“Ride like the wind, Bullseye!” [Woody, from Toy Story 2]
Coming up fast on ConFurence Eleven, folks! The grand-daddy of furry conventions has returned to its old stomping grounds: Orange County, California. And we’re here to tell you all about it – along with some other important news regarding this very publication. You might have noticed that the last issue of In-Fur-Nation went out more than a bit late. (Gee, really Rodney?) Shaddap! Trust us, you don’t want to know all that went into getting the last one out to you folks! There are some major changes taking place regarding what this very furry zine is about, and how it works, including new information on subcriptions – all of which we’ll explain to you later in this issue. But first, here’s some more of what we’re known best for: Furry news!
At the Golden Globe Awards for 1999 (held last January in Beverly Hills), Toy Story 2 took top honor as Best Feature Film (Comedy or Musical). Another Disney animated film, Tarzan, was honored when Phil Collins’ song “You’ll Be In My Heart” was awarded Best Song from a Motion Picture. Both that song and “When She Loved Me” from ToyStory 2 (composed by Randy Newman and performed by Sarah McLachlan) have been nominated for Best Song by the 1999 Academy Awards, which will be given out in March.
Also up for the Academy Award, this time for Special Visual Effects, are Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Stuart Little. Both films were very successful in 1999. Their competition for the award is The Matrix.
Disney’s Fantasia 2000 continues to break box office records. As of this writing it has only earned $26 million overall, but given that it is playing on only about 500 IMAX screens total, it has one of the highest per-screen box office averages of any film ever made. The first full-length animated feature ever created for the giant IMAX format, it will continue to play on IMAX screens until the end of April, and will then return on regular movie screens in the summer.
Reprinted from Entertainment Weekly #528: After 18 years and $380 million in ticket sales, the curtain will [soon] fall on the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. The mega-musical, based on the poetry of T.S. Elliot, will close on June 25th after 7,397 “purr-formances” [at New York’s famous Winter-Garden Theater — ROR], making it Broadway’s longest-running show. Cats has pranced into more than 30 countries, and still plays in London, where it originated in 1981. [Touring shows will still continue to travel the U.S. and Canada, of course! – ROR]
New on cable television from England’s Cosgrove-Hall (creators of Danger Mouse and Count Duckula, among others) is The Animal Shelf, a model-animation TV series for the pre-school set. The story of five rambunctious toys (two bears, a giraffe, a zebra, and a monkey with a fez) who regularly venture off their shelf, the stories are based on the children’s book series written and illustrated by Ivy Wallace. Look for it as part of the Fox Family Channel’s “It’s Itsy-Bitsy Time”.
Also new from Cosgrove-Hall is an animated version of The Fox Busters by Dick King-Smith (author of the original Babe, the Sheep-Pig). “Heroism has a new name – and that name is Chicken!” Voices in this animated series include Whoopi Goldberg, Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) and Jane Horrocks. At last count, they were searching for a North American distributor.
Recently finding an American distributor (namely Warner Brothers) for its video release is Noah’s Island, produced in the UK by Telemagination (who brought us The Animals of Farthing Wood). In this animated drama, a polar bear named Noah pursues his dream of turning his south-sea island into a haven for endangered animal species.
Brand new to video and DVD is An Extremely Goofy Movie; an OVA sequel to Disney’s surprise box-office hit. Formerly titled Max Goes To College, this new film does indeed find Goofy’s son Max heading off to university – and Goofy following right along, determined to prove his own hip-ness. He does this by showing his Xtreme-Sports loving son the joys of… disco dancing!
Discovered just last year, on video: Jingaroo, created by C.R. Conant and Mark Stokes and released by Beckett Entertainment. From the web site (www.jingaroo.com ): “The video series, which uses the same 3-D animation software as “Titanic”, is geared toward children ages 2-11 and features the adventures of a soccer-playing Kangaroo and his unique crew of Outback friends, Humpty Doo the Koala bear, Victoria the Emu, Sydney the Frilled Lizard, Jabiru the Tasmanian Tiger, and Toot and Snoot Groote a pair of Marsupial Moles. Together, they explore and discover the exotic three-dimensional world down, down under and meet many new friends along the way”. For more information, contact Beckett Entertainment, 15850 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75248-3308.
In case you haven’t seen it yet: The character that furry fans most paid attention to in Don Bluth’s film Anastasia has returned on his own in Bartok the Magnificent, available from Fox Home Entertainment. This time the talkative white bat and his new friends must band together to save Prince Ivan from the clutches of the evil witch Baba Yaga. The video and DVD feature several new songs by Lynn Ahrens, who way-back-when composed several well-known tunes for Schoolhouse Rock. To find out more, check out Fox’s Bartok web page, www.bartokthemagnificent.com, or check out the Bartok fan page at http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Louvre/2699/Bartok.html.
And now it’s time for some catching up on last year’s furry comics…
Now available from Dark Horse Comics is the Drakuun: Shadow of the Warlock trade paperback, collecting the six-issue space adventure series from Outlanders creator Johji Manabe. 160 pages in black & white.
Before it disappears, check out the Weasel Guy mini-series from Steve Buccellato and Image Comics. The world’s greatest super-hero (see, he was bitten by a radioactive weasel. Yes.) decides to hang up his costume and instead try to make it as a celebrity in Hollywood. Alternate issues of the comic feature a special cover by Chris Bachallo.
Speaking of Image Comics, keep your eyes on the full-color (and very furry) fantasy series Tellos by Mike Wieringo. Seems like every other month they’re coming out with a special collector edition, valuable alternate covers, posters, and other such goodies.
Having come nearly to the end of the main story-line of Bone, creator Jeff Smith has moved on to a side-series, Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails (aka The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero, and also publised by Cartoon Books). This mini-series (in black & white, of course!) follows the adventures of the original founder of Boneville as he teaches the local rat creatures a thing or two.
Different sort of comic we ran across… Marshall: Godling of War, a two-part black & white mini-series by Brian Clopper (published by Avatar Press). It seems that the future God of War has run away from his duties, and instead has headed off to explore the magickal land of Cascade – aided by a golem, and a telepathic dragon named Fred. Yes.
Watch for issue #5 of Steve Conley’s Astounding Space Thrills from Day One Comics. It seems that a NASA monkey, thought lost in a 1950’s space-shot, has returned… and plans to conquer and rule the earth! 40 pages in black & white.
Now available from MU Press and Donna Barr is the collected adventures of Hader and the Colonel (from the pages of Zu and other publications. If you’ve yet to meet them, it’s like this: Hader is a young rabbit, turned semi-human by a magic spell. His partner in … adventure is an aged male warrior-harpy. Together, they are a very odd pair indeed.
Shanda Fantasy Arts recently released the Katmandu Annual #1, a 48-page black & white collection of new stories set in Carole Curtis’ fantastic furry universe. The ‘mane’ story is a collaboration with Mary Hanson-Roberts in a Katmandu and Here Comes A Candle crossover story. Also featuring works by the likes of Shawntae Howard, Mel. White, Steve Corbett, Steven Gallacci, and others. Oh, and while we’re mentioning SFA folks… Carla Speed McNeil recently gave us Mystery Date, a two-part mini-series spun off from her award-winning Finder. Look for it before it vanishes. (It’s released under Light Speed Press, not Shanda Fantasy, though!) Brand new stuff at Shanda Fantasy includes issue #1 of Wild Frontier by Todd Starr and Mitch Sonoda. It’s described as ‘furries in space, with a twist, for the whole family!”. SFA Spotlight #7 features Tales from Supermegatopia, based on a popular furry web comic. Follow the adventures of Buxom Girl, the Men Men, and the Mighty Yak! And finally, in May, look for Richard Thatcher’s Tales of the Morphing Period Annual #1 for more tales of a world transformed by a mutagenic virus.
Recently making the rounds on a lot of furries’ lists is the full-color comic Tohubohu by the Bier Brothers, Alberola, Byrant, and Worley. Basically, it’s bad-ass humans vs. bad-ass mutant mammals vs. bad-ass mutant reptiles, all struggling for control of a far-future planet earth. If you don’t mind that the furries and the scalies in this one are your basic bad-guys, pick this one up.
Also recently discovered is Rabbit, a black & white funny-animal fantasy-adventure comic by David and Daniel Hedgecock. It concerns the adventures of one Prometheus the rabbit, would-be hero, and his chicken-steed Hork. From Sharkbait Press.
Don’t miss Zorch! Comics by animator and Captain Jack creator Mike Kazaleh. More cynical, angst-ing furs per panel than you’re ever likely to see… from East Willis Productions.
For furries of a manga sort, look for Panku-Ponk by Tachiri Haruko. This black & white comic from Ironcat follows the adventures of a giant, round, fluffy rabbit – who thinks he’s human – and his young human friend Bonnie.
A new one-shot anthology comic from Moonstone is called Moonstone Monsters: Werewolves. It features a trio of scary shape-shifter stories by the likes of Gentile, Storrie, Ulanski, Bianco, Davis, and Wolak.
NBM presents the latest comic-book adaptation of Sir Kenneth Grahame’s famous Wind in the Willows, this time adapted and illustrated by Michel Plessix. Each chapter is presented as a single stand-alone hardcover book with full-color illustrations.
Several comic book series and mini-series based on the Star Wars universe have appeared in 2000, and all of them feature interesting alien species. Perhaps the furriest of them (literally!) is the Star Wars: Chewbacca 4-part mini-series from Dark Horse Comics. The story features several well-known characters, and some lesser-knowns like Chewbacca’s father and mate, sharing stories about their friend’s adventures as a young wookie.
Now out from United Publications is the second book-form collection of Eric Schwartz’ popular web-comic strip, titled Sabrina Online Year 2: The Sequel. It features not only art and story by Mr. Schwartz, but contributions from several guest artists that help take a look at Sabrina the skunk’s life at college, and on the Internet. Also coming soon from United is the hardcover novelization of Paul Kidd’s well-known story Fangs of K’aath. Featuring all the adventures of the story-teller Sandrhi, her friends, and her enemies. Featuring over 30 illustrations by Monika Livingstone.
Gary and Rhonda Shipman’s award-winning furry/fantasy comic book series called Pakkins’ Land has been re-released by Image Comics. The Collection Volume 1 features issue #1 and #2 of the original black & white series, and features a brand new cover by Gary Shipman.
New from Ironcat comics is Dragon Wars Volume 1, a trade-paperback manga. Ryukihei’s graphic novel follows that adventures of Lufiak Duel as he attempts to rid his land of evil with the help of several dragons.
Another new manga to look for is Aqua Knight from Viz Comics, brought to you by Battle Angel Alita creator Yukito Kishiro. On an ocean-covered planet called Marmundo, kings rule islands scattered throughout the great sea, and knights ride the backs of orcas.
Word is out from Bongo Comics (publishers of various Simpsons titles) that Hopster’s Tracks #2 will finally be hitting the shelves in April. Stephanie Gladden once again brings us the adventures (in black & white) of Melba the enthusiastic kangaroo, Jake, her friend the would-be cool wolf, and Jake’s young sister. The first issue of this wild humor series was very popular, especially among the furry fans.
Also returning to the pages of comic-dom is Wandering Star creator Teri S. Wood, who now brings us the new fantasy series Darklight. In Darklight: Prelude #1 (of 3), we meet two characters trying to escape from difficult paths, and find a normal life. Unfortunately, when they move into the old gothic mansion on the hill, they find life anything but normal. Life in the mansion includes a resident shape-shifter, a grumpy gargoyle, and an intelligent cat. From Sirius Entertainment.
Two more from Sirius: A wild new black & white from Jill Thompson is called Scary Godmother, which features a matriarchal witch and her adventures in the Monster Union. The current mini-series, Wild About Harry (part 3 of 3 hits the stands in April) tells of an enthusiastic but rather clumsy werewolf. Also, The Dark One’s Animal Mystic spin-off series Klor has been collected in a new trade paperback, along with new art and sketches.
Out now from Radio Comix is the premier issue of Eureka, a new black & white furry comic by Sutton, Howell, and Moore. After an alien invasion following World War II, a group of scientists makes an amazing – and very dangerous – archeological discovery. Also from Radio Comix and Richard Moore comes The Pound, a new furry one-shot. In a world where humans and intelligent animal hybrids co-exist, two felines named Kat and Caleb try to make a decent living. Mr. Moore, you may recall, was the creator of Far West.
The mind of Mark Evanier brings us Superman & Bugs Bunny #1, from DC Comics. Yes, you read that right. It seems that two characters with an aversion to ‘normal reality’, Mr. Mxyzptlk and the DoDo, have decided it would be fun to fool around with the DC and Warner Brothers universes. How our heroes and their friends put things back to normal is the story you’ll find in this 4-part full-color mini-series.
Coming soon from Antarctic Press: Gold Digger month! Fred Perry’s popular furry/manga comic series is featured in a new full-color poster, a new Gina Diggers T-shirt, and the premier of the very first Gold Digger Swimsuit Special (featuring art and stories by Ben Dunn, Joe Wright, Ted Nomura, and of course Fred Perry. And it’s in color too!).
Good news for fans of Linda Medley’s fantasy comic Castle Waiting. It’s to be published once again, this time by Cartoon Books (home of Jeff Smith and Bone). The original seven black & white issues will first be reprinted in a trade paperback collection (titled The Lucky Road) in May. Then, in July, a new Castle Waiting #1 with new stories and art will premier. Also, Linda and Jeff are hard at work on a Castle Waiting/Bone crossover story.
Top Shelf Productions is presenting a re-release of Bughouse by Steve Lafler. Originally released by Cat Head and now presented as a graphic novel, this allegorical story follows a band of insectoid jazz musicians through the tumultuous 1950’s as they aim for success – and try to avoid the temptations of the deadly drug known as ‘bug juice’.
Recently stumbled across: Kira, written and illustrated by Riccardo Crosa and published by Phoenix Enterprise Publishing Company of Italy. The first in a series called ‘No Words’, this no-dialog black & white comic (perfect-bound) tells the adventurous story of Kira, a young cat-woman, as she searches for food, fights a giant monster, and saves a damsel in distress. The things you find in furrydom…
Far Side creator Gary Larson recently returned to writing with There’s a Hair in my Dirt! Less a comic strip than an illustrated story, it follows the adventures of a whining worm as he learns the errors of his ways. In black & white from Harper-Collins Publishers.
The blurb for Black on Black, a new novel by K.D. Wentworth, goes like this: “Frankly, he preferred humans. Rescued from a slave market by a human trader and raised as his son, one question has haunted Blackeagle through the years: Who – or what – is he? He feels human. So what if he’s 7 feet tall, furry, and has retractable claws? Human is as human does, right?” Find out for yourself. It’s available now from Baen Books.
A new short-story collection is available from Putnam, called In the Shadow of the Gargoyle. Featuring stories by the likes of Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, Jane Yolen, Charles L. Grant, and others, all writing about those mysterious stone creatures who guard over us… and watch us.
If you’ve not yet come across it (and we know several furries have!), check out the unusual hardcover novel Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia. It’s a noir-ish detective story with it’s own sort of twist. It seems that dinosaurs did not die out — instead, they live among us every day, wearing clever disguises. Vincent Rubio is a velociraptor who is also a private detective. While investigating an arson fire at a hip dinosaur dance-club, he uncovers a frightening story that may lead him to discover the reason behind his partner’s violent death. Mr. Garcia is currently at work on his first sequel, Casual Rex.
ConFurence 11 Guest of Honor Christopher Rowley returns with a new book, the first in a new series: The Ancient Enemy, first in “The Books of Arna” series. Explorations (a science-fiction review zine put out by Barnes & Noble Books) calls it a cross between Planet of the Apes and Animal Farm. It seems that earth is now populated by the monkey-like mots and mors. To them, “Man the Cruel” is simply a legend from ages past. But young Thru Gillo is about to discover that legends can be real – because Man is back! From Penguin/ROC.
For those who are fans of the reptilian sorts, make sure to look for Harry Turtledove’s alternative-history World War series (from Ballantine/Del Rey). The basic concept is this: During World War II, the earth was suddenly invaded by a reptilian species that calls themselves The Race, distracting us from our fighting and changing history… from then, until now. After a time, it was found that they weren’t going to wipe us out, and we weren’t going to drive them away… so a very uneasy truce was declared, and The Race have been sharing half the planet with us for a while. In the latest book, Colonization: Down to Earth, it’s the 1960’s, and humans and lizards have been stealing technology from each other long enough to make their fighting even more intense and complicated than before. Trouble is, a growing number of humans and lizards are becoming friends, and they just want the fighting to end.
A new collectable from Dark Horse Comics shows us a different view of Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo. An 8” tall statue features a young Usagi riding on the shoulder of his sensei, Katsuichi.
Looking for a different sort of plushie? How about something completely original? Wildlife Originals (Sculptures in Synthetic Fur) is a company begun by sculptor Joan C. Stevenson of British Columbia, Canada. She creates realistic, life-like furry models out of artificial materials, each one different from the last. To receive her example sheet (with full-color pictures), write to her at: Wildlife Originals, c/o Joan C. Stevenson, R.R. #1 Site 16 C30, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada. You can also sample her works at her web site: www.yukonweb.com/arts/wildlife .
From < R———@aol.com >:
The Zaddack Tales by Karen Daniels
Move over Lassie, there’s a new savior in town: The sacred zaddack, One Who Knows. The fate of the entire universe rests on the flanks of these psychic animals, introduced in the new series by Karen Daniels. Drawing on her animal psychology degree and work as an exotic animal trainer, Karen’s Zaddack Tales are fur-filled books that track the last humans in the universe. In book one, Dancing Suns, Bioguards–hairy, space-faring mercenaries–attack humanity’s final sanctuary on Riatha. Serall and her zaddack, who share a psychic bond, flee, to survive among the Riathans who spout the prophecy: When the time of the two suns is to end, a zaddack will be sent forth, One Who Knows, to lead those who are chosen to the land of the blue sky. Serall’s duty to find the last humans is challenged when she meets an oreseeker who bequeaths to her the key to crysolium, ore that holds the
power of life and death. In the second book, Mentor’s Lair, meet mentor–a transcendent, shaggy ice creature, and in book three, Citttchil, a yeah-high red-furred translator.
Dancing Suns’ projected release is late March 2000. Mentor’s Lair and book three are soon to follow. From Vivisphere Publishing, http://www.vivisphere.com
Obituaries: By now the entire world has read of the death of Peanuts creator and comic strip legend Charles M. Schultz (known to his friends as “Sparky”), taken from us by stomach cancer on February 12th. Most folks have probably also read of the rather odd circumstances surrounding his final work: He completed on last color Sunday strip, saying good bye to his world-wide fans, and it ran as scheduled – on the day after Mr. Schultz died. At the request of the Schultz family, no other person will try to take up writing or drawing the Peanuts strip – which means not only the end of Charlie Brown, Lucy Van Pelt, and all the rest, but the end of Snoopy and Woodstock – and their endless imagination. They will be missed by funny animal fans the world over.
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 highlights video too! And coming soon, the Highlights Video from ConFurence Nine, and 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 11, has its own stash of stuff they want you to know about too! Available right now are brand-new full-color 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, for the first time we present 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 11 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 For What You’ve Been Waiting For: 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 looking to expand 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!
Advertising in In-Fur-Nation: As before, ads in In-Fur-Nation come in two 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. We also offer full-page inclusions for $50.00 per issue. Check should be made out to our new publishers, Furry Stuff. Send camera-ready art and text to P.O. Box 1958, Garden Grove, CA 92642-1958. By the way, just getting a mention in In-Fur-Nation is easy: Send us information (snail-mail or e-mail), and we’ll reprint it in our blurbs section verbatim, with minor corrections for spelling and grammar.
(Information in this issue provided by Mark Merlino, Rod O’Riley, Jed Martinez, Darrel Exline, and the staff of ConFurence.)
“Etch, draw that man in a chicken suit!” (Buzz Lightyear, from Toy Story 2)
And Now, the Winning Lyrics from ConFurence 10
The ConFurence 10 Filk Song Contest, held last year, was won by none other than well-known filk singer/songwriter Leslie Fish. Here then are the lyrics to her winning song!
INVASION
(c) 1998 by Leslie Fish. Tune: “Saro Jane” variant
What’s that swooping from the sky? Meow, me-ow.It’s so bright it hurts the eye. Meow, me-ew.
It’s smooth and round and settling down in our back yard here.
Do cans of catfood ever fly? Meow, me-ew.
It looks like it’s come to land. Meow, me-ow.
Big around as a garbage can.Meow, me-ew.
Are there mice or food inside? Toys we can play with?
Crouch and watch, and make our plans. Meow, me-ew.
Now one end has opened wide. Meow, me-ow.
Watch and wait. Be still and hide. Meow, me-ew.
There’re creatures walking out, gray as a mouse is.
Wait until they’re far outside. Meow, me-ew.
Pounce and nip and bat the things. Meow, me-ow.
It threw something! Ooh, that stings! Meow, me-ew.
Bash and grab and shake ’em hard. Teach ’em a lesson.
Claw their hides to tattered strings. Meow, me-ew.
Smell if they be good to eat.Meow, me-ow.
Yuck! They smell like rotten meat! Meow, me-ew.
Still, they’re fun to bat about, though they’re not moving,
Tear away the heads and feet. Meow, me-ew.
Look, the round thing closed its door! Meow, me-ow.
Now it’s rising. See it soar! Meow, me-ew.
Leap and try to bring it down. No, it’s too high now.
It won’t come back anymore. Meow, me-ew.
Let’s sit down and clean our fur. Meow, me-ow.
Groom our whiskers, yawn and purr. Meow, me-ew.
Let’s bury all those shredded parts deep in the catbox.
I wonder what those creatures were. Meow, me-ew.
Furry Conventions Coming Your Way This Year!
The World Animation Celebration
The next World Animation Celebration will be held May 30 – June 4, 2000, in Hollywood, California. The WAC incorporates the World Animation Competition, the International Business Conference for Television Animation, the Big Animation Internet “Pow Wow”, the World Animation Trade Show and Recruitment Expo, and the World Animation Marathon. [Whew!] The main events will take place at the newly restored Grauman’s Egyptian Theater. For more information, check out their web site at http://www.animag.com/wacfest.
Anthrocon ’99
The largest furry con east of the Rockies will be held June 30th – July 2nd, 2000, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
This year’s Guests of Honor include: Paul Kidd (Mus of Kerbridge) and Sara “Caribou” Palmer (Artist).
Registration is $35 until June 15th, 2000, and $40 thereafter and at the door.
Hotel Information: Hilton Valley Forge (610) 337-1200, x7148 or (800) TRY-VFPA (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm Eastern Time)
For More Information: Anthrocon, Inc., P.O. Box 270, Devault, PA 19432. E-mail: anthrocon@anthrocon.org. Web site: http://www.anthrocon.org
G-Fest 2000
The first and largest convention for fans of kaiju (Godzilla and other giant monsters of Japan) will once again be held in Southern California for the year 2000. The dates are August 14 – 16, at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California. Among the special guests will be Haruo Nakajima, who was the man inside the Godzilla suit from the original 1954 Godzilla right up to 1972. Check out www.g-fan.com for more details, or write to them care of DAIKAIJU ENTERPRISES LTD., Box 3468, Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada R0A 2A0
Gargoyles World Tour: The Gathering 2000
Word is out that the next Gathering for fans of Disney’s popular TV series Gargoyles will be held August 4 – 6, 2000, at the Ramada Inn Resort and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida – Home of Walt Disney World. Memberships are $30.00 (plus $25.00 for the special dinner) before March 31, 2000, and $40.00 for membership before June 30, 2000 (dinner price remains the same, but reservations run out after June). And of course, they’ll be offering special discount WDW admission rates for Gathering members. Also, they have a special contest to name their mascot, a female ‘panther-goyle’. To find out more, write to them at: The Gathering 2000, 508 West Plantation Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Or, check out their web site at http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/g2k .
Feral! 2000
August 16 – 20, 2000, at the Kinark Outdoor Centre, Ontario, Canada. Thus far, the world’s only Furry Summer Camp.
Those with net access can visit the new Feral! web site ( http://www.campferal.org ) for the latest details. You can also send email to info@campferal.org , or write to: Feral!, Box 47008, Sheridan Mall P.O., Mississauga ON, L5K 1T9, Canada.
Watch this space in July for more info on Eurofurence (August 10 – 13, in Gottingen, Germany), Mephit Furmeet (September 1 – 4, in Memphis, Tennessee), Conifur Northwest (November 3 – 5, in Fife, Washington), and The Midwest FurFest (November 17 – 19, near Chicago, Illinois).