The latest edition of premier UK-based video game magazine EDGE is now available and Issue 407 contains a special interview with Star Fox artist Takaya Imamura. One of the things mentioned in the interview is why they chose the different animals for each main character. Initially the characters weren’t going to be animals and the game was envisioned to take place in a more traditional sci-fi setting, similar to the classic F-Zero. Here’s what Takaya Imamura has to say about the iconic main characters:
“Fox McCloud reflects Miyamoto’s essence, while Peppy Haretakes after director Katsuya Eguchi. Falco Lombardi? He was based on graphics team member Tsuyoshi Watanabe, whose prominent nose gave Imamura the idea for a bird. And Slippy Toadcame from assistant director Yoichi Yamada, who happened to be a frog fan.” – Techcrawler from EDGE magazine 407

So they are the developers fursonas?
Most of the bad guys are monkeys
“Fox… Get this guy off me!” “Thanks Fox I thought they had me!”
Falco: “We’re always saving your hide Slip.”
That tells a lot about our society…
Thankfully most people are not like you (not a person).