"Why do animated cartoonists use animals? For the same reason that Aesop, La Fontaine, Kipling, Beatrix Potter, and Kenneth Grahame did: it is easier and more believable to humanize animals than it is to humanize humans."
Donkey: Hi, princess!
Fiona: It talks!
Shrek: Yeah, it's getting him to shut up that's the trick!
Fiona: It talks!
Shrek: Yeah, it's getting him to shut up that's the trick!
— Shrek
Interviewee: (arriving at Sheldonsoft) Hello? Anyone here? I'm here for the interview. Hello?
Arthur: Can I help you?
Interviewee: AIGH! YOU SPEAK!
Arthur: Yep.
Interviewee: But... but...
Arthur: I'll be conducting our interview today.
Interviewee: But you're a duck!
Arthur: And you're unemployed. Shall we start?
— Sheldon
A marvel of evolution, this talking dolphin has learned to communicate with people and loves children. A dolphin scientist who's passion is learning the ways of humans.
— "Fins the Dolphin" description, Atlantis Underwater Tycoon
Torturer: Talk damn you!
Prince: You're just making it harder on yourself!
[Beat Panel]
Torturer: Maybe it's just a regular non-talking goose.
Prince: You're just making it harder on yourself!
[Beat Panel]
Torturer: Maybe it's just a regular non-talking goose.
— Oglaf, "Harrow"
The Prince sat down and strummed away on the lute.
Then there crept a mouse out of a hole, and said to him in a human voice:
"Save yourself, Prince. Run away quick! your sister has gone to sharpen her teeth."
Then there crept a mouse out of a hole, and said to him in a human voice:
"Save yourself, Prince. Run away quick! your sister has gone to sharpen her teeth."
"Do animals talk in this dimension? 'Cause I don't wanna freak him out."
— Spider-Ham, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Cohen the Barbarian: Blast that damn distress auction. This is what comes of buying something that belonged to a wizard. I looked at your teeth, I looked at your hooves, it never occurred to me to listen.
Horse: Who did you think was bidding against you?
— "Troll Bridge", Terry Pratchett
Three horses galloped up the soft-surfaced road and stopped just in front of her, breathing grass-scented breath, musky warmth pouring off them. She laughed and went to hug one, even though the culture memod said people weren’t allowed to do that. How amazing to have your arms around so much huge intelligent warmth; the texture of damp hair against your cheek, the solid muscles shifting against your chest. The smell of the horse’s sweat, salty and musky, stirred Geeta awake on several levels.
“Miss,” said the horse, “Miss, I don’t know you.”
She released him and stepped back. “Oh! I’m sorry. Please forgive me. You don’t know me yet, but I hope you will.” He watched her with one large dark eye, as intricate and beautiful a glistening eye as I had ever seen, with a depth in it that might lead to mystery. I fell in love with the horse. I knew Geeta smiled up at him, because I saw his response: charmed, his head nodding a little, even as his companions laughed at him.
“Miss,” said the horse, “Miss, I don’t know you.”
She released him and stepped back. “Oh! I’m sorry. Please forgive me. You don’t know me yet, but I hope you will.” He watched her with one large dark eye, as intricate and beautiful a glistening eye as I had ever seen, with a depth in it that might lead to mystery. I fell in love with the horse. I knew Geeta smiled up at him, because I saw his response: charmed, his head nodding a little, even as his companions laughed at him.
— Futures in the Memories Market by Nina Hoffman
Blimey a talking horse.
—A miraculously-appearing angel, Vicious Vikings
Harry: Yes! I do have the magical ability to talk to spiders! I'm back!
Aragog: Nah, I'm just a spider with the magical ability to talk to humans.
Aragog: Nah, I'm just a spider with the magical ability to talk to humans.
Dan: THIS JUST IN!
Donna: PEANUTS THE HATCHETFIELD POCKET SQUIRREL IS TALKING!
Dan: HE'S A SENTIENT BEING!
Donna: WHAT DO WE DO NOW!?
Dan: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE!?
Donna: WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP!?
Dan: IS THERE A GOD!?
"I hate talking fairytale animals!"
— Jack Horner, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
