“Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis reflects on the limitations and challenges of anthropomorphism, particularly when it is applied to animals in visual representations. Anthropomorphic animals are animals that are given human characteristics—such as speech, emotions, or behaviors. While these characters often work well in narrative contexts (such as stories or books), Lewis suggests that when these animals are brought into actual visibility—for example, as illustrations, sculptures, or films—they can quickly become either ridiculous (buffoonery) or unnerving (nightmare). The problem arises because the humanization of animals creates a visual dissonance—the result can either be cartoonish and absurd or disturbing, as we struggle to reconcile the animal’s natural form with the human traits it is meant to embody. For Lewis, anthropomorphic animals work best in imagination and fiction where they can be portrayed with symbolic or narrative significance, rather than as physical representations.
Historically, Lewis often explored the power of imagination in storytelling, especially in works like The Chronicles of Narnia. He used anthropomorphic animals in his stories to symbolize deeper moral truths, engage with readers of all ages, and create a sense of wonder and magic. However, Lewis also understood the limitations of turning these creatures into realistic depictions. While they can convey meaning and symbolism in the abstract or narrative realm, transferring them to the physical world often loses the symbolic power and instead risks becoming laughable or creepy. Lewis’s point here is that imagination allows for greater freedom in storytelling than when we try to turn these fantastical elements into something tangible and literal.
In the modern context, this quote highlights the creative challenges faced by filmmakers, animators, and artists who attempt to bring anthropomorphic animals to life. With advances in CGI and animation, we often see animals with human features in films, such as the anthropomorphic characters in children’s movies or animated series. Lewis’s observation is still relevant in how these characters, though beloved in certain contexts, can sometimes verge on uncanny or implausible when taken out of their narrative context. The balance between playful imagination and realistic portrayal is a delicate one, and this quote serves as a reminder that the magic of anthropomorphic characters often works best when we keep them within the confines of storytelling where their symbolic or emotional value is most potent.
