Kemonomimi (Animal Ears in Japanese) is a Japanese term for a fictional being that is basically a human with some animal features, namely ears and a tail. These defining features show what animal they're based on, such as cat ears and tails mean that the character is a nekomimi.
However, they are not to be confused with anthropomorphic animal characters sometimes known as furries. Furries are animals with human-like features such as human proportions, the ability to talk, being bipedal (walks on two feet), wearing clothes, and more human-like eyes. They are basically still animals.
Kemonomimi are humans with minor animal features like the aforementioned ears and tail, as well as sometimes claws or horns depending on the species the character is based on. However, their animal features normally aren't detachable and are actually a part of their body. Despite having some animalistic features, they still act almost entirely human.
Neither furries nor kemonomimi are bad in any way and are simply more types of character designs. It's okay to dislike either or both of them, it's not okay to force this opinion on others just because you don't like them.
---
TL;DR Kemonomimi are humanoid characters with animal ears and tails while furries are animals with minor human-like features.
1 comment