to be a friend.
The tension between the Kraken and Mermaid races—a central theme of *Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken*—elevates the pairing to a truly forbidden status. The idea of Ruby, the future Warrior Queen, falling for the ultimate enemy of her people, Queen Nerissa, is a powerful narrative hook that fans cannot resist exploring in fanfiction and fan art.
2. Chelsea’s Charisma and the "Redemption Arc" Desire
Despite her villainous actions, Chelsea Van Der Zee is undeniably charming and magnetic. Her personality as the popular, older girl who takes the awkward protagonist under her wing created an immediate, compelling dynamic.
Many fans felt a profound disappointment when her true identity was revealed, not because she was the villain, but because it erased the potential for a genuine connection. This disappointment quickly translated into a desire for a redemption arc—a fan theory where Chelsea was either misunderstood, or where her connection with Ruby was genuine enough to make her choose love over revenge. This theory is a cornerstone of the Ruby Gillman x Chelsea ship.
3. The "Shy Nerd x Popular Mean Girl" Dynamic
The high school setting provides a classic romantic comedy framework, which the film initially leans into. Ruby Gillman is the socially awkward, nervous teenager, while Chelsea is the effortlessly cool, beautiful, and popular newcomer.
This "opposites attract" dynamic, often featuring the shy girl being drawn out of her shell by the confident one, is highly appealing. For many fans, the brief mentorship and perceived closeness between them felt more impactful than Ruby's canonical relationship with Connor, leading to the creation of alternate universe (AU) stories where the villainous twist never happens, or is overcome.
4. The Femslash Community and Tropes
The Cheluby ship is a prominent example of femslash, a genre of fan works focusing on romantic or sexual relationships between two female characters. The community often seeks to elevate relationships that are implied, subtextual, or simply possess strong chemistry, even if they are not canon.
The intense, personal nature of their conflict—where Chelsea targeted Ruby specifically to achieve her goals—created an undeniable emotional intensity. This intensity, in the eyes of the femslash community, is often interpreted as a form of romantic or obsessive attraction, further cementing the Meraken or Seagem pairing's popularity.
5. The Visual and Symbolic Contrast
Visually, the pairing offers a compelling contrast: the blue-and-purple palette of the Kraken (Ruby) versus the green-and-pink aesthetic of the Mermaid (Chelsea/Nerissa). This visual symbolism of the ancient, warring races coming together adds a layer of epic, star-crossed destiny to the relationship.
The concept of a Kraken and a Mermaid transcending hundreds of years of hatred to form a bond is a powerful narrative device. Fans explore this theme, often imagining scenarios where Ruby and Chelsea must cooperate against a greater threat, or where their reconciliation is necessary for the underwater world's peace.
Topical Authority: The Enduring Legacy of Cheluby
The enduring popularity of the Ruby Gillman x Chelsea pairing, months and even years after the film’s initial release, highlights a growing trend in modern animated fandoms: a preference for complex, emotionally charged relationships, even if they are non-canonical or rooted in a hero/villain dynamic. The ship names alone—Cheluby, Chelsby, Rubsea, Meraken—show the community's dedication to defining and celebrating this specific bond.
For many, the film's ending felt less satisfying than the potential hinted at in the first act. The Cheluby fandom, therefore, acts as a collective rewrite, a space where fans can explore the road not taken: a story of redemption, forbidden love, and a powerful alliance between the future Kraken Queen and the exiled Mermaid Sorceress, Queen Nerissa. This continuous creation of fan content ensures the Ruby Gillman x Chelsea ship remains a vibrant and relevant part of the *Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken* legacy.
Relevant Entities and LSI Keywords:
- Characters: Ruby Gillman, Chelsea Van Der Zee, Queen Nerissa, Agatha Gillman, Connor, Grandmamah, Brill.
- Ship Names: Cheluby, Chelsby, Rubsea, Meraken, Seagem, ChelRuby.
- Concepts/Tropes: Femslash, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Redemption Arc, Arch-Enemy Shipping, Kraken vs. Mermaid, DreamWorks Antagonists.
- Film/Universe: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, DreamWorks Animation, OceanGate High School, Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas, Animated Fandom.
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