And why is there always such a hesitancy for crossovers?

I’ve been inspired to ask this because the 2020’s seem to be the culmination of sequel-mania. There’s a Harry Potter remake series coming out. There was a Pokémon anime sequel that just wrapped up. Lord of the Rings made a prequel series. There’s even a third Avatar series coming out soon (the sequel to Korra).

I would really like some crossovers once in a while. It’s always nice to see the official way in which two universes relate to each other. Yet there is always a high hesitancy when it comes to crossovers, and none of the biggest franchises (Harry Potter, Pokémon, Star Wars, etc.) ever engage in crossovers. Maybe this is my Rick and Morty brain talking, but all these big things going on right now with franchises has fueled my love of crossovers. Imagine, for example, the Avatar after Korra learning that the world of Avatar shares a spirit world with the world of Pokémon, or that Professor Oak replaced Professor Snape after he did.

There is so much potential, why the hesitancy? If you could push an idea, what would it be? How would you shoehorn it?

  • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeM
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    3 hours ago

    So the new Avatar series has this in its description: “The newest avatar will have to deal with both humans and spirits hunting her down in a world where being the avatar is a mark of shame.”

    And I think to myself… hmm… what if those spirits overlapped with Pokémon? Unknown creatures living among humans? That’s literally Pokémon. All the creatures in Avatar remind me of Pokémon.

    It’s not like many of us haven’t thought of this for a while, but with the setting, it’s asking for it. Avatar as a saga is ambitious but still susceptible to crashing. Make that mega crossover.

  • Freshparsnip@lemm.ee
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    15 hours ago

    I think the reason for lack of crossovers is each franchise has its own universe with its own rules. If, for example, Harry Potter did a crossover with Wizards of Waverly Place, it would be hard to reconcile all the contradictions in how magic systems work differently in the two franchises. The only ways around it are a) travel between dimensions or b) to just not care about the plot holes

  • UnpopularCrow@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    Gravity falls and owl house. I would also happily take amphibia in the mix as well. There was already an Easter egg of a stuffed sprig in owl house so we are half way there!

  • N00b22@lemmy.ml
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    12 hours ago

    There was a Pokémon anime sequel that just wrapped up.

    No? If you mean Horizons, it’s still going

  • zonnewin@feddit.nl
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    13 hours ago

    Lord of the Rings made a prequel series.

    No, they did not. Some braindead company made an abomination. Tolkien is still turning in his grave.

    • ShiverMeTimbers@lemm.eeOP
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      15 hours ago

      First avatar was Aang, an airbender. Second avatar was Korra, a waterbender. The third and new avatar is going to be Pavi, an earthbender. She is doing the same thing as Korra, with the main difference being Vaatu has his own lineage of avatars now and is the villain (think the Good Twin Bad Twin trope in mythology) and where the avatar gives people very Spiderman-esque vibes (people wondering what her use is in the modern world).

      • BertramDitore@lemm.ee
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        14 hours ago

        Another big difference is that Pavi is a twin, and her twin sister is also the avatar, so this time around there are apparently two avatars living at the same time. Looking forward to this whenever it comes out, but it seems like it won’t be finished for a while.

        Source

        • ShiverMeTimbers@lemm.eeOP
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          14 hours ago

          That’s an old source that misses one crucial detail. One twin is going to be the incarnation of Raava and the other Vaatu. So… more like avatar and anti-avatar.

          Personally I would have given the anti-avatar different powers from the avatar if I was in charge of the show, just so it doesn’t feel like a “face yourself” level of Super Smash Bros.

          • BertramDitore@lemm.ee
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            14 hours ago

            Ohh I see, thanks for the clarification. That part of your comment threw me off because I hadn’t heard that side of it yet, but that’s a pretty cool concept.

  • solrize@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    The corporate entities controlling the franchises probably would have too many problems making such deals. Too many interests involved. In comics I remember a Marvel-dc crossover just once and it was bad. In fanfic though, it happens all the time and can work pretty well.

  • missingno@fedia.io
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    14 hours ago

    If you asked me this question a month ago I would’ve said Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba&.

  • kbal@fedia.io
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    14 hours ago

    I haven’t spend a lot of time fantasizing about unlikely crossovers but now that you mention it: Grand Theft Auto + Animal Crossing