I've been thinking about this nonstop
That maybe the reason there are sentient animals and non-sentient animals in NITW, is because the residents are never animals to begin with. My thought started from the residents never seem to have tails, a common physical trait other animals have. And then I started to think, they don't really refer to others as the species they are, right? Like they wouldn't say something like "Do you remember the bear family down the street?". The only time I remember is Mae's father refer to her as "Kitten", but I think that's just a name of endearment.
So I proposed, that the people in NITW looks like animals is because that's how they are perceived, or how the creators wants us to perceived them as. Like when we first see Gregg, a fox looking guy, we mind assume he would be loud, energetic, and probably a contagious laugh, and that's exactly how he is, annnnddd he would probably bite out of affection.
Ummmm that's all I've got tbh I'm not good with the talking thing and I didn't think far enough ahead. Hope you guys found this interesting like I did :))
