What is Anthro?
There has been much discussion of late as to what is anthro, what is fantasy, and what is animal. ^skifi recently released an article attempting to explain this hairy situation. I recommend all of you read both his article and mine. We want to help you understand the anthro category - and in turn help the anthro community with fewer mis-categorizations and more accurate Daily Deviation Award suggestions.


Dictionary Definition
Anthropomorphism (aka "anthro"): Attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, plants, or natural phenomena. (Dictionary.com)


Key Things to Look for in Anthros
Bipedal anatomy (walks upright on two legs)
Opposable thumbs (though not required)
Partakes in human activities and would likely wear human-like clothing.


Please Note
Mythical creatures like mermaids and centaurs are fantasy.
Werewolves and minotaurs are also mythical creatures, therefore classified as fantasy, but are also considered anthro b/c they meet the key features of an anthro character, as listed above.
Totems such as trickster spirits based on animals with human anatomy are anthro. However, animals with the ability to turn human are fantasy.
Dragons are considered fantasy, but bipedal dragons that wear clothes or sport other aforementioned key features can qualify as anthro. This is a gray area at best.



ANIMAL ANTHROS


Canines
While werewolves were considered "fantasy creatures" before the term "anthro" was birthed, werewolves fulfill all the requirements of an anthro, and are therefore classified as such.

ANTHRO:
_{Note: The clothing, opposable thumbs, and bipedal build are elements of an anthro character.}

FANTASY:
_{Note: This creature is not based on any one realistic animal, it also harnesses magic.}

ANIMAL:
_{Note: Quadrupedal build, and despite being colored in a fantasy-fashion, it is based on the basic anatomy of a dog.}

FAN-ART:
_{Note: Not only is this a quadrupedal character, it is also fan-art.}


Avians

ANTHRO:
_{Note: This character possesses opposable thumbs and though a hybrid of pelican and oviraptor, both of these are animals that once existed.}

FANTASY:
_{Note: This is a popular, quadrupedal creature - the gryphon.}

ANIMAL:
_{Note: Birds are naturally bipedal, so that does not automatically qualify them as anthros.}

FAN-ART:
_{Note: Although this is anthro, it is of an established, copyrighted character, therefore qualifying it as fan-art.}


Felines
ANTHRO:
_{Note: This is a portrait of an anthro cat, due to her upright position and breasts.}

FANTASY:
_{Note: This cat features magic qualities, which qualify as fantasy.}

ANIMAL:

FAN-ART: :
_{Note: This is an anthro image of an anthro Disney character, which qualifies as fan-art.}

ANIME:
_{Note: This is anime, she is not anthro just because she is a human with cat ears and a tail.}


Dragons/Hybrids

ANTHRO:
_{Note: This anthro character is based on three different animals - raptor, eagle, and sytracosaur - which is still considered anthro.}

FANTASY:
_{Note: This character is a dragon, he is no based on any animal(s). He can qualify as fantasy or anthro.}

FAN-ART:
_{Note: Though this character features elements of an anthro, he is fan-art b/c he is based on a famous movie character.}



UNUSUAL ANTHROS

PLANTS:
_{Note: Plant anthros can be difficult b/c they rarely possess opposable thumbs or defined legs. This category is highly ambiguous.}

OBJECTS:
_{Note: Again, this is an ambiguous category.}

NATURAL PHENOMENA:
_{Note: This category is so confusing that it hardly matters whether it falls under anthro or fantasy.}



FAMOUS ANTHROS



As always, there are exceptions to these definitions. These are guidelines to better help you understand what anthro is, not rigid rules you must abide by to create anthro art. Thanks for reading.