Little Bit Beastly: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

Known in Japan as "[[wikipedia:Kemonomimi|kemonomimi]]" (roughly translating as "animal ears", but [[Gratuitous Japanese|not so easy to spell]]), these are the most dramatically [[Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] characters, who appear virtually human, but feature the added characteristics of an animal's [[Unusual Ears|ears]] and tail. A '''Little Bit Beastly''' is not furry, and should still have human skin, a human face, a completely human nose, and a human skull and torso structure. Additional features like claws, [[Horned Humanoid|horns]], [[Animal Eyes]], [[Cute Little Fangs]], or the special abilities and/or instincts of that animal, may also be present. In-universe, they display the same mannerisms (including the need to wear clothes) as humans, but are generally considered a distinct species in their own right (demons being common), due to the general [[Squick]] of [[Interspecies Romance|the alternative]].

See [[Petting Zoo People]] and especially [[Funny Animal]] and [[Civilized Animal]] for animal characters who retain larger shares of animal features, on the [[Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism]]. See [[Beast Folk]] for human characters who retain larger shares of animal features.

 

 

<!-- "Bee People" is about eusocial societies, not actual insectoids. -->

* [[Catgirl]], one of the most popular types

 

{{examples}}

=== More than one type ===

* The entire cast of ''Damekko Doubutsu''.

** Fujiwara Zakuro/Mew Zakuro in ''[[Tokyo Mew Mew]]''.

** Hwang Bu-ling/Mew Pudding of ''[[Tokyo Mew Mew]]'', a golden lion tamarin.

* According to [[Studio Gainax]], Viral from ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' is "a shark with feline genetics. If you pull out his teeth they grow back." He looks mostly human, except for catlike eyes and paws and shark's teeth.

** {{spoiler|Boota}} in his human form in the Multi-Dimensional Labryinth is a [[Bishonen]] with whiskers. His [[Evil Counterpart]], {{spoiler|Guame}}, however, has the humanoid form of a [[Lizard Folk|Lizard Man]].

** Cytomander is a peacock.

** Adiane has a scorpion tail.

* The characters of ''[[Strike Witches]]'' take on the ears and tails of various animals when they use their magic. Most of them are various cats or dogs.

* ''[[Utawarerumono]]'' has almost the entire cast of them.

** The Black Beauty Sisters are anglerfish girls. {{spoiler|In fact, they actually ''are'' anglerfish, transformed into kemonomimi.}}

** Lanhua/Ranfa is a butterfly woman. Alala may be a dragonfly, but it's more likely that she's a fairy.

 

=== Birds ===

* Nozomu from ''[[Kanokon]]''

* Elga, Luna and Rino, the dog-girls from ''[[Inumimi]]''.

* ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' not only includes the requisite [[Catgirl|Cat Girls]], but also wolf-men ''and'' a dog-man.

* Pretty much everyone from the Republic of Biscotti in ''[[Dog Days]]'' is this.

* And let us not forget the [[Dragon Ball|Saiyan]].

* In ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'', Rinku (that kid with the yo-yos) meets a half-monkey girl during the makai tournament.

 

=== Rabbits, Rodents, and other small mammals ===

* Vert from ''[[Dog Days]]'' seems to be the only rabbit.

 

* ''Milk Party''—A most disturbing h-manga oneshot. In this setting cows are [[Petting Zoo People]] with cow ears and tails. They are still treated like [[Real Life]] cows and are used to produce milk. When the main character inevitably does the (offscreen) deed with the new cow his mother bought he considers it bestiality but cannot bring himself to stop. The cow ends up giving birth to the main character's child, an adorable baby boy who greatly resembles him and has bull ears and a tail. The main character has to talk his mother out of taking the calf to a butcher shop! [[Fridge Horror]] sets in when you realize that people get beef in this setting by butchering "cows" that are visually indistinguishable from humans with added ears and tails.

 

* "Tamaki" ''from [[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is a dragonfolk who is capable of transforming into an actual dragon. In humanoid form, she has thick horns and a thick tail, which according to [[Word of God]] means she [[Going Commando|can't wear panties]].

* Mink from ''[[Dragon Half]]'' has horns, a tail, and breaths fire.

 

=== Sea Creatures ===

* The Bugrom of ''[[El Hazard]]''. Oddly enough, while all the Bugrom are just giant insects, Queen Diva is entirely [[Cute Monster Girl|humanoid]] with a few insectoid characteristics.

 

* The Shi'ar, in ''[[X-Men]]'' comics, are supposed to be descended from birds. The only real sign of this is that [[Human Aliens|they have feathers instead of hair]] and (sometimes) on their forearms. Although there are some "throwbacks" who are [[Winged Humanoid]]s, with long feathers on their forearms.

* The DC Universe has the winged Thanagarians, exemplified by [[Hawkman]] and [[Justice League (animation)|Hawkgirl.]]

* ''Kingdom'' is about groups of dogs, genetically engineered to have a humanoid shape, fighting [[Big Creepy-Crawlies]]. With the exception of Gene the Hackman, all the males are quite clearly dog-men; the females, on the other hand, just look like well-built human women with slight caninesque features.

 

 

* Barf the M'og from ''[[Spaceballs]]''. "I'm my own best friend!"

* ''[[Planet of the Apes]]'', depending on the character.

* Everyone in [[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad|''Mr Toad's Wild Ride'']].

 

* The [[Winged Humanoid|Flock]] from the ''[[Maximum Ride]]'' books.

* [[Kitsune]] make an appearance in [[Mercedes Lackey]]'s ''SERRAted Edge'' series. [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|They help build magical racecars.]]

* The kemos of the web-novel ''[[Domina]]'' vary on the scale, with some being full [[Petting Zoo People|anthros]]. Not to mention kemo is probably short for kemonomimi.

 

* Believe it or not, ''[[The Backyardigans]]'' (made of an all-[[Funny Animal]] cast) had Uniqua as a kemonomimi-ish werewolf on a Halloween special, which only compounded the controversy over her species.

* Wolf from from the ABC mini series ''[[Tenth Kingdom]]'' falls under this. While he attempts to hide his traits to blend in, he is shown to have a tail, fangs, claws, and yellow eyes. He also displays canine behaviors when he feels any emotion very strongly.

* The Groosalugg in ''[[Angel]]'' is an inversion. He hails from a demonic-looking people but his ancestors crossed with "cows" which is their term for their human slaves - so he looks basically human, but to ''him'' he looks bestial, and he is deeply ashamed of having "cow blood". Cordelia, smitten with him, happily squees that it doesn't matter: "Hey, I'm ''all'' cow!"

 

* The winged Hawkmen and hairy Lion Men in ''[[Flash Gordon (comic strip)|Flash Gordon]]''.

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* ''Nezumi-bito'', rat-people, show up in various Japanese-themed fantasy settings, including ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'''s "Oriental Adventures" campaign setting, ''[[Magic: The Gathering|Kamigawa]]'', and ''[[Legend of the Five Rings]]''. They're usually nasty scavengers, except in the latter, where they're the first line of defense against the [[Big Bad]] (but still scavengers).

* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' has a plethora of reptilian humanoids:

** [[Lizard Folk]] are the most common. They live in swamps and sometimes eat people. They're not always evil, though, just ill-tempered and territorial.

** The Dragonborn from the ''Races of the Dragon'' supplement for 3.5E. Although due to their creator, Bahamut, wanting his worshipers to have a choice about fighting Dragonborn can not reproduce, they're created by a transformation ritual (although they are reborn through an egg).

** Confusingly, the 4th Edition has a different type of Dragonborn. The have scales, lay eggs and have [[Non-Mammal Mammaries|breasts]] and hair—which look like [[Predator]] dreads the same color as their scales. The lore descries sort of firebreathing platipi. They lay eggs, but lactate their young.

* In ''[[Shadowrun]]'', people possesed by insect spirits can [[Body Horror|end up looking like this]].

 

* [[Gender Flip|Rafiki]] in the theatrical version of ''[[The Lion King]]''.

* The animals in the theatrical version of ''[[The Little Mermaid]]''.

 

* ''[[Touhou]]'' has several examples of this, and plenty of other [[Petting Zoo People]], thanks to the nature of how many youkai are former animals turned into [[Hybrid Monster|part monster]], and [[Cute Monster Girl|mostly anthropromorphised girls]].

** Mystia Lorelei, also from the ''Touhou'' games, is actually a sparrow demon, and consequently sports a pair of stubby little wings. She's also associated with fried chicken, though mentioning such around her is a good way to make her frightened or angry—it certainly doesn't help much that [[Cute Ghost Girl|Yuyuko]] is often depicted as wanting to ''eat'' her.<ref>But she probably would look at us weird when we eat steak.</ref>

** Momo from ''Breath Of Fire III''. Her ears resemble a rabbit, but according to [[Word of God|Capcom]], she's a small part Grassrunner Clan (the same clan as Bow from ''Breath of Fire 2'', in which he's an anthropomorphic dog).

** Scias from ''Breath Of Fire IV'' is also part of this. The Grassrunner clan is best known for their healing abilities (Bow is arguably the best healer in the second game, and Momo and Scias are both good auxiliary healers. In fact, most players of ''Breath of Fire III'' use Momo as their healer, despite the fact that main character Ryu has far better healing magics, usually because they prefer to save his AP for his dragon transformations).

** One of the few examples from ''Dragon Quarter'' is Cupid (a dog-person).

** ''[[Breath of Fire]]'' has monkeys, too. Most notable in ''II'' with the Highlander Clan, and per [[Word of God|Capcom]] also in ''IV''.

** ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' introduced the Viera, a race of bunny-women.

** ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics A2]]'' adds the Gria, a race of dragon girls with the appropriate horns, wings, and tail.

** Tons of bird Laguz in Lessee... there's Tibarn, Naesala, Nealuchi, Reyson, Leanne, Rafiel, Ulki, Janaff, and Vika.

** Nailah and Volug from ''[[Fire Emblem]]: Radiant Dawn'' are canine.

** One [[Wild Mass Guessing|theory]] that's been suggested is that their parents were beastfolk of different animal types and produced mongrel offspring.

 

* Kit from ''[[Fey Winds]]'' was once a fox and turned human by a crazy witch.

* Marena from ''[[Keychain of Creation]]'' has a fox ears & tail. This isn't due to her being of a different race from humans, however, but is what is referred to in the world of [[Exalted]] as a Tell, due to her being a Lunar Exalted with an fox Spirit Form.

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Road Rovers]]'' is about a team of dogs [[Multinational Team|from several corners of the globe]] transformed into [[Half Human Hybrids]]. [[They Fight Crime]]. [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?]]?

* The crew of the Primate Avengers in ''[[Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys|Captain Simian and The Space Monkeys]]'', as well as Rhesus-2 in part.

* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' - Beast Boy deserves a mention here, between his [[Unusual Ears]] and [[Cute Little Fangs]]—and the fact that he is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]. Though there isn't anything that ties him to any one definite animal, except for the fact that he gained his powers from being bitten by a green monkey.

** It should be noted he's a human though. In [[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|the comics]] he gained his powers from an accident, when his father tried to save his life using a machine not tested on humans. In the comics he initially lacked any abnormal features besides being green, but [[Canon Immigrant|he eventually was given animal-like features]] after the cartoon became popular.

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Not Quite Human]]

[[Category:Fantastic Sapient Species Tropes]]

[[Category:Unusual Ears]]

[[Category:Animal Anthropomorphism Tropes]]