. . . . From reading comments, and definitely have seen some beast like PvP stuff, what if they've gone the route of "you want some weird beast options? here, have a bunch of animated equipment you can choose to wear".
It would be a very cost effective way to create new "playable" races (can be based off existing, or non-existing races) without really touching lore* or a bunch of different armor models (since it would relate to the gear itself). Add a few helm variations for extra fun lol. Perhaps an accessory comes with a special visual effect that replaces/adds a tail (that is animated).
*I mean you don't need to make an entire civilization back story, if you had an Oni Mask for example that made you classical Asian demon like when worn in a set (or when in combat) it would just be a cursed item or some fantastical piece of magical work for theater props, easy explanations vs adding an entire race (don't focus on Oni plz, was random example thinking of SB themes lol).
They could add a boat load of different options, and all of it would take substantially less work than a race (and allow for making beast races without being like "OMG ONLY 1% OF YOU ACTUALLY USED IT, I THOUGHT YOU WANTED THIS *Yoshi-P table flip*) lol.
Would love to see some of the Au Ra more extreme bestial looks added into this sort of idea then. I like the idea for a lot of the obscure stuff that would be cost ineffective to add into the race menu, but there are still things I'd like to see bound into the actual creator as well. Obviously certain sliders couldn't become glamour items, and on top of that having to cost a slot for all these appearance could get old fast depending on which slots they took and how they looked (wolf head taking a helmet slot is no problem, using special effects on accessories probably also not a problem, like tail). Could even have them be set restricted effects if SE is really concerned about looks (if you have 3 wolf glamour items you get the head, tail, and arms - that way you couldn't be a wolf, bunny, dragon, turtle lol).
There is a definite difference between a mask and an animated face, they can slap some lore in or w.e about these magical masks that Majora Mask onto you - but the animation being important here.