It’s an attention-grabbing hobby guaranteed to attract a reaction. But “furries” – people who dress up as fluffy animals for fun – insist they are just normal people with a slightly left-field pastime.
Devotees will often create a home-made animal costume, known as their ‘fursona’, which is like a superhero alter-ego. Furries socialise at comic book conventions and meet-ups to show off their makeovers that can range from wolves to dragons and even dinosaurs.
But why would anyone want to dress up like a zoo animal – especially given the seedy stereotypes of fetishism that plague the sub-culture. The reality is many people use it as a safety blanket, their fursonas a more authentic version of themselves.
READ MORE: Inside Birmingham’s Comic Con at the NEC as hundreds gather from across UK for annual event
Anyone expecting a bawdy bash at a furry meet-up would be surprised to hear most just like drawing and sharing sewing tips for costumes. Birmingham Live tracked down three local furries, Skies Fallen, Madi and Music Man, who shared their love of the lifestyle.
Skies Fallen is an ordinary, motor loving student in real life
(Image: Skies Fallen)
“It’s like cosplay but it’s your character not a character out of a game,” 17-year-old Skies said, “it is like a friend or another person I can switch to. It makes me happy and gives me something to do.
“It was mid-Coronavirus and TikTok started exploding. I found out about it and saw more and more of it, I thought why not research it. I saw conventions and decided to create my own fursona.”
Skies’ fursona is fierce raptor in red and black, his mask customised with animal ears as he poses with a lightsabre at MCM Comic Con Birmingham. It’s like night and day compared to his real identity, a motor-loving student sitting in his gaming chair during our zoom call.
In fact, each furry I speak to has their own quirky personality. Madi is a bit reserved, opting to hide behind her maned wolf mask on camera, but a sweet voice emerges revealing how her fursona boosts her confidence.
Madi at MCM Comic Con Birmingham
(Image: Madi)
Music Man sits with his fedora hat explaining how he works behind the scenes at furry meet-ups, especially on music – earning his nickname. A costume enthusiast already, he was drawn into the furry hobby and is now working on a gilded dragon costume to add to his wardrobe.
Madi was a huge Pokémon fan as a child, until she saw a video on a furry convention in America which ‘unlocked a door’ for her. The 17-year-old said: “I associate with her the most because she is the first fursona I ever created, it goes back to my childhood.
“She is the more confident version of myself and when I wear her it fills me with so much joy. She has always been tall and long-legged like myself, always been tough and strong so it’s something to aspire for.
“Wearing it gives me an adrenaline rush as I really enjoy wearing her.”
Music Man, 24, spoke of his fursona Drckon saying: “Drckon is a gilded dragon. I have not got a suit yet and I need to get it made, he is more of an overprotective fursona.
Music Man (right)
(Image: Skies Fallen/Music Man/Madi)
“He is like a big brother who people can talk to and feel like they are in a safe environment. It is similar to my personality although I am not keen on big groups.
“Like Skies it is more for the fun.” Asked why anyone would want to be a furry, he said: “You could give 132 reasons why you should or shouldn’t but I’d say give it a try. You never know.
“A lot of people with that stigma have never met someone with a fursona. A lot of my friends have that stigma, then I brought them to a fur meet and one of my friends started a relationship with a furry.
“A select few give us a bad name but it is not the community as a whole and you can’t stereotype them. A lot of us have normal lives and you could walk past us and never know.
Birmingham’s comic con at the NEC
“My family don’t care and said you are who you are. As long as you don’t rub it in our face we don’t care. My friends accept it and my partner as well, so everybody around me is very loving I’d say.”
Skies added: “My parents were confused at first and now they don’t mind. My friends thought it was weird but now they don’t really care. I keep it to myself mostly but everyone supports me as long as I am happy.”
Madi’s family also accept her furry alter ego. She said: “I love the freedom of a supportive community and making your suit. I know I have been accepted. I wear it whenever and do regular day-to-day activities in my suit, away from it we have normal lives like work or college.”
We had to cut the interview short as the gang dashed to put the finishing touches on their furry costumes. The convention took place over three days, where a special ‘furry catwalk’ allowed participants to flaunt their stripes among friends.
So next time you meet someone donning a giant animal costume, don’t be afraid to say hello. They promise they won’t bite.