Creatures vs. Characters

One special mark of the TaleSpin world is that it is populated entirely by animals. However, there appear to be two kinds — those who act like people, and those who act like animals. Is there a difference? Are these just two classes of animals in a single animal kingdom, or two entirely different systems? Is there a way of distinguishing characters from creatures? Although confusing at first, this dichotomy is one of the many unique aspects of the world of TaleSpin.

Characters

The first major category is anthropomorphic characters, otherwise known as "talking animals," or "anthros" for short. Anthros stand for humans in the TaleSpin world — they are basically animals with human characteristics and personalities. The people of TaleSpin are typically any type of animal that could assume an upright posture. TaleSpin characters are usually one of these types: dogs, wolves, foxes, bears, hippos, cats, pigs, or apes. Certain species of animals may be associated with characters of a specific occupation or status. Shere Khan's pilots, for example, are almost all panthers, while Thembrians are all blue-furred boars.

As stated before, anthros stand as humans in TaleSpin. Therefore, TaleSpin characters commonly refer to themselves as "men" or "women" because that is essentially what they are. Even so, characters in TaleSpin seem acutely aware of their particular species, and may even acknowledge that fact in ordinary conversation ("You dumb bear!"). Because anthros are considered human, their species does not appear to be an issue in situations like dating or marriage (a stork husband with a hippo wife, for example). However, the offspring of such odd couples — if any — is another matter altogether.

Some defining characteristics of anthromorphic characters:

- Anthros walk with an upright posture. - They wear clothing (for the most part). - They are capable of speech and intelligent thought. - They have the ability to learn complicated skills, such as flying planes.

Important Note!: Because TaleSpin characters are considered to be humans, real human beings do not belong in the TaleSpin world. The rare appearances of human characters in TaleSpin include generic human forms (the hula girl lamp in Baloo's bedroom, some of Molly's dolls) or fairy-tale characters (the little girl depicted in the story "Flight of the Snow Duck"). Perhaps humans are regarded as mythical beings in the world of TaleSpin. Whatever the case, the presence of an actual human being in TaleSpin would seriously disrupt the continuity of the TaleSpin universe — therefore, human characters in TaleSpin are nonexistent.

Creatures

Creatures, or animals, make up the second half of TaleSpin's unique dichotomy. Creatures in TaleSpin are simply animals which are not anthropomorphic — they behave more or less as they do in the real world. The difference between animals and anthros is not a class distinction within a single animal realm. Because anthros act like humans, they possess humans' innate superiority over animals. Ordinary animals, on the other hand, do not have the human-like traits which anthropomorphic characters have. Because they behave like animals, they are treated like animals. Anthros and animals thus occupy separate realms.

Sometimes in TaleSpin there are certain "cross-over" species which both anthros and animals share. (For example, Trader Moe is a crocodilian; while wild crocodiles are known to inhabit certain parts of the TaleSpin world.) The key to resolving this paradox lies in understanding the way they behave. Because wild crocodiles behave like animals, they are considered creatures. Trader Moe, on the other hand, has human personality and intelligence, so he is considered a character. An explanation on another basis such as evolutionary development will fail, because such a theory can't account for the vast difference between anthros and animals (or animals and humans, for that matter). The dichotomy is just an accepted part of TaleSpin.

Some defining characteristics of creatures/animals:

- Animals typically don't walk with an upright posture, depending on their anatomy. - They don't wear clothing. - They have limited or no capacity for speech, and less-than-human intelligence. - They generally lack the ability to learn complex skills.

Basically, TaleSpin animals fall under one of these categories:

Small animals/Pets (Cats, dogs, fish, insects, any small and/or furry creature) Wild animals/Predators (Snakes, crocodiles, rats, scarabs, giant condors, giant squid) Pack animals (Horses, camels, llamas) Livestock (Cows, chickens) Note: Although there is at least one example of semi-sentient plant life in TaleSpin (the fly-traps in Shere Khan's office), those cannot correctly be termed animals.

Naturally, where there are livestock, there will be meat products. Foods such as steak and hamburgers are commonplace in the TaleSpin world, and eating meat is an accepted practice among characters. Although this may strike some as cannibalism, remember that TaleSpin operates on the premise that certain animals behave as humans, while other animals behave as animals. Also, because Baloo is a bear, he happens to be a meat-eater by nature; therefore, the act of eating a steak or hamburger is perfectly natural. Other characters may be vegetarians depending on the habits of their particular species. Generally, TaleSpin characters are omnivorous.

Pets are another element of TaleSpin's animal world. In TaleSpin, pets are usually commonplace animals such as dogs and cats. Certain smaller, more intelligent varieties of animals such as yenkara or furries may also be pets. Not coincidentally, these animals are partially capable of speech — or something that sounds like speech. This makes them characters in a sense, and sets them apart from other less intelligent animals.

Creatures Who Are Characters?

Creatures in TaleSpin are treated as characters in a sense. Although most creatures have a lesser intelligence than characters, they can be ascribed strong personality traits. Furthermore, certain creatures — small or large — may show greater measures of intelligence than others, thus rendering them pseudo-characters. However, most TaleSpin creatures surpass their real-world counterparts in intelligence anyway. Only the most primitive animals and the fiercest predators seem to function solely on instinct.

Highly intelligent talking pets like Ignatz the parrot, however, seem to fall somewhere in the middle of the animal/anthro spectrum. On one hand, Ignatz can talk and has a human personality; on the other hand, he was presumably "owned" by Captain Juan Tumannie and was kept inside a cage. Nevertheless, Ignatz is more a character than he is an animal because he can speak (the fact that he is a parrot helps to justify this). What's more, Ignatz appears to have been the captain's friend and confidant rather than just a mere pet. He also eventually gained his own independence, and got both a job and a set of clothes. Therefore, Ignatz could rightfully be considered a character, not a creature.