When I first learned about the Furry Fandom, I didn't see myself participating in it. I was supposed to be a "mature adult" so I could never take something that seemed so silly and childish seriously...
The 'adult' I was would never be seen playing pretend in an animal costume, traveling great distances just to have fun at conventions, or dedicating countless hours expressing my imagination through creating cartoons and comics... but I couldn't get the idea of doing so out of my head. Regardless of how much I tried to convince myself that I wanted to live up to the unrealistic and oppressive expectations of being an adult, there was no denying that I loved all of these things.
To understand any Fandom, I feel it's important to accept that being an adult doesn't make dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets any less tasty or Saturday morning cartoons any less enjoyable. We like what we like and being an adult doesn't mean that you can't enjoy (or learn to enjoy) the things that captivate you. For Furries, we like animals.
The Furry Fandom is a diverse community that centers around anthropomorphizing animals, the act of assigning human characteristics and personalities to things.
Whether it's through science, religion, or culture, humans have always been captivated by animals. With such interests dating as far back as prehistoric times, there's many different reasons why one would find interest in the Furry community. For some, their interests might center around the anthropomorphic media they grew up with while others might feel a deeper connection with wildlife and nature. For me, I found my way into the fandom through my love of cartoons and animation. Regardless of the reason, the Furry community brings fans of anthropomorphism together to share and express their interest through crafts like illustration, storytelling, and cosplay.
Aside from their user names, Furries distinguish themselves with unique characters called Fursonas.
A Fursona is an anthropomorphic character used to represent an individual in Furry spaces both online and in person. These characters often display various traits or interests of their creators and can carry a high amount of personal significance. For example, when coming up with my own Fursona, I decided that I wanted them to be a mouse since my favorite childhood animation was The Secret of NIMH.
Given the personal nature of Fursonas, they are also used in works of self expression. It's common practice in the Furry Fandom to commission or create works of art depicting Fursonas and characters that are personal to individuals. Illustrations are probably the most common of these expressions but there are many other skillsets on display such as 3D modeling or the well-known staple of the fandom, Fursuit making.
If you've ever seen photos of a FurCon and saw a number of colorful animal costumes running around the venue, you've seen a Fursuit!
A Fursuit is a hand-made costume made to depict its wearer's Fursona or personal character. These costumes can serve as an extension of one's self or an entirely different personality to roleplay as. While Fursuits are a widely accepted representation of the fandom, it's important to note that they aren't a requirement to be a Furry and that there are plenty of Furs who have little to no interest in cosplay. I just happened to find out that I was one that did!
I never saw myself getting into Fursuiting but after attending a number of FurCons, I started to realize how much I appreciated seeing these characters come to life. Something about it was fascinating and I grew curious to see my own characters in a physical space. Thanks to the wonderful work by Jay, my business ferret Luthor came to life and can be seen frequenting a number of different FurCons.
Speaking of Furry Conventions, FurCons are large Furry gatherings that take place at hotels or convention spaces.
These events are organized by non-profit organizations and volunteers to create a safe environment for the fandom to share and express their interests. Typically, a FurCon will have a community market for Furry artists to sell their wares, a number of community run panels, and a parade or festival to showcase the many Fursuiters who are attending.
While experiencing and interacting with the Furry Fandom online can be an amazing experience of it's own, there's something special about seeing that creativity and passion in person. Not everyone gets to experience sitting at a table with friends they met online while being surrounded by an amazingly diverse community from around the world and colorful, anthropomorphic animals!
At the end of the day, the way Furry is expressed and what it means is different to everyone; that's what makes it beautiful.
For some, Furry could be an escape from their daily life to surround themselves with friends who just happen to be animals. For others, Furry might be a means to share their passion with wildlife and nature. Whatever its meaning, the Furry Fandom is an important part of people's lives all across the world. Sure, it might sound silly and childish when I say I love drawing cartoons and dressing up in animal costumes, but it's made my adult life something a younger me would seriously cherish.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this article!
I hope this has been helpful in providing context to a community I hold very close to my heart. If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to contact me at zenfetchernexus@gmail.com