Talking Animal: Difference between revisions

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[[File:TalkingAnimal_6681.gif|link=Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|~~right~~]]

[[File:TalkingAnimal_6681.gif|link=Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|frame]]

{{quote|''"Be afraid.

Be '''very''' afraid.

''Be '''very''' afraid.

Be bloody terrified.

''Be bloody terrified.

After all, you've just entered the household of the Happy Talking Spiders."''|from [http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/575519/23841 a Walkthrough] for ''[[Exile]] III''}}

''After all, you've just entered the household of the Happy Talking Spiders."''|from [http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/575519/23841 a Walkthrough] for ''[[Exile]] III''}}

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Many cartoons have them -- some animation companies have made their entire core casts out of them. Very simply, these are animals who talk. They are a lot better at it than the [[Speech-Impaired Animal]]. They can easily hold down a conversation with human members of the cast. It's not like every human [[Speaks Fluent Animal]] either; the animals themselves are able to talk and that's just the way it is.

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Many cartoons have them -- some animation companies have made their entire core casts out of them. Very simply, these are animals who talk. They are a lot better at it than the [[Speech Impaired Animal]]. They can easily hold down a conversation with human members of the cast. It's not like every human [[Speaks Fluent Animal]] either; the animals themselves are able to talk and that's just the way it is.

Despite their ability to speak, they are still animals in almost every other way, particularly when it comes to instincts, priorities and motivations. They very rarely wear clothes, and they are often vocally proud of the fact they aren't human. They may even choose to talk to no one but a single human, who typically finds this very disturbing. They may even break the [[Fourth Wall]] and talk only to the viewer.

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* A [[Civilized Animal]]: who is an animal that shows some form of civilized manner and generally has half the mannerisms of a human, but otherwise occupy their species's natural role and have the basic body shape of their species.

* A [[Funny Animal]]: who has more than half, most, or almost all of the mannerisms of a human being, but still have the basic body shape of their species.

* A [[Petting Zoo Person]]: who is an animal that has almost all, if not all, of the mannerisms of a human being and actually has a human body frame.

* A [[Petting Zoo People|Petting Zoo Person]]: who is an animal that has almost all, if not all, of the mannerisms of a human being and actually has a human body frame.

A good comparison: Ralph the mouse (from ''[[Beverly Cleary|The Mouse and the Motorcycle]]'') is a [[Talking Animal]]; he lives in a mousehole, dodges cats, and runs around naked (save for his fur), yet he enjoys motorcycles and regularly talks to the human boy Keith. Mickey Mouse is a [[Funny Animal]]; he lives in a house, drives a car, wears clothing, and sprays his garden with pesticides ([[Fridge Logic|think about that for a second]]).

Like many [[Speech Impaired Animal~~|Speech Impaired Animals~~]] and [[Nearly Normal Animal~~|Nearly Normal Animals~~]], many [[Talking Animal~~|Talking Animals~~]] lack hands and walk on all fours, negating the possibility of performing many human tasks and behaviors. A few examples are bipedal even if their species isn't naturally so. However, when required by a joke, the [[Talking Animal]] can sometimes act like the more anthropomorphic [[Civilized Animal]] or [[Funny Animal]].

Like many [[Speech-Impaired Animal]]s and [[Nearly-Normal Animal]]s, many [[Talking Animal]]s lack hands and walk on all fours, negating the possibility of performing many human tasks and behaviors. A few examples are bipedal even if their species isn't naturally so. However, when required by a joke, the [[Talking Animal]] can sometimes act like the more anthropomorphic [[Civilized Animal]] or [[Funny Animal]].

Since these are otherwise normal animals who are able to talk, the issues of [[Furry Confusion]] don't usually come up. The issue of [[What Measure Is a Non Human]], however, is far more likely to affect a Talking Animal than a Funny Animal. That said, Talking Animals are likely to voice just [[Humans Are Bastards|what they think about humans]]...

Since these are otherwise normal animals who are able to talk, the issues of [[Furry Confusion]] don't usually come up. The issue of [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?]], however, is far more likely to affect a Talking Animal than a Funny Animal. That said, Talking Animals are likely to voice just [[Humans Are Bastards|what they think about humans]]...

The [[Fairy Tale]] is more likely to feature a talking animal than a fairy. (Although they do often turn out to be humans [[Baleful Polymorph|under a curse]]. Or even ghosts.)

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Fun fact: As ridiculous as it sounds, there are some books like ''Charlotte's Web'' that were banned in some areas of the U.S. because they had talking animals in them.

Many [[Weasel Mascot~~|Weasel Mascots~~]], [[Non Human Sidekick~~|Non Human Sidekicks~~]], and [[Team Pet~~|Team Pets~~]] are [[Talking Animal~~|Talking Animals~~]]. Talking birds are [[Polly Wants a Microphone|a separate subtrope]]. Compare [[Intellectual Animal]], [[Sapient Steed]], and [[Uplifted Animal]]. For the next step "up" in the latter, see [[Partially Civilized Animal]], [[Civilized Animal]], and [[Mouse World]]. See also [[Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism]].

Many [[Weasel Mascot]]s, [[Non-Human Sidekick]]s, and [[Team Pet]]s are [[Talking Animal]]s. Talking birds are [[Polly Wants a Microphone|a separate subtrope]]. Compare [[Intellectual Animal]], [[Sapient Steed]], and [[Uplifted Animal]]. For the next step "up" in the latter, see [[Partially-Civilized Animal]], [[Civilized Animal]], and [[Mouse World]]. See also [[Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism]].

Compare [[Animal Talk]]. Contrast [[Pantomime Animal]].