So, recall Beastars for a moment. That anime that is Zootopia but darker.
One aspect of the characters’ school life is some kind of species based treatment they all have to do, ranging from ecological needs to adherence to animal stereotypes.
Polar bears in an excessively cold room, zebras camouflaging behind black bars, wolves under a false moon in a darkened room.
And, heresy as has become for these settings, I began to wonder how such a thing would be set for humans.
What primal need do we ascribe to Man, the Animal?
Do they give us sticks and stones, have us make some basic tools? Surely they don’t have us ‘domesticate’ a fellow student.
Maybe, I thought, they just have us put on silly masks and dance around a campfire hooting and hollering to ancient spirits.
And another part of me thought, someone’s gonna find that racist.