Funny animal

Funny animal is a mainstream cartooning term for the genre of comics and animated cartoons in which the main characters are humanoid or talking animals. An animal character in such a cartoon may also be called a funny animal.

While most funny animal stories are light-hearted and humorous, the genre is not exclusively comedic. Dark or serious stories featuring anthropomorphic animals can also be grouped under the "funny animals" category. These stories may intersect with any other genre or group of genre, including historical stories, science fiction, Westerns, slapstick comedy, children's entertainment, and satire.

Examples of funny animal cartoons and comics

Comic books

• Disney Comics' Donald Duck Stories
• Robert Crumb's Fritz the Cat
• Art Spiegelman's Maus
• Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comics
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Usagi Yojimbo

Comic strips

• Garfield
• Krazy Kat
• Pogo
• Mother Goose and Grimm
• Bloom County
• Mutts
• Get Fuzzy
• Achewood

Animated

• Felix the Cat
• Classic Walt Disney cartoons featuring:
  • Mickey Mouse
  • Minnie Mouse
  • Donald Duck
  • Daisy Duck
  • Goofy
  • Horace Horsecollar
  • Clarabell Cow
• Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons featuring:
  • Bugs Bunny
  • Daffy Duck
  • Pepe le Pew
  • Sylvester the Cat
  • Tweety Bird
  • Wile E. Coyote
• Classic MGM cartoons featuring:
  • Tom and Jerry
  • Woody Woodpecker
• Hanna-Barbera cartoon series
  • Huckleberry Hound
  • Yogi Bear
• Disney 1990s cartoon series
  • Ducktales
  • Darkwing Duck
  • TailSpin
  • Bonkers
• Warner Brothers 1990s cartoon series
  • Tiny Toon Adventures
  • Animaniacs
  • Pinky and the Brain
• Films
  • Walt Disney's Robin Hood
  • Cats Don't Dance

The Funny Animal/Furry conundrum

Opinions vary on whether funny animal and furry are the same thing.

On one hand, some say that the funny animal genre is not to be confused with furry, which is a term utilized by a specific group – the furry fandom – and has different connotations associated with it. While there is some overlap between "furry" and "funny animal" works, "funny animal" is seen as a professional term used in the mainstream comics and animation industries and therefore should not immediately be associated with the furry fandom. Books, articles, and research papers that touch on anthropomorphic animals in comics and animation use the term funny animal, or talking animal, rather than furry. Many professionals are unaware of the latter term.

On the other hand, some say that both terms are synonymous and can be used interchangably. These people maintain that people who use the term funny animal are simply not aware that the term furry exists, which was coined some time during the mid-1980s. The term furry returns more hits on Google than funny animal does.

However, both viewpoints can agree on one thing: most furry fans enjoy funny animals, and the subjects of their fandom-related artwork can frequently be classified as funny animals.

External links

• Profiles 46 – Funny Animal Comics – gives a more detailed analysis of funny animal comics and debates whether they should be described as a "genre" at all
• The Timely-Atlas Cover Gallery – a gallery of funny animal comic book covers by Marvel Comics
• Reading Room Index Guide Screen: Funny Animal – more comprehensive list of funny animal comics, hosted by Michigan State University's library