Furries In The Media

http://www.westword.com/slideshow/rocky-mountain-fur-con-2011-34003428/

"Held at the Denver DoubleTree hotel from August 12 to August 14, 2011, the Rocky Mountain Fur Con attracted all sorts of people who enjoy the anthropomorphic hobby of acting as a "furry." This year's theme was "I need a Hero," in which all attendees were encouraged to come dressed as heroes. Photographer Taryn Kapronica brings back these photos for Westword."

Another article on the Denver Westword blogs: Furry field guide: An illustrated handbook for spotting woodland creatures in their habitat

It's a series of photos from Rocky Mountain Fur Con, with some zoologist-style commentary. Some of which is rather... odd:
?The Asian character markings on this otherwise ordinary canidae betray him as a near-perfect specimen of a much rarer phylum: the douche-fox, known for his exceptional skill at exonerated date-rape.!?

http://www.leparisien.fr/loisirs-et-spectacles/video-fursuiters-ils-portent-un-costume-pour-se-transformer-en-animal-08-08-2011-1559199.php




Do not tell them they are doing cosplay . Where fans of Japanese fiction trying to imitate their favorite heroes at events such as the Japan Expo , the furries ("hairy" in English) them to create characters from scratch, animals with human characteristics often thought by the Looney Tunes .

Some even give life to their avatar by wearing a costume in his likeness: it is the fursuiters . A movement from the United States born in the 1980s on the fringes of American conventions of science fiction, the movement furry has grown worldwide in the 1990s with the explosion of the Internet - the first post on forums dating back to December 17, 1990 - and reached the European shores in the early 2000s.

The furries now have their own Wiki , a map to identify many forums and even a dating site . The use of social networks has allowed the movement to coordinate. At the last gathering Anthrocon , held annually in the United States, approximately 4400 furries had arranged to meet in the city of Pittsburgh and more than 850 fursuiters took to the streets for a parade. France, a small community in Europe compared to Britain or Germany, 300 to 400 count furries , including forty fursuiters .

"You feel closer to people" Why dress up? "Everyone has a different explanation," says Matthew Roumy, alias Redmoon Wolfen, which provides that in any case it has nothing to do with any political message. "For my part I have always been fascinated by everything about the transformation of man into an animal," says the senior executive in a computer company. Students role-play enthusiasts, graphic artists and officials: in addition to be relatively young ( average age is 24 years ), all have in common the passion for animated hybrid combining human and animal characteristics. And envy, too, to share with others. "You feel closer to people," said Kassestu, Marline or rather, in the "civilian".

What this student 18 years trying, once donned his costume hyena is "amazed look" of the children when she and other furries organize an outing, mostly in parks. As in the Parc Floral de Vincennes on Sunday VIDEO. Meet the "fursuiters" Their passion is generally quite well received by those who cross their path. The fursuiters are always accompanied by other furries without costume (the helpers , "escorts" in English) ensure that explain their approach and to convince them that, no, it's not a bachelor party boy. In France, despite the new law banning the wearing of the veil, the fursuiters manage to force time and patience to obtain permits for rallies.

2500 euros costume At least to make your own costume, be provide a Fursuit is not easy. There are a handful of manufacturers in the world, mostly Americans. Each Fursuit is made ??to measure according to customer expectations, so that any achievement is unique . The wallet is affected: around 1000 euros for a costume part (head, arms and legs) and up to 2500 euros for a full. For the character of African wild dog, Matthew has spent 1,000 dollars (700 euros) during an auction on the Internet.



Contrary to what one might think, the furries do not just locate in parks or on the Internet. Just take a look at movie posters and some advertising on television and plastered on the subway. And the trend is gaining popularity: 17 August, Germany, the European Convention Eurofurence host Jim Martin as honorary president, the famous creator of Sesame Street . A serious dubbing for the movement.

http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2011/08/sorin_katt_rm_furry_con.php


By Cory Lamz Fri., Aug. 12 2011 at 8:27 AM
?
When we called Sorin Katt for the interview, we asked to speak with Kevin, his legal first name. He told us we had the wrong number. When we asked to speak with Sorin, however, he responded immediately. Besides talking to us about how he got involved in the furry lifestyle (the "fandom"), Rocky Mountain Fur Con and the fur community at large, Sorin, who is 33, also told us about his dayjob -- software development -- and his partner of nine years, whose fursona is a fox. Although his developer co-workers know Sorin runs a convention, he doesn't flaunt his furry lifestyle: "It's not something I hide, but it's not something I make a big deal of -- just like a lot of things in people's lives," he explains.
Westword: What drew you to the Furry Lifestyle?

Sorin Katt: It was actually sort of accidental. I found it on the Internet and it just kind of clicked. I'd always been very into the anthropomorphic and animals, and it was just finding a community that was as into it as I was. First it was the Internet, then through conventions. I was just browsing the Internet and found stuff, artwork, that led me to the sites for some of the artists in the community at the time. It sort of went from there, looking around and gathering information. That was twelve years ago.

With twelve years of identifying with furrying, what have been some significant moments for you in the lifestyle?

Attending my first convention was pretty significant. Going to conventions plays a large role in our fandom because our population is so diverse and spread out throughout the country that it's a good opportunity to come together with the artists and creators in the community to connect. There's a lot of people that I'll only see at conventions every year.
The big thing about conventions is meeting people that they'll only see at these events. It's really more the social aspect and getting together with people who have the same interests that you do.

From going to the different conventions and events, how many people do you personally know as furries?

In the hundreds, if not thousands of people. I know a lot of people. A lot of people know me.

How does the furry lifestyle work outside of conventions then?

A lot of my local friends are in the community. Much like Star Trek fans or science fiction fans, you kind of localize around people that are interested in the same things you are. That tends to occur a lot. A lot of my local friends are in the [furry] community. It tends to be a connecting draw for me.

Do you have a fursuit for your cat fursona?

I do not. I have a couple of friends who do a lot of costuming. I'm less involved in the costuming group; it's kind of a sub-group within furry in the sense that Klingons are a sub-group in the Star Trek fandom. It's really the same thing. They're part of our community as whole, but it's a small percentage of people in the fandom who are seriously costumers and have their own costumes.

If you're not costuming, how else do you identify with furry? How do you live that?

I really enjoy the artwork. I'm also a writer. I write a lot of fiction specific to the fandom -- that's one way I connect to it. It's a lot of slice-of-life fiction and science fiction. The biggest, defining factor is that the characters are anthropomorphic, and they're set in fictional worlds where the characters are animal people essentially. You see it in mainstream science fiction, but it's a lot more prevalent in the furry fandom.

Do you have a particular protagonist that you write about a lot?

I'm mostly writing short stories right now, so I switch genres and topics and characters pretty regularly. I like to explore the slice-of-life stories and stories focusing on interpersonal relationships and social mores and that kind of stuff -- people's interactions within society. I've been an off-and-on writer for the last ten years, but I've been more seriously [writing] for the last couple of years.

What led you to writing?

I'd always had an interest in it. I've always been a creative writer and it kind of seemed like the right time. I mostly write for fun. A couple of my pieces have been published in fandom-specific publications. There's a charity publication that's coming out at a convention in Seattle that I have a story in. I have a couple of other publications that my stories have been published in.

How did you get involved in the Rocky Mountain Fur Con?

That was kind of accidental, too. There were some people that were trying to organize a convention with a meeting, and I ended up going. It started with a group of five people talking about putting together a convention in Colorado, and I started out as just staff on the organizational committee. Over the years, I've worked my way to running the event.

What's been the most exciting part about your work with the Fur Con then?

Seeing the convention grow and seeing how excited people are for the event. It's a pretty thankless job, volunteering all the hours, but it's definitely all worth it when you see how happy and excited people are during the convention when people are there enjoying themselves.

Bro-hoof!! from 03:15 on...
http://cnettv.cnet.com/web-exclusive-my-little-bronies/9742-1_53-50109567.html

For a couple of mundanes, they explain the Brony fandom remarkably well (LOL).

Ok, so in case you did not hear it from the AnthroCon site, or Flayrah:
Anthrocon was asked to move foward a week next year, in order to allow a mystery event to take place during the originally scheduled time. Staff said they would not reveal the event until it was confirmed, but it seems that a lot of people are speculating that it is in fact the NHL Draft for 2012.
I have alerts for things such as 'furries' and 'Anthrocon' and every day, there are more and more links showing up.

What I'd like to do is compile a list of them:

First off, the Anthrocon and Flayrah postings:
http://www.anthrocon.org/node/7248/anthrocon-announces-dates-2012
http://www.flayrah.com/3641/anthrocon-bumped-2012-nhl-entry-draft


And the News/Blogs/Websites:

The Hockey News:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41495-Rescheduling-of-convention-in-Pittsburgh-lends-credence-to-rumors-Penguins-will-host-2012-NHL-Draft.html

DeadSpin:
http://deadspin.com/5828409/furries-may-have-unwittingly-announced-that-next-years-nhl-draft-will-be-held-in-pittsburgh

Pittsburgh SBNation:
http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2350037/2012-nhl-draft-heading-to-pittsburgh-or-at-least-thats-what-the

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_750472.html

Kukla's Korner:
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/a_very_strange_way_of_informing_the_hockey_world_that_pittsburghs_hosting_t/

CBS Sports:
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/27694626/31168933

AOL Sporting News:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-08-08/pittsburgh-clears-calendar-in-hopes-of-landing-2012-nhl-draft

SportsNet.ca:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/fantasy/hockey/2011/08/08/hockey_hearsay/

" I usually just roll my eyes when people say that … When the first furry convention started in Southern California, there were some overly imaginative people. News cameras just happened to tune in that. [After those truly interested in Anthrocon left], the convention dried up ... These are mostly young people, and young people have sex ... But we have very stringent codes of conduct here, and we want people to feel they can bring their kids. People portray us as we must all be about sex. But that's not us at all. We're all about self expression, but not in that way."

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A97064


Let it be noted that, when Pittsburgh City Paper first covered Anthrocon in 2006, they went into a fair amount of detail, including quotes from GoH Scott Shaw! and Rabbit Valley's explicit titles:

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A28606


Last year they focused on the Furoticon game:

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=oid%3A81191

Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry? - article on massively.joystiq.com, about playing furry characters in MMOs.

As of 2 night's past me and the mate both have a month to find a job or some kind of income to pay the electric and internet. If we can not do so by the end of the month of August We both will be out on the streets. The reason for this is the roomie Zer is going back on his promise that no matter what and I do me no matter what he would not kick us out.

So I really really need these Coloring commissions. The mate has promised to do the drawings for anyone that dose not have a line out ready. the prices are still the same and can be found here at this journal. http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2573664/ my mate is very cheap but a dame good artist. Also stop paying people 5 to 10 dollars for Flat color work when you can pay me my price and get the same detailed flat color you been getting from those people charging 5 to 10 dollars.

So so Please PLEASE if you got Line art and would like it colored Commission me PLEASE. We really need the money to keep a roof over your heads.

Also my mates commission rates can be found here. http://www.furaffinity.net/user/itahallo

A jab at furries in last Saturday's comic.

Space a Canadian cable channel is doing an episode on furries in their new series Fanboy Confessional

http://www.spacecast.com/fanboyconfessional.aspx

also credit to Green Reaper and Flayrah for the story
http://www.flayrah.com/3592/furries-get-limelight-canadian-cable-network

Animal lovers animated characters celebrating in the U.S. city- Pittsburgh / Pennsylvania - Reuters

Gathered thousands of animal lovers of the famous characters in animated films in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to participate in the annual opening of their exhibition, which is known as (Ontherokon) (Anthrocon) and some of them wore a fashion favorite personalities.

The organizers of this exhibition, which opened on Friday, it includes works of art and sell Comics, dances and lessons in the art of moving the brides and discussions about the art of storytelling using the sounds.

And rode many of the pioneers of the exhibition Veola for themselves, and others wore full fashion favorite animal personalities that appear in the animation has been specifically designed them dress up the cost per thousands of dollars.

The Carl Georjensen one of the pioneers of the show, wearing the uniforms of the fur of the animal characters is rooted in his love of the old Looney Tunes characters famous, "I am interested in animation and fun, not one of us likes to watch cartoons?"

Said John Cole, one of the organizers, said he expected that this year's exhibition attracted nearly five thousand people, this will be the largest gathering of lovers of animal characters in animation since the start of the exhibition 14 years ago in Albany, New York.

http://www.ocweekly.com/slideshow/califur-2011-a-furry-convention-33476341/

"On June 3-5, 2011, furries from all over congregated at the Irvine Marriott for CaliFur 2011. Guest of honor? Touch My Badger. Click here to learn more about furries. All images by Christopher Victorio."



I'm wondering why this club doesn't use the memories and tags feature. If we tagged every post by convention we could easily see what stories had already been posted and thus avoid double posting stuff.
Idk, it seems a much nicer idea to me then no tagging at all.
http://fursuitreviews.livejournal.com/profile is a good example of how tagging and post memories can make it really easy to find what you want.

http://mscottbrauer.photoshelter.com/gallery/Furries/G0000_vd8MkiSXmA



> Furries are a group of people who identify themselves, to varying degrees, as anthropomorphic animals instead of as humans. Mainstream coverage of their culture has characterized the community poorly, and as such the furry fandom, as it's called, has been reticent to go on the record in recent years. For many furries, the culture is an inherently sexual one, but for others, being a furry isn't about sexual expression at all. Furries find outlet for the identity by working as masoctos or children's entertainers or by making fursuits for others. Furriness is as much about performance as it is about the self. By the very nature of fursuiting--that is, of dressing up as walking, talking animals--the fandom is not taken seriously. The pictures in this series take an objective look at the lives of a small number of furries in New England, examining the community and individuals at a personal level.

Tearsheet: Furries in Epsilon Magazine in Greece
http://www.mscottbrauer.com/tearsheet-furries-in-epsilon-magazine-in-greece/



Tearsheet: Furries in Vision Magazine May 2010
http://www.mscottbrauer.com/tearsheet-furries-in-vision-magazine-may-2010/

http://y108.radio.com/2011/06/26/feast-your-eyes-on-the-furries/

Thousands of costumed characters migrated to Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence convention center for the (6th annual) Anthrocon 2011. Known as ‘furries’, these folks enjoy dressing as animals with human characteristics. Monty took photos, in case you’re allergic.

Stolen from RazorWulff:
http://www.961kiss.com/cc-common/gallery/photos.html?album_id=186111&p=17189504#/0/17189504


342 pictures with the radio personalities featuring AC attendees... I'm sure a lot of you will see yourselves in this gallery!!


I wasn't there, but maybe you were?
-J

Howard Stern reports about AC this year.

http://www.shabooty.com/2011/06/28/howard-stern-show-interviews-attendees-at-furry-convention-anthrocon-2011-audio-pause.php

All very positive coverage this year:

• Return of the furries: Anthrocon in Pittsburgh for sixth year: They may be cute, but they also spend a lot of dough
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 24, 2011
• Furries Flood Pittsburgh
  Beaver County Times, June 26, 2011
• Pittsburgh inundated by furries -- fans of animated animals
  Reuters, June 24, 2011

Warning NSFW !!

http://www.celebritytwitternames.com/twitter-celebrity-official-certified/joerogan-hundreds-of-people-dressing-like-cartoon-animals-and-shitting-in-litter-boxes-they-speak-in-grunts-and-fuck-with-their-suits-on/


With all due respect*, Joe: fuck you.

http://www.anthrocon.org/node/7052/joe-rogan-town-making-some-rather-uninformed-statements





*Which is to say, none.