| 1 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1334208531050880100 |
| 2 | %% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 3 | %% |
| 4 | [[quoteright:218:[[ComicBook/{{Maus}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Maus_II_cover_6993.jpg]]]] |
| 5 | [[caption-width-right:218:[[SarcasmMode Aww! Cute animals]]! [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids Junior'll love this!]]]] |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ->''"This is a bootleg copy of WesternAnimation/ItchyAndScratchy meets ComicBook/FritzTheCat. Because of its frank depiction of sex and narcotic use, it is not fit for an infantile intellect such as yours."'' |
| 8 | -->-- '''Comic Book Guy''' (to Bart and Lisa), ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' |
| 9 | |
| 10 | A Mature Animal Story is a work designed for and marketed toward adults and older teens featuring anthropomorphized or {{Talking Animal}}s as its main cast, and which contains content that is generally considered inappropriate for little kids. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | To many, cartoons, comics and other stories featuring animals as major characters are treated as light, whimsical entertainment suitable for small children. While adults may enjoy such works, they are primarily marketed toward young kids, and are careful to avoid material that is either too explicit or too serious and sophisticated for children to understand. While such works still might contain some conflict, or even a DisneyDeath (maybe even DeathByNewberyMedal), it is always at a level considered "Family Friendly" and "Safe for Kids". |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Also, until recent advances in CGI, fictional animal characters, especially anthropomorphized ones, in visual mediums were mostly confined to rather silly looking costumes, cartoons and comics. These features were generally associated with less serious children's stories, and therefore weren't going to be all that big on more "mature" topics like violence. {{Talking Animal}}s in particular are often considered kids' stuff. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | However, animal-centered stories weren't always considered primarily for kids. Before, and even during, the Victorian era, animal-centered works were seen as being as marketable to more young adult and adult works as children's works. Ann Sewell's ''Literature/BlackBeauty'', written during the Victorian era, actually targeted young adults and adults. It is only after the Victorian era that the perception that animal-centered works and works with animals as Protagonists, {{Deuteragonist}}s, and tritagonists are primarily for kids really came into fruition. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | A Mature Animal Story, if it is made after the Victorian era, breaks away from this NewerThanTheyThink "animal stories are just for kids" perception. The primary audience is adults and/or older teens. Stories still might be comedic, but they will also often have a serious and dark side to them. Many such works are almost entirely drama instead of comedy. They often contain graphic violence, sexuality, and profanity. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Works of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom tend to be this mature kind, and mature animal stories are PopularWithFurries, because furries are usually teenagers and adults who take anthropomorphic animals seriously as if they're humans, not fluffy children's characters. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | These stories typically involve animal characters ranging from LargelyNormalAnimal to BeastMan on the SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism, but can include non-anthropomorphic animals. They frequently, but not always, take place in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | This is a SubTrope to AnimationAgeGhetto and WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids. Compare {{Xenofiction}}. Also compare MatureWorkChildProtagonists for other mature-aimed works that feature characters generally considered limited to children's fiction. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | '''Please note that if it is marketed as a work for children, it is not this trope, no matter how "mature" its themes may be.''' |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ---- |
| 29 | !!Examples: |
| 30 | |
| 31 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 34 | * While not as dark as the other examples in this list, ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'' is still pretty mature and one of Creator/{{Sanrio}}'s only properties specifically aimed at adults, despite being set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals that are drawn with Sanrio's [[ArtStyleDissonance typical cute designs]]. It focuses on [[SuppressedRage Retsuko]] the adorable red panda's struggles with her dull life at a SoulCrushingDeskJob working under her MeanBoss, along with other issues like workplace sexism, disagreeable coworkers, complications with romantic relationships, and the challenges of dealing with adulthood. Later seasons [[CerebusSyndrome include even more dramatic topics]], up to Retsuko dealing with [[spoiler:a StalkerWithoutACrush who harasses and attempts to murder her]]. |
| 35 | * ''Manga/{{Beastars}}'' explores a complex society of carnivores and herbivores, and the struggles of coexisting with each other mixed in with a murder mystery plot. It also explores the sexuality of teenagers (which, in this setting, can be confused with their awakening predatory instinct), and features extremely brutal and graphic violence. |
| 36 | * ''Anime/BrandNewAnimal'' deals with very obvious themes about racism, xenophobia and government corruption as seen through the eyes of a diverse cast of anthropomorphic animals. Additionally, the predicament of the protagonist, a human who one day went anthro, could be interpreted as a not-so-subtle allegory for discovering one's identity as a transgender person, and coming to terms with it. |
| 37 | * ''Manga/CatShitOne'' involves cute rabbits as killing machines fighting in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar against similarly anthropomorphized animals (rabbits are American, cats are Vietnamese, etc.). |
| 38 | * ''Anime/CatSoup'' is an abstract, existential short film based on the extremely dark comics of artist Nekojiru. But hey, all the characters are cats! |
| 39 | * ''Manga/ChisSweetHome'' is almost a subversion. It's {{seinen}} and thus aimed at adult men, but there's nothing "mature" about it. It's just a cute series about a kitten. In fact, it's marketed towards children outside of Japan. |
| 40 | * ''Anime/OddTaxi'' revolves around a missing girl who may or may not be alive, with some conspiracy in the background and characters having deep conversations, and it's all told using anthropomorphic animals [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope until the final episode]], where the FurryLens [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness on the protagonist]] comes off, revealing that everyone was HumanAllAlong.]] |
| 41 | * ''Anime/OruchubanEbichu'' is a comedy about a cute little hamster and her unmarried owner. Almost every joke is about sex. |
| 42 | * ''Anime/PenguinMemories'' is a serious drama in which a Vietnam vet deals with his inner demons -- and yes, all the characters are penguins. |
| 43 | * ''Anime/WolfsRain'' is an anime about wolves. It's a violent and depressing {{seinen}} anime where in the first episode Kiba tears out a man's throat in front of a child. |
| 44 | [[/folder]] |
| 45 | |
| 46 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 47 | * ''ComicBook/AlbedoErmaFelnaEDF'' kickstarted much of this trope as a deadly serious MilitaryScienceFiction series where the furries usually follow up on the action with [[ActionFilmQuietDramaScene serious discussions about the sociopolitical ramifications]]. |
| 48 | * ''ComicBook/{{Animosity}}'' is the story of a world where animals around the world suddenly become sapient and able to talk... and a dog and his girl get caught in the crossfire of a war between humans and animals. |
| 49 | * Swedish comic strips ''ComicBook/ArneAnka'' and ''ComicBook/{{Rocky}}'' are filled to the brim with {{funny animal}}s. They're also filled with alcohol consumption, sex and deep, deep cynicism. |
| 50 | * ''BB Wolf and the 3 [=LPs=]'' uses the characters of ''Literature/TheThreeLittlePigs'' in an allegory about racism in 1920's America. It's quite violent - the wolf protagonist's family is killed when the pigs burn his home, and he graphically tears open two pigs as part of a RoaringRampageOfRevenge. |
| 51 | * ''ComicBook/BeastsOfBurden'', which pits adorable pets against all manner of supernatural terror. |
| 52 | * ''ComicBook/BeneathTheTreesWhereNobodySees'' is a murder mystery where the bear protagonist is herself a murderer. |
| 53 | * ''ComicBook/{{Blacksad}}'' is a FilmNoir style series of graphic novels about a black cat private detective named John Blacksad and his various cases set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals version of 1950's America. It doesn't hold back from showing blood, fatal injuries, wounds, controversial topics (e.g. racism), and sex. |
| 54 | * The 2019 Italian comic ''ComicBook/BiancaLittleLostLamb'' is about a [[SweetSheep young female sheep]] who witness her flock all get killed and eaten by a [[SavageWolf pack of wolves]]. As she grows older, she decides to seek revenge over her entire family getting slaughtered and eaten. The comic contains a lot of graphic violence and depressing subject matter. The graphic novel is explicitly aimed at teens and young adults. |
| 55 | * ''ComicBook/{{Circles}}'' is a story about the lives of a group of gay men, going through the standard issues of the time (homophobia, relationship dramas, AIDS, grieving people dead [[spoiler:due to '''all''' of those incidents]], et cetera), with the main characters depicted as rather fuzzy mammals. Notably, however, the characters are actually contextually human beings; we're only seeing them through a FurryLens, and the illustrated novel that concludes the comic does in fact describe them as such rather than the anthropomorphic animals they are in the visual art. |
| 56 | * ''ComicBook/FritzTheCat'' and its two {{Animated Adaptation}}s, ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheNineLivesOfFritzTheCat''. Graphic sex, graphic violence, drug use, and satirical social commentary, all set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals. Creator/RobertCrumb continued making comic strips with antropomorphic animals doing adult stuff ever since, such as ''Those Cute Little Bearzie Wearzies'' where a fuzzy bear couple that looks absolutely cute act more like a typical RealLife couple by having foul mouthed arguments and having sex with each other. |
| 57 | * ''ComicBook/{{Grandville}}'': The main character is an anthropomorphic badger who is a police inspector. It's set in a SteamPunk fantasy setting, and features plenty of sex, violence, and politics. |
| 58 | * ''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck'': The original comic strip was about a cigar chomping wisecracking duck and not intended for children at all. |
| 59 | * Benoit Sokal's ''ComicBook/InspectorCanardo'' is about a detective duck in a world of talking animals. The protagonist is a drunk, people get killed, prostitutes and rapists are commonplace. Definitely not for children. |
| 60 | * ''ComicBook/{{Maus}}'' is a retelling of the author's father's experiences during UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust, including his stay at Auschwitz. Jews are mice, Germans are cats, Americans are dogs, and Poles are pigs. |
| 61 | * ''ComicBook/TheMiceTemplar'' is filled with lots of cute mice and other small, adorable critters. But the story itself is heavily religious and contains a plethora of {{Gorn}}, and is essentially about a young hero trying to stop a tyrant while also trying to [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder figure out who he can trust]]. |
| 62 | * ''ComicBook/OmahaTheCatDancer'': An adult comic strip with anthropomorphic animal characters who engage in sex, but is otherwise not vulgar. It's more about relationships between people and also touches sexual topics, but in a tasteful and thought provoking way. |
| 63 | * The infamous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Pirates Air Pirates Funnies]]'' was a short-lived underground parody comic which featured Creator/{{Disney}} characters in adult situations, such as having sex and taking drugs. Disney sued the makers of the comic for copyright infringement, which apparently was exactly what they wanted. |
| 64 | * ''ComicBook/PrideOfBaghdad'' has blood and at one point a lioness flashbacks to being gang raped (It's not shown, but still.) Also, [[spoiler: they all die at the end.]] |
| 65 | * ''Rover Red Charlie'' by Creator/GarthEnnis depicts TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt through the eyes of some domesticated dogs who [[InnocentInaccurate don't quite understand what's happening to "the feeders"]]. |
| 66 | * The characters in the ''Sandbox'' comics by Swedish artist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joakim_Pirinen Joakim Pirinen]] are anthropomorphic teddy bears, while their plots often deal with sex, drugs, violence, and disturbingly psychedelic visions. |
| 67 | * ''Sherlock Fox'' is as kid friendly as you would expect [[Literature/SherlockHolmes the novel-series it was based on]] to be. Towards the end of the first volume there is a case of a secret society eating flesh - now remember, the comic is set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, so eating flesh there is pretty much [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalism]] and is considered as such in-universe. |
| 68 | * ''ComicBook/TomPoes'' is about the adventures of a bear and his friend the little white cat. It's a children's comic strip, but has very AntiquatedLinguistics and gentle adult satire that will be understood by adults better than children. Creator Marten Toonder used it to openly poke fun at the Nazis when they were at their most powerful (and right on his doorstep). The series is still considered one of the most mature and "literary" European comic strips. |
| 69 | * While later iterations of ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' were relatively kid-friendly, [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage the original comic]] was rather gritty and featured plenty of violence and death. |
| 70 | * During the 1930s and 1940s the ''Tijuana Bible'' phenomenon began to blossom. These were pornographic comic strip parodies of famous characters like WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, drawn by anonymous artists. As Creator/ArtSpiegelman has correctly said: "These were the forefathers of the UndergroundComics of the 1960s and 1970s." |
| 71 | * Creator/MarvelComics' Earth-14094, as featured in ''ComicBook/UltimateFF'' is a version of the ''ComicBook/SpiderHam'' universe where the characters aren't cartoony, and all the {{Grimdark}} stuff associated with the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe happened to them. The only survivor of its horrific demise was Miles Morhames, the Ultimate Spider-Ham. |
| 72 | * ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'' (first appearing in the above-mentioned ''Albedo'') involves adorable anthropomorphic animals, the main character being a ''rabbit''. The setting, however, is FeudalJapan with all of the cultural baggage thereof, including ''kirisute'', the traditional right of the samurai to kill any commoner who offends him. There is exploration of death, relationships (including forbidden relationships, illegitimate offspring, widowhood, etc.), various ''extremely'' nasty monsters from folklore, political intrigue, crime and punishment, and a very messed up judicial system. (All that said, it's not necessarily inappropriate for children; the violence is not graphic and there's virtually no bad language or references to sex. It's just thematically more mature than one would get from a Disney story, for instance.) |
| 73 | * ''ComicBook/{{We3}}'', by Creator/GrantMorrison, is about three talking animals trying to find their way home; the covers feature "missing pets" notices written in childlike style. Kids'll love it, right? Sure! Except for the scenes featuring the cybernetic animal soldiers literally ''tearing apart the soldiers sent to kill them'', the part where [[spoiler: the rabbit ''explodes while hurling itself at a car'']], and all sorts of graphic violence in between. Oh, and it's being adapted into a movie directed by the guy who made ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''. |
| 74 | * ''ComicBook/{{Xanadu|VickyWyman}}'' by Vicky Wyman is a fun and playfully erotic {{Swashbuckler}} that is a daring combination of Disney's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973'' and ''Film/ThePrincessBride''. |
| 75 | [[/folder]] |
| 76 | |
| 77 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 78 | * ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' was aimed at adults early on but as it grew more popular it became more kid friendly. |
| 79 | * ''ComicStrip/MyCage'' is a formerly syndicated comic strip featuring funny animals in a WorkCom situation that refers to adult situations like death, infidelity, suicide, and dissatisfaction with one's work, especially after it was dropped by newspapers and moved onto Patreon and Gocomics. |
| 80 | * ''ComicStrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' takes place in a LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy setting (and mostly focuses on the FunnyAnimal characters), but is primarily aimed at an older audience due to having large amounts of BlackComedy, SymbolSwearing, and references that younger viewers would most likely not understand. Averted for some PBS collections, however, which are specifically branded as kid-friendly and only contain the strips that are suitable for all ages. |
| 81 | [[/folder]] |
| 82 | |
| 83 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 84 | * ''Fanfic/ApprenticeAndPregnant'', another ''Literature/WarriorCats'' fic, is based on a kid's series but isn't aimed at the target audience. It deals with darker topics like rape, TeenPregnancy, and DomesticAbuse. |
| 85 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has a large number of fanfics which are targeted at older audiences. |
| 86 | ** ''Fanfic/TheWritingOnTheWall'' [[ExploitedTrope exploits this trope]] for its impact. The story starts out like a lighthearted bit of pulp fiction about AdventurerArchaeologist JustForFun/DaringDo exploring an ancient tomb with her crew, with the only dissonant note being that the ruin is 71,000 years old - far older than any civilization known to have been able to use masonry, with a series of warnings written in increasingly ancient, indecipherable languages. This leads to a case of WrongGenreSavvy not only of the characters in the story, but also of the reader, as people in the camp begin to get sick, with the true nature of the "tomb" - and the true genre of the story - only revealed after the ominous writing on the wall is deciphered at the end of the story. |
| 87 | ---> [[spoiler: You should not have come here.]] |
| 88 | ---> [[spoiler: [[https://www.damninteresting.com/this-place-is-not-a-place-of-honor/ This is not a place of honor.]] No great deed is commemorated here.]] |
| 89 | ---> [[spoiler: Nothing of value is here.]] |
| 90 | ---> [[spoiler: What is here is dangerous and repulsive.]] |
| 91 | ---> [[spoiler: [[HumanitysWake We considered ourselves a powerful culture]]. We harnessed the hidden fire, and used it for our own purposes.]] |
| 92 | ---> [[spoiler: Then we saw the fire could burn within living things, unnoticed until it destroyed them.]] |
| 93 | ---> [[spoiler: And we were afraid.]] |
| 94 | * ''Fanfic/DeathAndTaxes'' takes characters from ''WesternAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' and drops all cute and cuddly pretenses that show has, recontextualizing them as ordinary citizens in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals. What's left is a CosmicHorrorStory about a cursed town, and the various awful events that happen to the pastel characters living inside. |
| 95 | * ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/673833/1/Amazing-Zoo-Crew-The-Harmony-Trap The Harmony Trap]]'' is an M-rated fanfic with an AlternateUniverse version of ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew''. |
| 96 | * ''Fanfic/MemoirsOfAMaster'' is a ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' story where Po and the Furious Five read the personal memoirs of Master Shifu; a tale of trials and profound loss experienced by a martial arts master who found redemption where he least expected it through Po. |
| 97 | * ''Fanfic/WarriorsRedux'' is a FixFic that takes a kid-aimed but still [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath violent]] and mature series like ''[[Literature/WarriorCats Warriors]]'' and tweaks it into being both less anthropomorphic and more adult-aimed. |
| 98 | * ''Fanfic/WhatLiesBeyondTheWalls'' is a ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' fanfic that not only contains explicit sex scenes, but also focuses on [[WarIsHell the brutality of war]] and how it can easily corrupt others. It also shows how [[GreyAndGrayMorality gray]] the world really is, and doesn't waste time revealing that everyone on both sides isn't 100% good or evil. |
| 99 | [[/folder]] |
| 100 | |
| 101 | [[folder:Films -- Animated]] |
| 102 | * ''Animation/TheCameramansRevenge'', a pioneering effort of StopMotion animation, is about a mutually adulterous husband and wife. All the characters are insects--portrayed with props made of actual insects. |
| 103 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Felidae}}''. To quote the entry: "Despite being an animated film, it is ''definitely'' not for kids. The film contains graphic violence, disturbing images, adult language, and cat sex. Yes, ''cat sex''." It's basically a noir drama with cats. It has the language, sex, and violence but instead of humans in fedoras we get cute cats. |
| 104 | * As noted above, ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat'' is probably the UrExample in history of American animation, produced back in 1972. It revolves around the {{Pornomancer}} Fritz hanging out with stoners, having sex with everyone and...forget it, there is not much plot, aside from emphasizing the movie's X-rating. |
| 105 | * ''WesternAnimation/IsleOfDogs'' is a stop-motion film about some dogs helping a boy, but features enough violence to give it a PG-13 rating. |
| 106 | * The South Korean AllCGICartoon ''Animation/{{Padak}}'' is about a bunch of fish living in a restaurant aquarium, just waiting for their fate of being served as food. Padak is a newcomer who tries to rally the fish into escaping. This is PlayedForDrama and horror, and the film includes some very disturbing images. |
| 107 | * ''Literature/ThePlagueDogs'' is an animated film based on a book by Richard Adams, author of ''Literature/WatershipDown''. It's about two dogs that escape from a research lab and attempt to live in the wild. It starts with a dog drowning as part of an experiment involving how long it can tread water. The tale highlights the cruelty of animal research and vivisection. In America, the film was rated PG-13. |
| 108 | [[/folder]] |
| 109 | |
| 110 | [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]] |
| 111 | * ''Film/AuHasardBalthazar'': Balthazar is a donkey and the protagonist, but the film is a religious allegory, an example of LeFilmArtistique and a very pessimistic and dour tale where both the animal and his innocent owner suffer at the hands of everyone around them, culminating in a very sad ending. |
| 112 | [[/folder]] |
| 113 | |
| 114 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 115 | * The UrExample of this trope may be the ''Literature/ReynardTheFox'' stories from the 13th century. It's a medieval poem about a KarmicTrickster fox character who brutally murders, rapes, steals from other animals and has to be brought to court. The story has a lot of adult content, with even a Catholic priest who is apparently married and has his penis bitten off by one of the animals. |
| 116 | * Anna Sewell wrote ''Literature/BlackBeauty'' as a lengthy social commentary on animal welfare, politics, religion, and social justice, including living conditions for the working-class poor. While there's probably not anything that's inappropriate for younger readers (aside from a couple rather gruesome depictions of dead and suffering horses), much of it would probably go straight over their heads. Versions of the book are frequently marketed to children, but these have typically been heavily edited or rewritten entirely. |
| 117 | * ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' is more or less a breakdown of UsefulNotes/JosefStalin's part in the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Russian Revolution]], portrayed via animals throwing a farmer out of a farm and then running it themselves. The pigs are the communists, they raise dogs as their police, and the sheep pledge their full support to everything said to them without thinking about any of it. All sorts of FridgeHorror ensues, such as the horse being sold to a glue farm while the pigs periodically read letters they claim the horse wrote to them from his retirement pasture. Fortunately, nobody really thinks of it as a book for children, although it is often taught at middle school level (13/14-year-olds can usually grasp what's going on, and if you teach it alongside the actual history of the Russian Revolution and Stalin's regime, it makes for a good introduction to the concepts of {{allegory}} and {{satire}}). |
| 118 | * The ''Literature/DunctonWood'' books are not intended for kids. They concern many mature themes, with lots of graphic depictions of death, sex, rape and violence. The later books even have a villain who is a necrophiliac! |
| 119 | * The third book in ''Literature/TheWickedYears'' series, ''Literature/ALionAmongMen'', is about the Cowardly Lion. In true ''Wicked'' fashion it's a DarkerAndEdgier, very adult retelling of ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'' |
| 120 | * ''Literature/ThePlagueDogs'' by Richard Adams, as noted above under film. |
| 121 | * ''Literature/{{Felidae}}'' by Akif Pirinçci, the basis for the animated feature also mentioned above under film, and the eight subsequent books in the series. |
| 122 | * ''Literature/JonathanLivingstonSeagull''. The author, Richard Bach, always had trouble with publishers and librarians on what genre they should label the novel. They couldn't label it children literature due to the contents being too adult (without being violent or sexual), but also they felt reluctant to label it adult due to the characters all being talking seagulls. |
| 123 | %%* Most of Creator/KyellGold's output. |
| 124 | * ''Literature/TailchasersSong'' is about a young feral cat named Fritti Tailchaser as he goes on an adventure trying to solve the mystery of why cats in his clan are suddenly disappearing. It sounds like a kid's book (and is inspired by ''Watership Down''), but it's a lengthy fantasy novel with deep lore and ConLang. It isn't aimed at children. |
| 125 | * The ''Literature/{{Spellsinger}}'' novels. Tom-Jon's first thought on meeting a talking otter is that he's stoned, and over the course of the first novel he's regularly taken aback that Mudge's world contains much the same horrible stuff as the one he left, which isn't how he expects a WorldOfFunnyAnimals to be. |
| 126 | * ''Literature/{{Doglands}}'' is a {{xenofiction}} book aimed at teens. It's about a lurcher dog as he tries to find his absentee father and save his racing Grayhound mother. The book features quite a sum of sexual humour compared to other similar books aimed at Middle Grade audiences. There's also a significant amount of violence, like some disturbing animal abuse. Then there's the dogs' attack at the end, which includes shooting, [[spoiler: the Gambler]] being eaten alive, and [[spoiler: Dedbone]] falling in a pit and being impaled on sharp bones. The book lets you know this from the start - [[RRatedOpening two cute, talking puppies are shot to death within the first 45 pages.]] |
| 127 | * W. Bruce Cameron: |
| 128 | ** ''Literature/ADogsPurpose'' is about a dog with PastLifeMemories as it goes through several {{reincarnation}}s. It's predominantly clean but does contain some sex references, some violence, and dark themes. Its sequel ''A Dog's Journey'' ramps everything up with [[WeightWoe eating disorders]] and [[DrivenToSuicide suicidal characters]] being present. Both books have LighterAndSofter kid's spinoffs focusing on protagonist's puppyhoods. |
| 129 | ** ''Literature/ADogsWayHome'' is about a dog named Bella as she journeys back home. It has some adult-aimed elements to it. She's a seizure dog to a former JunkieParent, on her journey she is taken in by a homeless, mentally ill drug addict who [[spoiler:dies of an overdose]], and a character attempts suicide in the final chapters. |
| 130 | * ''Literature/TheArtOfRacingInTheRain'' is from a dog's POV but it includes dark topics, such as a FalseRapeAccusation. It has toned down versions for younger audiences. |
| 131 | * ''Literature/{{Stray}}'' is about a stray cat called Pufftail who tells his grandson about his life. It features some cursing, sexual references, and violence towards animals. |
| 132 | * ''Literature/{{Tasakeru}}'' is a series about cute, fluffy [[FunnyAnimal talking animals]] like squirrels and rabbits... which involves bloody warfare, racism (speciesism?), religious intolerance, MindRape, and not a little innuendo. |
| 133 | * ''Literature/{{Pondovadia}}'' is a series with cute pastel animals as the protagonists, but features topics such as discrimination, classism, illegitimacy, arranged marriage, and homicide. |
| 134 | * David Hopkins' SciFiHorror story ''Literature/ThebeAndTheAngryRedEye'' isn't as extreme as his webcomic ''Webcomic/{{Jack|DavidHopkins}}'', but it's definitely not for kids. The protagonist, a CatFolk astronaut named Thomas, is the SoleSurvivor of a space disaster, and the story deals with his [[TheAloner loneliness]], [[GoMadFromTheIsolation isolation]] and SanitySlippage. Also, his shipmates' {{Gorn}}y deaths are described in detail. |
| 135 | [[/folder]] |
| 136 | |
| 137 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 138 | * The AnimatedMusicVideo for Music/{{Metallica}}'s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpF8Wa2yQH0 Here Comes Revenge]]" is the dark tale of a SerialKiller who is haunted by his victims. Both predator and prey are {{Beast M|an}}en. |
| 139 | * The music video for Music/{{Coldplay}}'s "Trouble in Town" uses this kind of story to comment on racism and economic inequality. The world of the video is ruled by a vicious, deceitful pig dictator, only challenged by other pigs who don't really want to change anything. Foxes are an oppressed minority mistreated by [[PoliceBrutality brutal police officers]]. |
| 140 | * The music video for Music/CaravanPalace's "Lone Digger" involves a gang-related brawl at a strip club, starring a quartet of black cats and involving various other animal groups, such as cobras and dobermans. It starts because someone shoved a zebra waitress, and ends with the antelope dancing girl [[ButForMeItWasTuesday nonchalantly walking away after being soaked head-to-toe in blood]]. |
| 141 | * Music/PinkFloyd's ''Music/{{Animals|1977}}'' is an ''Literature/AnimalFarm''-inspired concept album about the ills of capitalism, in which society is divided between opportunistic dog businessmen, oppressive and invincible pig politicians, and a doomed flock of sheep who stand in for the general public. The sheep eventually rise up, but oust the dogs instead of the pigs, resulting in a FullCircleRevolution. The album marked a shift to a more aggressive sound and lyrics, and all the narrator can do is try and survive. |
| 142 | * The animated music video of ''Music/JonathanYoung's'' "Storm the Castle" involves a SlaveRevolt of animal people against their human oppressors, after a (literal) young buck political activist has his house burned down. |
| 143 | [[/folder]] |
| 144 | |
| 145 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 146 | * ''TabletopGame/BunniesAndBurrows'' is inspired heavily by ''Watership Down''. Players roleplay cute bunnies in a terrifying world with EverythingTryingToKillYou ruled by [[HumansAreCthulhu beings that border on Elder Gods]]. |
| 147 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'' is a MedievalEuropeanFantasy setting populated by various anthropomorphized animal species, some of which comprise noble houses whose intrigues and wars can be reminiscent of ''Series/GameOfThrones''. |
| 148 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Pugmire}}'' has a kingdom of [[UpliftedAnimal uplifted dogs]] in a post-apocalypse world where humanity is extinct. The wilds beyond the walls are filled with monsters that will eat dogs and invisible demons that will possess them. Within the walls the court schemes and FantasticRacism against both "commoner" breeds and other uplifted species abounds. |
| 149 | [[/folder]] |
| 150 | |
| 151 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 152 | * ''VideoGame/{{Armello}}'' is an {{Adventure Board Game|s}} starring anthropomorphic animals and focusing on a ''[[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire Song of Ice and Fire]]''-esque fantasy power struggle, with all the cruelty and bloodshed that entails. |
| 153 | * ''VideoGame/ChickenPolice: Paint It Red'' is a gritty film noir adventure game where two embittered ex-partners reunite to investigate a series of threads made against a ''femme fatale'' nightclub singer. Also, every character in the game is [[LittleBitBeastly an animal's head on a human body]]. |
| 154 | * ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' stars a drunken squirrel and features ToiletHumour, sexual innuendo, swearing, and an M rating.[[spoiler:..all capped off by a DownerEnding.]] It originally was a normal, cute FunnyAnimal platformer which got heavily reworked late in development, which is why there's a Game Boy ''Conker'' game which is aimed at children, and why a younger Conker pops up in ''VideoGame/DiddyKongRacing''. |
| 155 | * ''VideoGame/CultOfTheLamb'' is set in [[ArtStyleDissonance a universe of adorable anthropomorphic animals]], but the story is focused on a lamb who decides to start a cult and gets [[DemonicPossession possessed by an unknown demonic entity]]. The game also involves you killing other rival cults to appease your own cult and spread awareness of an unknown god. |
| 156 | * ''VideoGame/DogsLife'' is a T-rated game where you are a dog trying to save his love interest from being cat food. It has that rating more for its humor and mild cursing than anything (and received lower rating outside of the US). |
| 157 | * ''VideoGame/DustyRevenge'' and its follow-up prequel, ''VideoGame/DustyRagingFist''. The titular character, Dusty, is a rabbit outlaw and mercenary who spends the whole game kicking ass and taking names, with some pretty graphic and creative deaths given to animal-based enemies. |
| 158 | * ''VideoGame/FeralFury'' is a gritty, blood-soaked twin-stick shooter[=/=]RogueLike starring a Panda SpaceMarine. |
| 159 | * ''VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel'' and [[VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel2 its sequel]] are tactical [=RPGs=] starring roughly a baker's dozen of FunnyAnimal children… who are [[ChildrenForcedToKill forced to fight a dangerous war]] in a setting blatantly inspired by ''Nazi-occupied France''. Themes such as racial hatred, suicide, indoctrination into extreme mindsets, human experimentation, the loss of innocence, kindness in dark times, the horrors of war and the pursuit of vengeance are sprinkled throughout. For added fun, any one of the children can be individually sacrificed to save the rest as a ''gameplay mechanic'' during boss fights. This is in stark contrast to prior ''VideoGame/LittleTailBronx'' installments, which ''were'' family-friendly and lighthearted despite having their own dark moments. |
| 160 | * ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' is an epic tale of a fallen kingdom ravaged by a MysticalPlague [[spoiler: brought on by a scorned god's jealousy]], and the endeavours of the void-touched ghost of [[spoiler: the king's mute, genderless child]] to try to restore said kingdom to its former glory. As the game progresses, we learn of the dark and depraved things that went on in an endeavour to stop the aforesaid plague, including [[spoiler: [[SoulPower soul-based magic]] [[PoweredByAForsakenChild harvested from torture victims]], and throwing ''thousands'' of newborns into The Abyss to make them undead supersoldiers who are also [[EmptyShell perfectly emotionless]].]] The characters are mostly bugs, with a few other tiny critters, such as slugs, spiders, fluke worms, etc. |
| 161 | * ''VideoGame/NightInTheWoods'' features a cast full of anthropomorphic animals. It also features alcohol, swearing, serious themes about mental health and growing up in a DyingTown, a mysterious kidnapping or two, murder, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and vandalism]]. |
| 162 | * ''VideoGame/SineMora'' is one of the darkest [[ShootEmUp Shoot 'em Ups]] ever made, and all the characters are animals. |
| 163 | * ''VideoGame/ToothAndTail'' is an RTS featuring four factions of FunnyAnimals with UsefulNotes/WorldWarI tech fighting to secure food supplies -- each other! |
| 164 | [[/folder]] |
| 165 | |
| 166 | [[folder:VisualNovels]] |
| 167 | * ''VisualNovel/AMasqueradeInTheWoods'' is a story about a person suffering DomesticAbuse awakening in a raccoon body in a world of anthropomorphic animals. Right off the bat he is tortured by a serial killer and has to join a vigilante group in order to combat rampant police corruption. It heavily deals with trauma and systemic failure and deconstructs how someone would react if they found themselves in an anthropomorphic animal body. |
| 168 | * ''VisualNovel/AngelsWithScalyWings'' is a story where you are teleported to a world of sapient dragons to discuss a trade deal with them. But a string of murders puts the deal (among other things) at risk. The story deals with many kinds of issues such as parental abuse, alcoholism, terminal illness, depression and even suicide. |
| 169 | * ''Echo Project'': |
| 170 | ** ''VisualNovel/Adastra2018'' has a cast of characters who are made up of anthro animals (with the exception of the main character Marco), and the story they are in has swearing, NSFW images, political conflict and corruption (ranging from sabotage to [[spoiler: regicide committed by one of the characters before the beginning of the plot]]), a heavy sense of friction in the story's tone and a handful of scenes that involve brutal violence (with detailed descriptions). |
| 171 | *** ''Khemia'', the sequel story, also qualifies for this trope. In the first released build alone, all the examples above (from the profanity to the brutal violence) surface at some point. |
| 172 | ** ''VisualNovel/{{Echo}}'' is about a group of six anthro animal friends meeting up in their titular hometown for a reunion, where things soon take a turn for the dangerous when buried memories and paranormal events start to gruesomely unravel around them. Topics such as bullying, abuse and mental illness are often brought up in explicit detail and many moments in the story [[spoiler: (ranging from evil entities to brutal character deaths)]] would easily fit in an R-rated horror film. |
| 173 | -->'''[[ContentWarnings Disclaimer]] on the visual novel's official itch.io page''': Echo can be an emotionally intense experience and may not be for everyone. Please put your mental well-being first and take this into consideration before downloading! |
| 174 | ** ''VisualNovel/GloryHounds'' is a superhero story with mature themes whose main character is a dalmatian. Still, compared to its brethren it is more campy. |
| 175 | * ''VisualNovel/ExtracurricularActivities'' is a slice of life visual novel where the main human character can date any anthro member of his tennis team. Besides the NSFW scenes that play out during the routes, each one has several dark and intense moments (ranging from personal family relationship troubles to [[spoiler:dealing with an abusive ex-spouse who comes back into one of the datable character's life to even a murder attempt of another datable character that almost succeeds]]). |
| 176 | * ''VisualNovel/LandsOfFire'' is based on Myth/AboriginalAustralianMyths and features many of the monsters, violence, and pre-colonial sexual mores associated with these oral traditions. The cast are also ridiculously cute anthropomorphic animals. |
| 177 | * ''VisualNovel/SuperNova2022'' is a superhero story with anthropomorphic animal characters. It portrays itself relatively seriously, dealing with ThouShaltNotKill and the legacy that comes with a title. |
| 178 | [[/folder]] |
| 179 | |
| 180 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 181 | * ''Webcomic/DropOut'' is about a sugar-glider/tarsier hybrid and a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroid_(zoology) hydroid]] on a road trip... so they can commit suicide via jumping into the Grand Canyon. The story also discusses a lot about the two's dark pasts and mental issues. |
| 182 | * ''Webcomic/DrugsAndKisses'' features the misadventures of several pot-smoking, vodka-swigging anthropomorphic animals. |
| 183 | * ''Webcomic/{{Endtown}}'' is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where much of the human population has turned in anthropomorphic animals. Plotlines deal with deadly FantasticRacism, among other things. |
| 184 | * ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'' features a comedic WorldOfFunnyAnimals based on ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''... mixed with ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', with all the blood, gore, death, and {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that implies. Thus, it largely deals in adult-oriented BlackComedy, with plenty of profanity and some sexual situations to go with it. |
| 185 | * ''Webcomic/ForestHill'' is a SliceOfLife webcomic with anthropomorphic animals dealing with all aspects of life including the grittiest ones, especially ''child sexual abuse''. |
| 186 | * ''Webcomic/{{Jack|DavidHopkins}}'' is a Furry Webcomic about a rabbit who is also TheGrimReaper. Most of the stories take place in the afterlife or involve death in some form. This comic can get ''very'' {{NSFW}} at times. |
| 187 | * ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}'' is a webcomic about a bootlegging gang in [[TheRoaringTwenties Prohibition-era]] UsefulNotes/StLouis, with plenty of gunfights, killings, and several [[TheSociopath sociopathic characters]]. There is painstaking attention to period-appropriate detail, with one exception: all the characters are anthropomorphic cats. |
| 188 | * ''Webcomic/NonPack'' is a violent, cynical tale of {{Gangbangers}} struggling for power in a [[NoCommunitiesWereHarmed fictionalized]] version of UsefulNotes/PuertoRico. It's also set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, and the {{Villain Protagonist}}s are a gang of anthro dogs. |
| 189 | * ''Webcomic/RubyQuest'' and its SpiritualSuccessor ''Webcomic/NanQuest'' both use minimalist drawings featuring characters with animal aesthetics to narrate stories about grotesque BodyHorror, {{Cosmic Horror|Story}} and SurvivalHorror set in {{Eldritch Location}}s. Unsettling stuff. Once the blood starts spewing, the stories' target audience becomes a bit clearer. |
| 190 | * ''Webcomic/SabrinaOnline'' might not be much more explicit than many 1990s sitcoms, but its depiction of sex, language, and discussion of abuse definitely makes it not kids stuff; let alone the title character's job as the digital media producer of an adult film studio. |
| 191 | * ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'' is about a preteen girl and her talking pet raccoon. It also features strong language, jokes about erections/fetishes in general, and arcs about mature topics like drug use. |
| 192 | * ''Webcomic/{{Sparklecare}}'': Despite being a comic about colorful {{Funny Animal}}s and {{Cartoon Creature}}s, the comic takes pride in being as gory and disturbing as possible. |
| 193 | [[/folder]] |
| 194 | |
| 195 | [[folder:Web Originals]] |
| 196 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheCatPiano'' qualifies, as it's a FilmNoir / {{Beatnik}} story where the protagonist clearly drinks, smokes, and frequents bars that have hookers in them. The main plot is also about anthropomorphized cats who were being kidnapped in order for the titular piano to be played (it stabs a nail through a cat's tail every time a key is struck, making the cat yowl the note). Particularly the ending, where the catnapping human ''[[LaserGuidedKarma slips in his own blood and falls off a tower to his death]]''. |
| 197 | * Arguably a lot of [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom furry online roleplays]] end up this way. ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' is a good example. It features intense violence, cursing, sexual activity and some pretty heavy themes. |
| 198 | * The Twitter feed "[[https://twitter.com/forest_fr1ends?lang=en Forest Fr1ends]]" can be succinctly summed up as "''Franchise/SylvanianFamilies'', only they swear. A lot." |
| 199 | * ''Website/CollegeHumor's'' infamous ''Furry Force'' sketch is a parody of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom where the heroes morph into over-sexualized furry characters. |
| 200 | * ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'', a Flash cartoon series about cute animals getting into BloodyHilarious mishaps where [[TheyKilledKennyAgain most of them end up dead]]. |
| 201 | * ''Literature/{{Plonqmas}}'': While the stories in this series do not indulge in smut or extreme violence, they are not meant for kids given their mature subject matter (copious drinking, implied sex, some violence) and BlackComedy usage. |
| 202 | * WebVideo/TheVanishingOfSSWillie is an AnalogHorror based off of ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie''. It takes place in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals and is presented as a lost 1928 documentary about the disappearance of the titular ship. When the ship is found by the expedition crew, what happened to the crew is revealed as [[spoiler: the BlackComedyAnimalCruelty in the original short is PlayedForHorror as all but the Cabin Boy and Chambermaid are found dead with their corpses mutilated in various ways.]] |
| 203 | [[/folder]] |
| 204 | |
| 205 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 206 | * ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' is set in a LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy world where every so often puns are made at the expense of species, has large absurdism themes and can be '''extremely''' silly. It's also a no-holds-barred deconstructive take on the dark side of celebrity and fame, the question of happiness as a destination or a path, how the world can be large and meaningless especially compared to how small scope we are, depression, drug addiction, the true meaning of life, how shallow and self-destructive existentialism can be on the face of practicality and even does the unthinkable: it directly addresses CarnivoreConfusion in a world where anthropomorphism is a thing. Needless to say, the result is [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything not too dissimilar to how animals are processed and consumed for humans to eat]]. |
| 207 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}}'': An underground comic strip adapted to a TV adult animated series starring mostly anthropomorphic characters and topics such as politics, sex, drugs, societal issues... |
| 208 | * ''WesternAnimation/FatherOfThePride'' was a short-lived CGI cartoon featuring cute animals living in Siegfried & Roy's private zoo. It features plenty of adult humor. |
| 209 | * ''WesternAnimation/HitMonkey'' is a Tarantino-esque action-dramedy series about a Japanese snow-monkey who, after losing his tribe in a violent attack on an American hitman they were caring for, teams up with the hitman’s ghost to carve a bloody swath through the UsefulNotes/{{Tokyo}} underworld on a revenge quest while dealing with his own grief. |
| 210 | * While ''WesternAnimation/TucaAndBertie'', which has the same art design as the above ''[=BoJack=]'', is ''far'' DenserAndWackier than most of the examples on this page, but it's still an adult animated series that's not afraid to touch on serious topics such as trauma, abuse, and sexism in the workplace. |
| 211 | * The short film ''WesternAnimation/WhenTheDayBreaks'' is about an anthropomorphic pig lady having an existential crisis after seeing her rooster neighbor killed by a reckless driver. |
| 212 | [[/folder]] |
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