Anthropomorphics

You know what ongoing theme in stories that continue to capture my interest? Anthropomorphics! I mean, what's better than capturing the human condition and then giving it a humorous or innocent twist by making them anthropomorphic animals or objects? It's the perfect way to tell a children's story!

The majority of Pixar's films consist of anthropomorphic characters as a matter of fact, but it's not just in movies that I enjoy this style of story telling, I love reading books as well! In grade school and middle school I used to read things like Poppy and other Avi novels about anthropomorphic mice and, well, the dangers of being a mouse. This book cover always makes me laugh. I know it's supposed to be ominous, but the main antagonist is a beaver? Cracks me up.

Spooky looming beaver head of doom and equally spooky mouse romance

Another book series you guys may be more familiar with is the Redwall series, which is about a huge community of medieval woodland creatures. The stories keep track of Redwall Abbey over centuries and centuries of war and peace. The protagonists usually include mice, voles, moles, hares, squirrels, and badgers, and the antagonists usually involve foxes, stoats, weasels, rats, wildcats, the occasional snakes, and some birds of prey and scavenger birds. It's surprisingly action-packed, and the depth of the universe Brian Jacques creates is never-ending.

This is the first one I read. How did the manage to put his mask on though?

Anthropomorphic characters always interested me because I thought they offered more to a story than human characters because I felt they could offer what humans have and so much more. It's an entirely different perspective, and not only is it charming, but it's also a sneaky way to flush out valuable human seasons of life and portray human relationships to an unknowing audience (Like me, who just wants to read about blind badger priestesses that shoot longbows and minstrel rabbits)

Thanks for reading guys, cheers!