Anthropomorphism

Overview

Anthropomorphic comes from the Greek - anthropos meaning human, and morphe, meaning shape - and involves attributing human characteristics such as giving them a humanoid shape, speech, emotions, ideologies, etc. to non-human things - animals, plants, abstract concepts, forces of nature, etc. Examples of these in comics include:

• The High Evolutionary's New Men (animals)
• Groot (plant)
• Death, Dream, etc (abstract concepts)
• The North Wind (force of nature)
• Jack Pumpkinhead, the Scarecrow, etc. (constructs with human shapes, but unlike robots, not intended to actually function)
• TARDIS (a living vehicle complete with emotions)

One of the more common versions of this in comics, and the one most comic readers mean when they describe a title as an Anthropomorphic comic, is zoomorphism, involving humanoid animals.

Famous zoomorphic examples:

• Brer Rabbit
• Donald Duck
• Uncle Scrooge
• Darkwing Duck
• Mickey Mouse
• Pogo Possum
• Bugs Bunny
• Daffy Duck
• Rupert Bear
• Winnie the Pooh
• Usagi Yojimbo

As well as the above examples which feature worlds primarily peopled by zoomorphic animals, there are also examples of such beings on worlds predominately populated by regular humans, including

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Howard the Duck
• Wonderland's White Rabbit
• Oz's Cowardly Lion
• Mr. Tawky Tawny
• Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters
• Boris the Bear
• Yogi Bear
• Tom and Jerry

Influence Outside of Comics

Fans of the genre often attend conventions dressed in "fursuits" or other cosplay costumes which feature some sort of anthropomorphic character, or animal ears, paws, and tails added to their clothing.

Furry Conventions in the United States of America

• All Fur Fun (Spokane, Washington)
• Anthrocon (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• Califur (Irvine, California)
• FurFright (Cromwell, Connecticut)
• Furloween (Orlando, Florida)
• Furry Connection North (Novi, Michigan)
• Furry Fiesta (Addison, Texas)
• Furry Weekend (Atlanta, Georgia)