History Main / DenialOfAnimality

[[FridgeLogic Weird, ain't it?]] This may indicate that a FunnyAnimal is unaware that he is an animal (yes, humans are also animals, but you know what we mean). This may also apply to actions, such as a dog eating ice cream or chocolate without getting sick, or a [[WesternAnimation/IAmWeasel weasel]] [[InterspeciesRomance having a romantic relationship with a human]] with no comment whatsoever. Most likely, it implies that the creator views the character's appearance as simply cosmetic; as far as the setting is concerned, they're just as human as you, no matter what they might look like. Ever wonder why WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse was never shown with cheese in the theatrical cartoons? Creator/WaltDisney himself [[EnforcedTrope forbade it]]!

* In the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck short "Early to Bed", he quips "Maybe I'm just a duck, but I'm human."

* The Creator/CartoonNetwork series ''WesternAnimation/IAmWeasel'' uses this trope frequently. A rather hilarious example may be when Weasel said something along the lines of, "They may only be baboons, but they're still human!"

-->'''Peter:''' Holy crap! You can talk!

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

-->'''Speedy:''' [[http://www.agirlandherfed.com/1.96.html I didn't fall out of the eucalyptus tree yesterday, kitten.]] If I want to be jerked around, I'll find myself a zoo. So shut your yap and mind your manners and we can pretend that we're both real human beings.

* PlayedForDrama and deconstructed in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and its sequels. Rocket Raccoon is an [[UpliftedAnimal uplifted raccoon]], but ''hates'' being reminded of that fact and reacts with extreme fury when people press the topic. This is because he believes that everyone sees him as just a dumb animal pumped full of mutagens and cybernetics, rather than as a real person. Not to mention his uplifting was a horrific and traumatic experience that he'd really prefer to not be reminded of.

** In "Daffy - The Commando," WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck wears a shirt labeled "Human Cannon Ball" when he flies into Berlin, Germany. Though knowing Daffy it isn't too off to think he'd wear one even if he is a duck.

[[FridgeLogic Weird, ain't it?]] This may indicate that a FunnyAnimal is unaware that he is an animal (yes, humans are also animals, but you know what we mean). This may also apply to actions, such as a dog eating ice cream or chocolate without getting sick, or a [[WesternAnimation/IAmWeasel weasel]] [[InterspeciesRomance having a romantic relationship with a human]] with no comment whatsoever. Most likely, it implies that the creator views the character's appearance as simply cosmetic; as far as the setting is concerned, they're just as human as you, no matter what they might look like. Ever wonder why WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse was never shown with cheese in the theatrical cartoons? Creator/WaltDisney himself forbade it!

[[quoteright:173:[[Webcomic/NatureOfNaturesArt https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/63_furry_denial_3142.png]]]][[caption-width-right:173:Something's not right here...]]

Sometimes, of course, this simply happens because MostWritersAreHuman. Can be combined with FurryReminder for comedic effect. Related to FurryConfusion and AnthropomorphicShift. Not to be confused with denying you are part of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom. If a non-human is knowingly and ironically referring to himself as human, it's InTheOriginalKlingon. Usually subverted if the character is a BeastMan; they'll {{insist|ent terminology}} that they are not a [[IAmNotWeasel weasel]] since they, well, ''aren't'' a weasel.

-->-- '''The Narrator''', ''Disney/TheThreeCaballeros''

* In ''Disney/MickeysChristmasCarol'', Scrooge [=McDuck=], who's playing Ebenezer Scrooge from ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' is referred to as an "Englishman", despite being a ''duck'', not to mention a Scottish one.

* This happens quite often on ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop''. In one episode, a bystander said that [[FatCat PJ]] "can't be human". They also make frequent references to things being "humanly possible". Everyone in-universe seems to be some sort of cat (Pete and P.J.) or dog (every other "anthro" character) except for occasional cameos (which aren't human either).

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Comic Book]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

--> '''Willie The Giant (as The Ghost of Christmas Present):''' Fe! Fi! Fo! Fum!\\

-->'''Stuart''': I mean, what am I, a man or a... mouse...\\
'''Snowbell''': Is that a trick question?

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]

-->'''Howland''': Do you know what ''el legarto'' means?
-->'''Albert''': (''indifferently'') A cigar?
-->'''Howland''': 'An alligator'!
-->'''Albert''': WHERE?!

* The ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' episode "The Penal Zone" has Max, an anthropomorphic rabbit, telling Sam, an anthropomorphic dog, that his psychic powers make him the next stage in "our" evolution. Whose evolution, exactly?

--->'''Sam''': Who knows what effect it had on civilisation?
--->'''Max''': Maybe it's a planet of talking animals ambling about on their hind legs like humans!
--->'''Sam''': Oh, that's just silly.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Femmegasm}}'', VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog does this.
* Humans and animals live side-by-side in society in ''Webcomic/FunnyFarm'', where they all have the same rights as each other and freely mingle, even on an, ahem, sexual level - nobody seems to comment on a black sheep having a human girlfriend, nor do they seem any more likely to comment on if it were gender-reversed (which does serve as the basis for many a BestialityIsDepraved joke, after all).

[[folder:Web Original]]
* PlayedForLaughs in [[http://youtu.be/2yUxsfaIOL4 this]] memorable bit from ''WebAnimation/MattNDusty''
[[/folder]]

* In one ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' episode, TC leaves one of his gang as collateral for a loan. The lender is perplexed: "A human collateral?" Then again, the only time in the entire series when the gang actually behave like cats is when they spend the winter at Dibble's, and they all jump into the only bed, crowding Dibble out and pushing him onto the floor: anyone with a cat knows what THAT's like.
** The episode 'The Million Dollar Derby' has this line.
-->'''Benny:''' I like animals. Some of my best friends are animals.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Femmegasm}}'', Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog does this.

* PlayedForLaughs in [[http://youtu.be/2yUxsfaIOL4 this]] memorable bit from ''WebOriginal/MattNDusty''

-->'''Sam''': Oh, that's just silly.

-->'''Sam''': Who knows what effect it had on civilisation?
-->'''Max''': Maybe it's a planet of talking animals ambling about on their hind legs like humans!

* ''WesternAnimation/DogtanianAndTheThreeMuskehounds'' zigzags this trope. The characters are often described (both in dialogue and in the linking narration) as thought they were human, but there are also references to them being anthropomorphic animals, mostly dogs, though a few are members of other species. In particular, children and teenagers are referred to as "pups" and "puppies", while the words "cur" and "mongrel" are used as slurs.

[[FridgeLogic Weird, ain't it?]] This may indicate that a FunnyAnimal is unaware that he is an animal. This may also apply to actions, such as a dog eating ice cream or chocolate without getting sick, or a [[WesternAnimation/IAmWeasel weasel]] [[InterspeciesRomance having a romantic relationship with a human]] with no comment whatsoever. Most likely, it implies that the creator views the character's appearance as simply cosmetic; as far as the setting is concerned, they're just as human as you, no matter what they might look like. Ever wonder why WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse was never shown with cheese in the theatrical cartoons? Creator/WaltDisney himself forbade it!

Sometimes, of course, this simply happens because MostWritersAreHuman. Can be combined with FurryReminder for comedic effect. Related to FurryConfusion and AnthropomorphicShift. Not to be confused with denying you are part of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom. If a non-human is knowingly and ironically referring to himself as human, it's InTheOriginalKlingon.

* PlayedForDrama and deconstructed in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and its sequels. Rocket Raccoon is an [[UpliftedAnimal uplifted raccoon]], but ''hates'' being reminded of that fact and reacts with with extreme fury when people press the topic. This is because he believes that everyone sees him as just a dumb animal pumped full of mutagens and cybernetics, rather than as a real person. Not to mention his uplifting was a horrific and traumatic experience that he'd really prefer to not be reminded of.

* The ''Series/SesameStreet'' tie-in Picture Book ''Literature/TheMonsterAtTheEndOfThisBook'' is probably this for [[spoiler:Grover]]. [[spoiler:Grover]] spends the entire book trying to stop readers from encountering a monster at the end of the book, only to [[spoiler:find that he is that monster.]]

* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' once forgot he was a cat and shaved off his facial hair. Plus he is quoted in another comic strip as saying "I'm only human", while [[OffIntoTheDistanceEnding walking into the sunset]]...

* The furry enthusiasts in ''Untitled'' [[http://untitled.comicgenesis.com/d/20000921.html were told by a Furry to get a life]].

Ever hear a FunnyAnimal say, "I'm only human."?

** In the Creator/CarlBarks comic "[[http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Barks/show.php?s=date&loc=1950/W_OS_263-03 The Trail of the Unicorn]]", Scrooge [=McDuck=] sends for Donald to help capture the one animal he is missing from his zoo, but the nephews take this the wrong way and interrupt his exposition with the following protest:

* In chapter 2 of ''Fanfic/ArthurGoesFourth'', a character tells Jane Read "If you can understand American tax laws, then you must be more than human". Jane is an aardvark. It's especially odd because they're ''noted'' as animals in the fanfic.

SubTrope of IWouldSayIfICouldSay and OrphanedEtymology. Contrast FurryReminder. Compare and Contrast FurryLens.

* Kitty of Franchise/HelloKitty fame isn't supposed to be an actual cat, but a little girl... Who is shaped like a cat. It makes as much sense as Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck being human for all intents and purposes.