Congratulations! You're a Furry!
Welcome to the Furry Fandom!
You've already done the hard part -- you've decided that you enjoy cartoon characters as much as the rest of us. Maybe you're even willing to draw, write, or whatever creative fun you do best with rest of us while having a good time! (and if you're an artist, you can make some good money drawing everyone else's furries...)
That's not all, though! One of the big things that separates being a Furry from being a fan of Harry Potter or Star Trek or even a fan of a whole genre like Manga is that furries tend to make up their own mythos as they go, rather than having a corporation serve one up to you. You can bring your own original works to life!
Many of the other furries you consider friends and fans have their own personal characters they use within the fandom, as representatives of themselves the same way you would have a special avatar in a role-playing game that's unique to you.
This is called a Fursona (Furry Persona), and they have lots of uses you'll discover as you start to become more involved in the fandom.
The best way to figure out what they're all about is to make one for yourself!
Furries are on Twitter too!
Look what Other People are Saying about Their Fursonas!
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- feather_tail
- Yesterday was very busy with running errands and things. Going to try to write some more of !fursona story when I get back home this evening
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- MoufieBai
- is getting a custom hoodie made of my fursona! Awesome :D
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- Supatomic
- Drawing dogs for an hour. I draw em better than I draw people. Wonder why I have no fursona. Hrrr.
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- JL_Anderson
- @nerdycorgi That should be my new fursona. Except I'll be called "Corgay the Gay Corgi"
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- feather_tail
- #wordcount on Unreal's !fursona #story: 2932. This last past seems a bit clumsy, but I may be able to reword later on.
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- gen_lope
- @aritosuits im glad i keep the "fursona" disassociated w/ the persona
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- rev_yurodivy
- Finally got an #fa for my !fursona stories! Located here: http://tr.im/EH4m
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- rev_yurodivy
- Sediea's !fursona story finally has a name! It's called Mixed Blessings.
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- rev_yurodivy
- @alephgon Probably not! But we are working on a more toon-friendly !fursona verse (details to follow soon!) Rebirth is more realistic.
Step 0: Decide Why You Want a Fursona!
A Good Fursona Requires Plenty of Effort, so don't rush...
Furries are highly visual people. Most of the fandom's interest is in visual representations. By having your own illustrated character, you become easier to interact with inside of the fandom because people can tell more easily who you are!- Appealing characters are easier to remember than names! Sure, people won't remember who you are if you're SephirothLuver666. They WILL, however, remember a purple fruit bat with a giant crown and an ermine cape. Yes, both are equally silly, but admit it, you're not forgetting about King Batty anytime soon. Visual images have that effect on people.
- Everyone loves artwork of themselves! Even if you don't plan on purchasing commissioned artwork of your fursona, it's inevitable that someone will offer you fanart or try to draw you into something they're already working on. Since drawing human characters isn't nearly as interesting (or simple, in terms of certain art styles), a fursona provides an easy shorthand for almost ANY artist to illustate!
- Expressing yourself as a certain animal (or a combination of animals) can say a lot about what type of person you are! As humans, we naturally apply lots of symbolism to various animals. Dogs are loyal. Cats are independent. Foxes are tricksters. In a medium where face-to-face contact is rare enough as is, being able to express who you are in a convenient form is especially useful!
- The More, the Merrier! Just like many online efforts, the more people and things there are in something, the bigger and better it gets. By contributing your fursona to the fandom, you get to improve the fandom and make it more fun for everyone else!
- There's no Better way to Promote Yourself! Plan on selling some artwork? Want to feature your comic? Just can't keep quiet about how awesome you are? Your Fursona is a personal brand you can build off of, and even use to further your other goals within the fandom!
- Gain a Deeper Connection with the Community! Unlike being a fan of a TV show, where your interest may shut off as soon as your favorite actor disappears or the plot just turns in a direction you hate, creating a fursona gives you a piece of the fandom you'll always love to see!
Do You Need a Fursona to be part of the Fandom?
Answer the Question and Give Us Your Opinion!
Well, it's a fair question... some folks can't make a good character, others don't develop the same "connection" to their avatars as others do, and some folk just can't decide on a single character... are they at a disadvantage when dealing with other furries, or can they get involved just like everyone else?
Do you need a Fursona to be a Furry Fan?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes! That's the Whole Point of Being a Furry!
Kaya, Lone Wolf and Rogue says:
I would like a furry...i think i have a name..but i suck at drawing and digital arting...so idk if it'll work D:
Posted November 11, 2009
Pandora The Cat says:
not that you need to, but wheres the fun in being a furry if you cant put your fur on once in a while XD?
Posted November 05, 2009
kyusawamura666 says:
It's not that I *need* it, but I WOULD like to be something more than human. I always liked animals a lot, I always wanted to be one of them (conserving some human stuff; that's what being a Furry is all about xD)
Posted October 31, 2009
WolfOfNothing says:
i dont have a fursona yet, i cant draw and i want to be a wolf, but so many people are , so i dont know what species and what name to use, i can only think of one Greg
Posted October 21, 2009
An Unknown Stray Wolf says:
I need a fursona.. And I'm not too sure about the name..... But I'm looking for it. And I know its there deep inside me. I just gotta bring it out. Express myself...
Posted October 17, 2009
No! Can't I just look at the Pretty Pictures in Peace?
Nikki says:
No
Posted October 26, 2009
Nate says:
No, having a Fursona just means that you really are committed to being a Furry Fan.
Posted October 01, 2009
Xenia says:
I'm not shure,but I am a medium artist but not in this section,so probably...
No everyone who likes furry fandoms is welcome,thats my opinion...!!!
Posted September 26, 2009
Julio rabbit says:
no you dont fursonas re not based on the fandom i have a rabbit fursona called julio rabbit aka"mrrabbit" here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzMfUt9kXz4
i am not in the fandom i am at a furry website as a furry only for art purposes
only i dont have a fursuit or like em but well the answer is up to any one
Posted September 22, 2009
Heather says:
no you dont people might think so but you dont need to have a fursona to join the fun.
Posted September 10, 2009
Step 1: Select a Species
Hey, We Have to Start with the Basics.
The most obvious cue of your fursona will be its species -- dog or cat, fish or fowl, unicorn or dragon -- and it will also be one of the harder decisions you need to make as a result, as it's a hard thing to alter later on.
Granted, there's nothing keeping you from switching characters entirely, but it's much easier to justify a new wardrobe or hair color than it is an entire species-change.
There are thousands upon thousands of species you can choose from. Wolves and Foxes are the most common, but there's nothing keeping you from being your favorite breed of terrier, a gerbil, or even something a little more exotic like a horse, tiger, or kangaroo! If you're looking for something a little less... mammalian, lizards and birds are also just as useful.
If these seem limiting to you, or you just can't decide between two species you really love, there's no reason you can't combine two or three different animals together to create something that's all yours! And if you're really feeling daring, you can create an entirely new species all your own, that's as wild or exotic as you can imagine!
There's no limit to what's available to you; since it's all illustrated somehow, as long as someone can draw it, you can have it!
Already have a Species in mind?
Tell Us What You're Thinking!
Maybe you're already interested in the fandom because of a particular species, or you even already have a fursona you're looking to spruce up! If you do...
Step 2: Decide on a Color Scheme!
It'll save you a lot of effort later on, trust us.
Past the species, the next obvious thing about your fursona will be its color scheme. It may seem strange, but since people will eventually be trying to illustrate your character, having a color scheme they can stick to is incredibly useful.Just like picking a species that represents you, the colors you choose will also make a certain statement about you. These colors can be as muted or as wild as you like, but you'll likely want to pick anywhere from two to five colors you want to repeat over and over in your character.
Having Trouble Finding A Color Scheme?
Adobe's Kuler is an online service to help you find and make great color schemes!
Step 3: Give your Fursona a Wardrobe!
Clothes. Your Fursona Needs Them. Trust Me on This.
But clothes are just another way of expressing your character's personality! Even totally realistic fursonas (most domestic dog fursonas, for example) have special collars / bandannas / piercings or other accessories that don't look totally out of place on an animal, and these can be added to even the most basic fursona!
(Also, if you choose a fairly "common" fursona species to begin with, you'll need to do more and more to make them look unique and original...)
Using your Wardrobe for your Color Scheme
I recommend not using all of the colors in your chosen color scheme on your character's physical body, and leaving some of the colors to appear in their clothes.
It's far simpler to change / adjust your color scheme later by giving your fursona a new wardrobe than it is to dye their hair / fur!
Step 4: Accessorize!
Clothes Make the Man. Accessories Make the Furry.
Defining your character with a species, a color scheme, and a wardrobe is all important... but now it's time to realize you may want some additional traits to throw in, whether they be piercings, special hair dye (like streaks or highlights), a signature piece of jewelry, or certain accessories like a musical instrument, a weapon, or their favorite game console!Some ideas:
- Popular Fashion Accessories like purses, cell phones, and shoes can make or break a modern-themed character!
- Punk / Goth Accessories like collars, corsets, cinchers, and gauntlets / leg warmers can stand alone while still making a statement!
- Got a Job? Throw in some common accessories associated with it; from a cup of coffee to a laptop, If you use it on the job, it's fair game!
What About Fursuits?
Oh, the irony.
Step 5: Put it All Together with a Character Sheet!
(A handy-dandy reference to your Fursona for Everyone!)
Okay, so now we've put together everything that you like about your fursona; you've picked out a species, colored it the way you like it, decided what sorts of clothes it should wear, and even picked out some accessories to go with your character and pose them with!
Now, how are we going to tell everyone else about all of this in a simple way that allows anyone who wants to illustrate your character to do so easily?
Why, with a character sheet!
Also known as a character model sheet, It's a simple one-page graphical layout of your character's physical traits and details. You can either make one yourself, or work closely with a more accomplished artist the first time to have them craft a character sheet for you.
The general rule is that if it's something you think is important to the character, include it on the sheet. Don't go overboard focusing on certain details and leaving out others, though! Certain minimum details, such as the color of your character's eyes and hair, should always appear on your character sheet!
Learn More About Making Reference Sheets!
OMG, it's Another Squidoo Resource for You!
There's a whole other Squidoo lens that can teach you more about what makes a good character sheet once you've finalized all the details of your fursona!-
Design a Character Reference Sheet for Your Fursona!
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A character reference sheet (also known as a character model sheet, ref sheet, character sheet, or other similar terms) is a visual representation of your character, a few key accessories / weapons / outfits, and whatever else you think is needed to...
The Best Things to Have In a Character Sheet
If it's Worth Doing, it's Worth Doing Right!
While what you put to paper is ultimately up to you, Everyone likes certain things in a character sheet! Check out the ideas for things to include below (and if you have an idea of your own, you can add it to the list too!
Details, Details, Details!
They make your character come alive, so if you've more...6 points
Sample Outfits!
We want to know what your character should be wear more...3 points
A Front / Back Reference!
A MUST for striped characters and those with intri more...1 point
A Color Palette!
Picky about your fursona's color? Make sure to set more...0 points
Alternative Versions!
Multiple hairstyles? Alternative accessories? If i more...0 points
Step 6: Start Your Own Squidoo Lens!
(Okay, you can skip this step if you really want)
So what's a furry to do?
As luck would have it, you're already at the solution. Making a new Squidoo Lens all about your Fursona is a great way to consolidate everything about you and your Fursona in one place, from pictures to textual descriptions, twitter feeds to flickr archives... and if you're an artist, you can even use the lens to direct stuff back to your galleries / websites or post about your wares for sale!
If you don't already have a squidoo account, making one couldn't be easier, and you can start posting new lenses immediately! Don't worry about getting them all right the first time; you can always come back and add more, more, more!
"Want more?
Check out the
Best Furry Comics Ever!"
More Furry Lenses in Action!
More Stuff on Furries on Squidoo!
(Psst ... made a lens of your own already? Let me know and I'll add you to the list!)-
Design a Character Reference Sheet for Your Fursona!
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A character reference sheet (also known as a character model sheet, ref sheet, character sheet, or other similar terms) is a visual representation of your character, a few key accessories / weapons / outfits, and whatever else you think is needed to...
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How to Make a Lens All About Your Fursona
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Okay, so you've already gone and made a fursona! You've picked out how you want her to look, from her hair to her clothes, her personality, maybe even built a world and some friends... This is great. Now how are you going to tell me and the rest of...
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Stand out from the Crowd with Jigsaw's Conbadges!
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Sure, you get a "convention badge" at every convention you go to. But these are usually small, you only get to customize your name, and worse -- Except for a few conventions that have different badges for different member types, they all look the sam...
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The Best Furry Comics Ever!
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They're webcomics featuring cartoon animals, animal-like characters, anthropomorphics... whatever you call 'em, we got 'em! If you're a fan of the furry fandom, you can't go wrong reading these! It's just the tip of the iceberg, but we've got summar...
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MANGA vs. FURRY: Who Has the Better Cartoons?
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Come on, Anime is nice and all -- it certainly might be helping the fortunes of both animation and comic books as we know it -- but for all intents and purposes, we're still importing a culture that most of us couldn't even hope to be a part of. Eve...
Step 7: Up to you!
Show some Love!
Let us know if we've helped you craft your perfect fursona (Heck, feel free to link to a lens featuring yours!) or tell us what steps we need to add to the process!
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Reply
- Kitti Kitti Oct 27, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
- This was a great little guide, I've been working on a fursona for a while now and this gave me an extra little push in the right direction. :)
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Reply
- asfargone asfargone Sep 30, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
- you should include a format based furry editor so people can get the general idea of what they want to be. i wouldn't blame you if you don't though
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Reply
- Sitka Sitka Sep 25, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
- If I could ever find a way to upload the fursona I made at school, then I could use this. But it was helpful, thanks.
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Reply
- Reason Reason Sep 6, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
- Can't really say it helped me at all. Sorry.
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Reply
- Cloud A. Levi Cloud A. Levi Jun 16, 2009 @ 11:39 pm
- Hahaha...same as Sakura. Not what I was looking for, but awesome! XD
- Load More
It's All What You Make of It!
The more effort you put in, the better your Fursona will turn out. Don't just go with what's simple; put some thought into it!
Furry Books For You!
Reading Material is Always Good.
Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History/Here My Troubles Began/Boxed
Amazon Price: $19.73 (as of 11/12/2009) 
Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-characters and Cool Cat-girls of Japanese Comics
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/12/2009)
The American Journal of Anthropomorphics
Amazon Price: $9.50 (as of 11/12/2009)
Guess Who's Provided all This For You?
No, Really, Guess!
Lensmaster JigsawForte, aka Rachel Keslensky, has been a member since March 9 2008, has rated 23 lenses, favorited 36, and has created 76 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Ultimate "Bejeweled Blitz" Tips and Tricks!". See all my lenses
My Bio
Creator of the Webcomic Last Resort.
Check out what I'm doing lately on my Squidoodlist blog!
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A science fiction, fantasy, cyberpunk, steampunk, punk, gaming, anime... heck, it's an anything and everything convention! If you think nerds and geeks will get together over it, they will, and it's here! From fairy wings to Star Trek, Corsets to Ki... view lens -
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Sure, you get a "convention badge" at every convention you go to. But these are usually small, you only get to customize your name, and worse -- Except for a few conventions that have different badges for different member types, they all look the sam... view lens
Furry Merchandise from Last Res0rt!
She Made This Merch, too!
PIck up your very own Furry Zodiac Sign!
Why Wait for a Furry Convention to get Cool Stuff?
by JigsawForte
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