Why Are Tentacle Toys So Popular Right Now?

Scrolling through any popular sex toy seller, it’s clear that tentacle toys are having a moment. Whether it’s in the form of dildos or even grinding toys, people seem very into this type of pleasure product. But the question is…why? What about tentacles makes people hot and bothered? Well, a few factors could be at play.

From Octopuses to Aliens

First, we need to think about what tentacles are usually attached to: octopuses. While fantasizing about a nonhuman lover is common, what is it about octopuses in particular that could get someone excited? Again, a few factors could be at play. Most of us don’t work with cephalopods in our daily lives or ever see them outside aquariums. While a dildo meant to evoke the penis of a domesticated animal would seem, frankly, disgusting to many of us, octopuses seem alien (more on that later) enough that fantasies involving them won’t result in anyone calling the cops.

The most moving passage in The Soul of an Octopus is one in which author Sy Montgomery describes an octopus feeling her hand and arm with its tentacles, creating a bond between them that transcended species. Since octopuses are vastly intelligent, it is easy to imagine that they would be as fascinated with our anatomy as we are with theirs, so the thought of getting freaky with one taps into a longing many of us have for body worship and gentle caresses. It’s not even a particular fantasy of mine, but I’d be lying if I said The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife wasn’t really sexy.

Breaking Taboos

If Chuck Tingle has taught us anything, it’s that people are no longer afraid to be open about their deepest desires. Thanks to places like AO3 and the overall popularity of anime, people are more willing to express what they’re into in a way that they wouldn’t necessarily have been fifty years ago. On AO3 alone, there are around 18k fics in both the “Monsterfucking” tag and the “Tentacle Sex” tag (with Venom as the most popular character to write about).

The monsterfucking fantasy isn’t anything new. Monsters have always been used as an allegory about sex and relationships, with ancient stories in almost every culture featuring a beautiful young woman forced to marry a beast. These stories were used to alleviate women’s fears of the then-common practice of arranged marriages, but over time, the stories began to serve different purposes. Monster movies started to embody mainstream fears of a general otherness regarding race or sexuality. This of course led to some people in marginalized groups feeling more of a kinship with the villainous monsters themselves, as opposed to the white, cishet couple who vanquish them. In turn, we got movies such as Young Frankenstein and of course The Shape of Water, in which the monsters are sexualized romantic heroes. Sympathizing with monsters inherently means distancing oneself from traditional ideas of race, sexuality, or even colonialism. It is the ultimate taboo and barrier to break down.

Nerd Fantasies

It’s pretty common knowledge that nerds tend to be really into kink and breaking the bonds of sexual conventions (and that’s not even touching on Furries). So, it stands to reason that someone who loves particular monsters from their favorite IP would want to make their sexual fantasies about them come true. While the first true fanfic OTP was Kirk and Spock, the mere fact that they’re characters from a science fiction show demonstrates that people enjoy channeling their desires into more unrealistic settings and scenarios. Many of the most popular fanfiction categories are based on fantasy in some way, whether it’s Harry Potter or popular anime. For quirky, imaginative people, it’s hard not to think about alien species or magic powers without taking that next step and imagining how…the sex works in that fantasy world (please tell me I wasn’t the only one who walked out of Wicked wondering whether The Wizard banned inter-species relationships).

If you prefer outer space to the ocean, an alien probing fantasy has the same appeal as an octopus fantasy—an intelligent life form wanting to study and appreciate every inch of your body with its delicate, probing tentacles, complete with suckers that gently kiss and caress. Of course the aliens or mythical creatures could also be violent and aggressive; it’s completely up to you. The dildos in question can come in any shape and color and be made to look wildly unrealistic, so it’s easy to divorce the fantasy from any kind of reality, and imagine the tentacle as belonging to a favorite character.

They’re Not Human…And That’s the Point

Tentacle toys also de-center men in sexual experiences. There are plenty of products that look like realistic penises, but those ignore the fact that many people enjoy the feeling of internal stimulation without wanting a penis to be involved. There are toys, such as the Dame Dip, which don’t look like penises, or anything at all, and are meant for beginners.

Tentacle toys are the other side of that same coin. They don’t look like penises, but they appeal to a more adventurous crowd (genuinely curious—has anyone used a tentacle toy as their very first sex toy? Like, they just went from using their hand to—boom—tentacles?). A sex toy that looks like a realistic penis (let alone ones designed to look like a specific person’s penis) might seem to some people like a substitute or a placeholder for a real partner. However, with a tentacle toy, there’s nothing you’re replacing it with; it is designed purely to give pleasure to the person using it, not to be a stand-in until the real thing comes along.

Another simple explanation is that tentacle toys can be shaped in different and creative ways. They can curve and bend in a way that an actual penis simply can’t. For someone who likes size or girth, the added suckers would be a welcome addition in their toy box, regardless of whether they actually fantasize about octopuses or aliens.

They’re Fun

I don’t know how else to say it…they’re fun. Quite a few brands are branching out into the world of cute toys that look like (or are vaguely reminiscent of) animals. Rabbit and butterfly models are designed to look like their namesakes. Unihorn has a lineup of toys that look like, what else, unicorns. Bad Dragon exclusively sells fantasy-based dildos, and Cute Little Fuckers sells products that look like adorable aliens, complete with names and backstories for each one. In short, monsterfucking is a fantasy that’s existed for centuries and isn’t going away any time soon.

Becky

Becky V is a Los Angeles native who loves indie bookstores, Broadway musicals, and a good cup of tea. She is passionate about sexual wellness and wants to make the world a better place one orgasm at a time!