Furries

Does anyone out there understand the whole "furry" thing? Could you please explain it to me? I seriously don't get it at all. Makes no sense whatsoever. Talking animal comics? I feel like I must be missing something... totally missing something. This has to be the strangest genre ever created. I mean, who? why?

Wikipedia:

Art and entertainment celebrated by furry fandom include fictional work that employs the concept of animal characters with human characteristics, rather than any particular type of fiction. For this reason, any work, in any medium, may be considered part of the furry genre simply by inclusion of an anthropomorphized animal character, although such characters are most often seen in comics, cartoons, animated films, allegorical novels, and video games. The science fiction and fantasy genres make frequent use of anthropomorphism, and as a result, are especially popular in furry fandom.

....

Sufficient interest and membership has enabled the creation of many furry conventions in North America and Europe. The world's largest furry convention is Anthrocon, held annually in Pittsburgh in July. One convention, Further Confusion, held in San Jose each January, closely follows Anthrocon in scale and attendance.

Comments

[Douglas Muth]

Hi,

I can help. I've been involved in the furry fandom for close to 10 years and am one of the organizers of Anthrocon.

I think the simplest possible definition of furry I can give you this is: an interest in anthropomorphic (human-like) animals. There is the art/comic angle which you covered in your LiveJournal, literature, real-life costuming (called "fursuiting"), puppetry, and video games.

I could go on, but I think it would save us both time if I pointed you to WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia: http://furry.wikia.com/ We have about 8,000 articles on there about different aspects of the furry fandom, and we try to make it serve as a reference resource for all things furry.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to follow up with me directly.

-- Doug

[Zen]

Anthrocon... LOL! Saw that on Kelsey Grammer's new sitcom. So it is real then!

Hell we anthropomorphize gods and godesses and spirits. Why not animals? My dog likes to read novels.

[in8sworld]

What's so odd about this? NP is interested in South American cultures and the Mayans had anthropomorphized animals AS their Gods, right? Besides, I've seen only about a zillion comic strips and cartoons with walking, talking animals - wasn't bugs bunny a rabbit? The only aspect of Furrydom that's wierd to me are the folks that are apparently sexually turned on by dressing up as animals in big cat suits.

[Non-Prophet]

Thanks Doug. For some reason, without any actual factual data, I have a feeling that there is a Japanese connection to the Furry Fandom movement. Is this true? Maybe I'm just getting from Japanese art aesthetics that have more so penetrated comic art in general.

Nate, I completely understand the cat suit thing. Mmmrrreeeow! :p

[Douglas Muth]

@in8sworld: The only Japanese connection to the furry fandom that I know of is that there are some furry fans in Japan. :-P

If you're up for a little research, WikiFur has a Japan category: http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/Japan

-- Doug

[Non-Prophet]

Thanks Doug. I'll keep my eye open for the furries in the future. -NP

[in8sworld]

@Doug: I didn't mention a Japanimation connection, that was NP not me - but since you brought it up: Google ham-ham.

[ANONYMOUS]

FURRIES ARE FAGGOTS THAT LIKE TO HAVE SEX IN FUR SUITS!!

FTW
NAB (AKA NEW ANONYMOUS BASTERD)

[gg]

FURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIESSS

AREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

AWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESOOOMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEE

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chris]

woww, your last couple of posts here went to all hell. I never paid much attention to furry fandom til today, and your blog was one of the first links in google images. I could see why some people would like furry fandom, because it's "cute." I would have thought there would be japanese roots in this as well, but i guess not.
Thanks for the post.

[Phreaq Foxclaw]

I have a theory of the "how?"...

Lots of people grew up watching movies from disney and listening to nursery rhymes. Many of these folk tales and movies involve anthro animals and tend to create a sympathy towards them.

I have a theory of the "why?"...

We see animals as "cute" all the time without a second thought. People see a palmeranian or a "yorkie" and are all over them. Perhaps furries are the same way but just taking it to the next level.

I'm a furry who plays second life. I love animals, am a normal person, heavily involved in college academies, used to play sports in high school, and am a musician. I don't see what's so wrong about the fur fandom. Lots of us involved are just regular people finding another way to interact. I for one can say that I was introduced through disney movies.

I hope that explains something to you Non-Prophet about the "why", "how", and "who". I don't speak for everyone, but those are my personal findings. If you're still curious, join second life. It has a huge furry culture.