Today, an octopus can become a global streaming sensation ( My Octopus Teacher ), a deceased dog on TikTok can sell out merchandise lines, and a nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough can drive international environmental policy. But as the lines between conservation, exploitation, and pure entertainment blur, we must ask: What is the cost of our fascination with non-human performers?
Animal entertainment content is not limited to passive video; interactive media like Red Dead Redemption 2 , Pokémon , and Stray represent a new frontier. In games, the audience controls the animal or controls the human’s interaction with the animal.