Ask John: Where Are The Serious Anthropomorphic Anime?

Question:
Anthromorphic anime has been led up till now as childish and meant for younger viewers. But now days people are more fascinated with the idea of having animal characteristics, and what to do with them. Me and many, many other people all around the world really want a good, detailed anime similar in style and fluid movement as Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, or other great anime. Because really true anthromorphic characters are not Mickey Mouse-like, they are upright, humaniod, intelligent creatures that are far more beutiful in some cases than an actual human. So if it’s possible to make a good anime with just true anthromorphic characters, then that would be freakin’ great, and not meant for just humor.

Answer:
Before begining a formal answer, I first need to explain that “anthromorphic” is not a legitimate word. What you’re thinking of is “anthropomorphic.”

While anthropomorphic characters have been a staple of anime for decades, 2008 actually may be a watershed year for realistic human/animal hybrid characters. The current television series Ookami to Koshinryo (Wolf & Spice) stars a virtually immortal wolf demigod with the ability to transform into the physical form of a human woman with wolf ears and a wolf’s tail. Similarly, the upcoming Wagaya no Oinarisama anime television series stars a fox goddess who appears as a human with wolf characteristics. The upcoming Kyoran Kazoku Nikki and Magicians Academy television series feature cat-girls. And the Kanokon anime television series due later this year will co-star at wolf-girl and a fox-girl.

Intelligent, attractive, and rational anthropomorphic characters have also been prevalent in a number of recent anime productions. Oh! Edo Rocket included a dog-girl. Shining Tears X Wind featured a large variety of anthropomorphic characters. The 2006 Inukami television series featured over a dozen dog-girls. The Utawarerumono fantasy series featured anthropomorphic dog or wolf girls. And just to illustrate that not all contemporary anthropomorphic anime characters are female, the 2005 Loveless television series featured cat boys. (Actually, the Loveless characters are frequently called “cat boys,” but I’ve personally always thought that they were “dog boys” because their ears and tails resemble those of dogs more than cats.)

In terms of characters that reflect the sub-genre of anthropomorphic characters known as “furries,” or humanoid animals that are literally covered in fur and resemble humanoid animals rather than humans with animal traits, there are a few examples, but the concept of “furries” has never really been popular in Japan. Memorable anime “furries” include Bagi from Osamu Tezuka’s 1984 OVA Taishizen no Makemono Bagi, Giobaldi and Battia from the 1986 Outlanders OVA, and Stallion from the 1999 adult anime series Wordsworth. “Furry” characters seem to be much more popular and prominent in Western entertainment and culture than in anime, which clearly gravitates toward human characters with animal characteristics.