# Favorite non-anthropomorphic cartoon animal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487 "2018-05-20T01:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/81 "2018-05-23T01:17:54Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Pumbaa and Timon from the Lion King. > > I’m a little conflicted about the animals of the Madagascar franchise. They act in human ways, but around human beings, they’re clearly no more than animals. I really like them, though - I love the "New Yorker"ness of the main four characters and the chimps, and the penguins are on their own level of funny. Wasn’t there a fanfic where Kovu was shot with a tranquilizer dart? ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/82 "2018-05-23T01:26:44Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Pumbaa and Timon from the Lion King. > > I’m a little conflicted about the animals of the Madagascar franchise. They act in human ways, but around human beings, they’re clearly no more than animals. I really like them, though - I love the "New Yorker"ness of the main four characters and the chimps, and the penguins are on their own level of funny. Whoops my last reply made no sense in context. But didn’t the Lion King characters talk in complete sentences? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/83 "2018-05-23T01:44:22Z")
Trisha Gaurav: > [@](#): > > But didn’t the Lion King characters talk in complete sentences? Only to one another. I guess cross-species communication isn’t really animal-like. But the Lion King characters use the correct limbs in the correct ways for animals of their species. While they think and talk and relate, in their milieu, as humans might, I don’t think I’d consider them anthropomorphic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/84 "2018-05-23T23:14:31Z")
You want me to dress in drag and do the hula? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/85 "2018-05-24T00:16:28Z")
Meerkats in the wild ALWAYS do the hula - just not in front of a bunch of hungry hyenas. More seriously, I’ll admit that Timon does appear to be a bit more anthropomorphic than the other Lion King characters - in addition to the hula scene, he also has opposable thumbs, which real meerkats do not have, and walks bipedally, which I’m pretty sure real meerkats don’t do though they can stand on their hind legs. Still, given that none of the other animals in the movie act particularly anthropomorphic, I’d consider it a bit of artistic license for the sake of comedic effect rather than his being an anthropomorphic character in a non-anthropomorphic world. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/86 "2018-05-24T01:04:10Z")
Some people here \*really \*don’t understand what anthropomorphic means. It’s nothing to do with opposable thumbs or walking upright. It is simply giving human attributes to animals or inanimate objects. Every single character in “The Lion King” is anthropomorphic. ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/87 "2018-05-24T04:10:30Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Some people here \*really \*don’t understand what anthropomorphic means. It’s nothing to do with opposable thumbs or walking upright. It is simply giving human attributes to animals or inanimate objects. Every single character in “The Lion King” is anthropomorphic. Are you saying you consider the hyena Ed anthropomorphic? It’s cross-eyed, it’s always thirsty, it can’t speak, and it chews its foot. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/88 "2018-05-24T17:23:42Z")
> [@Trisha\_Gaurav](#): > > Are you saying you consider the hyena Ed anthropomorphic? It’s cross-eyed, it’s always thirsty, it can’t speak, and it chews its foot. Would you be adverse to using the definition of “anthropomorphic” that is in most dictionaries, rather than your own custom definition? ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/89 "2018-05-24T23:19:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Would you be adverse to using the definition of “anthropomorphic” that is in most dictionaries, rather than your own custom definition? Replace “anthropomorphic” with “female” and I might agree with you. The dictionary says you have to be able to bear children to be considered female, yet people think they can identify as whatever gender they want. Back on topic, what is it about that hyena that makes you consider it anthropomorphic? It not only lacks human qualities, it is far dumber than a real hyena. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/90 "2018-05-25T01:29:02Z")
> [@Trisha\_Gaurav](#): > > Replace “anthropomorphic” with “female” and I might agree with you. The dictionary says you have to be able to bear children to be considered female, yet people think they can identify as whatever gender they want. > > Back on topic, what is it about that hyena that makes you consider it anthropomorphic? It not only lacks human qualities, it is far dumber than a real hyena. What a random bit of nastiness. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/91 "2018-05-25T01:34:28Z")
> [@Trisha\_Gaurav](#): > > Replace “anthropomorphic” with “female” and I might agree with you. The dictionary says you have to be able to bear children to be considered female nuh uh ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/92 "2018-05-25T01:43:37Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > nuh uh Whoops, I didn’t think that through. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/93 "2018-05-25T01:44:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, but he couldn’t talk, had no characteristics other than smarts that horses dont have. Sure, he’s a little magical, but that universe has magic. I still say he is in no way anthropomorphic. He cared that it was her birthday, and grudgingly allowed a truce. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/94 "2018-05-25T02:11:04Z")
[Moderating] **Trisha Gaurav** , I fail to see how transgenderism is in any way relevant to this thread, and that post could be interpreted as a slur. I’m not sure if you intended that interpretation, but either way, cut it out. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/95 "2018-05-25T04:02:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The whites of Dixie’s eyes : [bob smith | Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/155285423@N02/) > > Doxie’s can be seen about 4 rows down. > > Both were sick at the time of the picture. What does that tell ya? > > Got to go. Doxie is telling me he wants in. There’s a bark for that. Dachshunds have serious people eyes. My sons Dox seems to convey a lot of emotions with his eyes. Mainly getting out of trouble with his dog minders. They end up laughing at him instead of correcting him. He’s a real cut-up. ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/96 "2018-05-26T13:48:41Z")
Like I said, I base it on whether the other characters consider the character anthropomorphic. Unless the animals hide their intelligence from the humans. Does Mammy Two Shoes consider Tom and Jerry anthropomorphic? No. Does anyone in Lilo and Stitch consider Stitch anthropomorphic? No. The other aliens wanted to “capture” the “experiment” because “it” could be “dangerous”. Does Doofenshmirtz consider Perry anthropomorphic? There was one episode where he said “What’s that?” after getting hit with the Forgetinator, then Norm says “Don’t worry, I’ll get rid of it.” I didn’t even consider Maximus anthropomorphic at all until Rapunzel said “Who’s that?” If it weren’t for the other characters treating him like an actual character, I would think of him as a normal animal. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/97 "2018-05-26T14:50:02Z")
You can think whatever you want, but you are wrong. Yes, Stitch is anthropomorphic. Yes, Tom & Jerry are anthropomorphic. Making up your own definition of a word does not change what the word means. ---
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/98 "2018-05-26T14:55:46Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > You can think whatever you want, but you are wrong. Yes, Stitch is anthropomorphic. Yes, Tom & Jerry are anthropomorphic. Making up your own definition of a word does not change what the word means. Then I guess Lilo has a very different definition of anthropomorphic than you. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/99 "2018-05-26T15:20:50Z")
So an animal is anthropomorphic only if one of the human characters screams “holy fuck, that animal is acting like a human!”? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487/100 "2018-05-26T16:27:18Z")
It doesn’t necessarily have to be that blatant. Just carrying on a conversation with them would be enough (even if it’s a sort of one-sided conversation where the other character can apparently understand the animal even though we can’t, due to a lack of speech ability). And of course anthropomorphism isn’t a binary proposition, with every animal being either anthropomorphic or not, but how other characters treat them seems as reasonable a standard as any. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-anthropomorphic-cartoon-animal/814487.md?page=6)