Are you frequent on social media? Today, these networks thrive on fun, eye-catching visuals, and animal filters have become one of the most playful ways to make your photos and videos stand out. Whether you want to transform into a cute kitten, a fluffy bunny, a sad panda, or even a mischievous puppy, animal face filters add instant charm and personality to your content. But did you know that these filters go beyond simple overlays?
They combine augmented reality (AR) and AI-powered tracking to blend ears, noses, whiskers, and other effects seamlessly with your selfies. Let's learn more about them.
In this article
What Is an Animal Filter?

An animal filter is a type of digital filter—commonly found in social media apps —that uses augmented reality (AR) or AI-powered face tracking to overlay animal-like features onto a person's face or body in real time.
It adds playful overlays like cat ears, noses, whiskers, and even full animal faces to your photos and videos, making them an instant hit on any social media.
What is the Best Tool and How to Add Animal Face Filters to Photos

While you can explore different animal filters on apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, if you want to edit the video or photo after recording further, these apps provide few features.
In that case, we will introduce a more comprehensive app that supports adding animal face filters to you and provides plenty of editing features for both pictures and videos.
The short answer is Wondershare Filmora. It is the perfect all-in-one tool for creating stunning animal-themed video and photo edits. It combines AI-powered effects, AR overlays, and customizable stickers to deliver realistic, high-quality results.
In addition, it provides many other features that can turn your selfie into videos in many styles, such as anime, Ghibli, clay art, Jojo, Harry Potter, action figure, and more.
Here, let's see how to apply animal filters using Filmora.
Filmora Mobile: Add Animal Filters Using the Camera
- Download and install the Filmora app on your phone.
Secure Download
- Open the app and tap on More.
- Scroll down until you find the Camera feature at the bottom.
- Tap on Stickers.
- Go to the Cute-Animals section and pick a sticker.
- Go back to the camera and snap a photo or record a video.
- We decided to record a short clip. Take a look at how this cute animal face filter works in action.
As you can see, Filmora Mobile's camera app works just like those face filters you find on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, but it offers unique filters that other people do not have access to.
Filmora Desktop: Apply Animal Face Filters to Photos and Videos
And now, let's check the PC version, where you can use AR effects to create awesome, cute animal face filters. Check out the tutorial.
- Download and install Filmora.
Secure Download
- Create a New Project.
- Click on Import and add a photo that you would like to edit.
- Drag the photo to the timeline.
- Go to Effects and search for Ears in the search bar. Then, pick an effect and drag it to the timeline.
- Check out this result.
This might be a different approach than what you're used to in common social media apps, but the results are simply stunning. Filmora is a powerful video editor, and you can refine your post even further by adding filters, stickers, other effects, and even animated titles.
Filmora's Key Features for Animal Filters
Filmora offers features that make it stand out from other apps. Let's check them out!
- Extensive Library: Filmora comes packed with animal face filters, AR overlays, and stickers that you can combine to create something magical.
- Cross-Platform Support: Filmora works flawlessly on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, so you can use it regardless of your preferred device.
- AI-Powered Tracking: Filmora has powerful AI systems that ensure that filters stay aligned even in videos, when the subject is in motion.
- Support for Both Photos and Videos: Unlike most single-purpose apps, Filmora is an all-arounder when it comes to features. It offers everything you need in a photo, video, or audio editing tool.
And all of this is just the beginning. Considering the advanced AI toolset and millions of creative assets, Filmora offers a lot more than you expect, making it a top choice.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Animal Filter Edit
Now, if you want your edits to look professional and polished, consider the following tips.
- Use High-Resolution Images: If you are using a modern phone, this will not be an issue, but make sure that the image is crisp. That way, you get sharper overlays and better overall results.
- Match the Filter Lighting: To get the best result, use a photo in the sun for cute animal filters and a darker image if you are using a scary animal filter.
- Experiment with Animated Filters: If you want your edits to stand out, combine different techniques to create the perfect post for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, or all three.
- Combine Multiple Effects: Use AR effects to add ears from one animal, whiskers from another, a funny nose, and top it all off with cute paw stickers.
Compare the Best Apps to Apply Animal Face Filters to Photos
Check out this comparison table to see how Filmora compares to other cute animal filter apps. This will help you make an informed decision about which app is right for you.
App | Platforms | Filter Variety | Ease of Use |
Filmora | Windows, Mac, Android | Extensive | Beginner-friendly |
iOS, Android | Limited | Easy | |
Snapchat | iOS, Android | Moderate | Easy |
YouCam Makeup | iOS, Android | Moderate | Moderate |
Conclusion
Animal filters are one of the fastest ways to make your photos and videos fun and more engaging. While Instagram and Snapchat offer some basic options that everyone has seen, Filmora gives you endless creative possibilities, thanks to its AR overlays, AI-powered tracking, and beginner-friendly tools. And, when it comes to cute animal filters, the Filmora Mobile app has a whole section dedicated to them.
Download Filmora today to explore all the animal filters, stickers, and overlays to create cute, shareable edits that stand out from the crowd.