The furry fandom, a vibrant and creative community centered around anthropomorphic animals, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Perhaps you’ve encountered furry art online, witnessed a furry convention, or simply found yourself drawn to the idea of animal characters with human traits. If you’re curious about joining this diverse and welcoming community, this guide will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to becoming a furry.
Understanding the Furry Fandom
Before diving in, it’s essential to understand what the furry fandom is and what it isn’t. At its core, the furry fandom is a shared interest in anthropomorphic animals – animals with human-like qualities, such as intelligence, emotions, and the ability to speak. These characters can range from realistic animal depictions to highly stylized and imaginative creations.
The fandom is incredibly diverse, encompassing a wide range of interests, hobbies, and levels of participation. Some furries are primarily artists, creating stunning visual representations of their characters. Others are writers, crafting intricate stories and worlds for their fursonas. Still others enjoy the social aspects of the fandom, attending conventions, meeting fellow enthusiasts, and participating in online communities.
Importantly, being a furry is not inherently about sexuality. While some members of the fandom identify as LGBTQ+, and the community is generally very accepting, it’s a misconception that all furries are sexually attracted to animals. The furry fandom is primarily about creativity, self-expression, and community.
Discovering Your Fursona
Your fursona is essentially your furry persona – the anthropomorphic animal character that represents you within the fandom. This character can be based on an animal you admire, an animal that reflects your personality, or simply an animal you find aesthetically pleasing.
Choosing Your Animal
Selecting your fursona’s animal is a significant step. Consider what qualities you associate with different animals. Do you admire the loyalty and protectiveness of a wolf? The cunning and resourcefulness of a fox? The grace and elegance of a feline? Or perhaps you’re drawn to a more unique or mythical creature, like a dragon or a gryphon.
There are no right or wrong answers when choosing your fursona’s animal. It’s a personal decision based on your own preferences and self-expression. Don’t feel pressured to choose an animal that’s “popular” or “cool.” Choose the animal that resonates with you the most.
Developing Your Fursona’s Personality
Once you’ve chosen your animal, it’s time to develop your fursona’s personality. Consider their traits, quirks, and backstory. Are they outgoing and social, or introverted and contemplative? Are they brave and adventurous, or cautious and reserved?
Think about how your fursona’s personality relates to your own. Many furries create fursonas that reflect aspects of their own personalities, but you can also create a fursona that embodies qualities you admire or aspire to have.
Designing Your Fursona’s Appearance
The appearance of your fursona is another important aspect of their character. Consider their fur color, markings, clothing, and accessories. Will they have a realistic or stylized appearance? Will they wear clothing, and if so, what style?
There are many resources available online to help you design your fursona. You can find character design templates, color palettes, and tutorials on drawing anthropomorphic animals. You can also commission artists to create artwork of your fursona.
Exploring the Furry Community
The furry community is vast and diverse, offering a wide range of opportunities for interaction and engagement. Whether you prefer online or offline activities, there’s a place for you in the fandom.
Online Platforms
Online platforms are a great way to connect with other furries from around the world. Popular platforms include:
- Telegram: Many furry groups and channels exist on Telegram, offering a space for discussion, sharing art, and organizing events.
- Discord: Discord servers are another popular way to connect with furries online. You can find servers dedicated to specific interests, regions, or art styles.
- Twitter: Twitter is a great platform for following furry artists, writers, and other creators. You can also use Twitter to connect with other furries and participate in discussions.
- Fur Affinity: Fur Affinity is a popular online art gallery and community for furries. You can browse artwork, share your own creations, and connect with other artists.
When engaging in online communities, it’s important to be respectful and considerate of others. Follow the rules of the community and be mindful of your language and behavior.
Furry Conventions
Furry conventions are large gatherings of furries that take place all over the world. These conventions offer a wide range of activities, including panels, workshops, art shows, dances, and fursuit parades.
Attending a furry convention is a great way to meet other furries in person, experience the community firsthand, and participate in furry culture. However, conventions can be expensive, so it’s important to plan ahead and budget accordingly.
Local Furry Groups
Many cities and regions have local furry groups that organize meetups, events, and activities. These groups offer a more intimate and localized way to connect with other furries. You can often find local furry groups by searching online or asking on furry forums and social media groups.
Creating and Sharing Your Furry Content
The furry fandom is a creative community, and many furries enjoy creating and sharing their own content. This can include artwork, writing, music, fursuits, and more.
Artistic Expression
If you’re an artist, you can create artwork of your fursona or other furry characters. This can include drawings, paintings, sculptures, digital art, and more. There are many online platforms where you can share your artwork, such as Fur Affinity, DeviantArt, and Twitter.
If you’re not an artist, you can commission other artists to create artwork of your fursona. Many furry artists offer commissions at affordable prices.
Writing and Storytelling
If you’re a writer, you can create stories, poems, or scripts featuring your fursona or other furry characters. There are many online platforms where you can share your writing, such as Fur Affinity, Wattpad, and fanfiction websites.
You can also participate in collaborative writing projects with other furries. This can be a great way to improve your writing skills and meet new people.
Fursuiting
Fursuiting is the act of wearing a fursuit, a custom-made animal costume. Fursuits can range from partial suits (head, paws, tail) to full suits that cover the entire body.
Fursuiting can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s also a significant investment of time and money. Fursuits can be expensive, and they require regular maintenance and care.
Before investing in a fursuit, it’s important to research different fursuit makers and choose one that is reputable and experienced. You should also consider the comfort and practicality of the fursuit, as it can be hot and difficult to move around in.
Navigating Challenges and Misconceptions
While the furry fandom is generally a welcoming and accepting community, it’s important to be aware of some potential challenges and misconceptions.
Dealing with Misconceptions
As mentioned earlier, there are many misconceptions about the furry fandom. Some people mistakenly believe that all furries are sexually attracted to animals or that the fandom is inherently sexual.
It’s important to be prepared to address these misconceptions if you encounter them. You can explain that the furry fandom is primarily about creativity, self-expression, and community. You can also point out that not all furries are sexually attracted to animals and that the fandom is generally very accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Staying Safe Online
When engaging in online communities, it’s important to take steps to protect your personal information and stay safe from online harassment. Be careful about sharing personal information, such as your name, address, or phone number, with strangers online.
If you experience online harassment, report it to the platform administrator and block the user. You can also reach out to trusted friends or family members for support.
Dealing with Criticism
Not everyone will understand or accept your interest in the furry fandom. You may encounter criticism or negativity from friends, family, or strangers.
It’s important to remember that you have the right to express yourself and pursue your interests. Don’t let the negativity of others discourage you from participating in the furry fandom.
Embracing the Fandom and Finding Your Place
Becoming a furry is a journey of self-discovery and exploration. There’s no one right way to be a furry, and you’re free to participate in the fandom in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling to you.
Whether you’re an artist, a writer, a fursuiter, or simply someone who enjoys the company of other furries, there’s a place for you in the fandom. Embrace your creativity, express yourself freely, and connect with others who share your passion for anthropomorphic animals.
Resources for Further Exploration
To continue your exploration of the furry fandom, here are some resources that you may find helpful:
- WikiFur: WikiFur is a comprehensive online encyclopedia about the furry fandom. It contains information about furry history, culture, terminology, and more.
- Furry Amino: Furry Amino is a social media platform specifically for furries. You can use Furry Amino to connect with other furries, share your artwork, and participate in discussions.
- The International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP): The IARP is a research group that studies the furry fandom. You can find their research on the IARP website.
By exploring these resources and engaging with the furry community, you can deepen your understanding of the fandom and find your place within it. The furry fandom is a diverse and welcoming community, and there’s always something new to discover. Welcome to the fandom!
What exactly is the furry fandom?
The furry fandom is a subculture centered around an appreciation for anthropomorphic animals – animals with human-like characteristics such as intelligence, emotions, and the ability to speak or walk upright. This appreciation is expressed through art, literature, role-playing, conventions, and other creative outlets. It’s important to note that the furry fandom is a diverse community with individuals from all walks of life who share a common interest.
It’s often misunderstood as solely being about sexual attraction to anthropomorphic animals, but that is only a small part of it for a minority of members. The vast majority of furries are simply interested in the creative expression and community that the fandom provides, focusing on character creation, storytelling, and connecting with others who share their interests.
Do I need a fursuit to be considered a furry?
Absolutely not! A fursuit, a costume depicting a furry character, is a fun and expressive way to participate in the fandom, but it is by no means a requirement. Many furries don’t own fursuits and are still fully active members of the community. Engagement in the fandom can take many forms, such as creating art, writing stories, attending conventions, or simply interacting with other furries online.
The core of being a furry is about appreciating anthropomorphic animals and identifying with the fandom. This can be expressed through various forms of creative expression and community engagement, and owning a fursuit is just one option among many. Don’t feel pressured to spend a significant amount of money on a fursuit if it’s not something you genuinely want or can afford.
How do I create a “fursona”?
A fursona is a personalized animal character that represents you within the furry fandom. It’s essentially your avatar and a way to express your personality, interests, and identity. When creating a fursona, consider what animal resonates with you and what characteristics you want to embody. It can be based on your favorite animal, an animal that reflects your personality, or even a completely original creature.
Think about the fursona’s species, colors, personality traits, and any special markings or features that make it unique. Don’t be afraid to experiment and change your fursona over time as you learn more about yourself and your interests within the fandom. You can also draw your fursona, commission artwork, or write stories about it to further develop its character.
Where can I find other furries online?
The internet provides numerous platforms for furries to connect and interact. Popular options include social media sites like Twitter and Instagram, where you can follow furry artists, conventions, and other members of the community. Furry-specific websites and forums, such as Fur Affinity and SoFurry, offer dedicated spaces for sharing art, writing, and participating in discussions.
Discord servers are also a great way to find and connect with smaller, more focused furry communities. Search for servers based on your interests, such as art, gaming, or specific animal species. When joining online communities, remember to be respectful and follow the rules to ensure a positive experience for yourself and others.
Are furry conventions only for people who own fursuits?
Furry conventions are inclusive events open to all members of the fandom, regardless of whether they own a fursuit. While fursuits are a prominent feature of these conventions, they are not mandatory. Conventions offer a wide range of activities, including art shows, panels, dances, gaming tournaments, and opportunities to socialize with other furries.
You can attend a furry convention simply to enjoy the atmosphere, meet new people, and participate in the various events. Many attendees enjoy admiring fursuits and taking photos, but there’s no pressure to wear one yourself. Focus on engaging in activities that interest you and connecting with other members of the community.
What should I be aware of when attending a furry convention?
Furry conventions are generally safe and welcoming environments, but it’s always wise to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions. Be mindful of your personal belongings and avoid leaving them unattended. If you are underage, familiarize yourself with the convention’s policies regarding minors and be sure to have a responsible adult present if required.
Respect other attendees’ boundaries and personal space. Always ask for permission before taking photos or videos of others, especially if they are in fursuit. Familiarize yourself with the convention’s code of conduct and report any inappropriate behavior to the staff. Remember to stay hydrated and take breaks as needed, especially if you are wearing a fursuit.
Is the furry fandom inherently sexual?
The furry fandom is a diverse community with a wide range of interests and preferences. While some members may express their sexuality through their furry characters or art, the fandom as a whole is not inherently sexual. The primary focus is on appreciating anthropomorphic animals and engaging in creative expression.
It’s important to distinguish between the general interest in anthropomorphism and the specific interests of individual members. The furry fandom encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, from creating child-friendly artwork to exploring mature themes. Respecting the diversity of interests within the community is essential.