MeiLuca

MeiLuca is the het ship between Meilin Lee and Luca Paguro from the Turning Red and Luca fandoms.

Canon
Both Pixar characters never met each other due to the fact that they're both from different universes. Disney is yet to feature the two in the same media, like their ever growing crossover games. That can allow players to place Mei and Luca in the same team together or simply have their paths cross with one another, by their choice.

Luca and Mei both started out hiding one of their two forms, that requires a certain trigger for them to change from a human to a type of creature/animal (wet skin and strong emotions), until those forms got excepted by others. Inspiring the two to embrace their none human forms and to be their true selves. From how their over protective mothers have kept the two from becoming part of the world and life that their friends introduced them to. Which was why Mei and Luca felt the need to keep secrets from their families, from how fun they were having in those worlds and wanted to stay part of them. Knowing that their mothers wouldn't approve, until they finally decided to let their children be their true selves and for them to keep the friends they have made. Even though Luca and Mei had both ended up stabbing those friends in the back, due to the simulation they in and feeling back about it as later had them fixing things between them. Luca enjoys learning new things and that was why he wanted to attend a human school, while Mei was someone who works in school and began to embrace the other things it has to offer outside of classes. The two are also shown to enjoy listening to music.

Fanon
The ship started after Turning Red was announced and people got the idea to ship Mei with Luca, due to them both being child Pixar characters that happen to have a similar ability. Being able to turn themselves from a human into a type of animal/creature. Its popularity rose soon after the 2022 film was released. Resulting in it becoming one of the most popular crossover ships, between two Pixar characters, of that year.

Most fanworks of the ship commonly have the two as their human selves, while making references to their none human forms. Like having Mei with her panda ears and tail beside human Luca. Along with featuring the two in ship related memes on DeviantArt. Some of those memes and other kinds of fanworks have MeiLuca be placed beside other Pixar crossover ships, like Mirialberto and Ianlet. There have also been times when the ship is featured in an AU or mirror-like setting of The Little Mermaid. That has Mei be placed as a mermaid beside sea monster Luca, or have the two play out the Little Mermaid storyline. Since Luca already has some Ariel-like traits, but his male gender sometimes has him as Eric, while Mei plays the part of Ariel. When she isn't placed as Eric and has Luca as Ariel. Depending on the creator who sorts the story's AU recast.

Half of these fanworks can be found on the DeviantArt fan group that was created by MeiLuca supporters and fans of the said ship. Tumblr and YouTube also has a few fanworks on the Pixar crossover ship. The fanbase on those websites might not be as big to the decent side one that DeviantArt currently has, the support on MeiLuca is still in those sites as well.

Because Mei had pictured two of the guys she fancies as mermen, the idea of shipping her with a cute looking sea monster wasn't too far fetch. Along with this fact pleasing fans of the crossover ship, as it means that Mei wouldn't mind becoming close to someone like Luca. Who can connect to her with the other things they also have in common, than just the struggles they had with having to hide one of their two forms. Before they and those forms got expected by others, like their mothers.

Mei's red hair and coming from the human has got people to think that Luca would view Mei as his second Giulia. As they picture Mei teaching Luca things about her world, culture and what kids their age are in to. Even though most fanworks of the ship commonly place it in Luca's timeline or simply have them in Portorosso. While moving it to the Turning Red timeline and sometimes have the ship's setting in Mei's home city centre instead. Just as Luca wanted to attend Giulia's school, he may also like to enrol in Mei's and become part of her gang of friends. Who would also expect Luca's sea monster form, since they already expect Panda Mei.

Fandom
FAN ART

Trivia

 * Both of of their films were originally set to be released in theatres, but COVID forced Pixar to turn them into Disney+ originals.