InFurNation!
– July, 2001
“Take your stinking paws off me…
ConFurence Twelve came and went, this time at our brand new home in Burbank. You’ll find much more about what went on and what’s going to happen, later in this issue. But first, hear now the newts…
Dreamworks’ new computer-animated film Shrek proved to be worth the gamble (and the advertising costs): It not only was the #1 film at the U.S. box office for its premiere weekend in May (which almost no one expected), it has also thus far proven to be one of the only big-budget, big-hype movies of this summer with some real ‘legs’. With a $45 million take on that first weekend, Shrek had the third largest opening ever for an animated film (after Toy Story 2 and The Lion King). Talk is already circulating about the inevitable sequel (now said to be in ‘pre-pre-production), although as of this writing none of the lead voices (Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow) have signed on to it. [By the way, it’s hitting video and DVD this November – the DVD having a huge collection of back-up material, we hear.] As of this writing, Shrek has not only topped $200 million at the box office, but it seems poised to be the #1 film of Summer 2001…
…Unless, of course, the next big furry film for the summer (not counting Cats and Dogs, which has already premiered by the time you read this) decides to topple it. The challenger is 20th Century Fox’s remake of Planet of the Apes, set for release on July 27th. Directed by the great and always eclectic Tim Burton, this new film is a ‘re-imagining’ of the 1968 original. In this new version an astronaut (Mark Wahlberg) crash-lands on an alien world where chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans rule over human slaves. Hooking up with a band of human rebels (chief among them Kris Kristofferson and Estella Warren) and a human-rights activist chimp named Ari (Helena Bonham Carter), our heroes find themselves on the run from a crazed chimp general named Thade (Tim Roth). Needless to say, the marketing machine is in full swing for this picture… Look for comic book tie-ins from Dark Horse Comics, featuring not only an adaptation of the movie itself but spin-off story titles as well. The Human War, set in the century following the events of the film, is currently available with three different specialty covers. Also look for the Planet of the Apes 2001 novelization, and the Planet of the Apes 2001 Movie Scrapbook, both available from Harper Collins Publishers. While you’re at it, check out some juicy background details on the making of the original five Planet of the Apes movies with The Planet of the Apes: An Unofficial Companion. This 220-page illustrated book by David Hofstede features interviews, complete cast and production credits, and other goodies. It’s available from ECW Press. What’s more, The Planet of the Apes Chronicles by Paul A. Woods (from Publishers Group West) actually examines the story backgrounds of the first five original films through to Burton’s remake. Oh by the way, the new movie comes to video and DVD in November.
And hey, speaking of Cats & Dogs, look for it on video and DVD starting October 16th!
A great many furry back-up characters appear in The Princess and the Pea, a new forthcoming movie from Swan Animation and Feature Films For Families. Look for their web site at www.princess-and-the-pea.com.
Now is a good time to be a fan of the SciFi Channel’s popular series Farscape, as several companies are putting out new tie-in products for the show. Titan Publishing has produced the first full-color Farscape fan magazine, which is available on the shelves at your local bookstore. Also, GNP Crescendo Records has released the first collection of Farscape soundtrack music by Sub-Vision and Guy Gross. Farscape: The Illustrated Companion is also now available for season #2 of the series. From DC Comics’ Wildstorm division comes Farscape: War Torn, a 2-issue full-color comic book miniseries by Marv Wolfman and Robert Teranishi. And lastly, look for the brand new Farscape Role-Playing Game, released by Alderac Entertainment Group.
Premiering this fall season on PBS is Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, a new animated series created by well-known author Amy Tan. Sagwa the cat and her family – and her best friend, a bat named Fu Fu – live with a human magistrate and his family in ancient China. Find out more about them at http://pbskids.org/sagwa/.
If you’ve not yet heard, this fall’s new season of James Cameron’s science fiction adventure series Dark Angel (on Fox) features a new set of genetic mutant characters that are up-evolved cats. They appear human – mostly – but maintain some of their feline appearance and behavior. Add that to a new TV series about an entire town of werewolves (Wolf Moon on CBS) at it’s looking like quite a furry fall for live-action TV, of all things.
Also coming this fall is Disney’s The Legend of Tarzan, a TV series that follows the recent animated feature. Tarzan (and the apes and one elephant) try to teach Jane Porter about survival in the jungle, and she tries to teach them all about the proper ways of dealing with humans. The show is syndicated, so check your local listings.
Recently found on line: “On the distant world of Forestya, a civil war is being waged. The heroic forces of the Natures Militia are fighting to uphold peace and freedom for their people against the vile SpiderSect Empire. Knowing of the bloodshed this war will bring to their people, the Natures Senate secretly make ready a covert team with but one mission: To bring about the end of the evil plans of the Spidersect Empire. Housed in a secret base known only as Fortress Ironwood, this highly trained team of specialists is ever ready to defend peace and freedom wherever and whenever they are called upon. This group is known only as… NATURE’S GUARD”. That group includes an anthropomorphic raccoon, bear, wolf, cat, duck, elephant, and camel. Nature’s Guard is a new animated TV series from Canada seeking distribution, and will also be released in February 2002 as a comic book series from Warpton Comics. The TV series features several well-known names from the Star Wars movies as voices, including Peter Mayhew (as the bear), Jeremy Bulloch (as the wolf), and Warwick Davis (as the duck). You can see the cast of characters at www.naturesguard.com.
Recently found, and searching for syndication: Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus, a new animated take on several Greek myths and legends that features furry versions of several gods and heroes. It’s being produced for Saban International and Fox Kids. No word yet on a premiere date.
Now available on DVD are Sherlock Hound (the anime series by Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke)), The Underdog Chronicles (featuring original episodes uncut and digitally re-mastered), and The Felix the Cat Collector’s Edition (with 10 original full-color episodes from the 50’s plus lots of other goodies).
If you missed it in the theaters (and a lot of folks did), check out Monkeybone on DVD from Fox Home Entertainment. Brendan Fraser stars as a cartoonist who confronts his own crazy creation when he winds up in a coma. In the audio commentary, director Henry Sellick talks about what went wrong and what went right in creating this manic film.
Brand new from Antarctic Press is the first Gold Digger Original Animation on video and DVD. Featuring 25 minutes of full-color adventure brought to you by Fred Perry himself, Volume One follows Gina Diggers and her were-cheetah sister, Britanny, as they battle the dragon known as Dreadwing.
Coming in 2002 from Kid Rhino Video is Transformers: Beast Machines, the second season of Beast Wars episodes from the computer animators at Mainframe Entertainment.
Available now from Image Comics is a brand new full-color, 48-page one-shot set in the Tellos universe called The Last Heist. Rikk, the fox kleptomaniac, gets himself and his friends in far more trouble than he ever bargained for. His story is brought to you by original Tellos creator Todd Dezago, with art by Craig Rousseau and Norman Lee.
The very strange black & white comic Sky Ape (and we mean that in the nicest way possible!) is now available collected in a new trade paperback from AIT/Planet Lar. It seems that Sky Ape is a super-hero crime-fighting gorilla who likes beer and fancy suits. He may be an escaped science experiment, or he may be a former Boston Red Sox star. You heard it here folks.
Also on the shelves from AIT/Planet Lar are two collection trade paperbacks of Darick Robertson’s Space Beaver. One of the classic black & white furry comics from the early days of furry fandom in the 1980’s, this anthropomorphic space opera was Robertson’s first published work before he moved on to critically-acclaimed weirdness like DC’s Comics’ Transmetropolitan. All 11 issues of the original Space Beaver are collected in these two volumes.
Look for Peanut Butter & Jeremy: The Flibbledibble File, created by James Kochalka and distributed by Alternative Comics. In this all-ages black & white comic (which subtly spoofs modern adulthood), an old crow named Jeremy attempts to pull a scam on a recently unemployed cat named Peanut Butter.
Just before the beginning of Budd Root’s new Cavewoman: Pangean Sea series, Basement Comics has released Cavewoman: Prehistoric Pin-Ups, Act 1. This collection of black & white and full-color artwork brings together in one book some of the most popular of Root’s pin-ups and commission artwork, including works deemed too adult for the regular comic.
Manga importers and translators Comicsone.com have released Weed Volume 1, a 238-page black & white comic by Yoshihiro Takahashi. It seems that Weed, a young pup, believes he is the son of the legendary Boss Dog named Ginga. And now he’s on a quest to find his father – even if he has to fight every dog in the wild on the way. (Fair warning – This puppy is violent!)
Available now from Zeromayo Studios is Paleo Tales: Late Cretaceous by Jim Lawson. This black & white comic follows the realistic life adventures of a band of Dromaesaurs, small raptor-like dinosaur predators, in their fight for survival.
For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, everyone’s favorite teenaged werewolf gets his own comic book. New from Dark Horse is Oz, a new full-color three-part mini-series by Christopher Golden and Logan Lubera. The story follows Daniel Osbourne, known to his friends as Oz, when he travels to Tibet in search of a cure for his lycanthropy.
This summer, Archie Comics celebrates the release of issue #100 of Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is re-united with Princess Sally, but things go awry – and Knotwood loses one of its own. This issue also features a back-up story with Knuckles the Echidna.
Insight Studio Group, publishers of Frank Cho’s Liberty Meadows, has released a new book of collected illustrations by veteran science-fiction illustrator Gary Morrow. Titled Gary Morrow: Visionary, this 96-page hardcover includes many of Morrow’s pulp magazine covers, as well as his visions of scenes from Oz, Burrough’s Mars, and Tarzan. A special Deluxe Edition is also available (limited to 400 copies) which includes an extra color print signed by the artist.
Radio Comix proudly presents Hit the Beach 2001, a brand new collection of black & white furry seaside pin-ups. Featured artists this time around include Scotty Arsenault, Dr. Comet, Megan Giles, Daphne Lage, Naginata Matsurino, Daria McGrain, Mark Moore, Richard Moore, Joe Rosales, Ted Sheppard, Ayumi Shimano, Diana X. Sprinkle, Brian Sutton, Trump – and many more.
Shanda Fantasy Arts, home of Shanda the Panda, Extinctioners, and Katmandu, is now playing host to a new set of artists and creators. Included on the roster is Sheba, Volume 3, by Walter Crane IV. In this new segment of the black & white series, the undead cat-mummy is in for more trouble as Napoleon invades Egypt in 1799. Also released through Shanda is Circles, a slice-of-life comic by Andrew Frensh, Steve Domanski, and Scott Fabianek. This black & white series looks into the lives of six gay furry guys, of all ages and types, who share a townhouse together. Meanwhile, SFA is distributing The Tales of Perissa, Volume 1, for United Publications. This new novel by Brock Hoagland, with illustrations by Xanadu creator Vicky Wyman, follows the adventures of Perissa – newest member of the Assassins Guild – as she entertains herself and her customers. All these books are available at your local comics dealer – if not, check out Mailbox Books at http://shop.mailboxbooks.com. Hey, while you’re at it, look for the Giant Shanda Animal #6, where Heather Maranda writes and draws a story of the furs from Shanda as the cast of anime favorite Tenchi Muyo.
If you’re looking for funny animals of a very traditional sort, check out the new Skippy and Friends comic strip series by Rob Smith Jr. Look for them on line at www.robsmithjr.com.
The editor of Comic Book Artist magazine, Jon B. Cooke, now has his own furry comic title under his belt: Prime8, from Tomorrows Publishing. In this new black & white series, a group of mutant super-powered primates (gorilla, chimp, spider monkey, and others) work together to try and stop the evil plans of the mad genius who first created them. The first issue features a wrap-around cover by comic book great Neal Adams, plus action pin-ups by the likes of Sergio Aragones, Walter Simonson, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Bruce Timm.
Not to make matters confusing, but Image Comics also has a new title out, called Primate. This full-color miniseries from Beau Smith, Kevin Bernhardt, Mitch Byrd, and Ryan Odagawa, follows the adventures of an up-evolved gorilla who must help a human scientist find out who destroyed her lab and stole the rest of her research apes.
And more primates yet: From DC’s Vertigo imprint comes a new version of Angel and the Ape, this time in a four-issue full-color mini-series written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman and illustrated by Philip Bond. Issue #1 also features a cover by Monkeyman & O’Brien creator Arthur Adams – and special editions are available with a signed cover. Oh, in case you don’t know: The story’s about a blonde bombshell private eye and her partner, a talking gorilla.
Carnal Comics, home of S.S. Crompton’s Demi the Demoness series, has a new mail-order catalog for their many Demi titles and tie-in/crossover comics (often featuring furry guest-stars), including the new series Strange Bedfellows. If you’re into black & white comics of the decidedly adult sort, send them an SASE at Carnal Comics, P.O. Box 2068, Scottsdale, AZ 85252. Or look up their web site at www.demicomix.com.
Fans of furry mini-comics should check out Khepri Comics and the Sons of Osiris series by Brian Scot Johnson, Jared Jones, and Jay Willson which looks at the lives of the Egyptian gods in both ancient and modern times. Look for them on-line at www.khepri.com.
Richard Moore, creator of The Pound, Far West, and Boneyard (all from Radio Comics) has collected many of his erotic black & white comic stories together in a new trade paperback, Horny Tails. It’s available from the Amerotica imprint line of NBM Publishing.
For furries of a decidedly different sort, you don’t need to look much further than Disturbingly Distorted & Deliriously Demented Rabbits. This new full-color trade paperback collection of digital art prints was created by Dave Kupczyk.
Cartooning instructor Christopher Hart has been a busy guy lately. In addition to his new titles How to Draw Aliens, Mutants & Mysterious Creatures and Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics, Hart has released a whole new series of instruction books for young artists called Kids Draw. Instruction books in that series include Dogs, Puppies, and Wolves; Cats, Lions, and Tigers, and Knights, Kings, and Dragons.
Okay, this one is tough to explain: In the late 1800’s, the story goes, a wealthy eccentric named Alphonse Zukor began a series of illegal erotic cabaret performances involving nude women and exotic animals. The acts included such things as a living mermaid, a fire-breathing tiger tamer, and a Houdini-style escape from a pool holding a giant octopus. Supposedly, famous folks like Thomas Edison and Sigmund Freud were seen at some of the performances. Now, in the Animerotics Forbidden Cabaret book, artist David Delamare recreates the cabaret’s strange sepia-tone show cards. At the end of this 64 page book, one is left wondering: Was this real, or is Delamare putting one on?
New from Abrams Publishing is Jim Henson’s Designs and Doodles, edited by Alison Inches. This trade paperback features many of the late Muppet creator’s early posters, storyboards, and set and puppet designs, most of which have never been published elsewhere before.
And again in the something-completely-different department: The Star Wars Galactic Phrase Book and Travel Guide trade paperback. In other words, how to say it in bleeps, burps, barks, and blasters. At least we know the source is good: It was compiled by Star Wars sound effects man and language creator Ben Burrt, with illustrations by none other than Sergio Arragones.
New in trade paperback: John Grant, creator of the Guide to Disney Animated Characters series, now brings us Masters of Animation from Watson Guptill Publications. Words and full-color illustrations detail the careers of over 30 animation greats, including not only the old guard (Windsor McCay, Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, the Fleischer brothers) and the newer folks (Don Bluth, Hanna/Barbera), but also well-known names from anime like Osamu Tezuka and Hayao Miyazaki.
Fans of both dogs and cats will likely want to check out Mutts Volume 6: A Little Look-See trade paperback, the latest collection of Mutts comic strips by Patrick McDonnell. Watch as Earl the mutt and Mooch the kitty practice adorable expressions while their humans aren’t looking.
For those who’ve yet to discover Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson’s wacky world of the Hokas (teddy-bear like aliens who love to impersonate human history and stories in exacting detail), be sure to check out The Sound & The Furry: The Complete Hoka Stories. It’s available in hardcover from Baen Books.
A new SF novel earning rave reviews is Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. In a weird, magical yet futuristic dark-town called New Crobuzon, a human scientist named Isaac lives with his artistic lover – who has the head of a scarab. When an injured bird-man named Garuda pays Isaac to help him fly again, Isaac jumps at the challenge – but his attempts to help lead to disaster of hellish proportions. The book is available in paperback and hardcover from Del Ray.
Also new in hardcover from Tor Books is Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindskold. This fantasy novel follows the adventures of a young girl named Firekeeper, who spent her growing years among a race of giant, intelligent wolves – and who, it turns out, just may be the missing heir to the throne of a magical kingdom. Which life will she choose?
New for the furry web-surfer: Make sure to check out www.flayrah.com, a very active site of furry and other fannish news. Aureth and friends have done quite a job of assembling news items from many different sources. You’ll find them divided up into such categories as Furry News, Science Fiction News, Animals (for folks who care about the non-anthro sort) and even Eccentricities.
For the fan of on-line science fiction, comics, and animation, be sure to check out www.cosmicsodapop.com. Cosmic Soda Pop is a whimsical sci-fi series following the animated adventures of a space-faring pair named Gluke and Shpeel and their adventures on the planet P’zazz. The series was created by Terryl Whitlatch and Jonathan Bresman, researchers and character designers for Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.
In the now-we’ve-heard-everything department: Dork Storm Press, home of John Kovalic’s well-loved strip Dork Tower, now brings you the Pokethulu Adventure Game for role-playing excitement. “The monster in your pocket is cuddly, evil, and itching for action! Gotta catch you all!” You heard it here, folks.
And now for something completely different: A new version of that old game favorite Clue, but now set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Yep, it was the orc, in the treasure trove, with a vorpal blade. Available from USAopoly Games.
Furry fen looking for the latest in anthropomorphic video games should have a look at the Furry Videogame Database at www.furryvideogames.org. Lots of games for lots of systems, listed alphabetically and by the web master’s own reviewing-and-rating system. They even have news on upcoming games.
New from Rareware is Starfox Adventures for the Nintendo Game Cube. Here’s the skinny (furry?) from Nintendo.com: “The bold hero of the StarFox games for the Super NES and the N64 steps out of the Arwing and into a spectacular 3D adventure on the mysterious Dinosaur Planet. Wielding a staff with the skill and grace of a martial arts expert, Fox explores fantastic landscapes brimming with friends, foes, and magic. Veteran wingmen Slippy and Peppy ply Fox McCloud with sage advice and cool gear, but Fox’s chief sidekick on the ground is Prince Tricky, a royal triceratops who calls Dinosaur Planet home.”
Furries Are Where You Find Them Department: Recently, ReSaurus Toys in Columbus, Ohio had received an interesting request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the people who try to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Jeff Lutrell, an 11-year-old boy with leukemia, had made the wish that he could design and market an action figure, Razor the Eagle, from his own imagination. Razor, a mutant anthropomorphic eagle, travels the world battling crime with the help of his sidekick, Gizmo the Fighting Ferret. What’s more, Jeff had offered up Razor as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. ReSaurus and KB Toys agreed to take on the project, with the result that Jeff’s action figure is now available at KB Toys across America. $5.00 from the purchase of each figure goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.
Acrylic artist Robin Renton specializes in wildlife paintings and pet portraits – on rock, or on canvas. Her starting prices are $40.00 for rock paintings and $70.00 for an 8 x 10″ canvas, with many sizes available. Write to her at: Renton Originals, 6628 Cantaloupe Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91405, or check out her works at http://rentonoriginals.com.
We get all kinds here, folks…
Obituaries: Michael-Scot McMurry (furry artist and creator of Zonie the Coyote) left us on April 4, 2001, after a long battle with stomach cancer. Long a fixture in furry fandom, especially in Arizona and California, Michael’s battle and the resultant medical bills had been the subjects of a benefit comic book, In The Zone, from Shanda Fantasy Arts. Now in his memory the furry convention he helped to name, ZonieCon, is presenting the Michael-Scot McMurry Award for Conspicuous Integrity – an annual presentation to a notable furry fan “who manages to achieve the difficult task of earning their spurs without selling their ideals” [from the ZonieCon web site. Visit them at www.confurence.net for more information about the award].
Also this last year, science fiction and furry fandom lost two very well known authors.
Gordon R. Dickson passed away from asthma on January 31, 2001, at the age of 77. Though best known in science-fiction circles as the author of the ‘Childe Cycle’ books, which introduced the warrior race known as the Dorsai to the world, he will probably be best remembered by furry fandom for the many furry characters and races in his books and short stories. These included the gregarious, bear-like Dilbians (from Spacial Delivery and other stories), and – perhaps most famously – the Hoka, a race of teddy bear like aliens who love to impersonate human culture and legends. A quick look through Gordon Dickson’s work shows a tendency toward bears, and otters – in fact, an otter was the symbol on the shield of Mr. Dickson’s household in the Society for Creative Anachronism.
Poul Anderson, the other creator of the Hoka stories, passed away from cancer near midnight on Monday, July 31, 2001. He was 74. Though long one of the shining stars of “hard” science fiction (based on strong math, physics, and other tough disciplines), Mr. Anderson was also known for his whimsical tales – such as the Hoka, and Operation Chaos, a fantasy series which imagines a world where magic has replaced science, and follows the adventures of a werewolf detective. In a listing compiled a few years ago of science fiction novels with furry characters, Poul Anderson came out on top for number of books – interestingly, ahead of authors like Alan Dean Foster and Andre Norton.
… you damn dirty human! [General Attar, gorilla, in Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes]
ConFurence Twelve – At the Movies!
ConFurence Twelve (held last April) once again brought more than 700 furry fans from around the globe back to Southern California – This time, to Burbank (home of both Disney and Warner Brothers Studios). The Burbank Airport Hilton Hotel was our gracious host. So much familiar… and so much new. Once again ConFurence was brought to you through the courtesy of co-chairs Darrel Exline and Zsanene Klinkler. They’ll be carrying on as Co-Chairs for ConFurence 2002 (Furry Noir), but for now let’s take a look at some of the cool happenings last April.
There were Special Guests…
World-renowned fantasy author Peter S. Beagle joined us, on the weekend of his birthday no less. He was very intrigued with this, his first introduction to furry fandom proper, and said he was glad to see that new fandoms – and new fannish activities – are still being created. Animation writer and producer Jymn Magon was on hand to discuss his many well-known animated series (like TaleSpin and Goof Troop) and feature films (like A Goofy Movie). Meanwhile, our artist Guests of Honor Monika Livingstone and Mike Kazaleh spent much of their time in the Den of Dealers, selling prints and comics and airbrushed t-shirts and what have you – not to mention autographing their many works from the past!
You’ll be sorry if you missed ‘em!
Some of our favorite memories from ConFurence 12… Mike Kazaleh and Peter Beagle got to swap war stories about their experiences working for Ralph Bakshi – how often does that happen? Mr. Beagle let us in on a secret: A new live-action feature film of The Last Unicorn is in the works. Then there was the marriage of Mitch Beiro and Minerva Mink – trust us, if you weren’t there, you’ll never know! Our Friday night filk concert featured performances by Barry & Lee Gold, Kay Shapero, and furry author Michael Payne. And later on, our lively Artist Jam was a big hit, as 14 artists made quick sketches based on audience suggestions. (You have simply got to see “Jim Gort”.) And of course…
There were WorkShops.
Our Guest of Honor Monika Livingstone was a great help, leading our program of art instruction – including workshops in basic drawing, anatomy, and even airbrush technique. And Jymn Magon presented a very popular and well-attended double workshop on creating and marketing your own animated TV series. This is the kind of stuff we want to learn more about at ConFurence!
FurSuits were Presented…
ConFurence Twelve once again brought us the return of the FurSuit Lounge, where costume makers and their helpers could relax for a time – and, take in some fur-suiting how-to workshops while they were there. Also returning, of course, were both our Popular Vote and Peer Vote costume awards… in other words, the fursuits the fans liked and the fursuits the costume makers liked. Both types of awards were divided up into the Intro Division (those who’ve never won a costuming award before, here or elsewhere) and the Advanced Division (those with more experience and awards under their fur). Here then is a complete list of all the costumes honored at ConFurence Twelve (with our congratulations to each and every one of them):
Popular Vote
Most Popular Costume: Marrok
Peer Vote
First Place, Presentation: “Mr. Big” & Crew
Second Place, Presentation: Crosscheck & Red XIX
Best Ameteur Costume: Marrok
Best Advanced Costume: Red XIX
Runner Up Advanced Costume: Kitty
The ConFurence 12 Special Awards (for the Best Anthropomorphics of the 20th Century)
The idea of an award for the Best Anthropomorphic Films and TV Series of the 20th Century came up right after ConFurence 11. With the theme of ConFurence 12 being ‘At The Movies’, it made sense. And so, the idea came about: Accept nominations from throughout the fandom, and compile the top ten favorites from each of four categories: Live Action TV Series, Live Action Feature Film, Animated TV Series, and Animated Feature Film. Nominees were welcome out of any year from 1900 (don’t laugh – some of Windsor McCay’s stuff goes back that far) through 2000. As the year went on, members of ConFurence 12 were invited to vote on the best of the best. Then it was up to the Awards Committee (Greg Bilan, Rod O’Riley, and Fred Patten) to count the votes.
When ConFurence 12 came around finally, the winners were announced at a gala ceremony on Friday night, hosted by Shirotora. Clips from each of the nominees were shown (in an incredible compilation by Anneke Patchen) and our specially designed trophies (with art by David Bliss) were revealed. So here, now, are the nominees in each category – and the ones our members chose as the best!
Best Live Action TV Series
Nominees:
ALF (1986 – 1990)
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968 – 1970)
Beauty & The Beast (1987 – 1990)
Between the Lions (2000 – Present)
Dinosaurs (1991 – 1994)
H.R. Puffnstuff (1969 – 1971)
Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp (1970 – 1972)
Lassie (1954 – 1971)
Mister Ed (1961 – 1966)
The Muppet Show (1976 – 1981)
And the Award went to… The Muppet Show!
Best Animated TV Series
Nominees:
Steven Spielberg presents – Animaniacs (1992 – 1998)
Beast Wars: Transformers (1996 – Present)
Disney’s Duck Tales (1987 – 1990)
Kimba, The White Lion (1965 – 1966)
Pokemon (1997 – Present)
Road Rovers (1996 – 1997)
Rocky & Friends/The Bullwinkle Show (1959 – 1973)
SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993 – 1995)
Disney’s TaleSpin (1990 – 1994)
Steven Spielberg presents – Tiny Toon Adventures (1990 – 1992)
And the Award went to… Animaniacs!
Best Live Action Feature Film
Nominees:
Babe (1995)
Dragonheart (1996)
Francis the Talking Mule (1950)
Meet the Feebles (1989)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Stuart Little (1999)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
You Never Can Tell (1951)
And the Award went to… Who Framed Roger Rabbit!
Best Animated Feature Film
Nominees:
Animalympics (1979)
Balto (1995)
Bambi (1942)
Cats Don’t Dance (1997)
Fantasia (1940)
The Lion King (1994)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Disney’s Robin Hood (1973)
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Watership Down (1978)
And the Award went to… Fantasia!
Our thanks to the many folks who helped to set up the awards, and our special thanks to everyone who voted! Stay tuned… keep reading for more information about the brand new ConFurence Awards for the best in Anthropomorphics.
ANNOUNCING…
The ConFurence Group’s brand new Awards for the Best Anthropomorphics of the year. Nominations for the best furry stuff of released between January and December, 2001, are now being accepted in no less than nine categories:
1. Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture.
2. Best Anthropomorphic TV Series.
3. Best Anthropomorphic Novel.
4. Best Anthropomorphic Short Story.
- 5. Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work (Lyrics, poetry, comic strip collections, etc).
6. Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip.
7. Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine.
8. Best Anthropomorphic Published Art.
9. Best Anthropomorphic Game.
Award committee chair-being Fred Patten writes: Furry fans throughout the world are encouraged to send in up to five nominations in each category, since we want to make this for the “Best” internationally, not just what is published in North America. Since this is for the calendar year 2001, do not send in your nominations immediately. Rather, make a list of the works you have seen during the year so far and during the next few months. Nominations will open on December 1, 2001, and close on January 7, 2002. Send your nominations in during those five weeks, to: ConFurence Group, P. O. Box 84721, San Diego, California 92138-4721.
A Final Ballot, listing the five titles in each category receiving the most nominations, will be provided to all ConFurence members starting on January 24, 2002 (the first day of FURther Confusion 2002). Fans may send in nominations for the Awards without being ConFurence members, but they must be a member of CF 2002 in order to vote on the Final Ballot. Voting will close on Monday, March 18, 2002, to allow time to count the votes and prepare the trophies for presentation at CF 2002, April 26 – 28.
From the CF Mailbox
From Bob Dahl at mindspring.com:
Okay folks, you’ve heard the controversy, now have a look for yourself! Shawn Keller, long-time animator and closet furry fan-artist, has decided to make his name known in a big way with Shawn Keller’s Horrifying Look at the Furries. An extremely weird collection of over-the-top and gross humor, this is furry fandom as seen through the eyes of Basil Wolverton or Robert Crumb, if that’s your cup of tea. Is it yet another attack on a fandom that’s had too much unfair press? Or a collection of in-gags from someone who’s actually been there? Decide for yourself! [The black & white comic is available from 1aB Comix, and also on-line at www.furryfans.com. Your friendly ed-otter will keep his opinions of the comic to himself.]
Advertising in In-Fur-Nation:For those who’ve been asking, ads in In-Fur-Nation come in these sizes: 1/8-page “business card” size for $5.00 per issue, and 1/4-page size (4 1/2″ tall by 3 1/4″ wide) for $10.00 per issue. Full-page inclusions can also be arranged for $50.00 an issue. Check should be made out to ConFurence. Send camera-ready art and text to P.O. Box 1958, Garden Grove, CA 92642-1958.
(Many thanks to the people who helped provide information for this issue, both by mail and via Internet! Also, our appreciation to Previews magazine.)
Furry Stuff has ConFurence Stuff!
The original ConFurence General Store (for ConFurences 0 – 10) has moved to the new Furry Stuff web portal. Check them out at www.furrystuff.com to find out more – very soon, pictures of what’s available will be up on-line. Three of the popular ConFurence T-Shirt designs are still available for a limited time: “Furries in Force” (black on honey-color) by Eric Schwartz from CF7, “Furries in Love” (black and pink on grey) by Rachael Cawley from CF9, and “Sydney’s World” (Sydney on a colored globe on green) by Ken Sample from CF10. Plus, a very few of Mitch Beiro’s colorful “Furries in Space” T-shirts remain (write for sizes available). They also still offer the ConFurence Seven Highlights Video, as well as the brand new ConFurence Eight – Music and Mirth and ConFurence Nine – Furries in Love highlights videos too! And coming soon, a special combination video from CF5 and CF6! Not to mention many cool prints and extra Souvenir Books from past ConFurences! To find a complete list, visit the Furry Stuff web site, or send them an SASE at: Furry Stuff, P.O. Box 1958, Garden Grove, CA 92842-1958.
What, you’re looking for NEW ConFurence Stuff?
The ConFurence Group, home of ConFurence 12, has its own stash of stuff they want you to know about too! Still available are the full-color ConFurence 11 T-shirt designs by Shannon Stuart and CF 11 Guest of Honor Mitch Beiro, both for $12.00 each, and the new ConFurence Group ™ paw-logo T-shirt for $12.00 also. (Some larger sizes are $15.00.) Plus, remember to get your ConFurence lapel pins! That’s right, the paw-globe logo can be right on your neck for only $8.00. If you visit their web site at www.confurence.net, you can order this cool stuff plus ConFurence 12 memberships, Cabaret tickets, and more, on-line! For more information about new ConFurence merchandise, write them at:
The ConFurence Group
P.O. Box 84721
San Diego, CA
92138-4721.
And Now, just what you’ve been wanting to hear:
How do I keep up my Subscription to In-Fur-Nation? We’re glad you asked! After nearly a decade of functioning as a newsletter for ConFurence, and a furry newsletter second, In-Fur-Nation is expanding its role in the furry community by presenting you the whole length and breadth of furry: Not just comic books, animated films, picture books, and the rest, but the growing number of furry-themed fan conventions popping up around the continent, and around the world! So now, a subscription to In-Fur-Nation will bring you even more of what furry fans are looking for around the globe. Find out what to look for, and where to go! Brought right to your doorstep three times a year (spring, summer, and fall). And what’s it gonna cost you? A whopping $5.00 for a year’s subscription. That’s right, for a year. Just send a check made out to “Furry Stuff” (and note it’s for In-Fur-Nation), or heck, just send a $5.00 bill in a darkened envelope. (Trust us, it’s an old tradition in the ‘zine community. It works). To subscribe, to find out more info, or to send us notes for our Furry News, write us at:
In-Fur-Nation
P.O. Box 1958
Garden Grove, CA
92842-1958.
A Note to the staff members of our many Furry Conventions:
Hey! We wanna help you get the word out! Having a cool-looking web site is a neat thing, but remember: There are still a significant number of fans out there (furry and otherwise) who don’t use the World Wide Web, or who don’t use it to it’s full potential. For them, there’s this cool old thing folks on the Internet call Snail Mail. That’s where we come in! Send us information, and let us help you get the word out to over 1,000 furry fans, artists, dealers, and publishers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan… Look below for our reasonable ad rates, and don’t forget… send us text blurbs and you get in for free!
A Request to Our Readers:
Hey, got a favorite comic or book store that carries your favorite furry titles, or that you wish would carry more? Give us their address! We’ll send them a copy of In-Fur-Nation each quarter, and keep them abreast of the kind of comics and media that you would like to see on their shelves! Remember, they can’t order it if they don’t know it’s out there! As an alternate: Know of any good comic review zines or web sites that might be looking to trade issues?
Guess what? In-Fur-Nation is looking for Field Reporters!
As an on-going feature, we’re going to present profiles of furry creators and furry-oriented companies that are helping to promote products and media of interest to funny animal fans all over. So, like to help out? Know a comic book creator, animator, publisher, or other such person in the field who’d like to discuss what furries mean to them, or to the world? Talk to them, write down what they say… then give us a write-up, about 300-500 words, and we’ll include it as a blurb in an upcoming INF, and give you credit for it. [We do maintain the right to edit for clarity and length, mind you.] And hey, we’re looking for furry convention reviews and anecdotes too! Send hard copies to the Furry Stuff address above, or, you can e-mail your submission to Rod O’Riley at mink@firstlight.net.
For those who’ve been asking, ads in In-Fur-Nation come in these sizes: 1/8-page “business card” size for $5.00 per issue, and 1/4-page size (4 1/2″ tall by 3 1/4″ wide) for $10.00 per issue. Full-page inclusions can also be arranged for $50.00 an issue. Check should be made out to Furry Stuff. Send camera-ready art and text to P.O. Box 1958, Garden Grove, CA 92642-1958, or send email to mink@firstlight.net.
(Many thanks to Darrel Exline, Stego, Lee Gold, Mark Merlino, and all the people who helped provide information for this issue both by mail and via Internet! Invaluable help was also received from the web masters of the various furry conventions out there.)
And here’s a look at Coming Attractions…
More Furry Conventions All Around!
Here’s a quick look at some of the many furry gatherings popping up around the country, and around the world… hopefully, we’ll meet YOU at some of them ourselves
Other Conventions
| Midwest FurFest
Here’s the Nitty-Gritty: The Midwest FurFest will take place November 16th – 18th, 2001, at The Sheraton Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a nearby suburb of Chicago. (Same hotel as before)
The Guests of Honor this year are Matt McCullar, Mary Hanson Roberts, and Jessica “Ginger” Willard. Other notable attendees (and dealers!) include Susan Van Camp, Derrick Dasenbrock, and Richard F. Thatcher. Plus many more you’ve heard about!
The Sheraton Arlington Park is located at: 3400 West Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Tel: (847) 394-2000, and Fax: (847) 394-2095. Room Rates are $79.00/night for rooms and $160.00/night for suites.
Pre-Registration is $40.00 for Regular Memberships through November 1st, 2001 (and At The Door), and Sponsors are $65.00 always. To find out more, write them at Midwest Furry Fandom, P.O. Box 2574, Glen Ellyn, IL 60138-2574. Or, check out their web site at www.furfest.org for more information on guests, events, activities, and more!
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LosCon 28 Not a furry convention, just the local LA Basin regional con, put on by the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS). Furries should notice, however, that this year’s con has a Jungle Book theme… and the Guest of Honor is Patricia C. Wrede, who was GOH at ConFurence 10. Loscon takes place November 23rd – 25th at the Burbank Hilton – same as the current home of ConFurence! Find out more information about LosCon at www.loscon.org, or write to them at Loscon 28, 11513 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601. The ConFurence Group will be there – hope to see you too.
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Keep your eyes on this space in our next issue for more information about Further Confusion 2002 (FurCon University, January 24th – 27th in San Mateo, California), the Furry Spring Break (March 1st – 4th in Orlando, Florida) and of course ConFurence 2002 (April 26th – 28th in Burbank, California). And hey, speaking of ConFurence… take it away, Mr. Polar Bear!