kemonomimi

Definition

Kemonomimi is a Japanese term literally translating to "animal ears." It refers to character designs that depict otherwise normal humans who possess the ears, and sometimes tails, of animals. These characters retain fully human faces, bodies, and skin, with the animal traits serving as an additional aesthetic feature rather than indicating a non-human nature. The term serves as an umbrella category encompassing more specific animal-eared archetypes.

Usage

Apply this tag to bots featuring characters who display animal ears or similar traits while otherwise appearing human. The animal features are typically limited to ears, tails, and occasionally small accessories like fangs or claws depending on the specific animal.

This tag is distinct from kemono and furry, which refer to characters with full animal-like faces, fur-covered bodies, and more pronounced non-human anatomy. A character with a human face and cat ears is kemonomimi, while a character with a feline snout and full fur is kemono.

When a more specific tag exists for the animal type portrayed, both tags should typically be applied. Common specific tags that fall under the kemonomimi umbrella include:

• cat_girl
• bunny_girl
• fox_girl
• dog_girl
• wolf_girl

Characters with animal traits that extend beyond simple ears and tails, such as scaled skin or wings, may require additional tags depending on the specific design.