History Main / SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism

Note that the differences are often rather ambiguous. Some characters could actually fit into multiple categories. Can get [[MindScrew even weirder]] when trying to categorize an AnimateInanimateObject on this list. Also see AnthropomorphicPersonification, for when ''abstract concepts'' are depicted as being human-like characters.

* '''Anthropomorphic''': This general term refers to anything of ''human'' characteristics, typically in terms of shape or form.

When people talk about the term "anthropomorphic", they usually refer to an animal, plant, alien, mythical or fantasy creature, robot, inanimate object, or other non-human that acts human or is humanoid in shape. However, the word "anthropomorphic" technically means "of human shape or form".

* '''Anthropomorphic''': This general term refers to anything of ''human'' shape or form.

* '''Androids''': Robots which have a human-like body type, but are obviously mechanical in nature. Examples include all kinds of [[HumongousMecha mechs]], 90% of {{Transformers}}, and ASIMO.

** '''GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe''': Alien as CuteMonsterGirl. She may be slightly physically different from an Earthling. For example, the women of [[Recap/StarTrekS1E0TheCage Orion]] or [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Zehoberei]]; the two examples also illustrate that similar appearance does not equal similar temperament.

* '''FunnyAnimal''': This is where we hit characters who could be human, but aren't. Like BeastMan above FurriesAreEasierToDraw might be the reason, but it's more often because animals appeal to the target audience more, the writers are exploring a WhatIf scenario on how a {{world|OfFunnyAnimals}} might be different from ours, or to have [[FurryLens social commentary that isn't too on the nose]]. Most, or even all, of their mannerisms are that of a human: Imagine if your pet does everything you do - eating, talking, cooking, sleeping, working - and you should get the idea. MickeyMouse is a terrific example. He is a character who is so humanized you could replace him with a human and the plot would be nearly identical. He always wears clothes, he goes to work and lives in a house, and... [[FurryConfusion he has a pet dog]]. This term hails from the golden age of comics. As there can be some confusion between this and BeastMan above, ask yourself this question: ''Are they considered to be a cat/dog/lizard or are they considered to be a distinct species in their own right?'' If the former, then it's likely FunnyAnimal, if the latter, it's likely Beast Man.

** '''PartiallyCivilizedAnimal''': This is the intermediary stage between the NearlyNormalAnimal / SpeechImpairedAnimal / TalkingAnimal level (animals who are still unarguably animals, and have mostly animal behavior) and the CivilizedAnimal level. Generally, the majority of the mannerisms are that of the animal. Examples include the cats and dogs of, well, ''Film/CatsAndDogs'' and the owls of the ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfTheGuardiansTheOwlsOfGahoole''.

* '''PartiallyCivilizedAnimal''': This is the intermediary stage between the NearlyNormalAnimal / SpeechImpairedAnimal / TalkingAnimal level (animals who are still unarguably animals, and have mostly animal behavior) and the CivilizedAnimal level. Generally, the majority of the mannerisms are that of the animal. Examples include the cats and dogs of, well, ''Film/CatsAndDogs'' and the owls of the ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfTheGuardiansTheOwlsOfGahoole''.
* '''TalkingAnimal''': This is an animal who can talk as well as a normal human, and who can communicate with humans. However, they still are unarguably animals, and usually have mostly animal behavior (the humans might not like what such animals have to say about them). They may occasionally act more human-like if the need (and RuleOfFunny / RuleOfCool) calls for it. Examples include ''Series/{{Dinotopia}}'s'' Ambassador Bix the Protoceratops, TV's Series/MisterEd, and the animal denizens of Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia and the Literature/LandOfOz.

* '''SpeechImpairedAnimal''': An animal who can't quite talk (at least not without heavy quirks), but is definitely of above-animal intelligence and usually capable of relatively efficient communication. There can and often will be misunderstandings. Like {{Talking Animal}}s, they may occasionally act more human-like if the need (and RuleOfFunny / RuleOfCool) calls for it. Franchise/ScoobyDoo is practically the TropeMaker. Franchise/{{Pokemon}} and other creatures that "speak" to humans in nonhuman languages also fit here.

[[caption-width-right:133:Top to bottom: [[VisualPun Human]], LittleBitBeastly, BeastMan, FunnyAnimal, SpeechImpairedAnimal, and Dog.[[note]]Pictured: Music/SnoopDogg, [[Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi Kotaro Inugami]], [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Anubis]], ComicBook/BobTheDog, Franchise/ScoobyDoo, and ''[[GratuitousLatin Canis lupus familiaris]]''.[[/note]]]]

* '''Inanimate, sentient plants''': These plants are incapable of movement, but are still aware of their surroundings and can even feel pain. Sometimes it's a particularly horrifying variation of BalefulPolymorph; a person is [[{{Transflormation}} turned into a mere plant]], but [[AndIMustScream still possesses enough consciousness to know what is happening to them, unable to do anything]].

** '''FullCOnversionCyborg''': The aforementioned "complete body replacements". Cyborgs with only a few flesh organs remaining, they range from appearing human on the surface, to looking completely robotic at first glance.

** '''Largely Normal Animals''': An animal who clearly has thought processes, but doesn't talk freely with humans. LNA characters may talk to each other, essentially [[AnimalTalk having their own language]], but humans won't understand them. That is, unless they [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Speak Fluent Animal]] or if the language can be learned. Their thought processes and personality are still very much like that of whatever animal they are. Many of them are able to make human-like arm and hand gestures and some can even grasp objects as if they have opposable thumbs. A few examples are bipedal even if their species isn't naturally so. The cast of ''WesternAnimation/WatershipDown'' and the original four legged ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' fit here. So do Mickey Mouse's dog WesternAnimation/{{Pluto| The Pup}}, the original four legged Snoopy from ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}, and ComicBook/KryptoTheSuperdog.