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[[Image:Shanda12.JPG|right|thumb|''[[Shanda the Panda]]'' #12, an example of a [[List of furry comics|furry comic]]]]
'''Furry fandom''' is a [[subculture]] that enjoys the [[anthropomorphism]] of animal characters.<ref>{{cite news|first=Daveen Rae|last=Kurutz|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_458482.html|title=It's a furry weekend|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|date=[[June 17]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref>
The genre of entertainment celebrated by furry fandom is based around the ''idea'' of animal characters with human characteristics, rather than any one type of fiction. Any title in any type of media can be considered a part of the furry genre simply by having a fantasy animal character in it, though such characters are most often seen in [[cartoons]], [[comics]], [[science fiction]], [[allegorical]] [[novels]], [[commercials]], [[video games]] and [[animation|animated films]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Desson|last=Thomson|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/18/AR2006051802306.html?sub=AR|title=Critters Offer Consumer Retorts in 'Over the Hedge'|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|date=[[May 19]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-07-19}}</ref>
Members of the furry fandom are sometimes known as ''furry fans'', ''furries'', or ''furs''. <ref>{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Staeger|url=http://www.xydexx.com/anthrofurry/furries.htm|title=Invasion of the Furries|publisher=The Wayne Suburban|date=[[July 26]], [[2001]]}}</ref> Since the 1980s, anthropomorphic characters which mix human and animal attributes have been referred to as ''furries''<ref>{{cite book|last=Dagna|first=Justin|year=2005|title=Fera Vita: Pax Draconis|publisher=Technicraft}}</ref>.


== == Furries are perverts. == ==
Some examples of anthropomorphic attributes are: exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walking on two legs, and wearing clothing. Other terms for these types of characters are ''[[funny animal]]'' and ''[[talking animal]]'', or ''[[kemono]]'' in Japan.

==History and inspiration==
[[Image:Uybook11.jpg|right|thumb|Cover of ''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]'', book 11]]
The term “Furry” is used to describe talking and anthropomorphic animal characters in [[fantasy art]], [[literature]] and other forms of entertainment. The fandom for these characters traces its organization back to a science fiction convention in 1980<ref name="YarfChronology">{{cite news|first=Fred|last=Patten|url=http://www.arclight.net/~yarf/YARF_Chronology.html|title=Chronology Of Furry Fandom|publisher=[[WikiFur:YARF!|YARF! The Journal of Applied Anthropomorphics]]|date=[[February 2]], [[1999]]|accessdate=2006-07-15}}</ref>, when a drawing of a character from [[Steve Gallacci]]’s ''[[Albedo Anthropomorphics|Albedo]]'' started a discussion of anthropomorphic characters in science fiction novels, spawning a discussion group that met at various [[science fiction]] and [[comics]] [[convention]]s.

However, many individual fans claim the roots of the fandom go back much further. Titles such as [[Kimba, The White Lion]] from the mid 1960's, as well as [[Watership Down]] and [[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Disney's Robin Hood]] from the early 1970's appear on many lists of significant events pertaining to the birth of the fandom.{{fact}}
Over the course of the 1980's, a gradually increasing number of furry fans developed [[fanzines]] and eventually began to have gatherings at house parties. By 1987 enough interest had been generated for the first furry convention.<ref>{{cite book|last=Patten|first=Fred|year=2006|title=[[WikiFur:Best in Show|Furry! The World's Best Anthropomorphic Fiction]]|publisher=ibooks}}</ref>
As the internet became more accessible, it became the most popular means for furry fans to keep in touch and share their artistic efforts. This gained the fandom higher visibility and it began to grow rapidly. Virtual environments, such as [[MUD|MUCK]]s, soon became the most popular places on the net for furry fans to meet and communicate. One of the oldest and largest MUCKs in existence is [[FurryMUCK]].{{fact}} One of the newest virtual environments to attract furry fans is [[Second Life]].

Examples of the types of animal characters that typically inspire furry fans are represented by the titles below.

;From cartoons
:[[Roger Rabbit]], [[The Angry Beavers]], [[Rocko's Modern Life]], [[Bugs Bunny]], [[Mickey Mouse]], [[Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Wile E. Coyote]],

;From animated feature films
:Disney's ''[[Robin Hood (1973 film)|Robin Hood]]'' and ''[[The Lion King]]'', ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'', ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'', ''[[Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature|Bagi]]'', ''[[Madagascar (film)|Madagascar]]''

;From TV
:''[[Father of the Pride]]'', ''[[Kimba the White Lion]]'', ''[[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers|Disney's Rescue Rangers]]'', ''[[SWAT Kats]]'', ''[[Road Rovers]]'', ''[[Rex the Runt]]'', ''[[The Raccoons]]'', ''[[Arthur]]'', ''[[Hamtaro]]''

;From comics
:''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', ''[[Omaha the Cat Dancer]]'', ''[[Shanda The Panda]]'', ''[[Albedo Anthropomorphics]]'', ''[[Maus]]'', ''[[Over the Hedge]]''

;From [[novel]]s
:[[Richard Adams (author)|Richard Adams]]' ''[[Watership Down]]'', [[Andre Norton|Andre Norton's]] ''Breed to Come'', [[Brian Jacques]]' ''[[Redwall]]'' series, Steven Boyett's ''The Architect of Sleep'', [[S. Andrew Swann|S. Andrew Swann's]] [[Moreau series]]
;From [[game]]s
:''[[RuneQuest]]'', ''[[Lugaru]]'', ''[[EverQuest]]'', the ''[[Star Fox series|Star Fox]]'' series, ''[[Sly Cooper]]'' series, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series, ''[[Jazz Jackrabbit (computer game)|Jazz Jackrabbit]]'' series, ''[[Conker's Bad Fur Day]]'', ''[[Furcadia]]''

;From [[webcomic]]s
:[[Newshounds]], Boomer Express, [[The Suburban Jungle]], [[Kevin and Kell]], [[Faux Pas (webcomic)|Faux Pas]], [[Namir Deiter]], [[Sabrina Online]], [[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]], [[VG Cats]]
Many members of the fandom have also cited as inspiration the historical usage of anthropomorphic animals in world mythology, including but not limited to [[Greek mythology|Greek]], [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian]], [[Japanese mythology|Japanese]] and [[Folklore of the United States|Native American]]. ''[[Aesop's Fables]]'' is also cited on many lists of furry resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claws-and-paws.com/furry/non-fiction/faq.html|title=Furries! Introduction to the Furry Fandom|accessdate=2006-06-30|author=Muth, Douglas|date=[[January 15]], [[2006]]|publisher=Claws-and-Paws.com}}</ref>
To set them apart from more seriously-depicted animal characters<ref>{{cite book|last=Sandler|first=Kevin S.|year=1998|title=Reading the Rabbit: Explorations in Warner Bros. Animation|publisher=Rutgers University Press}}</ref>, cartoon animals are sometimes also known as "funny animals," a term that goes back to the early 20th century and seems to have been inspired by the use of animal characters in The Funnies,{{cn}} rather than as a reference to animal comedians. Additionally, in Japan there is a genre called ''kemono'', a tangentially related but independent genre with different cultural associations.
There are dozens of webcomics based on animal characters. Many are created by furry fans and, as such, may be referred to by some as "[[List of furry comics|furry comics]]." One such comic, ''[[T.H.E. Fox]]'', was first published on [[CompuServe]] in [[1986]], predating the [[World Wide Web|Web]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cmdrkey.com/cbm/genie/geniefiles/Information/T.H.E.-FOX.TXT|title=|accessdate=2006-10-26|author=The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable|dateyr=[[1994]]}}</ref> However, general comics consumers do not make a distinction between a furry comic and a funny animal comic, as there is no visible difference.

==Fan creations==
[[Image:Watcher in the woods.Dark Natasha.jpg|right|thumb|An example of furry artwork, by furry artist "Dark Natasha"]]Furry fans are eager for more material than is available from mainstream [[Publishing|publisher]]s. The demand is filled by fellow fans — amateur to professional artists, writers, crafters and publishers who produce drawings, paintings, stories, independent comic books, [[fanzine]]s, [[puppet]]s, [[website]]s, and even [[small press]] [[book]]s.

===Art and writing===
Many furry fans participate in the arts, becoming amateur—and sometimes professional—illustrators, comic strip authors, painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, and craft artists. Primarily, the fandom produces hand- or computer-drawn artwork, although there are many sculptures, fabric pieces, stories, [[filk music]] pieces, and even photographs. Some of these works are pornographic.

While the bulk of these fan-created pieces of art are distributed through nonprofessional media such as personal web sites and via email, some publish their works in [[anthology|anthologies]], [[Amateur press association|Amateur Press Associations]], or [[fanzine|APAzines]]. A few have mainstream, professional credits to their names. Some furry artwork has appeared on commercially available clothing.

===Crafts===

Fans with craft skills put together their own plush furry toys, sometimes referred to as ''[[Stuffed animal|plushie]]s'', or build elaborate [[costume]]s called ''[[fursuit]]s''<ref>{{cite book|last=Riggs|first=Adam|year=2004|title=Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits|publisher=Ibexa Press}}</ref>, and are worn for fun or to participate in parades, convention [[Masquerade ball|masquerade]]s, dances, or fund-raising charity events (as entertainers)<ref>{{cite news|first=Alina|last=Larson|url=http://www.xydexx.com/anthrofurry/trivalley.htm|title=Animal Instincts: Fans of Furry Critters Convene to Help Mankind|publisher=[[Tri-Valley Herald]]|date=[[January 23]], [[2003]]}}</ref>. While many fursuits look like [[sport]]s [[mascot]]s, some fursuits go beyond that and include moving jaw mechanisms, [[animatronic]]s, [[prosthetic makeup]], or other frills, which may cost upwards of $1,000<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/9383594/detail.html|title='Furries' Descend On Golden Triangle|publisher=[[WTAE-TV]]|date=[[June 16]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref>. Others turn to [[puppeteer|puppetry]], recording videos and performing live in similar events.

{{seealso|Funday PawPet Show}}

===Role playing characters ("Fursonas")===
Some furry fans create anthropomorphic animal characters in order to engage in [[role-playing]] sessions on the Internet; these characters may be used in [[MUD]]s, on [[Internet forums]], or on [[Electronic mailing list]]s. The oldest extant on-line furry role-playing environment is ''[[FurryMUCK]]'', although it was predated by the GE-run BBS, ''The Beastie Board'' in which conversation sometimes led to role-play. Another popular online furry social game is called ''[[Furcadia]]'', created by [[Dragon's Eye Productions]]. There are also several furry-themed areas and communities in the [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game]] ''[[Second Life]]''. <ref>{{cite news|first=Eyder|last=Peralta|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4125271|title=In Second Life, the World is Yours|publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=[[May 28]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-07-14}}</ref>

==Conventions==
[[Image:FurryGamesMidwestFurFest2006GreenReaper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Furry fans prepare for a race at Midwest FurFest 2006]]
{{main|Furry convention}}
Sufficient membership and interest has allowed for the creation of many annual furry conventions in [[North America]] and [[Europe]], the largest being [[Anthrocon]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] in July <ref>{{cite news|url=http://kdka.com/local/local_story_167193226.html|title=Furries Descend On Pittsburgh|publisher=[[KDKA-TV]]|date=[[June 16]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref>. [[Further Confusion]], held in [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] each January, is almost as large. The total attendance figures for furry conventions exceeded 9130 in 2005, a growth of 13% over the previous year. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mustelid.com/otterhall/afcis.html|title=Anthropomorphic Fandom Convention Information Sheet|accessdate=2006-06-30|last=Cooksey|first=David}}</ref> In 2006, over 25 such conventions took place around the world. The first known furry convention, [[ConFurence]] <ref name="YarfChronology" />, is no longer held. ([[WikiFur:Califur|Califur]] has replaced it, since both conventions were/are based in [[Southern California]].)
Many conventions feature an auction or fundraising event, with the proceeds often going to an animal-related charity. For example, Further Confusion has raised more than $62,000 for various charitable beneficiaries over its eight-year history <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anthroarts.org/activities.html|title=AAE, Inc. - What we do|author=[[Anthropomorphic Arts and Education]]|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref>, and Anthrocon has donated more than $66,000 to animal-related charities since 1997. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anthrocon.org/charity|title=Anthrocon Charity Auction FAQ|author=Brian Harris, Anthrocon charity auction director|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> In September 2004, [[WikiFur:Mephit Furmeet|Mephit Furmeet]] raised over $15,000 for [[Tiger Haven]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050205054851/http://mephitfurmeet.org/|title=Mephit Furmeet website|accessdate=2005-02-04}}</ref>

==Furry lifestylers==
The phrase '''furry lifestyler''' is used to describe an individual with beliefs similar to those of animal related religions and philosophies, such as [[Shamanism]] and [[Otherkin]]. Many lifestylers often believe they have a [[totem]] animal that watches over them or that they are the [[reincarnation]] of an animal spirit.<ref name="NonhumanCatalogue">{{cite web|url=http://orion.animaltracks.net/compare.html#furlif|title=Catalogue of nonhuman communities|author=Orion Sandstorrm|accessdate=2006-07-11}}</ref>

Some lifestylers also adopt physical attributes of an animal, such as animal-related hair styles, tattoos, and articles of clothing or jewelry. Cases of people like [[Stalking Cat]] undergoing extensive [[body modification]]s are documented, as shown on the [[Discovery Channel]] program ''Humanimals: Wild Makeovers'', but are extremely rare.

The phrases "furry lifestyle" and "furry lifestyler" first appeared in July 1996 on the newsgroup [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry alt.fan.furry] during an ongoing dispute within that community. One element within furry fandom believed that any peripheral interest not directly relating to furry art, literature and fantasy should not be directly associated with the fandom, while others believed that the definition of what constituted furry was up to the individual. The dispute was resolved by the creation of the newsgroup [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.lifestyle.furry alt.lifestyle.furry] in August 1996 to accommodate discussion not relating solely to furry cartoons, artwork and literature. Posters to this newsgroup quickly attracted the term "furry lifestylers." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/lifestyle.txt|title=alt.lifestyle.furry - Frequently Asked Questions|date=2001-05-08|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> The fandom and the lifestyle have been considered separate concepts since that time.{{fact}}

Some other communities, such as the [[Therianthropy (subculture)|"were" or "therian"]] communities, share similar beliefs with furry lifestylers but wish to distance themselves from the term “furry,” as they are not necessarily interested in furry fandom or do not wish to have their beliefs trivialized by association with a "cartoon" fandom. <ref name="NonhumanCatalogue" />

==Sex and furry fandom==
Differing approaches to sexuality have at times been a source of divisions and controversy in the fandom. There are also a wide range of stereotypes about furries and sex. Protests have been made by members of the furry fandom against what they regard as "distasteful, unrelated, or deviant aspects" of the fandom, in particular by groups such as the "Burned Furs" (a protest group of the 1990's who felt their work and image was being seriously harmed by increased sexual aspects within the Fandom). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://burnedfur.mv.com/faq.html|title=Burned Fur - Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref>

Examples of mainstream "adult" aspects within the fandom include erotic furry art, a style sometimes known as ''yiffy art'' (from the subculture term "[[yiff]]" referring to sexual activity or arousal), and [[pornographic movie]]s of sexual activities between participants wearing fursuits also exist.
The term ''furvert'' (a [[portmanteau]] of "furry" and "pervert") specifically refers to the subgroup of the fandom that sexualizes anthropomorphic animal characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deviantdesires.com/map/furverts.html|title=Deviant Desires: Furverts|author=[[Katharine Gates]]|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> The term may be used pejoratively, as a [[self-reference|self-referential]] joke, or merely as a descriptor.

Many furry conventions make clear that guidelines of conduct exist restricting sexually explicit material and behavior to appropriate areas and situations, since the Fandom includes people of all ages and interests. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anthrocon.org/rules-conduct|title=Anthrocon Standards of Conduct|author=[[Samuel Conway|Dr. Samuel Conway]]|date=2006-03-28|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref>

===Fandom survey===
One survey which examined social and sexual attitudes in the Fandom is ''The Sociology of Furry Fandom'' by [[David J. Rust]], covering 360 reports (325 in person, 35 online).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visi.com/~phantos/furrysoc.html|title=The Sociology of Furry Fandom|author=David J. Rust|date=2000-2002, based on data 1997-1998|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref>

Rust states that in regard to sex:

* Furries "report a rather non-judgemental attitude" to some aspects of sexuality,
* the Fandom contains a large proportion of people reporting homo- or bisexuality and/or [[polyamory]] (or other non-traditional forms of relationship)
**In the survey, 48% of those surveyed reported bisexuality, 25% were heterosexual, 19% were homosexual, and 8% were uncertain. Also, 2% stated an interest in [[zoophilia]], and less than 1% stated an interest in [[plushophilia]].
* furries have "a higher tolerance for variety in sexual orientation and activity", and that
* heterosexual furries "participate in [mixed gender] social body language between members of the same sex without any apparent threat to their sexual identity as a heterosexual"

He cited these as reasons why inaccurate perceptions of furries may arise. However, the accuracy of such statistics comes in to question, for two reasons. Since Rust's survey required respondents to submit a real name and identification, and 90% of the respondents answered in person, the reluctance to truthfully answer some of the questions without anonymity may have caused a statistical bias. Secondly, the rapidly growing size of the fandom quickly renders survey statistics obsolete. This particular survey was based on data compiled in 1997 and 1998, and published in 2002.

===Media coverage===
Portrayal of the furry fandom in the mainstream media in the past has been rare, but several shows and magazines have featured furries in some way. Some members of the furry community felt these focused too much on the sexual aspect <ref name="Post-Gazette">{{cite news|first=Ann|last=Belser|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06169/699273-51.stm|title=All about 'furry fandom' at confab|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=[[June 18]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref> of the fandom. Examples include articles and columns in ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''<ref name="VanityFair">{{cite news|url=http://pressedfur.coolfreepages.com/press/vanityfair/|title=Pleasures of the fur|publisher=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> and ''[[Loaded (magazine)|Loaded]]'' magazines, the syndicated sex column [[Savage Love]], and dramatized fiction or documentaries portrayed on television shows like ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'', ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' ([[Fur and Loathing (CSI episode)|CSI: Episode #406: Fur and Loathing]])<ref name="ERandCSI">[http://www.lildobe.net/furry/ Video of CSI episode and video of furry scenes from ER's furry episode]</ref>, [[The Drew Carey Show]] <ref>''[[WikiFur:The Drew Carey Show|The Drew Carey Show]]'' on [[WikiFur]], accessed [[2006]]-[[08-26]]</ref>, and ''[[MTV|MTV's]] Sex2K''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fursuit.timduru.org/dirlist/FursuitVideo/FurriesInTheNews/MTV2002/|title=Sex2K Fursuit Video|author=[[MTV]]|accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> A recent news story noted that "despite their wild image from ''Vanity Fair,'' MTV and CSI, furry conventions aren't about kinky sex between weirdos gussied up in foxy costumes," <ref>{{cite news|first=Melissa|last=Meinzer|url=http://cparchives.com/archive.cfm?type=News%20Briefs&action=getComplete&ref=5649|title=Fur Ball In The Works|publisher=[[Pittsburgh City Paper]]|date=[[February 2]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref> but instead about "people talking and drawing animals and comic-book characters in sketchbooks." <ref>{{cite news|first=Melissa|last=Meinzer|url=http://www.cparchives.com/archive.cfm?type=Main%20Feature&action=getComplete&ref=6353|title=Animal Passions: The furries come to town — and our correspondent tails along|publisher=[[Pittsburgh City Paper]]|date=[[June 29]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-06-30}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Animal transformation fantasy]]
* [[Anthropomorphism]]
* [[List of furry comics]]
* [[List of furry role-playing games]]
* [[Parahuman]]
* [[Yiff]]

==References==
<div class="references-small"><references /></div>

==Further reading==
* Craig Hilton: ''Furry Fandom — An Insider's View from the Outside'', parts 1 & 2, South Fur Lands #2 & #3, 1995, 1996
==External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Furry fandom.ogg|2006-06-08}}
===Information===
* [http://furry.wikia.com/ WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia] — furry fandom's community wiki
* [http://www.arclight.net/~yarf/YARF_Chronology.html A Chronology of Furry Fandom] (early days through 1996)
* [http://www.visi.com/~phantos/furrysoc.html The Sociology of Furry Fandom] written and researched by David J. Rust; a member of both SF Fandom and Furry Fandom
* [http://www.fortunecity.com/tatooine/niven/142/profiles/pro46.html# Funny Animal Comics] — An explanation of anthropomorphic animals as a genre
* {{dmoz|Society/People/Furry/|Furry fandom}}

===Art===
* [http://www.yerf.com Yerf] — A furry art archive with restrictions on quality and mature subject matter
* [http://www.vclart.net/ VCL] — A mostly-unrestricted archive of furry art and fiction
* [http://www.furaffinity.net Fur Affinity] — An archive that contains furry art, fiction, poetry and music. Content is restricted until the viewer signs up as a user of [http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/Fur_affinity Fur Affinity].

[[Category:Furry| ]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Comics terminology]]
[[Category:Fictional animals]]

[[de:Furry]]
[[es:Furry]]
[[eo:Furry]]
[[fr:Furry]]
[[ja:ケモノ]]
[[ru:Фурри]]
[[fi:Furry]]
[[sv:Furry]]
[[uk:Фурі]]

Revision as of 03:52, 22 December 2006

== Furries are perverts. ==