anthromorphic animals in visual novel

[tylerthekitsune]

here is a good idea for gamemakers. instead of using humans as the main roles. why not try anthromorphic animals(or furries is what the cool people call them). and where not talking catgirls with only ears and tails. i mean animals that walk,talk,etc like humans do. like star fox. imagine a world where all of the humans would be transformed into anthromorphic animals by science. that would make a good visual novel.

anyway. what do you think?

[Satoh]

Well... while I'm sure it'd be good for furry lovers... the rest of the world would probably be a little averse to it...

Also please understand that there are more than a few anime-nazis out there that would attempt to mount your head on a pike for such a suggestion... (While I'm not really a fan of furry myself... I do wonder why there's such a war about it in many circles...)

However... I do think that those types of characters are good supplements to a decent sci-fi story, if they are under the guise of 'augmented beings.' (that's not to say I don't have my exceptions... *cough*freya*cough*)

To each their own though really. I think moderation and diversity is better than solely using "normal" humans or furries... Any story that uses nothing but average characters would just seem to be less interesting than even reality can be...


What I would put forth to you is this:
Make a VN about people and 'furries' (though I really hate the term furries AND anthropomorphic creatures) but write it in such a way that the characters' species has no impact on their character.

People generally write them in such a way that, "Oh he's a horse, I gotta make him all... horsey!"... But you wouldn't say that about, say, a black man would you? (I mean... some people might... but...) "Ohh he's a black guy, I gotta make him all... black-y" (doesn't that just sound awful?)

If you can do that, then I'd say GO FOR IT! Be bold, break the stereotype!

I may have volunteered more than you asked for, but that's my opinion on it. (I mean no disrespect anywhere in my comments, for the record.)

[tylerthekitsune]

thanks for the comment. i am a furry. and proud of it. i hate it when people make fun of me for being a furry. anyway. did you know that one of the founders of the furry fandom is also one of the founders of the anime fandom. thats pretty cool.

[lunasspecto]

Gisaburo Sugii's film version of Night on the Galactic Railroad made an ideal use of anthropomorphism. Most of the characters were depicted as cats, and the animation - particularly of facial details - communicated the characters' emotions very effectively. Some of the characters (the H.M.S. Titanic victims) were depicted in "normal" human forms, but they weren't set apart by any plot distinction.

[Taleweaver]

You know what I'd really like to see? Usagi Yojimbo VN!

[tylerthekitsune]

yay! thats a classic furry comic. i could imagine a visual novel version of it.

[being lazy]

Well, if it's done right I'm sure there are some people who would welcome a story like that. I think the story matters more than how the characters look - if there was a visual novel about furries that involved mystery, blood and murder ( ) I sure would be interested.

Hint: why not attempt to make that sci-fi anthro story yourself tylerthekitsune? ;D

[tylerthekitsune]

i am starting right now on my furry video game.

[Guest]

@tylerthekitsune

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... =16&t=3691

Jibun no Kyoku now know as Kemono Densetsu. The project is currently on hiatus i think? Anyway the author is making a webcomic about it, there are a few old demos around too.

Also you should check Morenatsu XP its japanese anyway and it has mature contents

[La petite Glasskitten]

I bet fellow furries would adore something like this, and if the writing was well done, many other people could as well! However, I doubt a great number of non-furries would want to make a fully anthropomorphic cast to their visual novels just for the sheer heck of it. It just would not come as naturally.

My own worlds, for example, have their own racial templates and physical limitations with canonical reasons for all of it. Some of them could theoretically contain such characters under some conditions, but not in their usual state; one has furries who are spread thinly among other races and are unlikely to get together in enough numbers for an all-furry story. I would probably have to make a whole new world if I needed an entire cast like that. (Doing so would probably come more naturally to writers who are accustomed to creating new worlds for new stories quickly. ^^; I also tend to take the details way too seriously, i.e. figuring out the genetics behind blue hair.)

Satoh raises an interesting point about species vs. personality. Trying to make characters conform to a set of animal stereotypes is probably something a lot of writers would indeed do without thinking. There are some biological factors that pretty much require certain behaviors in certain kinds of animals--but then, even within a specific breed of a specific species, there is a lot of variation in personality! Surely people have noticed this in their pets. (Samuel the American shorthair tuxedo cat was laid-back but a good hunter, generous with his spoils, brilliant at problem-solving, and very affectionate in his own cool sort of way. Thumper the American shorthair tuxedo cat is skittish, impulsive to the point of ADD, a bit obtuse and childlike when faced with new situations, lazy in hunting but possessive of what he does catch, and about as averse to being held as he is addicted to being petted. My mother can spot Thumper among other neighborhood cats at a distance solely based on his movement patterns.)

[afu]

I think it's great to branch out there and do different things, a anthromorphic all cast seems like it'd be really neat idea. I'd be curious to see what kind of story they'd be put in...
Although personally I'm not very into anthros I'd be willing to try if it has a good story and characters ^^