History Main / SapientAllAlong

* {{Subverted}} in a ''ComicStrip/RobotmanAndMonty'' storyline where a TranslatorCollar allows Flashy the Cat to speak... and he can't form coherent sentences, only utter random words. [[spoiler:DoubleSubverted later: he spoke seemingly random words because he was solving a crossword puzzle.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/BackAtTheBarnyard'', it's mentioned that the reason that the reason why the main characters don't let humans know they can talk is because they wouldn't be able to live on the farm anymore. Evidently, they suffer HappinessInSlavery.

* Both inverted and played straight in ''Literature/WingsOfFire''. Dragons find out humans a.k.a scavengers are sentient in book fourteen and a group of humans find out dragons are sentient at what is timeline wise towards the start of the series. This causes many dragons to be rightfully horrified, since they have been eating 'scavengers' since the dawn of time.

* Both inverted and played straight in ''Literature/WingsofFire''. Dragons find out humans a.k.a scavengers are sentient in book fourteen and a group of human's find out dragon's are sentient at what is timeline wise towards the start of the series. This causes many dragons to be rightfully horrified, since they have been eating 'scavengers' since the dawn of time.

* The Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes had this in the Silver Age with the [[DorkAge Legion of Super-Pets]]. Proty, a shapeshifting blob, was capable of not only turning into Superboy's shape, but speaking to the point where people could think he is Superboy. He could also communicate with all the other Super-Pets telepathically on a level implying that they were all similarly sentient. Including Superboy's dog.

* The toys from ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory''.

* Usually averted in ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons''. Most spells or other magic used to communicate with animals state that the animals' speech should be limited by their lesser intelligence, so you aren't going to be able to have a philosophical discussion with a dog.

* The PBS show ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' eventually revealed that babies and animals are able to communicate, and both secretly sapient. Even insects were eventually shown to be sapient.

* ''ComicBook/MarvelStarWars: Plif'' has a small-scale one where the cuddly rabbitlike animals the Rebels have been playing with and allowing to sleep on their beds since arriving on Arbra reveal themselves to be sentient. After they do so they don't bother pretending ''not'' to be people around the Rebels and even sometimes act as diplomats.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', where Dexter creates a device which allows a dog to talk, only for the dog to just repeat things like, "Look, there's the thing! It's a thing! Look! A thing! There it is!" Further demolished when the dog's owner shows up, and is just about as smart as him.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' demonstrates this trope when the two main characters are turned into frogs. Apparently there was even an alligator that learned to play the trumpet, but never thought of using his remarkable hand coordination to try writing down that he was sapient.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'' plays this trope straight for the most part; the dogs that serve as the BigBad's {{Mooks}} are extremely competent. However, Dug is an aversion similar to the Dexter's Lab example above, telling everyone he meets he loves them (being a talking version of a big friendly dog), while also being distracted by sounds that may be squirrels.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', where Dexter creates a device which allows a dog to talk, only for the dog to just repeat things like, "Look, there's the thing! It's a thing! Look! A thing! There it is!" Further demolished when the dog's owner shows up, and is just about as smart as the dog.

* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' demonstrates this trope when the two main characters are turned into frogs. Apparently there was even an alligator that learned to play the trumpet, but never thought of using his remarkable hand coordination to try writing down that he was sapient.

* In one of the ''Literature/LandOfOz books, the characters wonder why Toto is the only animal in Oz who never talks. He reveals he could talk, but was afraid if he did, Dorothy would stop treating him like a pet. And he kinda liked the pampering.

** This [[http://www.quantumbranching.deviantart.com/art/Dolittle-s-World-274163008 AlienSpaceBats setting]] on Website/DeviantArt setting shows what happens when humanity at large finds out.

** This [[http://http://quantumbranching.deviantart.com/art/Dolittle-s-World-274163008 AlienSpaceBats setting]] on Website/DeviantArt setting shows what happens when humanity at large finds out.