furry

Furry refers to a member of the furry fandom, a subculture centered on anthropomorphic animal characters—animals with human-like traits such as upright posture, facial expressions, speech, and clothing. Members create and share artwork, stories, and media featuring these characters. A portion of the community also builds and wears fursuits, full or partial costumes designed to resemble specific characters. The community values creativity, self-expression, and collaboration across art, writing, role‑play, and performance.

Origins of the fandom trace to late 20th century science fiction circles and online art communities, with growth through the 1980s and 1990s as fans exchanged drawings and fiction. Furry conventions developed worldwide, with large gatherings such as Anthrocon, Midwest FurFest, and Further Confusion attracting attendees from many countries. Online platforms like Fur Affinity and DeviantArt host vast repositories of furry art and writing, while forums and social media facilitate discussion, collaboration, and community-building.

Today, the furry community is diverse in age, location, and background, with participants pursuing art, writing, performance, costume construction, game design, and social activities. The culture emphasizes inclusivity, consent, and safety, and many events publish codes of conduct. While adult-themed works exist in some corners of the fandom, public spaces and family-friendly tracks maintain clear boundaries. Conventions provide opportunities for education, collaboration, and mutual support, while online spaces connect members between gatherings.