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Fursonas | |
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Directed by | Dominic Rodriguez |
Produced by | Olivia Vaughn |
Cinematography | Jordan Serra |
Edited by | Christine Meyer |
Production company | Animal Media Group |
Distributed by | Gravitas Ventures |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Fursonas is a documentary film regarding the furry fandom. Directed by Dominic Rodriguez, it was released in January 2016. It was produced by Olivia Vaughn and edited by Christine Meyer, among others. [1] [2] Fursonas follows multiple individual furries being interviewed to provide social commentary of the fandom, its common stigmas, and how it is perceived through sensational media coverage.
Production of Fursonas began as a senior thesis project, started by Rodriguez while a filmmaking major at Point Park University with Olivia Vaughn and Christine Meyer. Originally a 12-minute short film, the film was expanded into a feature length documentary when the crew was awarded a 10,000 dollar grant from The Sprout Fund in 2013. [3] In 2014, Meyer and Vaughn became interns at the Animal Media Group, a production and visual effects studio. Animal allowed the crew to use their facilities to edit the footage of the documentary and later offered to be the official production company for the documentary.
The documentary premiered at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival, [2] and is distributed via Video on demand by Gravitas Ventures.
Fursonas was well-received, winning the "Spirit of Slamdance" award at its debut film festival [4] and receiving positive reviews from magazines Variety and Deadline Hollywood. [5] [6]
Despite a positive reception, the film resulted in its director receiving a lifetime ban from Anthrocon, the biggest furry convention in the world as of 2024. Though accused of filming at the con without consent, the ban has been seen largely as Samuel Conway's retribution for his negative portrayal in the film. [7]
(The list consists of the interviewees' fursona names, rather than their real names )
A fandom is a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significant portion of their time and energy involved with their interest, often as a part of a social network with particular practices, differentiating fandom-affiliated people from those with only a casual interest.
The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters. Some examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes. The term "furry fandom" is also used to refer to the community of people who gather on the Internet and at furry conventions.
Fursuits are custom-made anthropomorphic animal costumes owned and worn by cosplayers and members of the furry fandom, commonly known as "furries"; a furry who wears a fursuit is called a fursuiter. The term is believed to have been coined in 1993 by Robert King. Unlike mascot suits, which are usually affiliated with a team or organization, fursuits represent an original character created by their wearer, and are often better-fitting and more intricately crafted, with features such as a moving jaw. Fursuits are made in a wide range of styles, from cartoonish to highly realistic.
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A furry convention is a formal gathering of members of the furry fandom – people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human animal characters with human characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business and engage in entertainment and recreation centered on this concept. Originating in California during the mid-1980s, as of 2016 there are over 50 furry conventions worldwide each year.
Samuel Charles Conway is an American researcher in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and agrochemical fields of organic chemistry. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Dartmouth College. Aside from his scientific career, Conway is known for his activities in the furry fandom, having served since 1999 as chairman and chief organizer of Anthrocon, one of the largest furry conventions in the world. He is a published author, and has acted as a volunteer emergency coordinator, entertainer, and auctioneer.
Midwest FurFest (MFF) is a furry convention that takes place in Rosemont, Illinois, usually on the second weekend after Thanksgiving. First held in 2000, MFF is presented by Midwest Furry Fandom Inc, an Illinois Educational Not-For-Profit Corporation that exists primarily for the purpose of holding an annual convention to facilitate education in anthropomorphic literature and art. It also facilitates the donation of funds to non-profit institutions, mainly of which promote the well-being of humans and/or animals. The convention is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 15,547 attendees in 2023.
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A fursona is a personally claimed persona resembling an anthropomorphic animal adopted by a member of the furry fandom. Fursonas can provide numerous roles for the creator. According to The New Science of Narcissism, 95% of those in the furry fandom have at least one fursona; with the Anthropomorphic Research Project estimating that the average furry has between two and three fursonas over the course of their life.
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