Aha! I've got it!

[ladybug_archive]

I've puzzled over why I generally (but not always) am fascinated by animals turning into humans, but the reverse repulses and horrifies me. I've figured it out. However, it will probably sound a little arrogant/vain/etc.

For an animal to become a human, they're progressing to a higher state of being and are able to do more things. It's intriguing and fascinating to see how they handle it.

But for a human to become an animal, they're regressing to a lower state of being and are able to do less things. And to me, that's a horrifying and skin-crawling proposition that I don't even like to think about.

As for the times when I don't like animals turning into humans, I'm still trying to fully decide what motivates those feelings. Perhaps it's when I really don't care to see how that particular character handles it and feel they should remain always as they are. My Oreo character is one example; Charlie Barkin turning into a human on the All Dogs Go to Heaven series is another. (Although you know, I might have been more okay with that if Itchy had been turned too. From what I've heard about that episode, he wasn't.)

Comments

[trix-of-magina.livejournal.com]

I understand where you're coming from. The thing is, transformations from human to animal aren't supposed to be pleasant things the majority of the time. I hate the transformations that take the person's mind with their human body, because I find it would be far more interesting to see a human trapped in a body not his own and learning to cope with it. Of course, I don't like permanent shifts either. There has to be a way out for the person/people involved. There are also practical uses for transformation which I explore with my shapeshifting characters in my original fantasy novels. You need to travel a long distance quickly? Turn into a falcon and fly there.

On the other hand, animals turning into humans is a concept even I find a bit strange. Animals would be comfortable with the way things have been for them and their understanding is simplified. In this case, their minds would have to be altered like Aharou in "Princess Tutu", or the poor thing would simply not function. I find that idea rather cruel. Humans being transformed is interesting to me because either they have to adapt while waiting to be changed back or their friends have to adjust to the situation while working out how to fix them. I don't just do animals, either. I do Pokemon. And plants. And inanimate objects such as statues made from various materials. And regressions. :D And paintings. They're really trapped in a painted world and that idea will be delicious fun to play with.

Sorry, I'm a magic nut and pounce on every transformation I can find in written or watchable form. We need more of them in fantasy!