May Activity #1: How to Choose an Animal Discussion

[trivalent.livejournal.com]

Activity: How to Choose an Animal
Points: Participation 10pts/5kts, Additional comment: 2pts/1kt. 10 point bonus for animagi.
Deadline: Monday, 17 May EDT (7pm UTC)

Everyone has their own way of reading an application, picking up what to look for in a form and narrowing it down to one creature. But, lets open it up - share your secrets, your tips, everything. New voters can learn from the masters, and perhaps even the experienced voters can pick up a thing or two.

Comments

[musikurt.livejournal.com]

I usually start by having the list of current animagi and the Wikipedia page of animals open and then I'm set to go. I usually read through the application to see if I can get a general vibe. I feel like these most often come from the traits the applicant wants their form to have, the types of animals for which they feel an affinity/aversion, and whether I feel like the personality from the rest of the application fits well with the ideas I'm getting from those initial comments. Usually then I have a general idea "bird, fish, rodent, etc." or something I bit more specific "owl, shark, squirrel" and I just start sorting through the corresponding Order/Class, etc. on Wikipedia. As I read through the entries, I try to find one that meets several of the notes I've taken on the application and then check it against the list of active Animagus forms. Usually works pretty well for me, and while it might sound time consuming, I've been doing it enough that I think it works pretty efficiently.

Curtis//Ravenclaw//Eurasian Eagle Owl

[willfully.livejournal.com]

I'm not particularly talented at this, but, well. I will share my process! Which is easier since I'm actually in the process of voting RIGHT NOW. Haha.

First, I look at things like social habits, climate, choice between water/air/earth, and nocturnal/diurnal. Sometimes I just google those traits (like "social land animal nocturnal", for example), or if anything in particular comes to mind just looking at those, I'll google it and see if it fits with the vibe I'm getting from the applicant. Then I'll look at preferences and make sure it's not something that they're scared of/don't want, for whatever reason.

Sometimes it's hard to get a vibe, though, in which case I just pick an animal that I like (that isn't taken) that fits as many of the details that the applicant has given. I try to keep in mind that some details are more essential than others; for instance, when I wrote up my app, I put some things in there that didn't end up being traits in my chosen form at all. So, I think where I'm going with that is, I don't stress too terribly much over finding the ABSOLUTE PERFECT animal that suits all of the applicant's desires, especially because a lot of the time those animals don't even exist (or are really strange looking). Maybe this is only helpful for perfectionists like me, but not sweating the really small stuff can be key when it's a difficult application.

Annalisa|Slytherin|Fennec Fox

[supremacy-born.livejournal.com]

I think it's a really clever idea to google specific traits like the ones you mentioned! I will certainly keep that in mind next time I vote. I tend to get into the habit of just looking up animals in Wikipedia, but perhaps through googling I would come across some animagus choices that I wouldn't have otherwise considered, or didn't even know of!

Eve//Slytherin//Melanistic Leopard

[xfortytwo.livejournal.com]

I usually have two ways to go about voting.

1. I read through the application and then I try see if I get a general vibe. When I go the 'vibe' route, I start wide and then narrow down. So at first I'll be thinking of what kind of element I think the animal should be from: earth, water, air, etc. And then I start thinking about things like size, more specific habitat, domestic or wild, etc. I like starting sort of wide and then going more and more specific until I find a form I think fits.

But sometimes that just doesn't work for me so then I go to number two:

2. When I read the application, I pick out keywords that I think stand out in the application. I mean, you can never get EVERYTHING from application into a form, anyway, so you need to pick and choose. So I choose things that stand out to me and then sometimes I write them down. And I go on wikipedia/google/whatever and start looking for animals that come to mind when I look at these traits.

For example, I remember one applicant from a while back that had 'cute but deadly' in their application and I used that a lot in my search for the Animagus form.


And theeen. There are the apps where neither of these things work where I just flail around and wonder what the heck I'm going to do to find them a form. I hope I'll pick up some good ideas here!

Ing//Hufflepuff//Eastern Bluebird

[nanerbear.livejournal.com]

I generally write down key words that I find in their application that reflects their personality. I also write down their options of whats important for their animagus to have, as well as their desired environment and preferred traits. This way I have a list of things ready to go, and I feel like this really helps me focus on voting. If I don't do this, I get too caught up in excess words and it takes much longer for me to vote. I like to include all the possible animals I can see relating to them before searching on wiki.

If I can't think of animal choices, I may just do a google search for animals using the key words I write down. Generally I'll be inspired by something! I also have an encyclopedia of animals on my shelf that I may whip out when I'm desperate. I like opening random pages for ideas, and that will usually start me off on the right track.

-Jennifer of Gryffindor, Icelandic Horse

[ed1nburgh.livejournal.com]

I usually start with having a list open of all the current animagi in TextEdit, so I can easily search for the taken forms. Then, as I read, I take notes of things that stick out to me as major defining traits, and write down next to them an animal that comes to mind, just generally. So if somebody wrote, "I'm very solitary," I'd write "SOLITARY = FELINE/BIRD OF PREY" next to it. Then as I go down, I keep doing this and then once I have more than one of a certain type of animal, I begin narrowing it down by other traits that I find within it. If somebody says that they're female and are a go-getter, that has me thinking lionness, versus like being taken care of and pampered, which says house cat. Then I search for animals I've heard of that I know aren't on the list and try to match them with the people.

Kaitlin | Ravenclaw | Ocelot

[an-ardent-rain.livejournal.com]

I like going for animals no one picks generally. XD I'm dying to vote someone a sloth, but so far no one has fit... And also miniature muntjac! *points to icon* THAT TINY DEER IS SO CUTE IT HURTS.

Anyway! Ha, because that probably doesn't help anyone but me. The first thing I like to do is narrow it down to size. Do they want big or small? Then type: mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, all of that jazz. From there I at least have an idea, so I start with climate and nocturnal or diurnal. Without a large base of knowledge of different animals (which I don't have), it's hard to really go from there, but if I at least have a type, I can work my way to species. Sometimes I'll google or search in Wikipedia for a type of animal (like a seal or dog), and from the links there it's generally pretty easy, from reading the app, to find something that I feel really fits.

Hannah/Ravenclaw/Long-eared Hedgehog

[prongsy.livejournal.com]

I guess I go about it a bit backwards. Instead of getting a vibe first, I jump right to their animal affinities and abilities. That way I have a narrower field to play in. There are just too many creatures in this world to flail about all willy-nilly, which is what I find I do when I go linearly. Say they like flying and have an affinity for birds. Now I have a type of animal in mind: Bird.

After I've done that, I go back to their look. What they look like, what they want to look like. All the physical characteristics that might help me zone into certain categories of the larger class I have in mind. Like, say they're small or they want bright colours. Now I might have a humming bird or a tropical bird or a Cardinal or something in mind.

Then, I look lastly at their personality. I consider this not only their qualities but what time of day they like, what sort of climate. This is where I'd open up wikipedia to get a species specific connection. Maybe they're regal and territorial. They may like the forest, but with a bit of cold. I might start looking at birds I know. Like the Cardinal is common in more temperate climates, it's small and colorful. Then I'll look at types of Cardinals. The Northern Cardinal is very territorial and has a distinctive song. I'll check other's just to be sure and make a list of pro's an cons.

Finally, I'll go back with the animal I've picked and check each and every aspect of their application to be sure it matches best.

Beth | Gryffindor | Border Collie

[senbonzakura77.livejournal.com]

I start with an open Notepad page. While reading the application, I list the traits or preferences that strike me. 80% of the time, I get a feel for at least one species, which I then proceed to look up on Wikipedia. If that specific one doesn't fit, I go with nearby families or other animals that live in a similar environment to the original choice. Eventually, I narrow it down and get one creature. I like to find little details and pieces of history that link it to the applicant & what they've stated in their application, too.

In the other 20% of the time, I'll search generic lists of animals - like nocturnal animals, for instance - and even the Animagus Roster to get a solid idea of what that applicant might be well-suited for. And then, repeat the same process of narrowing down and searching until I find a good fit.

Mary//Ravenclaw//Daurian Jackdaw

[tunnels-of-loce.livejournal.com]

When I pick an animagus form for someone, I always read over the application and try to get a good sense of their personality. Then, once I have an idea of what kind of animal to look for (something fierce, something cute and cuddly, something unique, whatever), then I go back and try to get a sense of what they want in a form and use that to narrow it down. I always have Wikipedia up and the list of current animagus forms up, too, haha. But then, once I figure out what kind of animal or what species, I usually go into even more detail like their preferred climate and things like that so I can give them a species that's absolutely perfect for them.

If I'm really stuck on someone, I use the list of animals that other people in their house have gotten and try to get some ideas from that, or I just skip it and come back to it later, once I've voted on the other applicants.

Of course, this doesn't always work for everyone and sometimes I can come up with an animagus form for them right away, but it usually works really well for me. :)

Kelly//Hufflepuff//Smooth Collie

[trivalent.livejournal.com]

[sanalith.livejournal.com]

I start really broadly and then look for key words to help me narrow things down.

The first thing I decide is what "element" I want to focus on. Does the applicant want land, water, or air? That helps narrow the general field quite a bit. Then I start zeroing in one things like temperature preferences (I don't want to give someone a Siberian animal if they despise the cold!), nocturnal vs. diurnal, whether they want to be offensive or defensive, if they have a size, preference and what kind of social/pack structure they would prefer. And, of course, I eliminate any animals/attributes the applicant specifically doesn't want.

By this point, I've generally gotten a basic idea, such as "Domestic dog, large, intimidating but friendly, warm weather." At that point, I would start browsing the "large dog breeds" page on Wikipedia and comparing what I find with the list of claimed animals.

If I get *really* stuck on someone, I'll look at what animals they feel a connection with, and see if I can choose something from that list that fits with the general "vibe" I'm getting.

For people who are new to the system, the one thing I would want to stress is that there are no "wrong" answers, so don't be afraid in the beginning to just go with your gut. Even if you don't have enough information to elaborate for the full 10 points, it's excellent practice and you'll still earn at least some points! Then you can look at the post where the applicants receive their choices and see what other people chose. It's an especially good idea to check the comments on those posts, because applicants almost ALWAYS ask for help, and voters will often copy/past their entire reasons, so you can see some great examples!

Shannon//Ravenclaw//English Shepherd

[wawwhite.livejournal.com]

I usually read the whole application. Sometimes an animal will immediately come to mind, but other times I skip around and read the other applications too. I usually get a general feel of an animal - like a monkey or a dog - then reread their application to see if all the details would fit. Then I hit up Wikipedia under the general animal and view specific genus and subspecies to find one that matches. When I find one that fits, I write it up, trying to connect them animal with the details and overall feel that I get.

Whitney||Hufflepuff||Argentine Puma

[destinyfroste.livejournal.com]

I try to look for the most defining traits first, I move from specific to broader. I check what animals they may have specifically mentioned either as favorites or fears. Then I look at environment, and the sort of abilities they want to have. Finally I look at other things that stand out in their application. Generally I just take a lot of notes first and do not start searching until I have thoroughly combed through the application, UNLESS I have a specific idea. If someone mentions a specific animal, I will likely pull information on that animal up immediately, read about it, and then see if it matches the person. Generally I will trust an applicants instinct there if I am on the fence about whether or not it fits.

Destiny*Gryffindor*British Bombay

[mewithe.livejournal.com]

I'll start by opening Word and writing out a person's adjectives: how they describe themselves, how they want their form to act, and also if they mention how they want their form to look. This just helps me organize my thoughts, and they're good to refer back to while I'm looking for an animal and when I'm writing up the explanation.
Sometimes the app will have a vibe that goes with it, and others it won't, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. For the non-vibe apps it can be a fun challenge, and I tend to learn about animals I didn't even know of!

Kat//Hufflepuff//Asiatic Lion

[wolf.livejournal.com]

When I'm voting for Animagus, I always have a word/notepad document open on my computer and Wikipedia or Google ready for when I have an idea of what type of animal I am looking for. I usually base my vote on what habitat the applicant wishes their animagus to live in, the climate, the time of day/night they prefer, and what characteristics they want/don't want their form to have. I also go with my gut feeling a lot, and lean on their chosen strong/weak qualities to make up my mind. If I really don't get an inkling of what to vote or even a vibe, I go with the tone of the application and what animal it makes me think of. I guess it just depends on the application, but that is what I usually do. :D

~ Melissa // Ravenclaw // Norwegian Forest Cat

[caketime.livejournal.com]

I once wrote a sort of Animagus sorting tutorial! It was a long time ago, but *dusts it off and beams*:

"Myths of Animagus sorting:
1. It's hard.
2. It takes ages.
3. I need to be a member of the animagus community.

Tips to Animagus Sorting:
1. Read through the application. If it helps, you can keep Text Editor open and type in things that seem important to you and your first impressions.

Mine might read: solitary, nocturnal, goddamn opiniated, wants to be feminine, aloof, tiny but wants to have a trick up their sleeve, likes being "loyal" -> domesticated, earthy animal with four paws

2. Think of an animal type that fits the application: Earth, Water, Small, Big, Feral, Domesticated? Solitary?

For my example I was thinking: something small, weasle like. No dog- too cynical, but domesticated: cow, horse, sheep ...

3. Open up Wiki's list of families (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_families). Everything you need is on there. Scan through a family that fits.

4. Find something, gut instict! If it doesn't REALLY fit, what the hell- argue your point. ;)

(In my example:
I was not getting a dog vibe, especially since she's too aloof and solitary for a dog. A deer wouldn't be all too good, because she's too cynical. I looked up mongooses - not good, habitat too warm, civets, weasels ... they lack the domesticated aspect even if they're small...
and then! Ponies! They are not nocturnal, nor solitary (but she could be), but they are small, loyal and can be cruel/devious . I chose a Feral Pony, i.e. ponies that originated from once domesticated ancestors- solitary enough, right? And a pony that comes in brown!)

5. Type it down concisely. I ramble because I like to, haha. If you want to be nice, link to the wikipedia article of it.


Rince and repeat."

♥

mia of ravenclaw

[peyton07.livejournal.com]

ILU &hearts

[marchenland.livejournal.com]

I jot down some traits, focusing on things like: is the applicant introverted / extroverted, wants to live in air / on land / in sea, etc. From there, I narrow it down a bit. Most mammals are more extroverted, but not all. Playful leans toward the small to medium mammals (primates, small pack animals). Shyness leans toward herd animals. Etc. I think about the evolution of the traits; I don't know if I can explain my thought process though.

I'm actually thinking of making a big matrix of animals for animagus voting, but I doubt I'll ever get to it.

[supremacy-born.livejournal.com]

Please remember to list your name and House! :)

[mmailliw.livejournal.com]

Usually I begin by reading the section where the applicant explains what animal they identify with to put me in the right frame of mind when looking at the rest of their application.

Sometimes this part may not fit well with the rest of the application (an early bird identifying with an owl, or someone who wants to be all meek and shy in Animagus form identifying with a jaguar) but usually at least one of the 'animals they identify with', or something close to it, fits in well with the rest of their application.

When reading the rest of their application, I usually pay close attention to the 'earth/air/water' question and reasoning (so I can see how they view their relationship with watery environments, for example), along with whether they're diurnal or nocturnal. The 'special traits' section (both what they want and what they DON'T) is very important because this often tells me what the applicant wants THE MOST in their form, along with the sections where they refer to what animals they're afraid of.

Piecing that together I usually have a type of animal in mind; from then on my main step is to Google search related species and subspecies and compare it against the registry so I find something that fits particularly well and does not duplicate what I already have.

William//Slytherin//Tiger Shark

[pierhias.livejournal.com]

I usually start by checking what element the applicant prefers, then read the whole application once. After reading once I may or may not have a general idea for an animagus choice.
If I have an idea, I re-read the app specifically looking for answers confirming or ruling out what I have in mind.
If I don't have any idea at first, I re-read the app and try to focus on two or three key traits/answers that stick out to me as important to the applicant.

And then comes the time consuming part of reading about certain animals on wikipedia, following obscure links for hours until I found one that is not taken and fits how I see the applicant.

I wish I could do it faster, but I guess I'm too perfectionist to just go with a vibe without researching a lot XD

Iris//Ravenclaw//Swift Fox

[supremacy-born.livejournal.com]

For me, it has always been a combination of things. I start by looking at the applicant's personality, whether they are social or a loner, so that I know whether to look for an animal that enjoys being in packs, or an animal that prefers a more solitary lifestyle. Then of course there is the matter of their preferred habitat, whether they enjoy spending time in water or on earth, and so on. I also put a fair amount of emphasis on their physical appearance, because I want to choose an animagus form that would reflect on the applicant as a whole person, and their appearance is a big part of that. Then, lastly, I take into account the various aspects they would like their animal form to have, like sharp eyesight or the ability to travel fast. I usually don't put a lot of stock into what animals people feel a big connection to, because those answers are usually very similar to those of other applicants. Many of us like dogs, cats, etc and feel great in their company, but they might not necessarily make great animagus forms. :)

Eve//Slytherin//Melanistic Leopard

[katshakespeare.livejournal.com]

I'm really not very good at animagi sorting but what I usually do is read the app, usually starting with the traits and personality, and then I get a general feel of an animal group. Once I have a group in mind (fish, cats, large animals, jungle, birds, etc.) then I dig deeper into the application and try to narrow it down into a specific animal. From there I do some googling or wikipedia-ing to find a specific animal. Once I've found one, I go through the traits and such and see how well they fit the applicant. Sometimes this is easier than other times, depending on the applicant and such.

Sarah//Gryffindor//Genet

[sibyllevance.livejournal.com]

I personally read the application entirely in the order in which it was written before doing anything, sometimes applicants just have a certain vibe that will be a good indication of my future choice. Some are obviously exuberant, some are obviously more introverted. I start from there.
I open Wiki and then I skip to the element (air, water, earth) question that will tell me what time of animal I'm looking for. I'll have a look at the general category on Wiki (for example if it's water, I'm going to open the tabs of animals that live in water).
And then comes the part when I have to make sense of what I'm reading: the applicants often want something but their personality says another, sometimes I can be happy with a balance, I open a text file and write down keywords for myself: wants to be fast but is very shy, for example, funny applicant but wants to be a predator. And then I just look at my lists on Wikipedia and try to find something original, unless there's no doubt in my mind. Sometimes an animal reminds me of the applicant because of their picture and I do the opposite: I read the animal's entry and try to see if the applicant fits.

Sibylle//Ravenclaw//Maine Coon

[supremacy-born.livejournal.com]

I personally read the application entirely in the order in which it was written before doing anything, sometimes applicants just have a certain vibe that will be a good indication of my future choice. Some are obviously exuberant, some are obviously more introverted. I start from there.

I completely agree with this! I also start off by simply reading through the entire application without particularly focusing on specific questions, and quite often the TONE of the application points me in the right direction for an animagus form, because through writing we get different vibes when it comes to the applicant. Some might come across as bouncy and energetic, and then I tend to look for more social animagus forms, and others can be more logical and serious with their answers, which also tends to give me a good clue about what they're looking for. :)

Eve//Slytherin//Melanistic Leopard

[accountingwitch.livejournal.com]

I start with a particular 'vibe' - night or day, air/earth/water, preferences towards a certain animal, etc. If there's a form they're gunning for, I'll look up variations to see if there's something suitable. Sometimes thought, if I'm reading it and sense a completely different animal, I'll go for that.

Elaine//Ravenclaw//Dragon Li

[xshotofclarityx.livejournal.com]

Well I've only chosen a few, but because I like being able to go back and read over what I've read, but it's fairly optimized:

1. I copy+paste the application into my vote,
2. then I highlight the keywords or phrases I think are most telling of what the applicant wants and their personality
3. and delete out the rest
4. then I repeat steps 1-3 for the other applications
5. Next I open up another tab for Wikipedia and occasionally Google when Wiki is lacking and search under the "type" of animal I'm feeling for one
6. to find something more specific, constantly checking the applicant's requests
7. and another tab for the front page to make sure the animal is not already taken (I love tabs CTRL+t is my friend)
8. then do the same for the others

The process usually takes about 5 to 8 minutes. 15 at the very most once I actually get started.

Cynthia//Ravenclaw, Osprey animagus

[lily-fayline.livejournal.com]

Much the same as most people here, if a bit less methodical:
1. Read through the application and note the characteristics that are mentioned, and those that shine through in the writing
2. Choose the element the animagus is most likely to inhabit, and set other parameters (big/small, predator/herbivore, mammal/other)
3. Look up which animals within the set parameters best encompass the characteristics given, and narrow it down to one choice.
I tend to do this in my head; I'm rubbish at writing things down.

Mel//Ravenclaw//Red Panda

[know.livejournal.com]

Well, I have a rather simple of way of picking an animal. It mostly involves reading the application and jotting down mentally various adjectives to help me with their personalities. Then, I read over the application again and look at the biological-type of words that would help me pick an animal. Sometimes, an animal pops up on the first reading but not usually. After I find an animal, I do additional research on the animal to see if it would match the applicant.

alexis of slytherin