Humanoid Creature Generator

Press New creature for a figure that is part human and part animal, with where the two halves join.

Humanoid Creature Generator: 30 creatures

The animal's head on a human body, small for the shoulders; the other half is a mountain zebra. It has eyes set wide, almost at the sides of the head. Skin and coat: a single stripe from brow to the small of the back. It wears an embroidered collar, the best thing it owns. It stoops under every lintel, needed or not.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

Jointhe animal's head on a human body, small for the shoulders
Other halfmountain zebra
Headeyes set wide, almost at the sides of the head
Skin and coata single stripe from brow to the small of the back
Wearsan embroidered collar, the best thing it owns
Habitstoops under every lintel, needed or not

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The animal's head on a human body, small for the shoulders; the other half is a mountain zebra. It has eyes set wide, almost at the sides of the head. Skin and coat: a single stripe from brow to the small of the back. It wears an embroidered collar, the best thing it owns. It stoops under every lintel, needed or not.
The animal's head and tail on a human body; the other half is an antelope. It has a frill behind the jaw that opens when it is startled. Skin and coat: the animal's coat as far as the ribs on one side only. It wears a silk ribbon tied where everyone can see it. It greets a crowd with a slow nod to each side.
A person whose animal shape shows only in moonlight; the other half is a sheepdog. It has ears lined with pale fluff. Skin and coat: a hard line between coat and skin, like a tide mark. It wears a courier's badge on a broad strap. It faces whoever is speaking, squarely and at once.
A person who is the animal in every reflection; the other half is an ox. It has short club-tipped antennae, always moving. Skin and coat: a darker patch draped over both shoulders. It wears a silk ribbon tied where everyone can see it. It sits facing the door, always.
A human face on the animal's whole body; the other half is a horse. It has ears that lie back in the wind. Skin and coat: mottling that matches dead leaves. It wears padded straps wherever a pack would rub. It stamps once before it speaks.
Human to the waist, the animal below no bigger than a child; the other half is a golden eagle. It has eyes that shine green in lamplight. Skin and coat: the animal's coat fading out at the elbows. It wears a rain cape that fastens at one shoulder. It rests with its back against the warmest wall.
A person in whom a little of the animal shows everywhere; the other half is a wild boar. It has eyes that face straight ahead beneath a jutting forehead. Skin and coat: a gradual seam, dappled like shade under a tree. It wears felt overshoes for indoor floors. It circles its chair once before it will sit.
A person whose animal shape shows only in moonlight; the other half is a bison. It has one horn shorter than the other. Skin and coat: a blaze of white down the middle of the face. It wears a timepiece on a fob, consulted constantly. It waits to be invited before crossing a threshold.
A human face framed by the animal's head, like a hood; the other half is a sheepdog. It has small forked antlers. Skin and coat: a coat brushed and oiled for a holiday. It wears a tool belt with every loop full. It stoops under every lintel, needed or not.
A person who is the animal in every reflection; the other half is a leopard. It has one amber eye and one pale blue. Skin and coat: a seam hidden by a band of longer coat. It wears a rain cape that fastens at one shoulder. It tilts its head at every new sound.
The animal's head on a human body, with human eyes; the other half is a snow leopard. It has antlers still covered in soft skin. Skin and coat: a seam that sits a little higher on the left. It wears a shirt with the collar cut wide. It sniffs the air before stepping outdoors.
A human shape at exactly the animal's size; the other half is an anole. It has horns capped with small brass tips. Skin and coat: a zigzag edge to the coat, like torn paper. It wears a work smock with the sleeves pinned back. It folds itself into the smallest chair in the room.
A human head and trunk with all four of the animal's limbs; the other half is a weasel. It has spiral horns as long as its forearm. Skin and coat: a rough coat going silver at the temples. It wears a fiddle case strapped between the shoulders. It walks at the back of any group, counting heads.
A person who has put on the animal's skin like a coat; the other half is a golden eagle. It has whiskers as wide as its shoulders. Skin and coat: a summer coat, short and sleek. It wears a starched ruff, slightly crooked. It greets a crowd with a slow nod to each side.
A human shape with the animal's coat for hair and brows; the other half is a camel. It has brow whiskers longer than the ones on its cheeks. Skin and coat: a soft edge where the coat thins over a hand's width. It wears a courier's badge on a broad strap. It faces whoever is speaking, squarely and at once.
Human to the waist, the seam hidden under a wide sash; the other half is a kangaroo. It has eyes that face straight ahead beneath a jutting forehead. Skin and coat: a blaze of white down the middle of the face. It wears a waistcoat laced at the sides for fit. It sleeps curled up wherever it happens to be.
A human head and trunk with all four of the animal's limbs; the other half is a rook. It has eyes that take the tint of whatever it looks at. Skin and coat: fine stripes that break into dots at the wrists. It wears a market basket carried on its back. It dozes in any patch of sun.
A human body standing on the animal's hind legs; the other half is a mountain zebra. It has eyes with a level slot pupil. Skin and coat: a seam ringed with small pale spots. It wears a knitted vest, a size too big on purpose. It always stands with its back to a wall.
A human shape with the animal's coat on forearms and shins; the other half is a jackal. It has a row of spines along the crown that lie flat at rest. Skin and coat: a blaze of white down the middle of the face. It wears a row of medals it does not explain. It walks one careful line down the middle of a road.
A person who is the animal in every reflection; the other half is a snow leopard. It has brow whiskers longer than the ones on its cheeks. Skin and coat: the animal's coat reaching to the jaw and stopping. It wears a blanket coat for cold mornings, belted. It stretches, slowly and completely, on waking.
A human body with the animal's forelimbs below the elbow; the other half is a crow. It has a row of spines along the crown that lie flat at rest. Skin and coat: a seam feathered with fine down. It wears a festival sash in the town's two shades. It collects shiny things and lines them up.
A person who has put on the animal's skin like a coat; the other half is an otter. It has large dark eyes with no white showing. Skin and coat: a coat that stands on end when it is alarmed. It wears a festival sash in the town's two shades. It carries itself like something twice its size.
Human to the knees, the animal from there down; the other half is a house cat. It has two pairs of tiny horns, front and back. Skin and coat: a gradual seam, dappled like shade under a tree. It wears a knitted vest, a size too big on purpose. It moves in short bursts with long pauses.
The animal's head on a human body, small for the shoulders; the other half is a black bear. It has horns that sweep sideways, wider than its shoulders. Skin and coat: mottling that matches dead leaves. It wears a hat altered by hand to sit properly. It nods politely to its own reflection.
A human shape with the animal's claws or hooves for nails; the other half is an arctic fox. It has tufted ears, the tufts as long as the ears. Skin and coat: a winter coat coming in thick at the neck. It wears a pack frame with a bedroll on top. It walks one careful line down the middle of a road.
A human shape that moves exactly as the animal moves; the other half is a field mouse. It has eyes ringed in dark markings like a mask. Skin and coat: one large patch over an eye and a shoulder. It wears a hat altered by hand to sit properly. It stays half awake wherever the room is new.
A human body with the animal's limbs down one side; the other half is a jaguar. It has small neat ears almost lost in the hair. Skin and coat: freckled skin wherever the coat stops. It wears a collar of bright discs for walking at dusk. It nods politely to its own reflection.
A human face framed by the animal's head, like a hood; the other half is a stoat. It has plain ear openings with no outer ear at all. Skin and coat: a coat combed into a parting down the back. It wears an embroidered collar, the best thing it owns. It perches on the back of a chair and not the seat.
A human face framed by the animal's head, like a hood; the other half is a crocodile. It has a pair of wattles under the chin. Skin and coat: a soft undercoat that shows at every seam of its clothes. It wears knee wraps for long days on hard roads. It moves in short bursts with long pauses.
The animal's head and neck on a human body; the other half is a rook. It has a notch in each ear, a family mark. Skin and coat: the animal's coat rising to a point high on the back. It wears a long case of rolled maps across its back. It freezes at sudden noises, then pretends it did not.

Next step Give the figure an outfit and palette Invent a fully animal monster

Join: all 60 joins

Human above, animal below 12

a child-sized human torso on the full-grown animal's body The animal half does the standing and the human half does the looking.
a human torso set where a rider would sit on the animal Further back than the centaur's join. The animal keeps its own neck and head.
a human torso where the animal's neck would be The centaur's join: the whole animal below. There are two ribcages to draw.

Show all 60 joins (57 more)

Human above, animal below, continued

human above and animal below, split on a slant One side keeps more of the person. The figure will lean toward it.
human to mid-thigh, the animal below, in short breeches Clothes end where the person ends. Tailors hate this figure.
human to the knees, the animal from there down A small change that alters the whole walk. Study the animal's ankle first.
human to the ribs, the animal from there down A high seam. The elbows hang level with the animal's shoulders.
human to the waist and animal below The faun's join, and with a fish the mermaid's. Let the coat fade across the seam.
human to the waist, the animal below at twice life size The lower half outweighs the upper. Lean the torso back to balance it.
human to the waist, the animal below no bigger than a child The human half looks down at its own legs. Keep the stance wide.
human to the waist, the animal's coat creeping up the back From the front it looks like a costume. From behind it is one creature.
human to the waist, the seam hidden under a wide sash Cloth covers the hardest part to draw. Let one edge of the coat show.

A head or a face swapped 12

a human face framed by the animal's head, like a hood The muzzle rises above the brow. It reads as costume until the ears move.
a human face on the animal's whole body The join of the sphinx and the manticore, both a human head on a lion.
a human head and neck on the animal's body The neck is the seam. A collar or ruff sits there naturally.
a human head on the animal's body, the neck ringed with coat A mane or ruff hides the change from skin to hide.
the animal's head and neck on a human body A longer join. The coat stops at the collarbones.
the animal's head and tail on a human body The Minotaur again: old pictures give him the bull's tail as well as its head.
the animal's head on a human body, far too large for it A big head on a slight body reads as young. Thicken the neck or it will not hold.
the animal's head on a human body, small for the shoulders Broad frame, neat head. It looks gentle whatever the animal.
the animal's head on a human body, with human eyes The eyes do the acting. Keep their whites and brows.
the animal's head on a human body, with human hair Hair grows between the ears and falls as it would on a person.
the animal's head on human shoulders The Minotaur's join: a bull's head on a man's body. Widen the neck to carry it.
the dog-headed join of old legends, with this animal's head Stories of dog-headed people come from many lands. Any head fits the pattern.

Limbs swapped 12

a human body on the animal's hind legs, stretched tall Longer in the leg than either parent shape. It looks down on doorframes.
a human body standing on the animal's hind legs The faun again, without the horns. The knee sits higher than you expect.
a human body whose arms are the animal's front limbs With a bird this is the harpy, half human and half bird. Broaden the shoulders.
a human body with one arm that is the animal's front limb Lopsided on purpose. The human arm does the fine work.
a human body with the animal's foot or wingtip at each wrist Gloves will never fit. Show how it picks something up.
a human body with the animal's forelimbs below the elbow Sleeves end at the elbow. What it can hold depends on the animal.
a human body with the animal's front limbs as a second pair Four arms, or two arms and two wings. Set the extra pair at the shoulder blades.
a human body with the animal's hind feet Boots are the problem. Draw its footprints beside it.
a human body with the animal's limbs down one side Draw it from the front so the two halves can be compared.
a human body with the animal's shoulders and front limbs The seam runs across the chest. Clothes fasten below it.
a human body with the animal's tail and hind feet From the knees up, a person. The tail changes how every chair is used.
a human head and trunk with all four of the animal's limbs It can go on two legs or four. Draw it deciding.

Human in shape, animal on the surface 12

a human shape at exactly the animal's size A person as small as a mouse or as tall as a horse. Put a chair beside it.
a human shape built to the animal's proportions Human parts, the animal's measurements: its neck, its legs, its reach.
a human shape that moves exactly as the animal moves Nothing to see until it walks. Draw it mid-step.
a human shape whose shadow is the animal's Light it low from one side and draw the shadow first.
a human shape with the animal's claws or hooves for nails A detail for a close view. Draw the hands at rest on a table.
a human shape with the animal's coat along the spine A strip from nape to tailbone. It shows above every collar.
a human shape with the animal's coat for hair and brows The hairline gives it away. Draw the nape as well as the face.
a human shape with the animal's coat on forearms and shins It looks like long gloves and boots until you see the edge.
a human shape with the animal's face markings and tail A mask of pattern round the eyes and something to balance with.
a human shape with the animal's markings on its own skin The pattern follows the muscles as it would on the animal.
a human shape with the animal's tail The smallest change on the list. Cut the clothes to suit it.
a human shape with the animal's voice and way of listening Show it by the tilt of the head and what the room does in reply.

Caught in the middle of a change 12

a person half changed into the animal, from the feet up The upper half has not noticed yet. The shoes no longer fit.
a person half changed into the animal, from the hands in Sleeves pushed back, fingers already changed.
a person in whom a little of the animal shows everywhere Nothing is fully changed and nothing is untouched.
a person mid-change, human hands still holding their hat The hat is what tells you who this was a minute ago.
a person turning into the animal from the head down The face has gone ahead and the body follows.
a person who changes when startled, caught at that moment Wide eyes, raised shoulders and the coat coming in like a blush.
a person who has put on the animal's skin like a coat The selkie's way: in the tales a seal skin goes on and off to change shape.
a person who is the animal in every reflection Draw both: the figure, and a mirror, window or puddle beside it.
a person whose animal shape shows only in moonlight Modern werewolf stories tie the change to a full moon. Light it from above.
a person whose change stopped halfway, long ago, and stayed Settled and comfortable. The clothes were made for this body.
the animal turning into a person, and not finished Start from the animal's pose and stand it up.
the wolf-person of folklore, with this animal instead The werewolf's pattern: a person who becomes a beast, or something between.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026, sorted by the folklore figure each join follows. The figures named in the notes were checked on 2026-09-30 against Wikipedia: the centaur has the upper body of a human on the body and legs of a horse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur); the faun of Renaissance art has the legs, horns and tail of a goat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faun); the mermaid has the tail of a fish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid); the Minotaur has the head and tail of a bull (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur); dog-headed people appear in legends of many lands (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynocephaly); the sphinx and the manticore have a human head on a lion's body (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticore); the harpy is half human and half bird (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpy); the selkie changes shape by taking off or putting on a seal skin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie); the werewolf turns into a wolf or a wolf-like figure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf). The drawing advice is our own. Licence: own work

Other half: all 60 animals

On hooves 12

antelope Its horns are bone in a sheath and are never shed, unlike antlers. They are worn for life.
bison Hoofed, so the heel sits far up the leg. Build the human half broad to match.
camel The hump is fat carried on the back. Decide whether it sits above the join or below.

Show all 60 animals (57 more)

On hooves, continued

horse Its front knee matches your wrist and the hock behind matches your ankle. Draw both high.
mountain goat Goats have level, slot-shaped pupils. Put them in a human face and the join is made.
mountain zebra No two zebras have the same stripes. Invent a pattern and carry it across the seam.
ox A hoof is the tip of a toe. Stand it on tiptoe with the heel far up the leg.
pony A thicker mane and tail than a horse, and shorter legs for its size. A sturdy lower half.
ram A sheep's horns often curl out sideways in a spiral. Let them frame the face.
reindeer It stands on the tips of its toes like every hoofed animal. Keep the legs slim below the hock.
roe deer Antlers are bone, grown and shed each year. Pick the season before you draw the head.
wild boar In male pigs the canine teeth can grow into tusks. Keep them small and the face stays friendly.

On their toes 12

arctic fox Foxes have upright triangular ears and a long bushy tail. Keep both and little else is needed.
house cat A cat walks on its toes, so the bones of the foot make up the lower leg you see.
jackal Legends of dog-headed people often gave them a jackal's head. A toe walker below.
jaguar A toe walker like every cat. Plan where the pattern stops before you ink it.
leopard Draw the hind leg as three long segments in a zigzag, with only the toes down.
lynx A cat on its toes. Keep the heel well clear of the ground when it stands.
mongoose Counted with the toe walkers. Lift the heel when you stand it upright.
puma The joint halfway up a cat's hind leg, pointing backward, is the heel.
sheepdog A dog's hind leg bends back at the ankle, well above the ground. The true knee is higher.
snow leopard A cat, so the heel never touches down. Use the tail to balance an upright body.
spotted hyena Hyenas walk on their toes as cats and dogs do. Heel up, weight forward.
wolf Dogs and their kin walk on their toes. That gives the hind leg its hooked shape.

Flat on the whole foot 12

black bear Bears walk flat-footed as people do, so a bear's hind foot suits a human leg.
brown rat Flat-footed and long-tailed. The tail makes a third point of balance.
field mouse Small rounded ears and a tail as long as the body. Scale it up and keep those proportions.
honey badger Counted among the badgers and flat-footed like them, so it stands as a person does.
kangaroo It already stands upright on flat hind feet. Much of the join is done for you.
lemur Lemurs are listed with the flat-footed walkers, beside people.
opossum Walks on the whole foot, by the same list as the kangaroo. Stand it up as it is.
otter A long slim body, short limbs, webbed feet and a strong tail.
skunk Flat-footed, by the same list as the bear. Plan how its markings cross the seam.
stoat One of the weasel family, and flat-footed like the rest of it.
wallaby A smaller member of the kangaroo family, upright on flat hind feet.
weasel Walks on the whole foot. Decide how much of the animal's length the human half keeps.

Birds 12

bantam hen It stands on its toes like nearly every bird. Give the feet room on the page.
crow Birds stand on their toes with the ankle held high. Dress it, and the legs still give it away.
duck A duckling is in down and a drake is the male. Pick an age before you draw.
golden eagle A large hooked beak, strong legs and powerful talons. Choose which the figure keeps.
heron Draw the leg bare so the high ankle joint shows.
owl Large forward-facing eyes in a flat face ringed with feathers. Fit human features inside.
peafowl The male's train of eye-spotted feathers can trail like a cloak or stand like a screen.
penguin One of the few birds that walk flat-footed. Stand it upright on the whole foot.
pigeon Ordinary on purpose. A familiar bird makes the join the strange part.
rook What looks like a bird's backward knee is its ankle. The real knee sits higher.
swallow A small bird on a human frame. Enlarge the wings before anything else.
swan A long neck for its body. Decide whether the human neck or the swan's carries the head.

Reptiles and amphibians 12

anole A small lizard on a human frame. Enlarge the feet before anything else.
chameleon Its eyes move separately and its tail can grip. Either changes how the figure stands.
crocodile Nearly all reptiles walk flat-footed. The plated back gives the seam a line to follow.
gecko Many geckos have toe pads that grip smooth walls. Give the figure wide fingertips.
iguana A lizard walks on the whole foot. Bring the limbs under the body to stand it upright.
monitor lizard Flat-footed like almost every reptile. Use the tail as a counterweight for the torso.
mudpuppy Every amphibian walks on the whole foot. Stand it up and the tail trails behind.
salamander Carry two or three of its markings over onto the human skin.
sand lizard It walks on the whole foot, as nearly all reptiles do. Stand it up with care.
sea turtle Front limbs shaped as flippers. As arms they read at once.
skink Let the scales shrink to nothing where they meet skin.
tortoise A hard shell it can pull its head straight back into. Worn, or grown? Decide.

How this list was compiled: Original choice of animals for Draw This Next, September 2026: every one has four limbs and a tail, so any join on the page can use it, and none repeats an animal on the animal character generator's list. How each group stands was checked on 2026-09-30 against Wikipedia: toe walkers such as cats, dogs, hyenas, mongooses and most birds keep the heel off the ground, and what looks like a bird's knee is its ankle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitigrade); bears, badgers, otters, skunks, weasels, mice, rats, kangaroos, opossums, lemurs, penguins, nearly all reptiles and all amphibians walk on the whole foot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantigrade); a hoof is the tip of a toe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungulate). Facts about single animals come from their own articles, read the same day: Horse, Goat, Deer, Sheep, Antelope, Pig, Camel, Zebra, Cat, Fox, Cynocephaly, Bear, Badger, Kangaroo, Otter, Stoat, Mouse, Rat, Owl, Swan, Peafowl, Eagle, Duck, Gecko, Chameleon, Tortoise and Turtle. The drawing advice is our own. Licence: own work

Head: all 60 head features

Horns and antlers 15

a low bony crest in place of horns A ridge from brow to crown. Light it from the side.
a ridge of small knobs from brow to crown A row of seven or eight, largest in the middle.
a thick domed brow and no horns at all The forehead is the feature. Push it forward over the eyes.

Show all 60 head features (57 more)

Horns and antlers, continued

antlers still covered in soft skin Rounded tips and a blurred edge. Hard antler comes later in the year.
antlers with one tine grown in a loop A flaw the character is known by.
broad flat antlers shaped like open hands Heavy shapes. Thicken the neck to carry them.
horn buds hidden in the hair Only a bump under the fringe. A close view shows them.
horns capped with small brass tips A sign of town life. Somebody fitted those.
horns marked with a ring for every year Count out an age and draw that many rings.
horns that sweep sideways, wider than its shoulders Doorways are a problem. Draw it turning its head to get through.
one horn shorter than the other Asymmetry gives a face history. Do not explain it.
short horns that curve back over the skull Follow the curve of the head so a hat could still go on.
small forked antlers Two points a side is enough. They read from a distance.
spiral horns as long as its forearm Draw the spiral as a ribbon first, then give it thickness.
two pairs of tiny horns, front and back Four small points. Keep them the same shape at two sizes.

Ears 15

a notch in each ear, a family mark The notches match. Brothers and sisters have them too.
ears lined with pale fluff A soft pale shape inside a dark outline.
ears placed so far to the rear they seem to be on the neck It changes the whole profile. Draw the side view first.
ears that fold flat when it is unsure Draw the same face twice, ears up and ears down.
ears that lie back in the wind Use them like a weathervane to show which way it is running.
huge thin ears the light shines through Backlight them and show the veins as a few fine lines.
leaf-shaped ears that tremble when it listens Add two short motion lines and nothing more.
long ears that hang past the jaw They swing when the head turns. Draw them a beat behind.
one ear upright and one that flops Permanent, and endearing. Keep it on the same side every time.
plain ear openings with no outer ear at all A smooth head. The skull shape has to do the work.
pointed ears edged in a darker shade The dark edge sharpens the outline at small sizes.
round ears set low on the sides of the head Low round ears read as gentle on any skull.
small neat ears almost lost in the hair Understated. Other features will carry the animal.
tall ears that turn separately toward sounds Point one forward and one back. It is listening to two things.
tufted ears, the tufts as long as the ears The tufts double the height of the head. Use them for expression.

Eyes 15

a third eyelid that slides across sideways Draw it half closed: a pale film from the inner corner.
eyes ringed in dark markings like a mask The mask enlarges the eyes. Follow its shape, not the eyelid's.
eyes set wide, almost at the sides of the head It sees you with one eye at a time. Turn the head to look.
eyes that each move on their own One on you, one on the door. It unsettles nobody who knows it.
eyes that face straight ahead beneath a jutting forehead Shade under the brow and leave a small glint.
eyes that shine green in lamplight Two flat discs of light in a dark face.
eyes that take the tint of whatever it looks at Paint the scene first and take the eye from it.
eyes with a level slot pupil A goat's pupils are horizontal slits. Keep the slot level when the head tilts.
large dark eyes with no white showing Without whites, the brows and head angle show the mood.
light eyes, each iris outlined in black The rim keeps a pale eye from disappearing on white paper.
long lashes over sleepy half-closed eyes Heavy upper lids. It always looks about to nap.
one amber eye and one pale blue Decide which is which and never swap them.
perfectly circular eyes that almost never close Full circles with a ring of lid all the way round.
small bright eyes almost hidden by the brow Two glints are enough. Do not outline them.
upright slit pupils that open to full circles in the dark Bright scene, thin slits. Night scene, round and wide.

Feelers, crests and whiskers 15

a beard of long soft bristles Hangs straight and moves late. Weight it at the tip.
a fan of quills on the crown, lifted at will Up for alarm or greeting, flat for calm. It is a second pair of brows.
a frill behind the jaw that opens when it is startled Closed, a fold. Open, a collar as wide as the face.
a lock of mane hanging across the left eye It has to be pushed back, often. Draw the gesture.
a mane from brow to shoulder blades Treat it as one mass with a few loose strands at the edge.
a pair of wattles under the chin Small soft shapes that swing. They make any face look mild.
a row of spines along the crown that lie flat at rest Flat, they look like combed hair. Raised, like a fan.
a ruff of longer coat round the neck It hides the neck and widens the head. Good for cold places.
a topknot of plumes that nods as it walks Three or four plumes, each curling a different way.
brow whiskers longer than the ones on its cheeks They frame the eyes like a second set of lashes.
feathery antennae that curl when it sleeps Two soft combs. Draw them open when awake and rolled when not.
knobbed feelers that glow faintly at the tips Two small lights above the head in a dark scene.
short club-tipped antennae, always moving Draw three faint positions for each.
two long thin feelers that test the air Thin trailing lines that reach ahead of the face.
whiskers as wide as its shoulders They tell it what will fit. Draw them touching a doorframe.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each feature can sit on a human head or an animal's, so it reads with every join. One note states a fact, checked on 2026-09-30: goats have horizontal, slit-shaped pupils (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat). The drawing advice is our own. Licence: own work

Skin and coat: all 60 coverings

How far the coat reaches 15

the animal's coat across the shoulders like a cape Thickest at the nape, gone by the upper arm.
the animal's coat along the outer arms, skin on the inner Light falls on the coat side. The inner arm stays smooth.
the animal's coat as a tuft at each shoulder and no further Two small epaulettes of the animal.

Show all 60 coverings (57 more)

How far the coat reaches, continued

the animal's coat as far as the ribs on one side only Lopsided seams look natural. Even ones look sewn.
the animal's coat climbing the back to the shoulder blades From the front, a person. Turn it round to show the change.
the animal's coat down the forearms like long gloves Bare palms. Mark the wrist with a slightly darker band.
the animal's coat ending in a clean line at the collarbones Draw the line once, firmly, and leave it.
the animal's coat fading out at the elbows Thin it over a hand's width. No hard edge.
the animal's coat reaching to the jaw and stopping The face stays bare. The throat does not.
the animal's coat rising to a point high on the back A V shape seen from behind. It lengthens the back.
the animal's coat running up the spine in a narrow strip It shows above a collar and below a hem.
the animal's coat scattered up the arms in patches Islands of coat on bare skin, smaller as they climb.
the animal's coat thick at the joints and thin between Elbows, knees and shoulders carry the texture.
the animal's coat thinning to bare skin at the neck A soft fade. Stipple it, do not outline it.
the animal's coat wherever sun reaches, none under clothes Decide what it wears, then give the coat to everything left showing.

Markings 15

a blaze of white down the middle of the face From brow to nose. It splits the face neatly in two.
a darker patch draped over both shoulders A dark shape like a short cape, clean-edged.
a pale throat under a band of dark across the eyes The mask draws the eye to the face before anything else.
a pale underside and a dark back, meeting along the ribs Two tones. The meeting line is soft and wavy.
a single stripe from brow to the small of the back One confident line. It shows the twist of the spine in any pose.
broad dark bands that narrow toward the ends of the limbs Wide at the shoulder, thread-thin at the wrist.
fine stripes that break into dots at the wrists Let each stripe dissolve: dash, dash, dot, dot.
flecks of a brighter shade that show only in sunlight Leave them out in shadow. Dot them in where the light hits.
freckled skin wherever the coat stops The freckles are the coat's pattern, still going.
markings that mirror each other left and right Draw one side, then copy it across the spine.
mottling that matches dead leaves Three close tones dabbed unevenly. No pattern should repeat.
one large patch over an eye and a shoulder A single big shape, off to one side. Friendly at once.
pale markings at the wrists, ankles and chin Small light accents at the ends of things.
rings on the limbs that widen as they climb Narrow at the ankle, broad at the thigh.
spots that crowd together along the spine Dense on the back, sparse on the flanks, none underneath.

Condition and season 15

a coat brushed and oiled for a holiday Too tidy. Every strand lies the same way.
a coat clipped short on the arms for work A neat line where the clipping stopped.
a coat combed into a parting down the back Vain, or well loved. Either is a character note.
a coat in the middle of shedding, tufts at the elbows Loose clumps and bare-looking patches. A comb is nearby.
a coat rubbed thin at the elbows and knees Wear marks, like an old jacket.
a coat so glossy it reflects the sky One long highlight along the back, tinted blue.
a coat that stands on end when it is alarmed The outline doubles. Draw it calm beside it for scale.
a coat that turns white for the snow months Draw it mid-change: white coming in from the edges.
a damp coat that never quite dries Clumped into points, darker by a tone.
a dusty coat, groomed in dry earth Dull the whole coat by one tone and add a faint cloud at its feet.
a rough coat going silver at the temples A little pale at the edges of the face. It looks distinguished.
a soft undercoat that shows at every seam of its clothes Pale fluff at cuffs, collar and buttonholes.
a summer coat, short and sleek The muscles show through. Draw the body first.
a winter coat coming in thick at the neck A heavier outline round the throat and nowhere else yet.
a young coat still showing its baby spots Faint spots under the adult pattern, almost gone.

Where it meets skin 15

a gradual seam, dappled like shade under a tree Patches of coat and patches of skin, mixed for a long way.
a hard line between coat and skin, like a tide mark Abrupt and level. It looks as if it was dipped.
a seam edged in a darker shade, like a drawn outline The body has inked its own border.
a seam feathered with fine down The softest texture on the figure. Use the lightest pencil.
a seam hidden by a band of longer coat A fringe hangs over the change so you never see it.
a seam it keeps covered, out of habit A scarf, a cuff or a hand always rests there.
a seam marked by a ridge you could feel through a shirt A raised line that catches a little light along its top.
a seam ringed with small pale spots A dotted line all the way round.
a seam that moves with the seasons, higher in winter Mark last winter's line faintly above this one.
a seam that sits a little higher on the left Uneven by a finger's width. Enough to notice.
a seam where coat and skin interlock like fingers Long tongues of each reaching into the other.
a seam worn bare by straps A smooth band where a pack or belt has rubbed for years.
a soft edge where the coat thins over a hand's width Fewer and shorter marks until there are none.
a zigzag edge to the coat, like torn paper Sharp points, evenly spaced.
coat that returns in a small tuft at the nape One surprise tuft, well away from everything else.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. The word coat stands for whatever the animal has, fur, feathers or scales, so each entry reads with every animal on the page. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Wears: all 60 pieces of gear

Clothes made to fit 15

a coat let out at every seam by a patient tailor Show the added panels in a slightly different cloth.
a festival sash in the town's two shades A broad diagonal band. It is the brightest thing on the figure.
a hooded cloak with the hood altered to fit Decide what the hood had to make room for and shape it so.

Show all 60 pieces of gear (57 more)

Clothes made to fit, continued

a knitted vest, a size too big on purpose Loose over whatever is underneath.
a long scarf wound twice and tucked in It hides a seam or keeps a long neck warm. Your choice.
a made-to-measure uniform jacket, clearly at great cost Braid, buttons and a perfect fit on an impossible body.
a nightshirt, at any hour Long, loose and rumpled. It has just got up, or never went to bed.
a patched quilted jacket with the belt worn high Diamond quilting and three patches, each a different cloth.
a rain cape that fastens at one shoulder One clasp, one diagonal fold across the body.
a shirt with the collar cut wide The neckline tells you what had to pass through it.
a waistcoat laced at the sides for fit Criss-cross lacing instead of side seams.
a work smock with the sleeves pinned back Pins at the shoulder. The forearms are left free.
a wrap skirt that ties at the side It goes round anything. The knot sits where a hand can reach it.
an apron with one very deep pocket Something lives in the pocket. A tool handle sticks out.
hand-me-down overalls with the legs taken in Bib, straps and a tuck sewn into each leg.

Worn to carry things 15

a carrying sling with a sleepy infant in it A small head against the chest. Everything else is drawn round it.
a courier's badge on a broad strap An official shape: a shield or a star, slightly dented.
a fiddle case strapped between the shoulders A long curved case. It marks the figure as a player from behind.
a long case of rolled maps across its back A tube with a cap, slung at a slant.
a market basket carried on its back Woven texture and a few leaves sticking out of the top.
a pack frame with a bedroll on top The load rises above the head. It changes the outline.
a pair of spectacles on a ribbon Perched, pushed up or dangling: three different moods.
a pouch of seeds at the waist Drawstring top, a few spilled seeds on the ground behind.
a ring of tagged keys at the belt Many keys, each with a different tag shape.
a row of tiny bells stitched to one cuff You hear it before you see it. Add two small sound marks.
a satchel worn across the chest The strap cuts a diagonal. The bag sits on the opposite side.
a signal whistle hung at the chest A small bright shape in the middle of the chest.
a timepiece on a fob, consulted constantly Draw it mid-check, lid open.
a tool belt with every loop full Draw six tools as six different silhouettes.
a water flask slung under one arm A round shape at the ribs with a stopper on a chain.

Made for this body 15

a blanket coat for cold mornings, belted A square of thick cloth with a hole for the head.
a brimmed eye shade for bright days A half hat: brim and band, no crown.
a broad leather belt, polished daily The buckle is the size of a palm.
a collar of bright discs for walking at dusk Small circles that catch the last light.
a grooming comb on a cord, used hourly A wide-toothed comb at the belt, worn smooth.
a hat altered by hand to sit properly Extra stitching, a cut-away brim or a chin strap. Pick one.
a knitted cap made to an odd pattern The shape of the cap tells you the shape under it.
a neck cloth to keep the dust out A triangle of cloth, knotted behind.
a quilted chest warmer that buttons at the back Somebody else has to do it up. Show the row of buttons.
an oilcloth cape cut to shed rain off the back Stiff and shiny, with one long highlight.
felt overshoes for indoor floors Soft shapeless slippers over whatever it walks on.
footwear made to order, and it shows Design the foot first, then what had to go round it.
knee wraps for long days on hard roads Bands of cloth wound in a crossing pattern.
padded straps wherever a pack would rub Thick soft bands at the shoulders and chest.
winter leggings that button down the outside A row of buttons from knee to ankle.

Finery 15

a brooch shaped like a human hand Small, silver and worn on the animal side.
a brooch shaped like its animal half Worn on the human side. A joke it enjoys.
a cloak sewn with hundreds of buttons No two the same. It rattles.
a copper band at the throat An open ring with a knob at each end.
a crown of woven straw from the last harvest Braided ears of grain standing up in points.
a festival mask pushed up on the forehead A second face above the first.
a garland of whatever is in flower Change the flowers and you change the month.
a necklace of river stones Smooth ovals graded from small to large.
a row of medals it does not explain Five small shapes on ribbons. One is much older than the rest.
a silk ribbon tied where everyone can see it One bright bow. It was a gift.
a starched ruff, slightly crooked A pleated wheel round the neck, tilted.
an embroidered collar, the best thing it owns Fine stitching on plain clothes. Draw it larger than life.
ankle rings that click as it moves Two or three loose bands on each leg.
painted patterns in white clay, fresh each morning Dots and lines over skin and coat alike.
strings of glass beads, layered Three loops at three lengths.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. No entry names a wing, a tail, a hoof or a horn, so each can be worn by any figure the page deals; how it was altered to fit is left to the artist. Every figure is clothed. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Habit: all 60 stances

Standing and moving 15

always stands with its back to a wall Draw the wall. The pose makes no sense without it.
bounces a little on the spot when pleased Both heels off the ground and two small lines beneath.
carries itself like something twice its size Chest out and chin up, whatever its height.

Show all 60 stances (57 more)

Standing and moving, continued

crouches to speak to children at their height Knees bent deep, head level with a small listener.
faces whoever is speaking, squarely and at once Full front view. It gives its whole attention.
keeps to the shady side of any street Half the figure in shadow, by choice.
leans in doorways, sizing up the room One shoulder on the frame, head tilted in.
moves in short bursts with long pauses Catch it in the pause, one foot still raised.
shifts its weight from side to side while it talks Draw it at one end of the sway, off balance.
stands very still when it thinks it is watched A held pose. Only the eyes have moved.
stoops under every lintel, needed or not A habit from somewhere with lower doors.
stretches, slowly and completely, on waking A long diagonal from fingertips to the far foot.
turns its whole body to look behind No twist in the neck. Feet, trunk and head move together.
walks as if the ground might be hot Quick light steps, each foot lifted high.
walks one careful line down the middle of a road Each foot placed in front of the other.

Resting 15

dozes in any patch of sun A window shape of light on the floor and the figure inside it.
folds itself into the smallest chair in the room Too many angles for the chair. Count the elbows and knees.
lies flat on cool stone on hot days Spread out as wide as it will go.
makes a nest of coats to sit in A ring of borrowed clothes with the figure in the middle.
naps sitting upright with its eyes half open Nobody is sure whether it is asleep.
perches on the back of a chair and not the seat Balanced high, feet on the seat, quite at ease.
rests its chin on the table when bored Eyes up, everything else slumped.
rests with its back against the warmest wall Usually the one with the chimney behind it.
sits facing the door, always Put the door in the picture, even at the edge.
sits on its heels by the fire A compact shape, lit from one side.
sleeps curled up wherever it happens to be A tight circle. Nose to knees, or nose to tail.
sleeps in a heap with whoever is nearest Overlapping bodies. Find this one by its markings.
sleeps standing when it is far from home Head low, knees locked, one foot resting.
stays half awake wherever the room is new One eye open, body turned toward the exit.
tucks its head under one arm to sleep The face is hidden. The pose says everything.

Habits 15

circles its chair once before it will sit Draw the last half turn, already lowering itself.
collects shiny things and lines them up A row of buttons, coins and bottle glass on a sill.
freezes at sudden noises, then pretends it did not Draw the moment after: studied calm, tense shoulders.
greets friends by bumping foreheads Two heads touching. Mind the horns, if any.
grooms its coat when it is nervous Head turned to one shoulder, busy.
hums low in its chest when content Eyes half shut. Things on the table vibrate slightly.
looks up at the word supper Mid-task, head raised, everything else forgotten.
nods politely to its own reflection A window or a puddle, and a small courteous bow.
pats every doorpost it passes A hand, or whatever it has, laid flat for a moment.
shakes itself dry from head to foot A blur of droplets in a ring round the figure.
sniffs the air before stepping outdoors Chin lifted on a threshold, eyes closed.
stamps once before it speaks One foot raised. The room is already turning to look.
tilts its head at every new sound A slight angle is enough. The ears or eyes lead.
tracks anything small that moves The head has turned before the body knows.
yawns hugely and without apology The widest mouth shape it can make.

With other people 15

bows from the neck and never the waist A dip of the head only. The back stays straight.
greets a crowd with a slow nod to each side Left, then right, then the middle.
holds every door for whoever is behind One limb braced on the door, looking back.
keeps to the edge of a crowd with a clear way out Feet pointed at the exit, face toward the fun.
laughs with its whole body Head back, shoulders up, everything shaking.
lets tired children ride on its shoulders A small pair of boots on either side of its head.
looks away first, to be polite Eyes down and to the side, head still facing you.
lowers its head to listen to short people The neck curves down. The eyes stay level with the speaker.
shields smaller folk from the wind without thinking It has moved to the weather side of the group.
sits apart at first and edges closer through the evening Draw the gap, and the dragged marks of its stool.
stands nearer than is usual when it listens The other person is leaning back slightly.
strikes a pose the moment a sketchbook opens It has noticed your sketchbook and turned to its better side.
waits to be invited before crossing a threshold Toes exactly at the doorsill.
walks at the back of any group, counting heads Lips moving as it keeps the tally.
walks at the front and checks the path A few steps ahead, looking down and then back.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. No entry depends on a particular limb, so each can be drawn for any figure the page deals. The notes are our own advice on the pose. Licence: own work

How it works

This humanoid creature generator writes a figure that is part human and part animal. Press New creature for where the two halves join, a real animal, a head feature, a coat, something to wear and a habit.

Read the full guide

The join is the drawing

Folklore solved the join in a few ways: human above the waist (the centaur and the faun), an animal head on human shoulders (the Minotaur), limbs swapped (the harpy), or a person caught mid-change (the werewolf and the selkie). The first part names one. As a humanoid mythical creature generator, the page gives those old patterns a new animal.

Start from how the animal stands

The animals are sorted by their feet. A hoofed animal stands on the tips of its toes, a cat or a bird on its toes with the heel high, a bear on the whole foot as people do. Get that joint right and the figure will stand.

Draw the seam before the face. Decide whether coat fades into skin or stops at a line.
Clothes sell the figure: something a tailor altered says this body lives among people.
For a monster person generator with more bite, keep the animal's eyes and give it human hands.

Questions and answers

Are the creatures from myths, games or films?

The joins follow folklore figures such as the centaur, the faun and the Minotaur, named in the notes under the first list. Everything else is a plain description. No species or character from any game, film, show or book appears.

Can I use it as a humanoid monster generator?

Yes. Every result is half animal, and the head features include horns, slot pupils and feelers. Nothing is gory, and every figure is clothed and has a mild habit, so the monster is one you could meet at a market.

Why is there no fish, snake or insect half?

Every animal on the list has four limbs and a tail, so that any join can use it. For a mermaid, read the first join, human to the waist and animal below, and put a fish there yourself.

Does it draw the creature?

No. It writes the description and you draw it. The words come from six fixed lists written for this page, printed in full under the tool with a drawing note beside every entry.