Do Animagi choose their forms?

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 11145

Mike:"I've always subscribed to this theory. Like the daemons in 
Pullman's  HDM series, the animal form is an expression of the 
personality of the person. Padfoot - loyal, strong, kind. Prongs - 
strong, tough,  responsible (Don't ask me why, but the image of the 
stag makes me think strength of character and responsibility. It's 
like the scene in Bambi where we see Bambi's father, and he just 
EXUDES strength of character.)"

Yes.  It certainly holds true with Wormtail also, doesn't it? I doubt 
he chose to be a rat.

The stag's image is exactly what you say, IMO. The Hartford Insurance 
Company didn't choose their trademark by accident.  And it's 
cross-cultural.  Look at Shishi in Hayao Miyazaki's "Princess 
Mononoke" -- the highest of the forest gods. (you can look at the stag 
in the final sequence of "Fantasia 2000" also, but that's a homage to 
Miyazaki, who the Disney animators all admire.)