Animal Fiction categories

There are several different aspects and genres of animal fiction works. This page attempts to include them all and is currently under construction.

"Feral" refers to a realistic animal that could be tamed or untamed. A feral fiction would use the ideas of mostly unchanged, real-life animals in the story. It is also known as "nearly normal animal" trope.

"Anthro" refers to animals who have been anthropomorphized, or "humanized" - bipedal, opposable thumbs, able to create things and build things.

True feral
A true feral fiction involves realistic animal main characters who do not speak. They may or may not have inner dialogue.

Talking feral
A talking feral fiction includes animal characters who behave as realistic animals but are able to speak to communicate to others. They may or may not be able to speak other members not of their own species.

Partially-Civilized feral
A civilized feral fiction is of animal characters with animal behaviors but have been able to build or create things within their world despite limitations. (An example is Legend of the Guardians: the Owls of Ga'Hoole).

Partially-Civilized anthro
A partially-civilized anthro fiction is of anthro animals who generally have half the mannerisms of of a human and half the mannerisms of the animal. They have the capability live in community villages, or in a single home, and may be with animals that usually don't live together. They may also live with humans in a "I can drink a cup of coffee but still pee on the floor" kind of way.

Mouse World
"Mouse World" is a genre that describes animal characters who live in human-like communities separate from human interactions, in their Own Little World. (Examples are Peter Rabbit and Ratatouille).

Civilized anthro
A civilized anthro fiction is of anthro animals who are capable of living in large societies. They may live equally with humans, or humans may not exist in the world.

Humanoid animals
Humanoid animals is a genre that describes very anthropomorphized animal characters. They may look like animal heads and other animal characteristics on otherwise human bodies.

Funny animal
A very humanized animal often used for comedy. The majority of their mannerisms are human, though they retain animal proportions. They may be easily replaceable by a human character and only are anthro animals because they are easier or more fun to draw. An example is Mickey Mouse.

Pony Tale
A human tames a wild horse, however the horse is often not the main character or focus.

A human and their pet
Stories where a human is paired with an animal companion.

Magical feral
Feral characters who have magical powers or items.

Mythical feral
Fiction involving feral characters who are mythical, such as unicorns and dragons, though are still treated as creatures with animal behaviors.

Transformation feral
Shapeshifting, curse, magical transformation, reincarnation, you name it. A human who has been changed to be a feral animal and generally follows them in what it's like to live as that animal.