Does race apply to anthropomorphic characters?

[MK_Wizard]

Um... I ask this because I believe in being inclusive and kind the right and fair way. Am I wrong to not see animal characters as being racial neutral? In other words, they aren't white, BIPOC or anything and that such concepts don't apply to them and they're race neutral?

On one hand, this can be a good thing because maybe it's not a bad thing to take a break from politics and a world where your colour/race doesn't matter sounds pretty great to me. I mean, look at how many colours the ponies from My Little Pony come in even within the same family.

On the other, what is wrong with an anthro being BIPOC or something? Nothing because there's nothing wrong with being that.

But what's your opinion? Am I wrong to see animals as race/colour neutral?

[vfaqvrf]

Your story, your choice.

[ThunderChicken]

I picture anthro societies as treating different species or breeds as races, and, if it is a realistic society, there would be racism/speciesism. If, say, the society is all dogs, some of the fancier breeds may look down on the more common breeds, or even worse, mixed breeds (mutts). Some breeds may have certain reputations for certain traits, just as human races do (IE the dog people might have an irrational fear of pit bulls just like many humans have an irrational fear of blacks, or people with turbans). If it is different species entirely, predator type animals may consider themselves superior to prey type animals, or prey type animals might fear predators (such as seen in 0the movie Zootopia). The animal society might use stereotypes of animal types such as owls being wise, pandas being buddha-like, lions/tigers/wolves being ruthless, etc.

[NickRowler]

There is such a thing as coded characters. I think of a show like Arthur where some of the characters are coded to be Jewish, Black, Chinese, Mexican and Swedish, and these do play into some of the plots of some episodes.

But I think there are other situation where animals are used to make things more racially ambiguous. I think of something like Goofy, Max and Roxanne. The characters don't have a race and it sort of lead to fans sort of putting their own interpretation on it. Even in an attempt to be racially neutral, people end up see them as white or black.

[Tubacabra]

Um... You do you? The choice to include racism or not is solely up to you. If you want your characters to ostracize Pinkie Pie because she's pink, go for it! On the other hand, you're completely free to do away with the concept of race entirely. When I'm writing, I avoid describing skin color unless it's important to the plot. That way, my readers don't feel uncomfortable with any perceived lack of representation.

[LostKelp]

It depends, racial coding (and coding in general) is kinda unavoidable. People are free to interpret your character's traits as they wish and that means there will be repercussions for the things that they project onto them. So it is benificial to be intentional with your coding of your anthro characters as to avoid falling into harmful stereotypes by accident.

On the other hand, if you are just taking a deer and making it talk, the racial coding that audiences assign to that character are not 100% on you. An example is how the meercats in the lion king reflect a lot of experiences associated with jewish communities, and how this has both positive and negative readings but also may be completely unintentional! more on that in this video that I'd totally recommend. (the title is a little inflammitory so bear with me).

Racial/ethnic coding in anthro designs can be used for interesting social commentary (as with maus), but it can also be kinda weird and stilted (as with zootopia). Ultimately anthro art is symbolism, which you can use if you desire but can also be taken from you work either way. Its worth bearing in mind (especially if you plan on doing gorilla/monkey anthros, those can get pretty bad prettty fast: see animal crossing)

[kyupol]

Sometimes, humans can learn a lot from animals

[BoomerZ]

I would personally do breeds as classes and species as races. It's a little more clear and easier to get across with artwork. Fancy upper class dogs and muts are just rich and poor. But a cat and dog are fundamentally different.

[Paul_Tromba]

Only of they or the story deem it necessary.

[skidiggy]

I suppose it would depend on if it's relevant to the culture and history of your characters/their species. I have a species that holds prejudices against smaller, weaker members of their tribes, mostly because these traits are seen as deleterious to the survival of the group. Another group prides certain skin colors over others, seeing them as "rare" or "exotic" and therefore special. It might be worth including if it has some impact on the characters, or excluding if it doesn't impact the narrative in a meaningful way.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

On one hand, this can be a good thing because maybe it's not a bad thing to take a break from politics and a world where your colour/race doesn't matter sounds pretty great to me.

I mean...I think there's middle ground here. ^^; That is to say, it's also possible to do a story where multiple races, real or fictional, coexist without "mattering": a world where people DO recognize their cultural differences, but celebrate them instead of fighting over them.
The simple act of assigning different races to your characters doesn't automatically mean that racial discrimination must somehow exist in the world of your story; those are two separate things.

Am I wrong to see animals as race/colour neutral?

No; I don't think either of these viewpoints are right or wrong...as long as you're not being annoying about it and, like, insisting that other people should/should not racially code their animal OCs. If you don't think about which human races your animal people might be, that's fine. And if you do think about it, even to the point of specifically choosing animals culturally significant to the regions those humans come from (which I think is always really cool~) that's fine too. It shouldn't be a big deal.

[MK_Wizard]

I noticed that too and I suppose that when it comes to animals that come from very specific parts of the world... you can't help, but see them of that race.

[MK_Wizard]

That's what I was thinking.

[MK_Wizard]

I also wanted to add that one of the reasons I love anthros is because they are so ambiguous and different from humans. Like, you can see yourself in any of them. Don't get me wrong. I think race can be a great thing because it IS a great thing IRL. However, I'm also one of those people who prefers to step away from politics and social issues when it comes to G rated content that tends to involve anthros hence why I have always viewed them as the ultimate neutral incarnation. You can see them as anything or nothing. Either way, it tends to not matter.

[llobucervallince]

completely agree with this, I think you should read Blacksad, specifically the second comic (there's 6 parts, well 5 and 1/2)
In this series about an anthropomophic black cat private detective in the 50s, he resolves different kinds of crimes, including the murder of his ex girlfriend, the kidnapping of a child, the murder of a govermment cientist...
but the things is that while they do play the "different species" card in this series, in the second comic they actually use the color of the fur and scales, going to the actual literal color.
just so you see that this has been used previously, here's a link to the wikipedia of the series.

Blacksad

[Leyelle]

I think it makes sense that they'd be racially neutral since they aren't any human species. they might have different kinds of racism within their own species (like perhaps, more colorful birds dislike birds with duller plummage etc) but it wouldn't be the same kind of racism humans experience.

Giving an example from my story, while the OCs do have different complexions and facial features and hail from different parts of earth, they are a human-adjacent species that doens't deal with racism the same way humans do. it isn't based on complexion etc, but what kind of phant (fantasy creature) they are. They are all biased and bigoted against dragons specifically, and it's culturally acceptable for them to slur dragons and refuse to associate with them. This is obviously wrong, and makes the dragons furious, who in turn, hate all other phants. It's racism, but it doesn't operate the same way human racism does, you know?

[Calculus_Homework]

The simple act of assigning different races to your characters doesn't automatically mean that racial discrimination must somehow exist in the world of your story; those are two separate things.

Succinct and well said. :}

@MK_Wizard General consensus here is letting you know that your intentions and their outcome matters. Ergo, if you perceive your anthro OCs as race neutral and are not trying to code or reflect any real-world existing cultures or ethnicities, then that will probably come off in how you draw or write them. And I think your audience will see it that way as well. It's good to ask these questions if you're wanting to handle things thoughtfully!

@llobucervallince yessss Blacksad! Great recommend.

[MK_Wizard]

Thanks and I do take that into account even when I am drawing people. I don't like to stereotype. The story I'm writing now which has humanoid characters does delve into discrimination namely of the social kind and elitism. As well as how imperialism can lead to the erasure of other cultures.