Animagi vs transfigeration (was Re: Do Animagi choose their forms?

[msl at fc.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 11067

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Snuffles MacGoo <msmacgoo at o...> wrote:
> 
> Ok, I think there is a difference, I think it has to do with skill 
> level and probably indicates different level of attributes while in 
> non-human form
> 
> I think that transfiguration is easier and can change anything to 
> anything (porcupine to pin cushion, desk to pig for example, with 
> the phonetically allied words appearing easier. You might change 
> yourself as part of this spell, storm to dog, or cat, or Siamese 
> fighting fish for example.
> 
> animagus would appear to be a *true* expression of your self. (to 
> me), akin to the 'true name' concept (as I understand it) in that 
> you can only have one and you don't get to choose it. I think it's 
> a more 'natural' transformation because its an expression of 
> yourself, requiring less energy to maintain (though more skill to 
> execute).

I like this way of looking at the issue.  It seems to me that the 
animagi have either altered their very beings or released a 
heretofore untapped aspect of their beings in order to gain the 
ability to transform at will into an animal that reflects 
symbolically some aspect of their characters.  They've altered 
their "essences," if you will, in very profound way.  Compared to 
that, the transformation of a person, even oneself, into an animal on 
a temporary basis by means of ordinary spellcasting is a bit more 
superficial.

Here's a question; what happens when a really complicated person 
becomes an animagus?  Might they turn into a magical hybrid beast 
such as a hippogriff?  Maybe an aloof, highly intellectual sort of 
person would end up transforming himself into something like a 
centaur, unable to fully rid himself of his or her hyperanalytical, 
human-all-to-human side...

marvin