When people think of being a shapeshifter, they automatically think 'werewolf'.
It's kind of an engrained thing. We think werewolves because werewolves are the most common type of shapeshifter in media.
And then when you run around shifter sites, you see some other very common form choices: dog, cat, fox, tiger, and hawk/eagle/falcon. If sites allow it, then of course dragon and phoenix are along the lines of the above mentioned.
What is it with these animals that we are always so ready to pick them? Are they really the best forms possible?
I know that they are intriguing, and you can be strong, cool, and 'mysterious' all at once with one of these forms, but what are some other animals that are badass?
Take a Tasmanian Devil for example. Those little freaks are the fiercest animals on earth next to the honey badger. Those animals are vicious freaks of nature with a strong desire to completely annihilate whatever dares to contest them. Or how about mandrill baboons? Did you know that mandrills are the natural predator of leopards? It's vice versa as well. They often steal each others' babies and attack each other unsuspectingly when they get the chance. How about a rhino shifter? In a pinch, a rhino could come in handy and bulldoze everyone over. Or impale them. That too.
Do all shapeshifters even have to be super powerful? Do they have to be the darkest or the strongest? I think there are more to animals (and people) than meet the eye anyway.
We tend to assign a personality to a character based on their shapeshifting form. A wolf is a loner or a pack person. A fox is cunning and full of tricks. A hawk is swift and watchful. A bunny is cute and feisty.
Why not defeat that norm as well? Why not make a goofy wolf and a grim sugar glider? Why not have the snake be a vigilante and a rabbit be a cunning psychopath?
Look up lists of "Top 10 Dangerous Animals" or "Top 20 Freaky Animals" or just follow a trail of wiki articles on different animals in different kingdoms and phylums and the like. Try playing around with different ideas and bring diversity to the world of shapeshifters. You may just be surprised at what you find.
It's kind of an engrained thing. We think werewolves because werewolves are the most common type of shapeshifter in media.
And then when you run around shifter sites, you see some other very common form choices: dog, cat, fox, tiger, and hawk/eagle/falcon. If sites allow it, then of course dragon and phoenix are along the lines of the above mentioned.
What is it with these animals that we are always so ready to pick them? Are they really the best forms possible?
I know that they are intriguing, and you can be strong, cool, and 'mysterious' all at once with one of these forms, but what are some other animals that are badass?
Take a Tasmanian Devil for example. Those little freaks are the fiercest animals on earth next to the honey badger. Those animals are vicious freaks of nature with a strong desire to completely annihilate whatever dares to contest them. Or how about mandrill baboons? Did you know that mandrills are the natural predator of leopards? It's vice versa as well. They often steal each others' babies and attack each other unsuspectingly when they get the chance. How about a rhino shifter? In a pinch, a rhino could come in handy and bulldoze everyone over. Or impale them. That too.
Do all shapeshifters even have to be super powerful? Do they have to be the darkest or the strongest? I think there are more to animals (and people) than meet the eye anyway.
We tend to assign a personality to a character based on their shapeshifting form. A wolf is a loner or a pack person. A fox is cunning and full of tricks. A hawk is swift and watchful. A bunny is cute and feisty.
Why not defeat that norm as well? Why not make a goofy wolf and a grim sugar glider? Why not have the snake be a vigilante and a rabbit be a cunning psychopath?
Look up lists of "Top 10 Dangerous Animals" or "Top 20 Freaky Animals" or just follow a trail of wiki articles on different animals in different kingdoms and phylums and the like. Try playing around with different ideas and bring diversity to the world of shapeshifters. You may just be surprised at what you find.