Hello Furries!
Okay, let's just start
It's well aware that the Furry fandom is finally being noticed
Our national media is slowly starting to give some attention to our community
And that, obviously, is something good
Isn't it?
sigh Depends...
Everytime there's any article about this type of Fandom or community
It's more than normal that we get a little suspicious
And why?
Here's simple why
Our dear brazillian media
Only truly seriously show what can generate tons of money and audience
However, when the subject is entertainment, it turn a slightly more complicated task
Because, generally, it's addressed in a more superficial way
And thanks to that, the true objective and the true meaning of communities
Like the Furry Fandom
Can be easily distorted and show up the wrong idea
And end up showing ideas that aren't more than a common stereotype
Yes, it happened recently
An example of something that broke up with that concept are the E-Sports
That were saw in a negative way
Even today, it isn't accepted as valid sports
However, slowly they are getting know by the national media and getting a really great audience
And even making money for those who believed in that new idea
Now we got to the heart of the matter
How to make the true essence and meaning of that community
Got treated correctly and faithfully way
And how to avoid that articles made by amateur journalists
Show up the wrong idea and strengthen stereotypes
That's the objective of this video
So, let's make clear as fast and simple as possible
#1 - What, exactly, means Furry?
Furry, generally, refers to the idea of anthropomorphic animals or creatures
Even those who aren't in furry community
Certainly saw and know Furry characters
They were part of the childhood of most of the people
For example: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, The Tasmanian Devil
Droopy Dog, Tom, Jerry, Road Runner and many others
For sure, most of that characters born way before the term Furry got the meaning
It has today
And even before the community be as big as today
Actually, it's not even necessary to go too far
Recently, the movie Zootopia was produced
Which is completely focused in the Furry theme
#2 - What mean to be a Furry?
In fact, anyone who is interested in anthropomorphic creatures, characters or animals
Can be part of the Furry Fandom
Unlike many people thinks
You don't need to be an artist or has a Fursuit
To be part of the community
The main idea is at the common interest
And not at specific activities
As graphical content or composite songs with the Furry theme
There's many Websites, Forums, Galleries, online games
And even conventions, that are mainly focused in the Furry Fandom
At Brazil, nowadays, those events still having some limitations
And, at the most of cases, there's only small meets between members of the community
One the biggest there's in Brazil
is Brasil Fur Fest, which had it's first edition in 2016
And, slowly, have been getting more attention and helped to grow up the comminuty
And get the attention of the national media
This event will happen again this year between the August 25 and 27
Where this one that speaks to you will also be present
Uhuu! /o/
#3 - Which are the main interests of a Furry?
As already said, they main idea is around anthropomorphic creatures and characters
And those can be found in animated cartoon and games
The interests of a member of the Furry Fandom
However, aren't limited by games and animations
They, in fact, have no limits
Any subject or interest can be, somehow related or adapted to the Furry theme
Even subjects related to spirituality, like the beliefs in spirit animals
As well as Mythology, Tribalism, Paganism etc
And those beliefs doesn't disqualify any Furry
The common manifestation of someone interest in the Furry community
Is through the creative ways
As literature, graphical arts, the RP, music and even game developing
Focused in the Furry theme
Those are, probably, the activities with more relevance and influence in the community grown
#4 - Fursonas
It's very common between the members of the Furry community
The creation of a Fursona
And that's the idea of the creation of they own characters
Which can, or not, reflect the personality or even the physical shape of their owners
When creating those characters There's no limits and no rules
The mix of species to elaborate hybrid characters
The use of all and any combination of colors
Physical shape, different personalities
And even the elaboration of a history that explain the origins of that character
Are valid
And directly related to the #4 we have the
#5 - Fursuits
Which are, probably, one of the biggest manifestations of love for the community
And the Furry theme
Bring your character to life
Almost like an acting, the Fursuits are the physical manifestation
Of the criative of a community member
And are really common in at the big conventions
After elaborate the personality and physical shape of a character
Many people decides to make it real
And exactly that what the Fursuits are
Costumes made based on the character design created by its owner
Or even by commissioned artist
This design is, then, sent to someone which can make that character real
Unfortunately, here, at Brazil, the Fursuiting isn't a common thing
Both by the difficulty of production and lack of material
And by the high cost for our standards
#6 - The expansion of the community
Even thought the Furry community is huge and have members in the entire world
In countries as Brazil, it's extremely hard to notice the Fandom expansion
In comparison with other countries, like USA, Germany, Australia and Canada
Where are located the biggest conventions
Like Anthrocon, Eurofurence, Confurgence and Vancoufur
The Furry Fandom's activities have some limitations, here at Brazil
And, because of that, are almost restricted to the online ambient
Recently, with the Brazil Fur Fest's event in 2016
And with the attention received by the media
Many member of the community hope it boost its expansion in the country
And results in meets and events more and more frequents
#7 - The biggest conventions
Mostly of the biggest Furry conventions are located at USA
Between them, we have Anthrocon, founded in 1997 in Albany, NY
And moved to Philadelphia, PA 2 years later
Anthrocon got 6389 participants in 2015
And, nowadays, happens at David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Recurrently since 2016
Other event, at USA, are
At Germany, we have Euroforence, at Berlin, founded in 1995
This european convention happened at Germany in 17 of its 20 years of existence
Giving it some leadership status
But, between the other countries already hosted the convention
Are Sweden, Netherlands and Czech Republic
At Canada, there's VancouFur, which happens at Vancouver BC
It's a exclusive Vancouver's convention since 2012
VancouFur had it 6th edtion in 2017 and rised more than $3,000 for a local charity project
The Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society
Even, the 2016 edition got known by share the executive hotel with Syrian refugees
At Australia, occurs the ConFurgence in Melbourne
Started at 1999, this convention have social events, bazaar, Fursuit Parade,
Talent's show and many others activities
In 2010, it got hundreds of participants and rised $7771 for charity
And is, at the moment, the biggest Furry convention in Australia
Every convention mentioned contributes intensely with charity projects
Which goes from Wildlife Rehabilitation to fight against cancer
Therefore, resuming
Different of what is said by the less informed
The Furries aren't different or strange people
As, sometimes, the media says at TV or at posts and articles in the Internet
They are only a group of people which has a common interest
And interact in a creative way based on this interest
It's a really friendly community, which, through those conventions and activities
Manage to help people and, even, save lifes
♫ You chose this path ♪
Subtitles by the Amara.org community