furries

Furries, or furry fandom, is a subculture of people who are fans of anthropomorphic animal characters—animals given human traits such as speech, upright walking, or expressive faces. Members often create and share artwork, stories, music, costumes, and other creative work that centers on these characters. A personal avatar or persona, known as a fursona, typically represents a fictional animal with human attributes and can be used in online profiles, role-playing, and fan interactions.

Activities within the community include drawing and commissioning artwork, writing fiction, and participating in online forums and social media. Many fans also attend conventions, where they can meet others with similar interests, participate in panels, games, and performances, and view or purchase crafts. Fursuiting, involving custom-made costumes that resemble anthropomorphic characters, is a prominent but not universal aspect of the fandom.

Historically, furry fandom developed from late 1980s and 1990s science fiction, fantasy, and animation fan cultures, aided by the growth of the internet. It has since become a global community with regional clubs, online networks, and a variety of organizational structures. Some conventions and groups conduct charitable activities or fundraisers, reflecting community emphasis on collaboration and support.

Demographics and culture are diverse, with participants worldwide and a broad range of ages. In general, involvement spans casual appreciation of art and storytelling to active creation, performance, or organizational leadership within the community. Misconceptions about the fandom—particularly that it is primarily sexual—do not reflect the range of motivations, which commonly include artistic, social, and imaginative interests.