Animal traits in anthro characters

[Symphony]

I've been thinking of something regarding Furry characters, namely how much how much of the original animal is transferred to the anthro version. Normally I just think of Furry characters is pretty much just have the head and tail of the animals they are based on, and sometimes something like fur length and color.

But is it common to have Furry characters with other traits from their non-sentinent counterparts? Like felines purring, or canines wagging their tails? I can imgine those, though I can't really recall seeing any felines purr in the comic.

And would reptiles be cold blooded? We haven't seen any in the comic yet, and it's not really something I know much about. Nor have I really seen that much of reptile characters where it wasn't just a single picture.

Do bovine characters produce a lot of milk, and do skunks have their scent glands? Stuff like that.


I usually think of Furry characters as pretty much the same, at least in their general anatomy, but then there are examples of where that's not necessarily true.

What do the rest of you think? Any thoughts on how Furry characters can be different, aside from how they look at first glance?

[green_fox]

If you take a look at page 8 of Issue 6 you can see the lovely lady hugging Red wagging her tail a lot :) your thoughts on reptile anthros is indeed very interesting, if they'd share traits with "real" reptiles they would need a heat source to survive. Maybe evolution changed them that they now are warm blooded (imagine cold blooded anthros, this can be horrible for a writer *g*)

[Symphony]

Yes, that girl with the wagging tail was one of the exampels I remembered from the comic, and one of the things that made me think about all of this. :)

[MidNight Tiger]

It does make one think. I would think that anthros with scent glands like skunks would have them and would be able to control it so that it would go off when they are nervous, anxious, or scared.

[Symphony]

MidNight Tiger wrote: It does make one think. I would think that anthros with scent glands like skunks would have them and would be able to control it so that it would go off when they are nervous, anxious, or scared.
I can't remember ever seeing that in a comic, but I can see how it could work.

And speaking of glands, would an anthro snake have venom glands?

[UltimaWolf0]

I know reptiles in the Quest for Fun comic keep their cold-blooded trait.

[JohnnyPsycho]

Whenever topics like this come up, I always remember the "MST3k mantra"...
Quote: Just repeat to yourself "It's just a [webcomic],
I should really just relax."
The thing about furry storylines in general is that, despite how much fun and fantastical the idea of "funny talking animals" is, too many people use that awful, terrible thing called "logic" to poke holes through just about any storyline.

As far as how much psychology and physiology of the actual animal remains in the anthropomorphic version, I say that's always been up to the author or the situation. Having cold-blooded reptile characters who spend all day sitting on rocks to warm up would be boring, so most authors tend to overlook the whole cold-blooded metabolism except when they can use it for dramatic (or comedic) effect. Same with just about every real-world animal traits.

I always point to the fact that our closest relatives, the great apes, don't really act that differently than humans do on a very basic level. Just watch any documentaries about chimpanzees, orangutans, and especially gorillas... it's sort of spooky how much these "wild" cousins act and show emotion like humans, without being trained or having been otherwise influenced by humans.

So, would anthro cats pur, and dogs wag their tails, and skunks spray? Sure they would, why shouldn't they? They just don't do it all the time, just like humans don't constantly scratch under their armpits, swing from vines, or pick lice out of eachother's hair (at least the more polite ones don't, anyway...)

[JohnnyPsycho]

an addendum: Behaviors and traits that would make "humanizing" a certain animal too complicated or bizaare are often ignored or altered in order to avoid confusion or un-intended "squick" moments. Examples would include female bovine characters often being drawn with large breasts, but not necessarily constantly lactating (unless, of course, the story or artwork featuring said characters is based on the whole lactating-fetish thing, but that's a whole other discussion).

It's always been common practice for artists and authors to flat-out ignore anything that would detract from the overall work. This may lead to some unintended "Fridge Logic" (as you may be experiencing right now), but that's the price you pay sometimes to make the whole thing fit into a tidy package.

[Symphony]

It's true that it's not really that useful to apply logic to all aspects of Furry art or stories. It's really quite difficult to explain why the various characters have come to look the way they do.

And I know that there are bound to be many differences in how various artists choose to portray their characters. I'm really just wondering how people think of these traits when they think of the different anthro characters, and possibly how they've seen these species and their traits handled.

[Taliesin]

well, as I already said somewhere else, it's a matter of how much "humanity" you want to put into an anthro character. On a scale from 0% (full animal) to 100% (full human), you can have a whole variety of situations. For instance, nekogirls (human girls with kitty tails, teeth and ears) are 95% humans.

The same situation goes when talking about female reptilians, if they should or should not have tits. Again, it depends oh how much "humanity" you want to put in your character.

Myself, being a reptile, I'm at a good 50%. I am NOT cold-blooded but I still kept some anatomic traits typical of lizards. I think it's a matter of choices and likings, as well as male genitalia seen in the comics are mostly human like (canine have no knots for what I've seen).

[JohnnyPsycho]

Taliesin wrote: I think it's a matter of choices and likings, as well as male genitalia seen in the comics are mostly human like (canine have no knots for what I've seen).
I noticed that too... in the past I've had a wolf fursona on another site, and always described him as having that particular anatomical difference... just because it's exotic compared to normal human anatomy. Still, I can perhaps understand keeping sexual anatomy closely related to humans, in this instance at least... Not everyone's into knotted dog-dorks and breastless lizard gals... or, for that matter, feline and canine gals with six tits! The less complicated you make things by giving everyone similar anatomy, less likely you're going to freak somebody out.

Seriously, the whole of furry fandom is full of drama over these sorts of issues... Thankfully, this board has stayed almost completely drama-free *knock on wood*

[Kenjin]

Guess I'll throw my two cents in. (Searches his pockets for pennies)

Different strokes, for different folks. Tastes that are wide and varied. Bleh. In the issue of our beloved PBB, logic dictates that it's just Vanessa's personal tastes. Stick closer to humanity, as opposed to creating the 95% Anthropomorphic creature.

Perhaps it's due to the fact (At least I think I read this somewhere in the vastness of the messageboard) Vanessa can see publishing BonBon someday. To get the widest audience possible, it might be prudent to keep the "Knitty Gritty" details of the animal side such as Knots etc. to a minimum. Of course I'm sure Vanessa herself would be the better able to clarify that. :wink:

The age old enemy when it comes to the creation of fantasy/fiction... Logic... *Insert Dreadful-bad-guy-entrance music* Fantasy is an escape from the pressures of reality. Those who tend to have a blurry vision when looking at the line between Fantasy/Reality, are often the source of Drama. Fantasies should not to be taken with such extreme seriousness. Just as I shouldn't be taken too seriously at times. :P

Drama Drama Drama... I work in a department full of women (Henceforth referred to on site as "The Hen House"). Majority with bloated ego's and easily offended pride. I know drama better than TNT. (A cookie to those that get the TV reference)

I leave this topic with but a few words of wisdom

Interactions on the Internet are automatically laced with hard liquor. All the inhibitions and polite restraints are instantly obliterated. It ain't "I have to disagree with you on that." It's "F*CK YOU!".

~Kenjin Kazemaru. Your friendly neighborhood nine-tailed foxie.

[Taliesin]

true strike, my friend. In fact, leaving "human" traits on furries is the best way to assure most of enjoyability for the biggest audience possible. So, as newbies of the furry genre won't be freaked out, genuine furries will still enjoy the reading, not being too much disappointed by the lack of "esotism" in anatomy.

[Symphony]

Well, my intention was mostly just to speculate on minor traits. Those that you may not be able to see at all, like glands, wagging tails, purring and such. Just such small things that you can speculate on when reading the comic and looking at Vanessa's artwork.

I personally only like the Furry artwork that depicts sexual anatomy in a more human than animal way. Like what we see in Vanessa's work. So I didn't really consider any of the major animal traits in anthro characters, and I must admit that I had never even considered the possibility of female reptilians not having breasts. I actually don't think of them as being cold blooded either, but it was something that just came to me when starting this thread.

[kommy]

See? Thinking like this is one reason I've never been too fond of cats or feline furries. I do not want spikes or barbs in there. You can leave that bit of anatomical correctness at home. Gives me the jibblies just considering it.

[green_fox]

kommy wrote: See? Thinking like this is one reason I've never been too fond of cats or feline furries. I do not want spikes or barbs in there. You can leave that bit of anatomical correctness at home. Gives me the jibblies just considering it.

I had to take a short research with Google to see what you mean, but I found enough information .... yikes ! :shock: this could make sex quite unpleasant if everything was anatomically correct :x

btw, nice signature :)

[Taliesin]

green_fox wrote: kommy wrote: See? Thinking like this is one reason I've never been too fond of cats or feline furries. I do not want spikes or barbs in there. You can leave that bit of anatomical correctness at home. Gives me the jibblies just considering it.

I had to take a short research with Google to see what you mean, but I found enough information .... yikes ! :shock: this could make sex quite unpleasant if everything was anatomically correct :x

Eheh, wonders of nature! :D

Looks like animals like to get "stuck"... cats with barbs, dogs with knots... what else? Ah, some reptiles have hemipenii (read: double weaponry) in case one rips off during sex. Have a spare penis?

[Mystic]

I'm afraid you won't find me with more than a pair of breasts Johnny. Having two of them can put enough strain on a girls back with how stacked most of the characters seem to be, but six? *shakes her head* Those poor girls.

I can also agree with you on that matter Kommy. No thank you.

I think I see what you were going for Symphony. Such as the little quips they do with Stewie and Brian, such as Stewie having moments of being an actual baby even though he's seen as a plotting and diabolical boy; or how they have Brian, a well mannered and cultured fellow, be brought down with his natural "dog instincts" such as to bark at the vacuum cleaner or bite at the wind blowing in his face.

If felines are able to purr in the comic though, as a few members here have done so on the message board, then that might bring an extra little stimulation to a certain act the men love around here. *Ruffles the hair of Greenfox with a giggle*

[Martin]

Taliesin wrote: green_fox wrote: kommy wrote: See? Thinking like this is one reason I've never been too fond of cats or feline furries. I do not want spikes or barbs in there. You can leave that bit of anatomical correctness at home. Gives me the jibblies just considering it.

I had to take a short research with Google to see what you mean, but I found enough information .... yikes ! :shock: this could make sex quite unpleasant if everything was anatomically correct :x

Eheh, wonders of nature! :D

Looks like animals like to get "stuck"... cats with barbs, dogs with knots... what else? Ah, some reptiles have hemipenii (read: double weaponry) in case one rips off during sex. Have a spare penis?

Not all of them, Taliesin... Platypi have a, um, distinct lack of external... you know... what with being monotremes and all. Basically down there a platypus is built like a bird.

[green_fox]

Mystic wrote:
If felines are able to purr in the comic though, as a few members here have done so on the message board, then that might bring an extra little stimulation to a certain act the men love around here. *Ruffles the hair of Greenfox with a giggle*


Hmm this could be interesting :) although I have to admit that (if I have the right thing in mind) this is an act that I don't like that much :wink:
And it seems that Platypi (as the poor Martin) lack the required "part" to enjoy this :wink: