diff --git a/topics/characters.py b/topics/characters.py
index 5377adb7..516ea3b1 100644
--- a/topics/characters.py
+++ b/topics/characters.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ MOUTH_INDEX       = 5
 class PiCreature(SVGMobject):
     CONFIG = {
         "color" : BLUE_E,
+        "file_name_prefix" : "PiCreatures",
         "stroke_width" : 0,
         "stroke_color" : BLACK,
         "fill_opacity" : 1.0,
@@ -43,20 +44,21 @@ class PiCreature(SVGMobject):
         "left_arm_range" : [.34, .462],
     }
     def __init__(self, mode = "plain", **kwargs):
+        digest_config(self, kwargs)
         self.parts_named = False
-        try:
-            svg_file = os.path.join(
-                PI_CREATURE_DIR, 
-                "PiCreatures_%s.svg"%mode
-            )
-            SVGMobject.__init__(self, file_name = svg_file, **kwargs)
-        except:
-            warnings.warn("No PiCreature design with mode %s"%mode)
-            svg_file = os.path.join(
-                FILE_DIR, 
-                "PiCreatures_plain.svg"
-            )
-            SVGMobject.__init__(self, file_name = svg_file, **kwargs)
+        # try:
+        svg_file = os.path.join(
+            PI_CREATURE_DIR, 
+            "%s_%s.svg"%(self.file_name_prefix, mode)
+        )
+        SVGMobject.__init__(self, file_name = svg_file, **kwargs)
+        # except:
+        #     warnings.warn("No %s design with mode %s"%(self.file_name_prefix, mode))
+        #     svg_file = os.path.join(
+        #         FILE_DIR, 
+        #         "PiCreatures_plain.svg",
+        #     )
+        #     SVGMobject.__init__(self, file_name = svg_file, **kwargs)
 
         if self.flip_at_start:
             self.flip()
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ class PiCreature(SVGMobject):
             
 def get_all_pi_creature_modes():
     result = []
-    prefix = "PiCreatures_"
+    prefix = "%s_"%PiCreature.CONFIG["file_name_prefix"]
     suffix = ".svg"
     for file in os.listdir(PI_CREATURE_DIR):
         if file.startswith(prefix) and file.endswith(suffix):
@@ -253,6 +255,12 @@ class BabyPiCreature(PiCreature):
             pupil.scale_in_place(self.pupil_scale_factor)
         self.look(looking_direction)
 
+class TauCreature(PiCreature):
+    CONFIG = {
+        "file_name_prefix" : "TauCreatures"
+    }
+
+
 class Blink(ApplyMethod):
     CONFIG = {
         "rate_func" : squish_rate_func(there_and_back)