Trying to think of examples of fantasy or sci-fi stories where...

Board 8

Page of 2
Board 8 » Trying to think of examples of fantasy or sci-fi stories where...
1) Humans and non-humans co-exist in roughly equal measure.
2) The main protagonist of the story is NOT a human, or something mostly human adjacent, like elves or androids that look like humans.

Just having a conversation about this earlier today and really struggling to actually think of examples. Like the best example I could come up with was Lord of the Rings, which is a decent enough example, but hobbits are pretty close to humans.
do isekais count
Wouldn't isekais typically be a human in a non-human world?
There are some isekai that turn the main character into a different fantasy race after the isekai happens, but that feels like it's going against the spirit of this question.
It's Reyn Time.
Donkey Kong Jr
Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005
Anyway, these terms are fairly easy to satisfy if you look at the serial writing sphere. Those have a decent number of non-human protagonists.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/59503/the-adventures-of-rania-mortal-the-perfectly-normal

If you're looking at officially published 'mainstream' stuff, much tougher.
It's Reyn Time.
Anagram posted...
Donkey Kong Jr
I should have written criteria 1 to more specifically exclude "animals in the human world", since those stories are everywhere. Has to be roughly co-equals

Ironically, I said fantasy or sci-fi, but the only legit example I've thought of so far is Bojack Horseman - humans are in the world, character is non-human even though he could have been a human
Sonic the Hedgehog
Okay, I rolled a 14. What's that mean? Hsu
That you're a cheater. This is a 12-sided die. Chan
Grand_Kirby posted...
Sonic the Hedgehog
........Huh, yeah, you know what, I guess so!
One of the original Oz books maybe. There's 40 "canon" ones, so they probably made an animal a main character at some point. I read a lot of them as a kid though, and there usually was a human lead, even if the book was named after one of the non-human characters.
Congrats on Advokaiser for winning the 2018 Guru Contest!
Yesmar
I don't really think Bojack fits the spirit of the question either. You could turn all the animal character into humans and it wouldn't change the main plot (outside of needing to rename the sitcom Bojack starred in).

Sonic is actually legit though.
It's Reyn Time.
KamikazePotato posted...
I don't really think Bojack fits the spirit of the question either. You could turn all the animal character into humans and it wouldn't change the main plot (outside of needing to rename the sitcom Bojack starred in).
No, that's actually part of my point though! I'm just thinking about how many fantasy worlds have a bunch of different cool characters of different races or species, but the main character is always a human or something close to indistinguishable from a human, even when it's not necessary (like logistical reasons in live-action TV/movies). Bojack Horseman is an example that works because it's a story where the main character could have been a human but they did something else. It's not fantasy or sci-fi though.
Bicentennial Man
Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005
Paratroopa1 posted...
1) Humans and non-humans co-exist in roughly equal measure.
2) The main protagonist of the story is NOT a human, or something mostly human adjacent, like elves or androids that look like humans.

Just having a conversation about this earlier today and really struggling to actually think of examples. Like the best example I could come up with was Lord of the Rings, which is a decent enough example, but hobbits are pretty close to humans.
ask tked on discord. he looks for this stuff a lot too
No mule can match wits with me. Oh yes, many have tried, and almost all have failed!
Does Willow count?
Congrats on Advokaiser for winning the 2018 Guru Contest!
Yesmar
Paratroopa1 posted...
No, that's actually part of my point though! I'm just thinking about how many fantasy worlds have a bunch of different cool characters of different races or species, but the main character is always a human or something close to indistinguishable from a human, even when it's not necessary (like logistical reasons in live-action TV/movies). Bojack Horseman is an example that works because it's a story where the main character could have been a human but they did something else. It's not fantasy or sci-fi though.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Hey man, LlamaGuy did encrypt the passwords.
With what? ROT-13? -CJayC
Spyro the Dragon
fuck it Star Control 2. You are a human but you are also faceless and your race matters at all for like 8 minutes in the beginning of the game. Every bit of important interaction is with some alien-ass aliens
No mule can match wits with me. Oh yes, many have tried, and almost all have failed!
NFUN posted...
fuck it Star Control 2. You are a human but you are also faceless and your race matters at all for like 8 minutes in the beginning of the game. Every bit of important interaction is with some alien-ass aliens
Nah, I love Star Control 2 but it's human perspective even though what character you are doesn't really matter
Partially related, in Metaphor Refantazio, the protagonist's race is physically close to a human, but in the setting it's pretty much the weirdest, least common race in existence.
"God Hand is the ultimate expression of the joy of humanity, specifically the punching part of the joy of humanity."-Shigeru Miyamoto
Gonna plug Nine Sols since I'm playing it right now. It's a sci-fantasy metroidvania with several alien species (and humans) and you play as a fucked up little cat thing, not a human.
"You're childish. What are you getting? Are you getting strawberry? Ha! That's such a childish flavor, only children eat strawberry."
Kenri posted...
Gonna plug Nine Sols since I'm playing it right now. It's a sci-fantasy metroidvania with several alien species (and humans) and you play as a fucked up little cat thing, not a human.
Oh this is actually on my shortlist of games to play since it dropped on Game Pass, yeah
The Muppets.
I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc
I'm actually surprised at how much trouble I'm having finding video games that cleanly fit this.

Okami works, I guess?
"You're childish. What are you getting? Are you getting strawberry? Ha! That's such a childish flavor, only children eat strawberry."
Kenri posted...
I'm actually surprised at how much trouble I'm having finding video games that cleanly fit this.

Okami works, I guess?
Something like Okami isn't quite what I'm trying to look for because Amaterasu is just one wolf who happens to be a goddess in wolf form, and it's basically just "animal in the human world" but with extra steps. I wasn't explicit in the prompt but I'm not trying to think of "animal in human world" stories because those are pretty common. It would have to be like, animal people , something that exists on the same strata as humans, or there would at least have to be an entire population of god-wolves like Amaterasu which there isn't.

But yeah, the fact that I couldn't think of video games that fits the bill sort of blows my mind because you'd expect video games to be all over the place on this front with non-human protagonists and perspectives, but, nope!

The actual game that prompted this discussion from me is Chained Echoes, because it's an rpg that's set in a fantasy world that has a LOT of nonhuman characters in it, and yet the first six party members you have are all human! What the hell! I was just like, why aren't there more fantasy rpgs that buck the trend and don't go with an everyman human hero but do something different? They just don't exist. I literally can't think of a single one. The closest thing I could think of was Xenosaga and KOS-MOS, who does clearly look like an android and not a human, but she's still... very close to human, to be honest.
Youre right, but its probably because most entertainment/media is produced by humans and for humans who typically relate more to being human. There are probably marketing studies somewhere that say stuff sells better whenntheir audience relates to the main character.

Here's a few games for you -

Super Smash Bros series - Kirby is typically considered the main character (especially in the SSBU story mode)

Final Fantasy 14 - Lots of races, some close to humans. You choose the main characters race.

Yoshis Island: SMW2 - Yoshi is the main character and the Yoshis are fairly equal to Mario and other humans.

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker - he's a mushroom

There must be a reverse isekai somewhere that has a following where a monster or creature gets thrown into a human world, but I'm coming up empty. Now that I think about it, Alf is probably a reverse isekai show since the main character is an alien stuck on earth.

Edit - I almost forgot about Transformers. The cartoon is a perfect example of what you're looking for. I suppose the mostly terrible movies also count.
Yay - azuarc is the guru champion of awesomeness.
Ratchet & Clank

(Play it)
https://imgur.com/WqDcNNq
https://imgur.com/89Z5jrB
cyko posted...
Youre right, but its probably because most entertainment/media is produced by humans and for humans who typically relate more to being human.
I'll pretty much always prefer to play as a human or human-adjacent character than something that isn't. Its me, I'm the focus group ruining originality, apologies.
It's Reyn Time.
Red Lantern Corps?
"Bordate is a pretty shady place, what with the gangs, casinos, evil corporations and water park." - FAHtastic
NFUN posted...
ask tked on discord. he looks for this stuff a lot too
Thats me!

Gonna infodump/rant about this in like 3+ish hours.
....does Garfield count?

On a similar note, the webcomic Housepets. You see more non-humans than humans but the humans are there and around

Edit: and then I completely forgot the topic title saying fantasy/Sci fi. Oh well, I'll keep my post up lol
You were the cancer, that's all you'll ever be
I really messed up this contest, but azuarc gave it a Breath of fresh air
Wall-E

Maybe The Wild Robot? Haven't watched myself
All the stars in the sky are waiting for you.
Oh wait, how about Puss in Boots/Puss in Boots The Last Wish?
You were the cancer, that's all you'll ever be
I really messed up this contest, but azuarc gave it a Breath of fresh air
One of my favorite sci-fi books is Children of Men

The chapters mostly alternate between humans and non-humans, but it doesn't really meet your "mostly equal measure".
The Gods Themselves has a very alien protagonist but the plot of the book is the lead up to first contact so doesn't really work
No mule can match wits with me. Oh yes, many have tried, and almost all have failed!
Banjo-Kazooie?
Congrats on Advokaiser for winning the 2018 Guru Contest!
Yesmar
-Vangers
-Messiah (if you count the entire angel and demons thing as not human)
-Giants Citizen Kabuto
-Evolva
-Below the Root
-Soul Reaver series
-Medievil series
-Styx series (I think in all of the devs games you play as a non human)
-Dark Earth (Kinda: You start as human, but fight against losing your humanity and the game uses that in its plot.)
-Vampire the Masquerade
-Planescape Torment
-You can technically create a party/character of non humans in a bunch of rpgs.
The mains of This is How You Lose the Time War look human but their perspectives are not very human at all.
"Hope is allowed to be stupid, unwise, and naive." ~Sir Chris
Grim Fandango
All the stars in the sky are waiting for you.
Crash Bandicoot
Watership Down?
We are living our lives
Abound with so much information
BoJack Horseman was my first thought.
Does Looney Tunes count?
A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a very weird movie but I think fits what you're describing
azuarc wasn't even home. he was playing Magic the Gathering at his buddy's store, which is extremely easy to verify
to be specific on the isekai question, i was thinking of stuff like these
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/371f2dea.jpg https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d73c5d7f.jpg https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/06fb2a4a.jpg the matter of them still being human at some point was the obvious sticking point that made me curious
UF8 posted...
the matter of them still being human at some point was the obvious sticking point that made me curious
It kinda works? The main idea was "centered on a non-human person's perspective in a world where humans exist" and this is kinda more "whoa, I was human but now I'm x! Isn't that crazy?" but it's at least an explorable avenue that's adjacent to what I'm looking for. Depends on how much they embrace the transformation.
For the spider isekai, they were never actually a human, they were just brainwashed into believing that through plot voodoo, so it fits the topic even more.
It's Reyn Time.
cyko posted...
Final Fantasy 14 - Lots of races, some close to humans. You choose the main characters race.

As one of several resident 14 nerds, can confirm- if anything, discounting your player character, the main character group is mostly elezen (the elf analogue.) The other races drift in and out throughout the story (a Lalafell and ESPECIALLY a Hrothgar were a focus this current expansion) but the "core group" at the moment is one Lalafell (littlefolk), four Elezen (elves), two Mi'qote (catpeople), and a Hyur (human). (The hrothgar - lionperson- is still there but isnt part of your club, and I don't count Tataru, another Lalafell, who I forget if she's present at the moment.)
[Rock and Stone] <o/
Did I psychically manifest Okami 2 into the world with this topic
Paratroopa1 posted...
Did I psychically manifest Okami 2 into the world with this topic

That's exactly what I thought in the visual design rating nomination topic.
[Rock and Stone] <o/
Board 8 » Trying to think of examples of fantasy or sci-fi stories where...
Page of 2