There are books built on the premise of the bestial or deific nature of man. In art, there are anthros or funny animals (animals given human-like qualities), and anime catgirls for lack of a better word (humans given animal-like qualities). There is a bitter rivalry between those two factions as many believe that catgirls are not anthropomorphic by definition. But what is flat-out giving a nonhuman human form called?

Is there a term for this? I thought of “dehumanize”, but that has a different meaning, I think. Metaphors often do this, but not precisely in the manner I’m pondering. I’m simply curious; It came up in a conversation with a friend. It seems strange that there should be a technical term for one, but not the other.

I fear this is a poorly contrived question.