Squid Games? Tentacle Porn, Hentai and Sex

Are you a sucker for the idea of sex with a tentacled creature such as an octopus, squid or humanoid? Get turned on by watching tentacle porn? Sienna Saint-Cyr goes out on a limb to discover why some kinksters get sticky for the idea of sex – and bondage – involving tentacles.
 

A tentacle kink or fetish is a sexual interest in tentacles and the real –or fantasy – creatures that possess them. We've all seen tentacles, but what are they for exactly? Well, tentacles themselves are elongated organs that assist certain animals – such as squid or jellyfish – in moving, feeding, grasping, and gathering their sensory data.


If the idea of indulging in tentacle sex turns you on, then you've probably got a kink. Those of us that enjoy this niche fetish get their kicks from tentacle art, porn and erotic literature. For example, PornHub is full of fantasy tentacle porn videos, and the theme is very popular in Japanese hentai, integrating traditional pornography with elements of horror, fantasy and sci-fi. Believe it or not, you can even fill your holes with tentacles dildos!
 

Indeed, this unique form of fetishism can be seen in various cultures and media. One main reason why tentacles are a turn-on is their sinuous, flexible and controlling nature. They – and the creatures that possess them – also symbolize a mysterious and otherworldly appeal that can be both exciting and terrifying. 


 

But, before we dive deeper into the reasons why tentacle sex and bondage are a thing, let’s take a brief look at the history of tentacle porn and hentai...

A history of tentacle porn

Unlike tentacles themselves, we can’t pin down exactly when tentacle porn and fetishes originated, but they’ve been represented in Japanese literature and art since the early 19th century. A lot of folks I know hear of tentacle porn and instantly jump to modern-day anime and authors like Chuck Tingle, but this form of hentai – Japanese for 'perverse sexual desire' – goes back hundreds of years (possibly longer).

First tentacle porn example? The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife WikimediaCommons

One of the first – and to this day, popular – depictions of tentacle sex is a woodblock print created by a Japanese artist named Hokusai in 1814 (pictured above). This artwork featuring tentacle sex is most commonly entitled The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, and depicts a woman being tentacle-fucked by two different octopuses, supposedly in a consensual way. 

“PornHub is full of tentacle porn videos, and the theme is popular in Japanese hentai, integrating traditional porn with elements of horror, fantasy and sci-fi.”

Shunga, literally 'spring pictures', is an artistic form of woodblock erotica that emerged from these early modern images of sex with animals, such as the kinky tentacle sex portrayed in The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife. The genre often crosses over with horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Some claim that tentacle hentai or having a tentacle fetish is mostly (but not only) about consent-based encounters, with the octopus (or other tentacled creature) being sentient – that is, able to feel and perceive – and able to consent as well.
 

The shunga genre has grown as anime has become more popular recently, and pairings aren’t always human and octopus. Some are half-human half-animal characters mating with a human, or mating with another alien-type being. Others might be shapeshifters. The possibilities are endless when it comes to species, because the core of this fetish is tentacle sex. As long as there are tentacles, you’re good to go!

In today’s media, a popular example of a character being into tentacle porn is Lily Iglehart from the Netflix series Sex Education. She experiences pain during sex while making out with a lad called OctoBoy, and is later diagnosed with vaginismus.

For kinksters that favour reading about tentacle sex over watching series or tentacle porn, try out the paranormal erotic book Tentacle Entanglement by author Siggy Shade, and be prepared to squiddily-kick your feet up in the air!

So, what makes tentacles kinky?

While some may have confusion over why some of us have a fetish for tentacles, it didn’t take me long to figure out what makes tentacle hentai desirable. I mean, really; so much can happen with just one sentient being!

For kinksters like me, the BDSM elements that can be entangled within tentacle porn and erotica are quite attractive. Right now, writing this, I’m picturing a horny scene for a book where my main character is naked – on hands and knees – with her butt high in the air.

Squid game? Mythical humanoid in kinky tentacle temptation!

One consciously- aware octopus is binding her ankles with some tentacles, while penetrating both her ass and pussy and spanking her with the others! How can this not be the hottest thing ever? It’s tentacle bondage, impact play, suction, and hardcore fucking all at the same time (lucky lady!).

 

“While some may have confusion over why some of us have a fetish for tentacles, for kinksters like me, the BDSM elements that can be entangled within tentacle porn and erotica are attractive.”

The fact that most tentacle porn is depicted with women for the human element made me wonder a bit about why we are so into this as a genre. If I were to guess, I’d think that much of this fantasy comes from unfulfilled sexual desires.

Indeed, there was a time – and in some places, it’s still the case – where women were not allowed to enjoy themselves sexually. To do so would be considered slutty, against the chosen deity, and could bring shame to generations of the household. So, when you can’t act on your sexual desires, you’re left with fantasy to meet your needs.

Indeed, a common sexual fantasy for many women I know is to be penetrated simultaneously in multiple holes. But for a virgin or married woman coming from a ‘less sexually liberated’ place, picturing a man in a sexual fantasy might cause feelings of shame or guilt.

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So, if the human element is removed and focus is placed on, for example, a mystical being such as an octopus that plugs you in every hole, it helps the brain to cope, because we know that type of tentacle fucking isn't really possible. Thinking of a non-human takes the imaginary scenario from real and shame-based to fantasy and fun-based, just like what you see in tentacle hentai and porn.

Tentacle bondage: power and being 'taken'

Women aren’t the only ones who fantasize about tentacle sex. As mentioned, there is plenty of tentacle porn online that all genders enjoy. Indeed, gender and sexual orientation aside, there is something powerful in being 'taken' – especially by a non-human entity.
 

This could be in the form of alien abduction, or by being woken from your slumber by an Incubus or Succubus, or a tentacled-humanoid leaving the sea to find a mate for the night. The forbidden is hot because it’s forbidden!
 

“Thinking of a non-human takes the imaginary scenario from real and shame-based to fantasy and fun-based, just like what's seen in tentacle hentai and porn.”

Being ‘taken’ naturally brings us to the topic of consent and being submissive. When you can’t consent due to shame and guilt, fantasies tend to surface. It’s one way of coping with cognitive dissonance. Rather than acknowledge ‘I want a thing I can’t have’, we imagine being taken against our will. Even though we are choosing this tentacle porn-based scenario, by fantasizing about force, we allow ourselves to think we didn’t do anything wrong. Who knew that having a kink for tentacle sex could be so complex?

Finger lickin' good! Could you get turned-on by tentacles?

Criticisms of tentacle porn

Tentacle porn is, of course, a convenient and sexy way for someone with this less-than-common fetish to get off. However, tentacle hentai and porn has also faced much criticism. That’s because the majority of tentacle porn artists are male, and their work usually depicts women being violated by tentacles.
 

“However, tentacle hentai and porn has also faced much criticism. That’s because the majority of tentacle porn artists are male, and the female characters are seen as weak victims.”

Instead of featuring consensual, mutually pleasurable sex, this type of porn often depicts forced and violent tentacle penetration. This can be seen to normalize sexual violence toward women (which, as we all know, is common in many other types of pornography). The female characters are seen as weak victims of creatures whose tentacles act in a similar way to male genitalia. Because of this, some say this type of tentacle porn is sexist.
 

Interestingly, there has been a rise in feminist tentacle porn being made. Mostly created by women, this type of tentacle porn usually depicts tentacled creatures indulging in sensual and consensual sex. For example, featuring creatures or humanoids that use tentacles to playfully caress their partners. Some artists working on feminist tentacle porn also reverse the roles and choose to feature male human characters, instead of female ones.

Tentacle sex: playing with a partner

If your partner is open to indulging in your kink, aside from watching tentacle porn or looking at hentai together, here are a few other ways you can enjoy your very own squid games:

• Fantasy and Storytelling Crafting and sharing elaborate fantasies or narratives that centre around tentacle-themed interactions, indulging in the imaginative aspect of this fetish.
   
• Role-Play Delving into imaginative role-play or cosplay sessions where one or both partners impersonate a being with tentacles, creating a unique erotic experience.
   
• Tentacle Toys Utilizing specially designed tentacle dildos to explore the physical sensations and visual allure of the fetish.
   

The final FET: a turn-on for tentacles

There are many reasons why one might visualize an octopus or another tentacle-based creature as a sexual partner. Ultimately, it’s about sexual gratification. No matter the motivation, the thought of a being that can fill all my holes at once and move each tentacle with the same rhythm, is just super horny! There is a vast difference between conscious desire and primal desire, and for me, tentacle porn hits a primal aspect of pleasure.
 

This is probably why so many anime characters are non-human. When we are acting out our primal side, we can be the bear, the tigress, the fox, the cephalopod, the fairy, or the pony because these primal desires aren’t about rational thought. They’re about a deeper, richer instinct.

The idea of tentacle sex or even watching tentacle porn isn’t everyone’s cup of tea; I was skeptical at first, too. Now, after incorporating the idea into bondage fantasies,  I often enjoy dreaming up a hot and horny tentacle-fucking scene! •

Sienna Saint-Cyr writes erotica and blogs about kink, poly, body image, and most things related.

Do you watch tentacle porn or get off on the idea of sex involving tentacles? Share your thoughts with other kinksters in the tentacle fetish forum.

Main image shutterstock/freya-photographer, shutterstock/80s_child