What Are Kemono Girls?

Kemono Girls have a distinctive and enthralling art style that has recently gained popularity worldwide. Originating in Japan, Kemono Girls are anthropomorphic animals or creatures portrayed in various forms of media, such as anime, manga, and games.

They are recognized for their adorable and innovative designs, which often include animal-like characteristics such as ears, tails, and fur.

kemono girl cosplay — **Photo by meijii**

The Origin Story of Kemono Girls

Kemono Girls can be traced back to Japanese culture, mainly the “kemonomimi” trend, which means “animal ears.” This trend has been present for decades, with numerous Japanese artists incorporating animal-like features into their characters.

However, they began gaining popularity in the mid-2000s, with the emergence of online communities dedicated to sharing artwork featuring animal-like characters.

Who are Kemono Girls?

Kemono Girls are anthropomorphic characters usually female and having animal-like features. They are frequently depicted in a cute and playful style, with oversized eyes and exaggerated expressions. Kemono Girls can be inspired by a wide range of animals, from common household pets such as cats and dogs to more exotic creatures like foxes and wolves.

Distinctive Features of Kemono Girls

There are specific features that differentiate them from other types of characters. These include:

Animal-like features such as ears, tails, and fur
Playful and adorable design
Frequently depicted in a chibi or super-deformed style
May possess special abilities or powers associated with their animal traits
A wide variety of species and designs, from common animals to mythical creatures

Monster Girls in Anime and Manga

Monster Girls have gained immense popularity in anime and manga, with numerous series featuring characters with animal-like traits. Some well-liked examples include:

Kemono Friends

kemono manga — Anime season 1 key visual
けものフレンズ
(Kemono Furenzu)

A popular anime series showcasing a broad array of Kemono Friends, each with their unique abilities and personalities.

Beastars

A manga and anime series that takes place in a world where anthropomorphic animals coexist with humans. The primary character, Legoshi, is a wolf who falls in love with a rabbit named Haru.

Brand New Animal

bna poster kemono anime — ***BNA: Brand New Animal*** **Promotional poster**

An anime series about a girl named Michiru who transforms into a tanuki and moves to live in a city for Monster Girls and Boys.

Kemono Girls in Gaming

With numerous games are featuring playable characters with animal-like traits. Some well-known examples include:

Monster Hunter Rise

A well-liked action RPG featuring a broad range of monsters, many of which have animal-like traits.

Final Fantasy XIV

An Online MMORPG where you can play many non-human characters like Cat girls, Bunny girls and more.

Genshin Impact

A prevalent open-world RPG that features playable characters inspired by different animals, including a cat-like girl character named Klee and a wolf-like boy character named Razor.

League Of Legends

A MOBA game, one of the most popular characters is a fox girl, a Kitsune named Ahri.

Why are Kemono Girls so popular anyway?

Known for their captivating design, with animal-like features and playful personalities, they’re both endearing and relatable. But that’s not all – many Kemono Girls also have special abilities and powers that add an extra layer of excitement to their stories.

Are Kemono Girls a Japan-only phenomenon?

Not at all! Kemono Girls have gained popularity around the world, especially in anime and manga fan communities. In fact, they’ve even made their way into video games as playable characters with animal-like traits.

Can Kemono Girls be male too?

While they are often depicted as female, there are also male characters with animal-like traits in anime and manga. These characters may be referred to as “kemono boys” or “kemono guys”.

**Picture from** ***Character showcase Male Viera:*** **Final Fantasy XIV. (Square Enix)**

What’s the difference between Kemono Girls and Furries?

Although they share some similarities, they’re not the same thing. While furries are people who are interested in anthropomorphic animals and may create or dress up as their own characters, Kemono Girls are a specific art style that features cute and creative designs of anthropomorphic animals or creatures.