Animal Motifs: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m revise quote template spacing |
m update links |
||
Line 12:
Animals are used to depict characters more often than they describe themes. Even in the real world, describing a person by comparing them to an animal is a good way to convey your opinion of them: phrases such as "lion-hearted," "eagle-eyed," or "<s>dirty</s> [[You Dirty Rat|doity rat]]" are popular to the point of cliche. Therefore, many [[Animal Motifs]] are also [[Characterization Tropes]]. The wimp who spends his time watching the tigers at the zoo will most likely be stronger than you think. As for the girl doodling big black spiders [[Black Widow|with suspicious red hourglasses on their underbellies]]... well, think twice before accepting her invitation to "coffee."
Animals, like [[Flower Motifs|flowers]], are a motif that tends to be gendered. Men are usually compared to animals that are clearly predatory: wolves, lions, and bears, for example. Women generally get the cute and fluffy animals as motifs, such as bunnies and suchlike. However, women have historically had a strong association with the cat which, while cuddly and furry, is also a predator. Cats are therefore a common motif for female characters, but one aspect of the feline mystique will most likely be emphasized over the others -- the woman will either be a predator, a seductress, or a sweet little kitten. (Lionesses are especially popular for [[Action Girl|Action Girls]]: they look very different from male lions, and most people know it's lionesses who do the hunting, so a lioness motif conveniently emphasizes both femininity and ferocity.) Women are also frequently associated with foxes, also a predatory animal, although it is the fox's attractive nature or reputation as a trickster that is being invoked. A woman represented by [[Mama Bear|a large, predatory animal]] is twice as dangerous as her male counterparts - after all, women are traditionally characterized as [[
In the world of fiction, someone who doesn't like animals at all is either a nasty piece of work or obsessively clean and germ-phobic. "Animal hater" is quite a strong term though, so to dilute the "hard-heartedness" of this character, expect to see one particular animal that they just can't resist.
Line 23:
* {{spoiler|The Unicorn Banshee}} from [[Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn]] has a lion motif
* Usagi Tsukino from ''[[Sailor Moon]]''. Even her name means "rabbit", and [[Odango|her hair]] is meant to mirror the ears of one. This relates back to the astrological motif as well, from the Japanese myth of [[wikipedia:Moon rabbit|the rabbit on the moon.]] Chibi-Usa is designed to look even more like a rabbit, with her pinkish eyes and bunny ear-shaped [[Odango]].
* From ''[[
** Also life and death, {{spoiler|to reflect her undead nature}}.
** And fate, of course.
Line 125:
* The creator of ''Descendants of Darkness'' has often drawn the two main characters with animal traits, both in the manga and in extra art. For Happy-go-lucky, often childish, always energetic and loyal Tsuzuki, it's a puppy. This visual is used enough in the manga and anime that fans often reference Tsuzuki as going into "Puppy-mode". For the quiet, loner, bookish, easily angered, defensive and Tsundere Hisoka, it's a cat. While this isn't used nearly as much as the Puppy-Tsuzuki visual, it's no less apt.
* [[Negima|Satsuki Yotsuba]] [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_sensei_negima/v09/c073/11.html is commonly drawn with a Koala behind her] and is the only [[Loads and Loads of Characters|one]] drawn quite [[Only Six Faces|different]] clearly inspired by a Koala.
* In ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]'', during comedic moments, Sousuke's animal motif is a cute (albeit irritable looking) little dog. A more plot significant one for him, though, is a tiger (referring to the fact that he's the "son of Bdakshon's Tiger," being called "Tiger" by Gauron in the English dub, as well as his adopting a pet tiger that he loves). On the other hand, Gauron's animal motif can be seen as a dragon, derived from his name "Gauron" (meaning "nine dragons" in Chinese). Symbolism is rampant when one considers the antagonizing, spark-filled relationship between the tiger and dragon in Asian culture. In fact, the [[Tiger Versus Dragon]] trope page describes their relationship perfectly.
* The various martial arts of the ''Nanto Seiken'' school in ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'' are named after birds.
** Shin's ''Nanto Koshuken'' style is the "Long Eagle Fist"
| |||