Furry or Not?

[Alarien]

Anthropomorphized animals or people in cartoons sporting anthropomorphized features - NOT FURRY. For example: Dust: An Elysian Tale - NOT FURRY. Watching An American Tail, not furry.

Having sex or sex parties while wearing animal suits - FURRY.

One is just being amused or otherwise not freaked out by some anthropomorphic elements (i.e. fox tail/ears on a human character in an anime). One is a sexual fetish.

This is kinda why we can't have nice stuff. People take things out to their obnoxious end, rather than letting innocent things be innocent.

 

[sc1arr1]

I wouldn't consider it furry at all. I'm a furry, so when I think of them its in the vein of an anthropomorphized animal (like Fox McCloud for example). Something like spice in wolf is in the "neko" genre for me. I know that just means cat, but I can't remember if there is a specific name for the genre.

 

[Ratty]

...Do I really need to bring out the chart? I'm going to bring out the chart.

Spoiler

Spoiler: Or, alternatively

Since the escapist does seem to have a fairly large furry community but no one has as yet spoken for them, I'll do so. As a furry myself I can say some people would consider Spice and Wolf furry (or "Kemono" since it's Japanese) but it's all a matter of opinion. Most people wouldn't call you a furry for enjoying it, but they probably would call you a pervert. Liking that snake chick Miia totally does make you a Scalie though.

Anthropomorphized animals or people in cartoons sporting anthropomorphized features - NOT FURRY. For example: Dust: An Elysian Tale - NOT FURRY. Watching An American Tail, not furry.

Having sex or sex parties while wearing animal suits - FURRY.

One is just being amused or otherwise not freaked out by some anthropomorphic elements (i.e. fox tail/ears on a human character in an anime). One is a sexual fetish.

This is kinda why we can't have nice stuff. People take things out to their obnoxious end, rather than letting innocent things be innocent.

Not all of us are into the fetish side of the fandom (though most I've met have been) but even those of us who are are seldom only interested in that aspect.

I love anthropomorphic animals as an artistic/storytelling device as much as John Q. Public seems to enjoy zombies. And while I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of about that, I do generally keep it to myself because most people don't care or don't care to know. Really a lot of the reason the furfandom got so much hate in the past was a loud minority of unstable (and very socially awkward/imminently trollable) furries enjoyed sticking it in peoples faces all the time. Which is why it was the one "weird fetish" to get singled out in the world of weird fetishes that is the internet. The furry fandom learned to keep it to ourselves though, like the Brony fandom is slowly doing now.

Just so you know though, most of us don't have fursuites, they're expensive and uncomfortable. Most of us don't go to cons either, your average furry is probably just your everyday next door neighbor and you'll never know.

 

[Alarien]

Not all of us are into the fetish side of the fandom (though most I've met have been) but even those of us who are are seldom only interested in that aspect.

I love anthropomorphic animals as an artistic/storytelling device as much as John Q. Public seems to enjoy zombies. And while I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of about that, I do generally keep it to myself because most people don't care or don't care to know. Really a lot of the reason the furry fandom got so much hate in the past was a loud minority enjoyed sticking it in peoples faces all the time. Which is why it was the one "weird fetish" to get singled out in the world of weird fetishes that is the internet. The furry fandom learned to keep it to ourselves though, like the Brony fandom is slowly doing now.

Just so you know though, most of us don't have fursuites, they're expensive and uncomfortable. Most of us don't go to cons either, your average furry is probably just your everyday next door neighbor and you'll never know.

So, a couple things, I think the "Dangerously Cheesy" picture is fucking hilarious, because I grew up in an era when Chester Cheetah was still relevant.

Also, I never made a value judgment about sexually fetishizing furry-stuff/culture. I don't judge people who want to get down and dirty as a furry. Hey, if it floats your boat, go for it. It isn't hurting anyone. Personally, I think cat/mouse/dog ears and a tail on an otherwise regularly dressed person can be kinda amusing, because it draws attention, as it was meant to do.

That said, I think the furry community should generally keep a low tone. Just as bronies should keep a low tone (I'm a huge MLP fan but not a brony, there's a big difference between being a fan and identifying with a culture, though I have no problem with those that do). This isn't because "omg, weird!" but for the same reasons that I think that fanboys of any culture, genre, philosophy (political or otherwise), and religion should generally be semi-discreet. There's a far cry from promoting something and proselytizing. Some people know the difference and are able to moderate their public comments, but many do not, which hurts ALL the fans of something when one idiot makes all the others look bad.

 

[lacktheknack]

Furries are sexually attracted to animal traits, yes. However, finding a girl with cat ears hot doesn't make you a furry. Finding her hot BECAUSE she has cat ears probably does mean you're a furry.

And I just find fan service unwholesome in general, so I don't know what the reviewer is complaining about.

 

[anthony87]

I like Monster Musume,

Every time I see someone mention that I can't help but think of how it made sexy so many things that I didn't think I could find sexy.

Dat Suu.....

 

[Ratty]

So, a couple things, I think the "Dangerously Cheesy" picture is fucking hilarious, because I grew up in an era when Chester Cheetah was still relevant.

Not sure if serious. But yeah if you remember the mid 90s you probably remember something of Chester Cheetah. He even had a crappy SNES game, that's like the litmus test of 90s flash in the pan success.

Also, I never made a value judgment about sexually fetishizing furry-stuff/culture. I don't judge people who want to get down and dirty as a furry. Hey, if it floats your boat, go for it. It isn't hurting anyone. Personally, I think cat/mouse/dog ears and a tail on an otherwise regularly dressed person can be kinda amusing, because it draws attention, as it was meant to do.

Implying that furry is always sexual and therefore "an obnoxious end" gave the impression of a value judgment though that may not have been your intention. In any case, I think most furries would disagree that something has to be sexual to be furry, including many furry artists who don't do sexually explicit pictures at all.

That said, I think the furry community should generally keep a low tone. Just as bronies should keep a low tone (I'm a huge MLP fan but not a brony, there's a big difference between being a fan and identifying with a culture, though I have no problem with those that do). This isn't because "omg, weird!" but for the same reasons that I think that fanboys of any culture, genre, philosophy (political or otherwise), and religion should generally be semi-discreet. There's a far cry from promoting something and proselytizing. Some people know the difference and are able to moderate their public comments, but many do not, which hurts ALL the fans of something when one idiot makes all the others look bad.

I agree. If people are interested in something, they'll come to the fandom on their own. Personally I don't see anything wrong with displaying that you like something within the limits of good taste, like wearing a marvel comics t-shirt for example. But it becomes annoying once you cross over into trying to "convert" others or loudly "defend" your fandom from some ill defined and probably imaginary attacking force.

 

[Alarien]

I agree with most of your comments, Ratty, though I will say this: "Furry" as it is used in modern parlance has been used to discuss the sexual-fetishization of anthropomorphic characters. People who like characters with anthropomorpic features (i.e. An American Tail, The Secret of Nimh) and those who like anthropomorphic features (tail/ears) on otherwise human characters are not necessarily saddled with the label (and, thus, stigma, I know). Furry is used in modern speak almost exclusively to refer to those who find sexual interest in such features. Furries themselves may NOT use it this way, but the world at large does.

I did not mean to give an impression or value judgement on furries, you are correct. What I absolutely did intend to do, is judge people at large who assume that any anthropomorphic characterization is automatically geared at people who assume some sort of sexual fetish. I hear the word "clop" all the time. I have not once immediately assumed what the ponyporn community (a separate subset from bronies, in my opinion) assumes it to mean. I played Dust: An Elysian Tale. I loved it. I never once thought of it it remotely as "furry."

Furries are more than welcome to things that make them have a good time. People, on the other hand, are not welcome to assume that everything even going down that road, must apply to those who have turned something into a turn on, nor are they welcome to judge that.

 

[Casual Shinji]

To my understanding 'furry' is an attraction to animals in humanoid form (anthropomorphic). These pictures are human characters with animal traits.

Maybe both stem from the same place, but furries seem generally attracted to the animal part, while with the latter it's the clash between seeing something sexy mixed with something monstrous. You're attracted to it, but creeped out at the same time. See also mermaids.

 

[Supdupadog]

It's totes furry.

If the inclusion of animal characteristics, minor or more, sweetens the pot for personal preference, it's furry. Why else would the inclusion of those elements make it more appealing otherwise?

Look, fetishes are on a spectrum. You can like neko bait and not fur-suit.

 

[Calbeck]

Furry art, music, comics, fursuits, etc, all exist in a G-through-X-rated spectrum.

If you think that porn is what defines "furry", you probably think that being a Trekkie is about getting married in Klingon garb while reading Kirk/Spock slashfic. Or that anime fans are all about the hentai. Or (insert fandom and socially-irredeemable qualities of your choice).

What's "furry", then? Anything where anthropomorphized animals are a major focus, duh.

Anthropomorphized animals or people in cartoons sporting anthropomorphized features - NOT FURRY. For example: Dust: An Elysian Tale - NOT FURRY. Watching An American Tail, not furry.

Then you've never been to a furry convention. "American Tail" has been standard viewing in con-suites since it came out. Dust is likewise very popular with furries. So, in fact, are loads of similar games, comics and movies.

Remember Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Yeah, I'm about to bash up your childhood now: furries STARTED with TMNT and other anthro-based comics, way back in the '80s and '90s. It began as a sub-set of Comic-Book fandom, meeting initially at major comic conventions like SDCC. Soon, furries started publishing their own comics in TMNT's wake.

I hold here in my hands, a copy of "Equine the Uncivilized", Issue #6 --- in which TMNT crosses with a purely-furry comic. Yep. Eastman and Laird themselves drew panels for it, in which the turtles are throwing the comic's hero out of a bar.

The longest-running furry comic in history, which made it well into the triple-digit-issue range, was "Furrlough" --- purely a military/adventure title. Sorry, you had to look for specialty X-rated titles if you wanted some porn, just like other comic publishers did.

Furries would exist even if furry porn did not. That's just how it is.

 

[Killclaw Kilrathi]

Not even slightly furry, that's kidsune/neko which is part of the anime fandom. Furry is an animal with vaguely human features, neko is human with vaguely animal features. There's a distinction there and anime fans will eat you alive if you fail to make it.

 

[wulf3n]

In the wise words of 4chan... who the fuck cares. You either like it or you don't! does it really matter what other people call it?

 

[Little Woodsman]

Not to muddy the waters further, but 'Fan Service' is also such a nebulous term as to be virtually meaningless. Any time any character or performer is made to be appealing in any way could be considered fan service.
Character has glasses? That's a fan service.
Character has slightly better than average physique? That's fan service.
Character dresses modestly? That's fan service.
Don't even get me started about how it's so universally accepted in live-action venues (movies, TV, sports etc...) that it doesn't even really have a term to refer to it, but if it's in animation it's some kind of perversion....

 

[TomWiley]

Is it an anthropomorphic animal? No, it's a chick with fox ears.
Then it isn't really a furry now is it?

 

[Muspelheim]

The examples provided aren't what I'd consider furry myself, though. For what my judgment on the matter is worth, I'd say the line goes wether they are actually furry or not. Like the word would imply.

I'm a furfag light, I suppose. I don't have any intention of going deeper, really. I like bobbing along on the surface, the things you start to see when you dive deeper is really rather creepy.

Of course, the citizenry of the internet are unable to think in anything but binary terms, and the slightest involvement means you are a fursuiting otherkin yourself. Well, much like how liking one single anime film immediately makes you a weeaboo of the worst kind, I suppose.

But then again, the furbuggery charges wouldn't be so damning and immediate if it weren't for the dramaqueens making such utter fools of themselves. With things like "fursecution" miasming about, it's not that strange that the term and what it represents has some rather heavy luggage attached to it.

I decree that this is indeed furry

Spoiler: Thoth Image

Funny that it ''gives the fan service nudity an unwholesome tone''

That genuinely made me laugh out loud.

Those ancient Egyptians, and their anthropomorphised animals in unrealistic sexual situations! Look at Seth's treatment of Horus, or Hathor's effort to console him. It's like furry fan-fiction.

It's delightful, innit? I wish more modern religions were as utterly insane and colourful.

Wasn't Hathor's shtick that her mean counterpart was Sekhmet, the furious lion godess of War? It'd make those giant monster movies rather interesting, with a gigantic topless lion woman devastating a city. Imagine the mortal heroes visiting her equally insane friends and colleagues for help.

Sod it, I'm writing the script!

 

[loa]

Besides being wrong, it struck me as odd; so is anything with a tail or cat ears or anything that isn't strictly "perfectly human" a furry or furry bait now? Because this reviewer isn't the only person I've seen make this inference.

Of course they are.
The question though is why is this a bad thing and who gives a shit?

This is katt from breath of fire 2:

Spoiler

Breath of fire 2 is a great, critically acclaimed game.

Freya from final fantasy 9:

Spoiler

Some people regard final fantasy 9 as the best out of the series.

Anthromorphic characters are everywhere and it's a shame to see some insecure fuckwits perpetuate a negative connotation for them because someone somewhere draws porn of that.

 

[lord.jeff]

I wouldn't put it as furry myself but I have no issue with people addressing it as fur, namely because we lack a easy term for cat and ear only characters.

 

[chinangel]

okay so, Furry speaking here. none of those characters referenced are furries at all. Holo and Ahri are 'mimis', they have animal traits but are not true furries. Miia is a lamia, a long-standing monster from mythology.

You want to see furry? Check Starfox, Krystal. Furries are antrho animals standing upright, not people with cat ears.

 

[lionsprey]

No, those are all examples of monster girls generally if you take a animal/monster and a girl/woman and put them in a mixer you get a monster girl. if you take an animal, melt it down and pour it into a human cast you get an anthro/furry
other examples of monster girls are amoung other
Demon girls (sucubi devil etc)
centaur
mermaid
thinking furry/anthros are the same thing as monster girls is like saying a turtle is a fish