Housepets!

So, exactly how is it that these animals are, well, anthropomorphic? Shouldn't their bodies malfunction?

Why should they malfunction? It's not as though they're just animals from our world who've had a few joints rotated. If, in this world, the animals evolved to be anthropomorphic then it would make sense for them to evolve ways to counter any malfunctions or disadvantages that might have arisen.

Besides, if you say anthropomorphosisation is impossible and should be written out of animal-related stories then you've basically just broken the furry fandom.

Long story short, don't think about it too much. Yes, this could never happen in the real world but in the world of the imagination you're limited only by, well, your imagination so anything, including bipedal talking animals is possible!

One thing I've been contemplating is the "stompygrade" configuration of the legs and arms. I've been thinking that the tibia connects in the middle of the paw/foot; this would give the foot extra leverage in jumping or running. I imagine the stockier forearms make for more mass behind a swing (a more powerful punch/strike).

Because it's a cartoon that doesn't attempt to make consistent scientific sense.

True, but it's fun to speculate about. I imagine that the root ancestor of all bipedal animals in the HP! universe evolved to stand on two legs as a way of seeing over tall grass or shrubbery.

Sleet wrote:Because it's a cartoon that doesn't attempt to make consistent scientific sense.

This. So much of this.

Definitely agree with Sleet. If you try to think too hard about it, you basically take all the fun out of the comic.

What? But if you're not speculating about every little detail of a webcomic universe, how can you call yourself a truly obsessed fan?

Seriously, though - I find it fun to speculate about the Housepets! universe. I guess you could say it's my way of fanfic-ing. Also, it keeps me from obsessing about the characters and their screen time, relationships, etc.

Douglas Collier wrote:True, but it's fun to speculate about. I imagine that the root ancestor of all bipedal animals in the HP! universe evolved to stand on two legs as a way of seeing over tall grass or shrubbery.

It was the front gate, to see if the postman was coming.

Although speculating to much can obscure the story from the reader.

Meercats. All Housepets species are definitely descended from meercats. That's why they're all so adorable.

I'm with Doug here though. There's no need to over-analyse or obsess over it but speculating on absurd theories is fun. There's no need for extremes on either end of the spectrum, I think.

Douglas Collier wrote:One thing I've been contemplating is the "stompygrade" configuration of the legs and arms. I've been thinking that the tibia connects in the middle of the paw/foot; this would give the foot extra leverage in jumping or running. I imagine the stockier forearms make for more mass behind a swing (a more powerful punch/strike).

A very simple diagram of what I mean:



This configuration would help the claws dig into dirt and make for better traction when running.

That actually looks really nice Doug!

Hlaoroo wrote: Besides, if you say anthropomorphosisation is impossible and should be written out of animal-related stories then you've basically just broken the furry fandom.

Long story short, don't think about it too much. Yes, this could never happen in the real world but in the world of the imagination you're limited only by, well, your imagination so anything, including bipedal talking animals is possible!

Actually, I think I read somewhere that scientists at some university were working on a project to grow a bipedal cow. It only lived about a month, tho.

The thing about the HP! universe is that if you over-analyze it, it's actually pretty terrifying.

Terrifying, yes, but think about how athletic our postmen would be if the dogs could do parkour!

You'd have fetchdogs instead of postmen.

Of course being bipedal and having relatively short legs has its disadvantages - they wouldn't be able to run as fast as the dogs of this universe.

They would be able to run just as fast as young kids in our universe.

Young kids can run pretty fast.

The whole world is just a fiction-within-a-fiction, and the "reality" is that they're all just characters in a roleplaying game played by the "celestials." Of course, now you have to explain why they are anthropomorphic...

Well, the celestial part is beyond our mortal understanding so we had to focus our efforts else where.

1071-CCN wrote:The whole world is just a fiction-within-a-fiction, and the "reality" is that they're all just characters in a roleplaying game played by the "celestials." Of course, now you have to explain why they are anthropomorphic...

The characters aren't "just in the roleplaying game", it's stated that the Griffon and the Dragon just chose that dimension to be their battleground, not that they created it for that purpose. Unless I'm mistaken, Pete and Dragon can't even create life, they can only alter it.

SuperStar wrote:

1071-CCN wrote:The whole world is just a fiction-within-a-fiction, and the "reality" is that they're all just characters in a roleplaying game played by the "celestials." Of course, now you have to explain why they are anthropomorphic...

The characters aren't "just in the roleplaying game", it's stated that the Griffon and the Dragon just chose that dimension to be their battleground, not that they created it for that purpose. Unless I'm mistaken, Pete and Dragon can't even create life, they can only alter it.

But can Kitsune?

Mmmaaayyybbbeee.

GreatKitsune wrote:

SuperStar wrote:

1071-CCN wrote:The whole world is just a fiction-within-a-fiction, and the "reality" is that they're all just characters in a roleplaying game played by the "celestials." Of course, now you have to explain why they are anthropomorphic...

The characters aren't "just in the roleplaying game", it's stated that the Griffon and the Dragon just chose that dimension to be their battleground, not that they created it for that purpose. Unless I'm mistaken, Pete and Dragon can't even create life, they can only alter it.

But can Kitsune?

Mmmaaayyybbbeee.

Heeesss oooonnn theeeeee saaame leveeeeel.

Just, you know, FYI.

SuperStar wrote:

GreatKitsune wrote:
But can Kitsune?

Mmmaaayyybbbeee.

Heeesss oooonnn theeeeee saaame leveeeeel.

Just, you know, FYI.

I know. It was just a joke.

I guessed you knew, I just couldn't give up the chance to uuuuuuseeee theeeeee voooooiiiiceeee!

Anyway, back on topic.

SuperStar wrote:

1071-CCN wrote:The whole world is just a fiction-within-a-fiction, and the "reality" is that they're all just characters in a roleplaying game played by the "celestials." Of course, now you have to explain why they are anthropomorphic...

The characters aren't "just in the roleplaying game", it's stated that the Griffon and the Dragon just chose that dimension to be their battleground, not that they created it for that purpose. Unless I'm mistaken, Pete and Dragon can't even create life, they can only alter it.

Okay, but then what was up with the time we saw the Dragon living in what appears to be an ordinary teenager's bedroom, looking normal-sized? Could someone explain that, or is it best to remain a mystery?

They have magical powers. They are higher order beings after all. They can make themselves whatever size and shape they want.

Back on topic though, after looking at Doug's diagram and comparing it to the characters in the comic, and after having pondered it and compared it to what I know of anatomy, I can see how it works. Mechanically and anatomically speaking their hind limbs will be closer to that of humans than animals in our world which makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

My question: Do the animals have fur on the palms of their hands? I wonder because that'd make them harder to keep clean.

It would certainly appear that way

I'd say they do but I don't think it's thick, poofy stuff on the handpaws. It would be flatter, thinner stuff like you see on paws in dogs in our world, I think.
Rabbits actually don't have pawpads even in our world so for them they'll definitely have fur there.

Aha! An evolutionary chain! Ok, so we can probably assume that bipedalism came first, and either fluffy pads or bare hands (mice, oppossums, etc.) developed afterward. I'm guessing that fluffy paws developed in order to maximize dexterity (lack of a thick pad) while ensuring warmth in a cold environment.

If your wondering how they eat and sleep and other science fact. Repeat to yourself "It's just a cartoon.", you should really just relax.

Quit being a buzkill. Some of us actually like reading his theories you know.

I agree. Some of us actually use this as a way to relax and have fun, you know, Fox.

Douglas Collier wrote:Aha! An evolutionary chain! Ok, so we can probably assume that bipedalism came first, and either fluffy pads or bare hands (mice, oppossums, etc.) developed afterward. I'm guessing that fluffy paws developed in order to maximize dexterity (lack of a thick pad) while ensuring warmth in a cold environment.

One thing I have seen in furry art is rather than having a thick pad, the pad of the handpaw is more a patch of tough, hardened skin. That way you still get maximal dexterity while having maximal protection from the pad. I wonder if that would be in the chain anywhere and what would have influenced its development or die-off.

Hlaoroo wrote: One thing I have seen in furry art is rather than having a thick pad, the pad of the handpaw is more a patch of tough, hardened skin.

so sort of like callouses on humans?

Well, not really. It's pigmented like a pad and in the shape of a pad, it's just a lot flatter.

Buster wrote:Quit being a buzkill. Some of us actually like reading his theories you know.

I second that.

Douglas Collier wrote:Aha! An evolutionary chain! Ok, so we can probably assume that bipedalism came first, and either fluffy pads or bare hands (mice, oppossums, etc.) developed afterward. I'm guessing that fluffy paws developed in order to maximize dexterity (lack of a thick pad) while ensuring warmth in a cold environment.

What if it wasnt evolution?, What if It was ALIENS?
A theaory worthy of Agent Mulder of the X-Files.(at least what I think that is something he would Say)


Mod Edit: Please use the edit button to avoid double posting if you have more to add and your post is most recent

deep winter wrote:

Douglas Collier wrote:Aha! An evolutionary chain! Ok, so we can probably assume that bipedalism came first, and either fluffy pads or bare hands (mice, oppossums, etc.) developed afterward. I'm guessing that fluffy paws developed in order to maximize dexterity (lack of a thick pad) while ensuring warmth in a cold environment.

What if it wasnt evolution?, What if It was ALIENS?
A theaory worthy of Agent Mulder of the X-Files.(at least what I think that is something he would Say)

Grape seems to disagree, https://www.housepetscomic.com/2008/10/ ... rathustra/