AoCF Animal Transformations

>Reimu
>Fox
Stone foxes (Inari) are commonly placed in fromt of shrines as guardians, similar to komainu.
>Marisa
>Crow
Crows are portrayed as conniving thieves and tricksters in cultures all over the world. Also, the most common familiar of a typical witch in popular culture besides a cat is a crow.
>Ichirin & Unzan
>Monkey On A Cloud
Sun Wukong (the monkey king) accompanies Buddhist monk Xuanzang to India in the story "Journey to the West". One of Sun Wukong's magical items is a cloud called Jindou Yu (literally: somersault cloud) that allows him to travel at extreme speeds.
>Futo
>Chicken
There are many wild chickens living in Isonokami Shrine. The Mononobe clan popularly worshipped in the shrine because the clan's founder, Prince Inishiki, ordered the protection of the shrine's treasures by giving 1000 swords to the hands of its guards.
>Miko
>Owl
"Toyosatomimi no Miko" literally means "prince of wise ears". Prince Shotoku himself had that title as well and was considered to be a prodigy in his own right according to legend. Owls are symbolic of wisdom. Also, Miko's hairstyle looks like the "horns" of an owl.
>Byakuren
>Rat
Rats are considered the holy messangers of the Buddhist god Bishamonten. Connections to Nazrin and Shou are obvious.
>Nitori
>Turtle
Self explanatory; Kappa are associated with turtles.
>Koishi
>Black Cat
Koishi's urban legend is Mary-san's Phone. A strange call comes and each time you hang up and pick up the phone Mary says she's closer and closer to you until finally she says she's behind you. The story implies you get murdered. Black cats are signs of ill omen in many cultures, often appearing before disaster. Additionally, it may be a reference to Orin and the kasha (type of monster cat) youkai that take souls to hell.
>Mamizou
>Tanuki
Self explanatory; Mamizou is a bakedanuki (youkai tanuki).
>Kokoro
>Flying Tengu Mask
Obvious, just one of her various masks. Could also be a reference to the SHMUP "Abarenbou Tengu" (known as Zombie Nation overseas) in which you control a flying tengu head.
>Kasen
>Snake Coiled Around Ball
Kasen owns multiple dragons. Dragons in Chinese and Japanese mythology are depicted with orbs that symbolize their power/energy/wisdom. Asian dragons are primarily based on snakes. Also, Asian dragons have antlers (horns) and in her snake form, Kasen still retains her hair buns that cover what many speculate to be her oni horns.
>Mokou
>Hinezumi (fire rat)
A legendary beast in Chinese and Japanese mythology said to have fireproof fur. One of the impossible requests of Kaguyahime in Taketori Monogatari was to retrieve the "Robe of the Legendary Fire Rat".
>Shinmyoumaru
>Shellfish
A joke. Shinmyoumaru rides a bowl in the game and miso soup often contains clams.
>Sumireko
>Ghost (Bakebake?)
A reference to the paranormal interests and abilities of Sumireko. Also perhaps a reference to the bakebake enemies of the PC-98 era (connection to Yumemi/Renko)?
>Reisen
>White Rabbit
Self explanatory; moon rabbit.
>Doremy
>Malayan Tapir
Self explanatory; baku are associated with Malayan tapirs.
>Tenshi
>Catfish (Namazu)
Catfish in Japanese mythology are thought to be the main cause of earthquakes. Also a reference to the final boss of Meiling's route in Touhou Hisoutensoku, O-Namazu (Giant Catfish). Further connecting the two, ZUN has stated that the Giant Catfish was originally going to be the final boss of Scarlet Weather Rhapsody instead of Tenshi. Dream World Tenshi also uses the Giant Catfish in some of her spell cards in AoCF's story mode.
>Jo'on
>Antheraea yamamai (Japanese Silk Moth)
>Shion
>Sasakia charonda (Japanese Emperor Butterfly)
Shion's name is based on the 春紫菀 (harujion) flower. Jo'on is based on the 姫女菀 (himejoon) flower. These flowers are not the same species yet they are in the same genus, Erigeron. Jo'on is the opposite of Shion (rich vs. poor/yakubyougami vs. binbougami) yet she is also her sister, two sides of the same coin. An antimony. Moths and butterflies, similarly, are considered opposites of each other but are both in the order lepidoptera, making them related. Different but ultimately the same.
>Yukari
>Axolotl
Many meanings:
Amphibian - Boundary of terrestrial and aquatic
Neoteny - Boundary of young and old
The axolotl is known as "メキシコサンショウウオ" (mexico salamander) in Japan. The sprite shows the axolotl (Yukari) popping out of a gap. ZUN has made Trump jokes before, specifically on immigration, in AFiEU. Yukari is the youkai of boundaries and barriers. Thus, "mexico salamander" + Yukari = crossing the border? Additionally, axolotl in katakana is "アホロートル" (ahoroteru). This unfortunately sounds exactly like 呆老頭児 (ahoroteru lit. stupid old fart). Possible joke on Yukari's age?