Furries In The Media

http://citypaper.net/article.php?A-new-regular-dance-night-aims-to-give-Philly-s-furry-community-a-place-to-get-together-and-get-down-21116

Quick: What pops into your head when somebody says “furries?”

Chances are it’s one of two things:

A) “Who? I don’t even know what that is.”

B) Some kind of scene involving people dressed in large, fuzzy animal costumes and doing things that, on the NSFW meter, range from kinda-sorta to very-very. It’s an image often followed by groans, chuckles or cheap jokes from people who are vocal about being non-furry.

For those who said A: “Furries,” generally speaking, are people who create “fursonas” — avatars of animals with human characteristics — and express them via costumes (called fur suits), art, fiction and/or role play. Dogs, wolves, foxes, bears and horses are among popular fursonas, often affixed with creative twists and personal touches. That said, a fursona is not a requirement: One can simply be a fan of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic artwork. Furry has no strict guidelines and is designed to be an inclusive and widespread community, encouraging imagination and creativity. Furries meet online and at conventions, including the annual Anthrocon in Pittsburgh which drew more than 5,000 attendees in July.

For those who said B: Furry is not mainly a sex thing. This stigma, that it’s merely a sexual fetish, has been partly responsible for the community’s difficulty gaining acceptance from the world at large.

Just ask Damon Stango, a furry and the producer of Unleashed — which he says is Philadelphia’s first bimonthly furry dance party. “That’s always the big one,” he says, chuckling, when asked about common misconceptions regarding the furry fandom. “I think what attracts people to furry has nothing to do with sex.”

For some, there is a sexual side, he says, but it can be chalked up to the Internet’s unofficial Rule 34 to fandom: If it exists, then there’s a sexual component to it.

“The fandom is definitely not sex-based,” he stresses. “It is definitely attractive to people who didn’t quite fit in, maybe in their younger years. I know personally: That’s how I felt,” Stango says. He discovered the fandom as a high school senior after researching The Lion King on the Internet. Similar to Star Trek, Doctor Who or various anime fandoms, the furry demographic is one that has no qualms with being labeled as nerdy. “I think it attracts what would be your stereotypical nerd or geek. It’s definitely for folks who have a vivid imagination.”

The fur suit, a visual key that many associate with the fandom, is not even that common within the community, according to Stango — a decent fur suit generally costs close to $1,000 — but can be a tool for the more introverted participants.

“[The fur suit] is a way to bring your character to life,” he says. “It’s a means of self-expression. I’m a big believer that the mask is a means to unveiling the person underneath.

“This population is pretty introverted. That fur suit can enable someone to express more extroverted personality traits that they always wanted to express but didn’t quite have the nerve to … before.”

Stango organized the first Unleashed in May as an easy way for Philly furries to gather and network in real life, especially if they can’t make it to Pittsburgh or Irvine, Calif., for the conventions. After two successful one-offs, Unleashed will begin in earnest as a regular event at Center City nightclub Tabu next Friday.

“It’s pretty much just a giant dance party,” Stango says. “We bring in performers, so we have people from the drag community, the burlesque community, people who want to show off their talents. We also have our DJs.” Missing from his description is the heavy petting, sexual deviance trope. These furries aren’t looking for that kind of a good time. They just want to dance.

A therapist by trade, Stango recognizes the value of alternative expression. A regular event like Unleashed can be vital for a local furry community, he says, just as any forum and source of socializing can be for a fringe group that is often misrepresented and taken for a joke. For a subculture that lives primarily on the Internet, Unleashed could mean a lot.

“My main goal would be to provide a forum for expression for folks who may not be able to travel all the way to conventions,” he says. “I just want Unleashed to be a gathering place.”

Unleashed featuring performances by PocketCub and Brenda Banks, Fri., Sept. 19, 9 p.m., $12-$15, Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar, 200 S. 12th St., 215-964-9675, tabuphilly.com.

If anyone knows any more about this I'd be very happy. 16 minutes is a lot of material and I'd love to know what they were saying if someone could add captions or knows if it's already been translated! I ask because I can't find an accompanying article to post it with.

http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/kostuem/furry-convention-37342900.bild.html

Berlin-Neukölln - Do not be surprised if you encounter strange creatures on the street in Berlin-Neukölln in animal costumes.

In the Estrel hotel namely the 20th Eurofurence is currently underway - a meeting of around 2,000 adult people from all over the world who wear costumes and (English: furry) are "furries" call. In their parades through the city, they are even protected by the police.

Enlarge Three participants in the "Furry Convention" posing in her faux fur costumes
Photo: Georg Moritz

"We are here to present the love of the romantic notion of our favorite animal," says participant Tioh (39), computer scientists from Bonn.

In Internet forums Furries are as anthropomorphic representations of animals - that is, representations of animals with human characteristics - referred to. Often called Reason: "It's great to feel the fur on the bare skin."

Almost all professional groups are represented on the Eurofurence, a community that has started in the 90s in an online community. The first meeting in real life was exactly 15 years ago, then with 112 participants in a youth village on Müggelsee.

Until Sunday, the furry critters remain in the capital. They run in a parade through Neukölln, attend workshops, drama, dance in the disco or exchange ideas simple - their little inclined to love animal costumes.

  Whether this is Costumed flown in from Hawaii, his secret remains
           Photo: Georg Moritz

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/furry-konferenz-in-berlin-die-fell-fanatiker-uebernehmen-neukoelln/10365084.html

Eurofurence: Search in Estrel Hotel in Neukölln more than 2,000 "furry" until Sunday the animal in man - with beautifully designed costumes and much ideology.

Here speaks the fox. And only the fox. Marko he is, rotfellig, as it should be, and sitting on hand of Markus Nowak. The tinkered him, no customization, the computer scientist, typical Mitdreißiger, light brown hair, glasses with yellow lenses Hochdioptrie, CSI-Miami-vest, has bought extra for a 3-D printer, it has more than 1000 euros for paid. That tells Markus Nowak not even no it all says Marko, the fox on his hand.

Who comes by these days at Hotel Estrel at the Neukölln Sun Alley, could meet some wondrous forms. At the entrance of the tiger asks the rabbit after fire, but speaks only French, then they smoke in an intimate circle.

Berlin's largest bed castle transformed into Europe's largest human zoo. "The hotel was already jam-packed," says Michael Graf, 29, of Winterthur in Switzerland. He is one of the organizers of the Eurofurence, one of the largest meeting places for the 2000 "furries" who sit in Neukölln since Thursday.

"Most of us have proper alter egos than animals"

They are characterized hybrids of humans and animals, running around in giant fur costumes and communicate with sign language. A like-minded people meeting, convention they say in business terms. This is about "Furry fandom" to German as: fur being a fan. So it is somehow to people's love for fur, for the Animal and human. As so often in the range of marginal Partikularkulturen it is difficult for outsiders to find a common term. The best is probably that of "anthropomorphic animal", the upright walking, human sentient and often talking animal. "Most of us have proper alter egos as the animals from which they are attracted," says Michael Graf. He was, for example, a Lynx, says the trained high school teacher. "Lynx are like cats elegant, curious and a bit lazy. This suits me. "

The Eurofurence in the Estrel hotel is still to Sunday unite all those who share this love of the animal people or human animals. Which can be design as a comic or manga and build as models or dolls. Whom is not beastly enough that the slips in a fursuit, a fur suit. Such suits are the Furry fans showpiece, they are often designed and tailor made for years and cost several thousand euros.

Furry fans from more than 40 countries have come

Markus Nowak takes out his smartphone from his pocket, showing photos, as he was traveling as a cat in America, as hare in Kassel. Later, they both wanted to participate in Paradenzug where costumes through the hotel all pull Fuchs explains Marko. In the previous year, in Magdeburg, one is drawn through the city, says Michael Graf, but the Estrel was too far off the beaten path.

Much ideology blows on Thursday through the hotel. Many want the artistic animal found in humans. For some it's about shamanistic philosophies or animal fetishes. Costume Bauer, puppeteer, artist and musicians from around the world were invited to Berlin to exchange ideas and present their works of art. Moreover there should be plenty of workshops and lectures. Furry fans from more than forty countries have also arrived to meet their idols. Ursula Vernon is an idol and already arrived in Berlin as guest of honor. The 37-year-old American is one of the main authors of the Furry scene. From her mind are about the "Dragon Breath" novels.

1999 found the Eurofurence way, ever held in Berlin. At that time, the Friends of the Fells Lake Müggel met in the youth village, there were only a hundred. Meanwhile, the number of participants has nearly twenty-fold.

So completely public, the Convention is not opposed. The organizers point out that the whole place with the invited visitors from the Furry community was fully booked and were, no one could fit. However, if you happen to pass stroll at the Estrel, could certainly take a look at the great fur costumes.

The Eurofurence at the Estrel Hotel, Sun Allee 225, Neukölln, until Sunday around the clock program. More info at: www.eurofurence.org

http://www.bild.de/regional/ruhrgebiet/bungee-jumping/vorlage-news-36801278.bild.html


From KATJA Derstroff

Duisburg - Yikes, who dangles because there upside down on rubber rope? The purple-blue pompom-Wolf called "Keenora" is a "Furry".

Enlarge Wrapped look at the animals in the sky
Photo: Schejok, Stefan

Conceived has the fantasy figure IT specialist Nicolas (28) from roadstead. On Sunday, he met with The teddy bear "Furries" from all over Europe in Duisburg on the race course for bungee jumping.

From 60 meters up the grumpy Velcro fans rushed down into the depths. For fun and excitement is writ large in the "Furries" Nicolas. "I sit at the computer all week at the weekend then I slip into 'Keenora' costume.."

Enlarge DC go into the depth
Photo: Schejok, Stefan

That he can be manufactured from a Furry fan from Canada, paid around 2500 euros for it. "The fur must eventually endure quite something," smiles Nicolas.

As the first Furry he dared to bungee jump years ago. In 2013 he threw himself even in James Bond-style daring on rubber rope 220 ??meters from the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland. The Web programmer with a smile: "Keenora's just a really cool guy!"

http://www.bild.de/lifestyle/2014/fetischismus/fetisch-fell-37356884.bild.html
This is bizarre even for Berlin: Screaming Colorful critters like a comic planets populate the streets, hop, dance, jump, cuddle!

They are followers of the "Furry" movement. The Furries attract each other fanciful animal costumes, made ??the most of themselves. The summit of the Furries, the "Eurofurence", rises to Sunday at the Estrel in Berlin-Neukölln - the largest hotel in the capital is fully booked, has been completely transformed into an animal farm. There are workshops, parties, competitions, a parade.

Enlarge Fluffy group picture in front of the Berlin Estrel Hotel. Animal Protective paint bomb throwers need not aufzukreuzen: All skins are artificial and anyway colorful
Photo: AFP

"It's a great fun to distract from everyday life," says Arco (23), car mechanic from Recklinghausen, for BZ He is one of around 2,000 participants from around the world.

What's behind the Furries?

? The movement emerged in the 90s on the Internet.

? The first convention took place in 1995 at the Schleswig Holstein North Sea coast, after 1999 it is now for the first time in Berlin.

? Inspired are the Furries of the figures in underground comics, but also of American sports mascot.

Trend Furry

• Ruhr

Bungee Jumping In cuddly costume in the depth

On Sunday, he met with The teddy bear "Furries" from all over Europe in Duisburg on the race course for bungee jumping more ...

? The panels provide no animals in the strict sense is, but anthropomorphic, ie Beastmen.

? Furries not speak. They communicate with quirky gestures.

? Furries are herd animals. Never go alone on the road.

Enlarge Foxes live so long time back in town. But now wolves. And bears. And lions
Photo: Imago

? A Furry has a "spotter" (helper) or "lackeys" to himself, who makes the disguised assistance. And it possibly also protects: In their intricate costumes that Furries are neither defensive nor quickly and often victims of a bad joke adolescent groups. Particular problem: Furries are highly flammable. Even dogs can react unpredictably.

? For Spotter there are many guides on the internet that make it clear: The job is important and serious to take.

? A Furry with class never takes his head off in public.

Enlarge Furries snuggle. Sex is not about
Photo: Imago

? There are also motivated sexual furries. For most, however, sex is not an issue.

? Many create their own Facebook profiles for her furry alter-ego.

? Furries can not like to be confused with characters who have their photos taken at tourist attractions for tourists with money - or with advertising figures, distribute the flyers. Furry Costumes are usually much more elaborate and oblique.

Enlarge The animals are cute, but not very well-fortified. Please do not douse fire with beer or
Photo: AFP

? In Disneyland Furries only have access to halloween. One fears well that they make Mickey Mouse & Co competition.

? glad the animals are seen in contrast hipster clubs. In the legendary Berlin "Bar 25", they appeared regularly as well in the international party series "Horse Meat Disco".

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/26/furry-convention-pictures_n_5714623.html

Blue cats, pink foxes, psychedelic wolves and bikini-wearing bears amassed in Berlin this weekend for Europe's biggest furry convention.

To celebrate their love of anthropomorphic animals, thousands of furry fanatics checked into a Berlin hotel, making it Europe's largest human zoo.

Enjoying a weekend honouring all things fuzzy, Furries attended workshops for sewing and furry literature, concerts and shows - all under a wild theme, "CSI Berlin."

Furry fandom, a term used as early as 1983 and also known as furrydom, furridom, fur fandom or furdom, refers to a subculture whose followers express an interest in anthropomorphic, or half-human, half-animal, creatures in literature, cartoons, pop culture, or other artistic contexts.

The earliest citation of anthropomorphic literature regularly cited by furry fans is Aesop's Fables, dating to around 500 BC.

Now, many but not all of the followers of the movement wear furry animal costumes.

Arco, 23, car mechanic from Recklinghausen, told BZ Berlin how he paid 2,500 euros for his homemade wolf costume made of synthetic fur.

"It was worth it to me. It's great fun to distract from everyday life," he said.

• A Furry enthusiast flaunts her curves Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Having a quick cuddle Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  A Saber-tooth moose lion? Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Furry enthusiasts attend the Eurofurence 2014 conference Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Furry fans snuggle up on the sofa Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  2000 Furries met up at the Estrel Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Two furries share a snack Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  More hugs Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Furry fandom is also known as furrydom, furridom, fur fandom or furdom Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  A Furry enthusiast collects money for charity Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Furry enthusiasts greet one another Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Eurofurence 2014 Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Adam Berry via Getty Images


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  Adam Berry via Getty Images

A world in which animals roam the streets on two legs and share a good laugh over cocktails with their buds after work — this is the life of a furry.

Berlin's Estrel Hotel became a playground for nearly 2000 self-identifying furries from August 20 to 24 for the 20th annual Eurofurence, the largest furry convention outside of the United States and the longest running convention of its type in the world.

Furry fandom, a term used since 1983 refers to a subculture whose followers express an interest in anthropomorphic, or half-human, half-animal, creatures in literature, cartoons, pop culture, or other artistic contexts.

This year's events included special "guests of honor" including Ursula Vernon, author and illustrator of the graphic novel Digger; Kyell Gold, author of gay furry erotica including The Prisoner's Release; and Sardyuon, a furry juggler and acrobat.

As a yearly tradition, Eurofurence also orchestrated a charity auction, asking participants to donate artwork and rare items. This year's proceeds went to Stiftung Fledermaus, a German foundation that aims to protect bats from extinction through research and public engagement.

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  Police officers halt traffic as delegates to the Eurofurence, "Europe's biggest furry convention" arrive at the conference hotel in Berlin.

  Image: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images


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  Eurofurence's organizers describe attendees as "a collection of artists, animators, writers, costumers, puppeteers, and just everyday fans who enjoy cartoon animals and their kind."

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  Furries greet one another at the conference. The earliest citation of anthropomorphic literature regularly cited by furry fans is Aesop's Fables, dating to around 500 BC.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  A Furry enthusiast attends the Eurofurence 2014 conference. Many but not all of the followers of the movement wear furry animal costumes.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  Delegates to the Eurofurence, "Europe's biggest furry convention" pose for a picture in front of the conference hotel in Berlin.

  Image: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images


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  Some furry enthusiasts take a more casual approach to cosplay. The anthronthropomorphic character created by fans is known as a fursona.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  A furry enthusiast collects money for charity during the Eurofurence 2014 conference. This year's proceeds went to Stiftung Fledermaus, which helps protect the bat population.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  Furry enthusiasts take a break between events at the conference. Attendees enjoy a weekend of workshops, panel discussions, art exhibitions, dances, parties and more.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  A furry enthusiast holds a camera while attending the conference. Furry fandom is also known as furrydom, furridom, fur fandom or furdom.

  Image: Adam Berry/Getty Images


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  Furry enthusiasts take a break at the Eurofurence 2014 conference.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2734854/Cats-wearing-stockings-bears-satin-corsets-2-000-adults-dress-sexualised-cuddly-toys-bizarre-festival.html


Everyone loves a sh*t show. But that's what Daily Mail is all about...

Grown adults dressed as sexualised cuddly toys met at a gathering for ‘furries’ in Germany at Eurofurence, Europe’s largest furry fandom convention.

Cats in tutus and stockings, bears in cleavage baring tops and a creature in a satin corset were some of the 2,000 people who attended the convention in Berlin for fans of animals with anthropomorphic qualities.

The 20th anniversary of Euroference saw adults cuddling up in their figure-hugging outfits – which can cost as much as £5,000.

But Liza, a 29-year-old graphic designer based in Brighton, denied the convention was a sex party for people with a furry toy fetish.

She told the Independent: ‘We’re sick to death of reading that furry conventions are all about sex.’

Fans claim that adopting ‘fursonas’ to engage in animal roleplay by touching, petting, hugging and stroking each other is just harmless fun.

Anthrozoologist and social psychologist Kathy Gerbasi, who studies the furry phenomenon and has a fur suit herself, agreed there was a sexual aspect.

She said: ‘There is a sexual element for some people but I don’t think that applies to the majority.’

Ms Gerbasi, 65, argues that most people are interested in animals from a young age. She said: ‘We grow up with teddy bears, stories and pets. But furries take this interest in animals further.’

Some take it so far – that they actually believe they are part animal.

She said: ‘For most furries it’s just a fun hobby, but for others it’s an alter ego. Some think they’ve been reincarnated as an animal.’

New Yorker Ms Gerbasi, who is married to a pediatrician and has three children, got hooked on furry fandom nine years ago after coming across the underground movement on the internet.

She began studying the craze and ended up buying a dog costume based on her pet basset-springer spaniel for £180, which she wears every year to a festival called Anthrocon.

She said: ‘Most people spend around £5,000 on their costumes but I opted for a cheaper one and decided to make the body myself.

‘The first time I wore it to a furry convention I was nervous, but after a while I relaxed and it was so much fun.

‘My husband and children think it’s ridiculous but they let me get on with it.

‘The only thing is that it gets very hot in the outfit.’

But Ms Gerbasi does not wear her outfit in public. She said: ‘I’ve toyed with the idea of wearing it out but I was worried I would scare the cats.

'I do know some furries who go bowling in their costumes, but I think most like to wear them at conventions where they are surrounded by like-minded people.’

Conventions are held around the world and the UK scene is reported to be very active, though there are no reunions currently held on the scale of Euroference.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/furrie-invasion-2000-fans-attended-eurofeurence-in-berlin-to-celebrate-their-love-of-anthropomorphic-animals-9689926.html


Furry fandom is a surprisingly little-known subculture, but where it is known, the idea persists that it’s all about sexThis weekend 2000 self-proclaimed ‘furries’ - fans of anthropomorphic animals in cartoons, anime movies, literature and computer games - checked into a conference hotel in Berlin for Eurofurence, Europe’s largest furry fandom convention.

In addition to workshops, art exhibitions and live performances (including a ‘Pawpet show’) , the event centred around the ‘Fursuit Parade’, some strutting their stuff in sports-mascot-style onesies rented just for the occasion, others displaying £5000 bespoke creations incorporating animatronics, lovingly rendered to represent a fully-fledged ‘fursona’ honed over years of furry fandom.

Not all Furries are into dressing up (whereas some occupy the middle ground of a fox-face-mask and bushy tail over jeans) but for committed fursuiters, this was their chance to go wild, and on Sunday night, the beer garden of the Estrel Hotel was crammed with dancing foxes, lions, wolves, tigers and cats, waving their paws in the air like they just don’t care.

For many furries, the 2014 Eurofurence (celebrating its 20th anniversary this year) felt like a watershed moment; after years of being maligned and misunderstood, the response in the media was largely positive.

There were no muckraking reports in the press billing the festival as a sex party, and when the police showed up, it was only to examine and admire the prop patrol car created by organisers in keeping with the festival’s ‘Crime Scene’ theme. (Previous themes have included ‘Aloha Hawaii’ and ‘Kung Fur Hustle’.) Reception staff at the Estrel Hotel gamely accessorised their crisp work uniforms with cheetah-ears and giraffe-patterned fuzzy bow-ties.

The cultural historian Fred Patten, who has written extensively about anime, fantasy and science fiction subcultures, dates Furry Fandom back to a Bostonian science fiction convention in 1980, where a discussion group about intelligent animals in literature, TV, periodicals and film spawned semi-regular informal gatherings at further conventions.

By 1983, the term ‘furry fandom’ was being used in fanzines, denoting ‘the organised appreciation and dissemination of art and prose regarding ‘Furries’, or fictional mammalian anthropomorphic characters’ - although many fans consider the origins to be much earlier, dating back to Osamu Tezuka’s 1950s series ‘Kimba, the White Lion’, Richard Adam’s 1972 novel Watership Down, and even George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Furry fandom is a surprisingly little-known subculture, but where it is known, the idea persists that it’s all about sex - kinky sex between socially inept oddballs who only fancy cartoon foxes, to be precise.

Even the most active furries - including Eurofurence’s organisers - conceal their true identities behind anamorphic avatars and pseudonyms like @BigBlueFox and @Cheetah_Spotty - but insist they are proud of their furry status, simply mindful of public prejudice.

“If you think we’re secretive and suspicious, it’s only because we’re sick to death of reading that furry conventions are all about sex,” says Liza, a 29-year-old graphic designer and furry artist based in Brighton. In a recent survey, only 37% of furry respondents claimed that sexual interest is important to their furry activities. For the majority, it’s about a shared cultural obsession, an online community and a burgeoning artistic genre.

“There are some seriously talented a artists out there, creating beautiful charcoal illustrations of furry characters, computer-generated montages, or incredibly detailed funny cartoons,” says Leo, a 38-year-old programmer from Glasgow.

“Linking all furries to fetishism is like saying all Japanese animation fans are Kigurumi (masked cosplay) fetishists, or that the Trekkie phenomenon only happened because everyone wanted to shag Mr. Spock,” says Liza.

“It’s extremely insulting - but thankfully people are starting to wake up to the fact that furry fandom is a cultural phenomenon rather than a sexual peccadillo.”

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.berliner-zeitung.de%2Fberlin%2Feurofurence-convention-in-berlin-2000-furries-treffen-sich-im-estrel%2C10809148%2C28186310.html&edit-text=&act=url&authuser=0

They wear homemade animal costumes and also move like their favorite animal. Furries hot these disguised legged stuffed animals. 2,000 of them currently meet in Neukölln Estrel Hotel for Eurofurence Convention.

Predators, foxes, wolves, tigers, and here and there an idiosyncratic mythical creatures, the main thing a lot of fur and fur. In the Estrel Hotel on Thursday afternoon it looks like on a costume party on the subject of animals. Hundreds of people lounging in colorful fur clothes at the entrance and in the lobby, they pose, hug and take pictures of themselves. Some wear even a stuffed animal under his arm.

You are Furries. Thus, the global movement usually called young people who like to dress up themselves because of their love for animals as animals and spend their leisure time in the self-made fur dress or like to draw animals and cartoons and make costumes. To Eurofurence convention, Europe's largest meeting of its kind, more than 2,000 furries from thirty countries in Berlin are the same arrived, also from Japan, Brazil, Russia and Norway. For the first time the global meeting place here, in front of the community met in Magdeburg.

Spend about 500 euros for the Furries in the coming days at the Estrel and experience there is a full program, modeled on the American crime series, CSI Berlin under the motto is. A molecular biologist talks about securing DNA evidence, animal lovers donate to a bat project in Erfurt. There are workshops for sewing their own costumes, shows, concerts and dance competitions. 300 Artists occur. Also a flirt and Introductory Course will be offered. Because even Furries can be shy. And prefer to stay anonymous.Fixed rules and roles they have not. "Everyone shall determine for itself what a Furry he wants to be," says Michael Graf, one of the organizers. And everyone Furry associate with a particular animal also special properties, says Earl. Think of the cunning fox, the lone wolf and a cat that moves elegantly. These movements can take on in his role. "And then you can dive into his fantasy world."

In this world, a woman who calls herself Tshania moves. She is wearing a large cat's head made of white faux fur. The big cats eyes are so realistic design that makes you feel observed. Tshania is 27 years old, comes from Hesse and works as a Women's Clothing Tailor. She is for the first time at a Furry meeting. "I think it's great that everyone is so open and loving each other," she says. She was even more introverted.

In fact, the scene is like at the Estrel a big cuddle party. Hugs, kisses, Streicheleien. The Eurofurence Convention is a gathering of two-legged stuffed animals. You can see happy faces when they are not hiding under an animal mask. Tshania says, her costume did she dedicated her dead cat, with whom she has lived for nineteen years. Seventeen animal costumes has now made Tshania. "I'm having fun in dressing up," she says, "but I'm also like a man."

There are circulating so strange stories about the estimated 8,000 Furries in Germany. Some would spend whole weekends in costume, literally live out a fetish. One is reminded of the movie "Finster World", in which the policeman Tom, played by Ronald Zehrfeld, in pink bear costume with other furries meet in a secluded hall. A police officer in a bear costume. Funny.

"Some people react funny and find what we do, unnatural," says a man who Quack, the Husky is called. Therefore, he wants to tell anything definite about his private life. Only so much: he was twenty years old, working in Hamburg in the environmental and love dogs. Quack should be a naughty dog, with thick, strong legs that can also dance well.

Then Quack takes off his thick dog's head and stroking the sweaty hair to the side. A pleasant young man comes to light, open and confident. "My parents are surfing when they were young," he says. "And I wear for fun sometimes just a dog costume."

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morgenpost.de%2Fberlin%2Farticle131520099%2FDie-Furries-machen-Berlin-zum-Spielplatz-der-Kuscheltiere.html&edit-text=&act=url


His real name is Thorsten. But here he is Coltlan. Like most he has passed his real identity at the door. Thorsten is shy, has few friends, is unsociable. Coltlan however, is communicative, smiles to all, accessible. Trustful, one would have to say, because Coltlan is a Husky in human size. In it, Thorsten infected, but this is not important here at all, how and what he wants to be. A 1.80-meter-tall Stuffed Husky on two legs is not something that would be more than 2000 people who have come together in Neukölln "Estrel Hotel" at the Sun Avenue to "Eurofurence" irritate.

Since Wednesday, the lobby of larger than life foxes, cats, wolves and dogs is dominated in all colors. They stand in groups together, entertain and embrace, and there's a communal atmosphere. For the 20th time, Europe's largest gathering of supporters of the so-called Furry genre is already taking place, and it still serves to Sunday all the lovers "anthropomorphic animal beings or animals with human attributes," as co-organizer Jörg Reuter describes it, to also times personally acquainted. Because the exchange is normally run via social media.

"Furries are people in animal costume," said Reuter. However, the term also describes the whole community, which since its creation in the 80s defined by an interest in fantasy animals in text, sound and image. About half of the Furries is German, the rest comes from all over the world. "We have Americans, Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians, who easily together eating breakfast and talking about art," Reuter describes enthusiastically. "This fascinates me as the love of the Beasts brings together the people." As a harmonious family gatherings be it here, the Furries he actually looks as an artist community. There are graphic designers and illustrators, but also bakers, merchants, and IT specialists who meet here.

Seminars, stories, Party

At the convention the Furries do together what they normally do at home alone, here in the form of lectures, workshops and seminars. One can learn to sew a costume to move in costume to draw characters and stories devise around them. And with all learning very important: Party! The Furries are nocturnal, and the evening is the life really begins. "It's surreal at first, when a bunch of people moving in the fur to techno, but it's just great," says Reuter. That here just a few freaks dress up as their favorite stuffed animals, he finds "unacceptable escalation". There were quite a few that would identify "very" with their figure. "But for all, it is of course the ultimate running around in a costume," he says. And also a real challenge.

This proves impressively a green fox on the way downstairs to the toilet, curved like a sickle, because only a vertical view of the stages saved him from falling down. "You have to imagine that, like looking through two toilet paper rolls," Kathi aka Sinea describes the still running around in civilian clothes, their view of the fur. "The eye slits are small and you really have to watch out that you can not be dropped." Then they must take as furry supervisor. It leads the Furries through the area, ensures that they drink enough and admits chairs out of the way. For Werefox, a relatively natural, red-brown giant fox, which is very important. He is deaf and dumb and is only dependent on these slits in his senses. But he was with heart and soul into it, for three years, he signaled with his big paws.

When people barely friends

Werefox enjoy the freedom to be here, who he wants, translated Sinea. "There is a tolerant atmosphere, which is why we also have a large proportion of gay and bisexual men here." The ladies share the other hand, is about ten percent, and Sinea know why women of such meetings away sooner. "In costume, people feel free," she says. And some female furries were the cuddle ambitions of their male counterparts just too far. So the men thus remain largely among themselves, and Thorsten aka Coltlan enjoys the sense of community.

"As a person I had previously barely friends," he says. "Through a TV report I have become aware of the Furries and got me in March at Furbase, an Internet platform account." Since then he meets, the gardener is during the week, on weekends with other furries and running in costume through the city. "I trust in my costume much more, can better reach out to people and have more confidence." He enjoyed the attention of the people, especially the happy children when they see the huge stuffed animal. The question of his true identity, he can not answer clearly. "I am a human being. And a passionate Husky."

© Berliner Morgenpost 2014

Random articles and movies about AC 2014 that are too small to deserve an entry of their own!!!

ABC 6


Norwich Late and Live #3
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Uhhh, I have no idea <_<


WTAE-TV Pittsburgh

The very real role that fantasy plays in our everyday livesBy Leah Sottile
http://www.inlander.com/spokane/imaginary-friends/Content?oid=2339157

Furries at Spokane’s First Night

NOTE: this is a very long article about many different fandoms and subcultures, thus I'veonly included the part about the furry fandom, feel free to visit the OP link to read the full article

It doesn't matter who this man really is. In this world, no one cares that he's a 31-year-old business owner who lives in North Idaho. What matters is who he wants to be.

Who he wants to be is Quip — a mostly white York Chocolate cat with a striped tail.

Quip likes to hide underneath desks and sneak inside cabinets when they're open. Occasionally, he'll nap in the afternoon sun on the top of a late-model sedan parked in the driveway. He likes stuffed animals and jumping on the counter.

Sitting at a downtown Spokane coffeehouse, Quip explains that he's a lot more than just a man sitting here. That this animal side is him, too — a part of his personality he has nurtured for decades as a member of the "furry fandom," a worldwide subculture devoted to animal characters with human traits. For some, being furry means enjoying books, cartoons or films starring talking animals — say, Watership Down or The Muppets. For others, it means adopting an animal personality, or a "fursona," like Quip. And for others, it means spending thousands of dollars to create a custom "fursuit" to wear at conventions and furry meetups.

Quip, who spoke on the condition his real name wasn't printed, is this man's fursona. Being Quip is his escape.

"My fursona — it's like a person's counterpart — is a cat. Others identify themselves as a wolf," he says. "We even have people who identify themselves as dragons, lizards — we call them scalies. There's no fur, but we still love them too."

Escapism is nothing new to the human experience. Ask the guy who drops his paycheck on Zags season tickets, or the people waiting in line for a movie on a Friday night. Ask comic book fans, artists, musicians, gamers, woodworkers, distance runners, Civil War re-enactors, avid fans of Game of Thrones. Odds are they'll all tell you they're just looking for a vacation from the norm, a few minutes when they can forget the bills to pay, the obligations to meet, the 9-to-5, the problems they don't want to address.

"When we fantasize, we experience the same emotions we would feel if we were in reality. Think of the fear you feel with a nightmare. Happy fantasies make us feel good," says Norman Holland, author of Literature and the Brain and a researcher of psychoanalytic psychology. "All work and no fantasy makes Jack pretty gloomy. We all should have some space for fantasy in our lives. Fantasies — escapism — give our emotions a workout. That's why the imaginative arts are good for you."

But even today, when there are arguably more outlets for people to escape their everyday lives than ever before in our history, some fantasy cultures still raise eyebrows. Some people feel they are social pariahs because of how they choose to escape. Some say they have keep their fantasy lives secret.

Like Quip. He says to him, being a furry is just a casual hobby. But he knows that's hard to understand — so his family and friends, and especially his clients, have no idea that he's a part-time cat.

"You know, you're a professional," he says. "What would happen if tomorrow you dressed up like a half-nude panda bear and started playing fetch with all the vases in the office?"

People aren't that open-minded, he says.

"I do much the same thing [as anyone else]," he says. "I just go home, I make myself a nice little salad, I catch up on email, and then I put on a dog collar and go to sleep."

Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, has made a career out of studying escapism. He writes about geek culture for the New York Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post and has appeared as an expert on escapist cultures on PBS, the Discovery Channel and BBC. He points to what he sees as one of the modern-day origins of fantasy-escapist culture: Dungeons & Dragons, a game that remains wildly popular today.

"Dungeons & Dragons, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, was ... one of the few 'games in town' for immersive fantasy escapism when it first came on the market in 1974," he says. "Back then, a game like D&D was cutting edge. Today, its tools — dice, maps, rules books — seem rather rudimentary compared with the sophisticated toys and diversions we have today."

But as technology has evolved, Gilsdorf says fantasy has become a part of day-to-day life. It's in the CGI movie effects that make movie monsters larger than we could have ever imagined. It's in the immersive digital communities and social media that have become as integral to our lives as going to work and eating breakfast. Fantasy isn't just for geeks anymore.

In fact, fantasy escapism is a booming business. Last year the largest comic and pop culture convention, San Diego Comic-Con International, attracted more than 130,000 attendees. Tournaments of one of the world's most popular video games, Defense of the Ancients — better known as DotA — have become so massive, they're being broadcast on ESPN.

"People are attracted to fantasy lives for a variety of reasons: to escape from bad times, to get a break or respite from day-to-day life, to experience wonder and magic, to feel empowered, to be able to do something or be someone they can't be or do in real life, to feel camaraderie, fellowship and socialization," Gilsdorf says. "Ultimately, we want to feel part of something bigger than ourselves, something grander, something more epic than day-to-day life."

Even the smaller subcultures, like the furry fandom, play to that notion.

This year's Anthrocon in Pittsburgh attracted 5,861 furries from 26 countries. That's a far cry from the beginnings of the furry fandom, which sprouted out of 1970s fanzines, found an online home in 1990s chat rooms and took off with the advent of the World Wide Web.

Here in Spokane, the Inland Northwest Fur Folk group on Meetup.com boasts more than 130 members — that's everyone from actual "fursuiters" who wear animal costumes, to folks like Quip who simply have fursonas but don't dress up, to people who just like to nerd out on talking animal characters.

Ritzgaul Gryphs is another member of the group here. The 28-year-old man works at a Spokane Valley grocery store, but he won't divulge any other details about himself or use his real name — and it's not because he's ashamed. He says it's how the media has portrayed the furry fandom as an a animal-costuming-wearing sex group of sorts that keeps him anonymous. He says that's not what the the majority of the fandom is about.

And yeah, sure, he says some furries do like to have sex while dressed up as foxes and wolves. But not all of them. And it's certainly not exclusive to fursuiters.

"There's no denying things like that go on," he says. "There's no denying that at Trekkie conventions there's going to be Klingon sex."

Ritzgaul says he's been a furry since 1998, but he's never assumed a fursona. He's a human. "I never found a furry side of me," he says, "but when you really deeply think about it, humans are animals too."

But he's just as much a part of the fandom as people who wear costumes. When Ritzgaul thinks about his attraction to the furry fandom, he thinks about being an 8-year-old kid watching afternoon cartoons. His still remembers his first crush: a villainous wolf on the cartoon TaleSpin.

When he found the fandom as a teenager, he said it actually changed him as a person.

"It got me social. It got me out of the house more. It got me to discover myself as a person. It helped me," he says. "It pretty much saved me from boredom. It helped me become more active and discover things, learn things."

Quip, the man who identifies in the fandom as a cat, says with furries he found a group that was more accepting of who he was than anyone else he'd encountered.

"That's the interesting thing about the furry fandom, it's really an anything-goes sort of community," Quip says. "Nobody will lambaste you because you listen to this type of music as opposed to another type of music. No one will rib you because you like to watch cartoons."

So it isn't sexual for these men, but would they prefer to date someone who is a furry, too?

Quip answers that with a laugh. "If you know anyone, just..." — and he holds his hand up to his ear like a telephone.

Dated August 11, here is a blog article on the website of the Denver Westword:

http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2014/08/rocky_mountain_furcon_furries_cosplay_costumes_denver.php

It is essentially a collection of photos from last weekend's Rocky Mountain Fur Con 2014.

Article text:

You have to wonder why FurCon happens in the heat of August, because, like, thick fur everywhere? Nonetheless, the furries convened over the weekend at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, clad head-to-toe in plush costumes. Thank goodness for air-conditioning. Danielle Lirette brought back these pictures and more of FurCon's heavy-duty cosplayers; read on for some of our favorites.

A positive story from NBC about this year's Anthrocon.
True Believers: When 6,000 Furries descended on Pittsburgh, NBC News' Amna Nawaz was there to see what makes people want to dress up in full-body fursuits.


NBC's Link in better video quality: http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/lifestyle/party-animals-meet-furries-n179056

Here is an article in the US Metro:

http://www.metro.us/boston/news/local/2014/08/03/furry-fever-boston-furry-convention-sheds-light-fandom/

It covers the weekend's Maltese Fur-Con event in Boston, Massachusetts.


Nearly 200 fiction fans met up at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport over the weekend for the first local furry convention, shining a light on a mysterious and often misunderstood subculture.

So-called “furries” are interested in fictional anthropomorphic characters, and in some cases even dress as and take on the persona of the “animal-like” creatures.

“Thirty years ago when Star Trek came out, a lot of people who followed the show were ostracized for it. Now that community is really embraced by everyone. I think our community has taken the place of Trekkies in that respect,” said Fur-Con Organizer Rourke Danyals, 31, of Haverhill, who has been embracing his furry side for 18 years.

The subculture, which is said to have sprouted at a science fiction convention in 1980, has gained notoriety for its connection to sexual fetishism that involves role playing with the suits.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a part of it,” he said. “But you’ll find there are sexual aspects to communities all over the world. It’s not the defining aspect, but it is an element of the furry community … It’s a lot broader of a community than people realize.”

In fact, only about 10 percent of furries actually wear the hand-crafted suits, which can run upwards of $5,000.

Danyals, like many in his community, only dons a suit a few times per year.

Typically furries socialize online at websites like Furaffinity.net, and will sometimes attend group “meet-ups” with fellow fur-fans.

But this weekend’s convention, officially named “The Maltese Fur-Con,” let furries do more than just mingle. Attendees were offered seminars on how to properly care for their fur suits – it involves Febreze – as well as games, dancing, fur pride parades, vendors, and more.

New York City resident Rebeccah Ortiz, 23, has been rocking her yellow fox suit – named “Elbi” – for about a year.

“Usually I get a very positive reaction. I make people smile, and they say, ‘Oh what a pretty costume!’ They want to take pictures and get hugs. It’s really fun,” said Ortiz.

Convention goer Jason Miclette, 27, of Connecticut said that although his alter ego “Zenfuhre” brings him joy, his favorite aspect of the fandom is its fundraisers.

“Absolutely the amount of charity work we do draws me to this community,” said Miclette, who hopes to host his own Fur-Con in the future. “I get to dress up and make a fool of myself and make other people laugh, so that’s the happy factor for me. But the other heart-warming factor is raising money as a group. The one we’re doing [at Maltese Fur-Con] is for [service animals].”

Considering the convention’s inaugural success, the Hub might see an even larger gathering next year.

“There are a few regular furry meet-ups in the Boston-area throughout the year, but I’d love to make this convention an annual event,” said Danyals.

Here, dated July 28, is an article in The StarPhoenix, a daily newspaper that serves Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Furries+bronies+bond+Blitz/10067886/story.html

The article discusses the furries, bronies, cosplayers, and other attendees of the annual Saskatoon Blitz convention.


It's not easy being a furry.

Furries - or fur fans - are a subculture centered on animal costumes with human features. Participants dress up as human-sized dogs, cats, foxes and more. The suits can cost thousands of dollars.

Putting on a fur suit in public often draws negative attention. Media portrayals of furries have historically been unfair, and focused on a small sector of the community, according to Jessie Selinger, a prominent member of Sask Furries.

"People think we're just sexual deviants, and we're all in suits to get freaky, which is not the case at all," Selinger said.

This past weekend in Saskatoon, furries - along with bronies, cosplayers, dungeon masters and more - had a chance to let their passions out without fear of reprisal. Saskatoon Blitz, an annual convention devoted to anime and other forms of devotee culture, drew an estimated 4,000 people to Prairieland Park.

Costumes were everywhere, and ranged from mainstream comic book heroes to more obscure Japanese anime characters.

Renee Wiebe was cosplaying - the practice of dressing up as a character from pop-culture - in an elaborate red dress, inspired by an anime called Black Butler. She talked about the confidence boost that comes from congregating at such an event with like-minded people.

"It's good for self-esteem for a lot of reasons. I know people who've had bad selfesteem, or anxiety, but then you come here, you can be in a costume, and you can be with people who are into the same stuff," Wiebe said.

In the case of Selinger, the opportunity to dabble in furrydom at a previous convention became an avenue for self-realization. He had first been introduced to the idea of an animal costume when he played the mascot at a high school in the Battlefords, but he had never taken part outside of that setting.

"I think it was two years ago. It was the first time I ever dressed up in a suit. It was that point in my life where I was like, I'm a furry. This is who I am. I'm not going to deny myself," he said. Selinger was one of the leaders of a panel on furries at Blitz. They spoke about what attracts people, the breadth of the culture, and more practical things such as which materials to use when building a suit.

"The main part of fur fandom is just individuality, fellowship and being able to be yourself," he said.

The panel made a point of downplaying any connection between furries and sex, saying that media obsessed over the idea and it wasn't what the subculture is about. At the same time, Selinger pointed out that adults in any community will often couple off and have sex, and that a person's bedroom life is not anyone else's business.

Jon Leslie has also experienced stereotyping based on his interests. Leslie is not a furry, he's a brony. He was one of four people who led a panel on the subject at Blitz. About 30 people attended, with an even mix of males and females.

Bronies are a subculture of adults obsessed with the cartoon My Little Pony, and specifically the seasons released in the past three years. They obsess over small details, debate the merits of various characters, and often produce drawings, music and other creative expressions based on the show.

Bronies have turned My Little Pony's message of friendship and love into an ethos. Leslie described a brony convention where someone came to mock participants. The bronies responded by enveloping him in a five-minute-long group hug.

Similar to the furries at Blitz, the bronies relished the opportunity to get together at an event where they didn't need to worry about harassment.

"People shouldn't be afraid to express what they like. We get together, I like the same thing you like, and you're not alone," Ricky Layes, another panellist, said.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/07/04/yes-people-are-dressing-up-like-cartoon-animals-and-walking-around-pittsburgh/


While most of us are probably spending the Fourth of July soaking up the sun in light clothes or bathing suits, a few have elected to go the opposite route, encasing themselves in hot fuzzy suits and hitting the streets of Pittsburgh.

They’re known as “furries” and more than 5,000 of them have descended on Pittsburgh for the ninth annual “Anthrocon” gathering, which began Thursday and lasts until Sunday.

Furries are, essentially, people dressed as animals dressed as people.

They’re like many a sports team’s mascot, only furries don’t get paid to suit up and sweat — they do it for fun.

Event rules ban taking pictures of any costumed attendees with their masks off, and some furries seemed to be somewhat private about their hobby.

“I work for a weapons manufacturing company,” one man, identified only as “Kyle F.,” told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If my co-workers found out about what I was doing this weekend, they might take a hunting permit on me.”

The furries seem to have found a safe haven in Pittsburgh. Local WTAE-TV posted nearly 100 pictures of Anthrocon attendees in their various furry attire, and event organizers said the city has treated them well, despite their odd hobby.

“There is no city that welcomes us in the way Pittsburgh does,” said Samuel “Uncle Kage” Conway, chairman and CEO of Anthrocon, to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “People here have embraced walking foxes as part of the scene.”

Here, dated July 14, is an item in Queerty, an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news. It is a brief article about Frolic, with a photo gallery:

http://www.queerty.com/photos-furries-frolic-in-san-francisco-20140714


When the sun goes down in San Francisco, the creatures come out to play. Don’t worry, they’re not threatening: a cuddly bear, a gentle donkey, a few wolves, a bunny, and what might be a seagull (?) mean you no harm. They’re just regulars at Frolic, a monthly furry-themed party at The Stud.

This month’s Frolic served as an after-party for one night of GaymerX, the queer-focused video game convention. Following a game-themed drag show and a cosplay contest, furry-friendly attendees headed into the heart of SoMa to dance the night away and sweat profusely.