obscuredogs

[obscuredogs]

genuine good faith question, how would you differentiate furry vs anthro? (i am a furry personally) (but i have a VAGUE sense of what you mean and i'm curious if you would be willing to expand upon your thoughts a little?)

Thank you for asking.

Furry is a subculture fascinated with anthropomorphic animals. Furries identify as such and gather in Internet and convention spaces. It’s an ecosystem of media (artworks, stories, fursuits etc)

Anthropomorphism just is what it is. Attributing human characteristics to non-humans. It’s a very common artistic device and story telling technique dating back to ancient times.

While the former is a broad label encompassing fascination with anthropomorphic animals in general. It is still a contemporary idea and usually exclusive to creations and individuals that self identify as such. Anthropomorphic animal depictions in a vacuum however, are NOT always part of furry subculture. In fact, it is an even broader artistic practice.

For example, It would be silly to think that Egyptian and Sumerian animal gods, medieval Cynocephali, the Lion-man of Hohlenstein-Stadel or, hell, even the fuckin Loony tunes are “furry” characters. Because the very idea of furries wasn’t even conceived of back then.

My problem with retroactively labeling all cases of anthropomorphism as “furry” is that it’s inaccurate, usually irony poised and has led to some misunderstandings within the art sphere.

I’ve met plenty of smaller artists who enjoy drawing anthro yet reject the furry label. Whether it be they had a bad experience in the fandom, don’t relate to furries or simply feel like they don’t NEED to identify with a subculture just to draw animal people. A practice that pre-dates the furry fandom. Despite this they are continuously and mistakenly labeled as furries by their peers and audience. Which creates frustration and resentment.

Furries becoming synonymous with cringe culture and memes has instilled a sort of irony poisoned intuition bias within the general population upon seeing any sort of anthropomorphic depiction.

Instead of anthropomorphism being correctly perceived as a very common practice or an ancient and HUMAN tradition. It’s viewed as “furry.”

Which according to the Internet; is a joke. A meme.

Think of the “I’m not a furry but-“ comments from normie types when a new anthro character comes out. They’re hesitant to appreciate the character for what they are because that doesn’t even cross their mind. The internet has instilled in them that furry and anthro are the same thing. And that it’s shameful to enjoy it.

Now, I admit that it’s the wrongful hatred of furries that has exasperated this problem. These people shouldn’t be hating and bullying furries to begin with. But even in a perfect world where furries weren’t the butt of the internet. I still believe that labelling non-furry anthropomorphic works as furry is a categorical error. I also think some people have valid reasons to not PERSONALLY enjoy the furry fandom, and despite that, shouldn’t feel discouraged to appreciate an anthro character that they might enjoy a lot due thinking that furries created it.

This misunderstanding doesn’t just hurt non-furry anthro artists but hurts furries too. Think of the many beautiful and talented works created by furries that have been dismissed without consideration.. Even if viewers didn’t like the fandom per-se, they could at LEAST make the distinction enough to appreciate the works as a piece of anthropomorphic artwork. Also, if people just understood anthropomorphism for what it was, they might not mock and bully furries as much.

Also, It’s not that non-furry and furry are completely distinct. In fact there is plenty of overlap. Artworks between the two can be indistinguishable even. I do tend to notice subtle differences between the two however.

Non-furry anthro tends to be a product of broader media where the illustrators haven’t a clue about the fandom. They’re instead taking inspiration from old pre-furry fandom animations and comics. Or simply thought the idea of an animal person was cool. Even among DIY creators, the artwork tends to have a different standard of quality. You also have anthropomorphic artwork that pre-dates the furry fandom as I’ve mentioned before. Some of which aren’t even from that long ago. Like osamu tezuka’s works, Disney etc.

Essentially, these artists aren’t drawing anthro because of the furry fandom. They’re drawing anthro because they are already versatile and experienced artists to begin with. They naturally will experiment with anthropomorphism at some point. Which makes sense given it’s a very common thing in human psychology to anthropomorphize. You also tend to get more shippers, fangirls and OC artists here since anthro is more of a vehicle for story telling in this case.

Furry created works on the other hand have some exclusive features, like fursonas and fursuits. Furries also have entire conventions dedicated to themselves. Furry artwork can be just as high quality and innovative as non-furry anthro artwork. But as a tendency furries take influence from each other rather than from media (unlike the advent of the furry fandom where the latter was more true.) this is why you tend to see more familiar, toony artstyles circling the fandom. There is also more of an emphasis on “identity” and community with furries. Anthro is not so much a vehicle for story telling here, but rather a method of self expression. This is why furries like to identify with the animals of their adjacent fursonas and even act out specific traits of said animal. For example the “I’m puppy” type stuff: (although, they don’t genuinely believe they ARE said animals.)

This frame of mind manifests itself in the ethos of furry artwork which is why I see less story focus (original works, shipping, OCs etc.) and more identity focus (portraits, non-narrative fanart, fursonas, smut etc.)

Again, there IS overlap and this isn’t true in all cases. OCs and stuff like that are definitely common among self identified furries too. But these are just tendencies I’ve personally noticed. There is also, Anthrocon, which despite its name is undeniable a furry convention.

Lumping anthro and furry together is just a quick and easy way for people to categorize things that are similar. Which isn’t necessarily bad when done out of convenience. I sometimes call non-furry anthro works “furry” and vice versa. Maybe language evolves, and “furry” will just become the new word in the English language for anthro animals. In a perfect world; I wouldn’t have a problem with this. But my problem is that in our culture, they’re conflated out of dismissal due to cringe culture, irony and the perceived lack of importance to investigate the history of art. Which is a very anti-art thing in my opinion.

Like, no, that dog character in that old comic you saw created by a passionate artist living at the time isn’t a “cringe furry twink femboy uwu.” That’s just a drawing of an animal person. A very NORMAL thing for humans to draw. I wish people would learn to appreciate artworks for what they are instead of associating them with something to be mocked just because people on the internet told them to.

I could talk more about this for hours and hours. But this really is the gist of my logic here. It’ll probably ruffle the feathers of some but I’m very passionate about this subject.

To sum it up:

furries like anthro, but not all anthro is furry.

If you identify as a furry, you are one. If you don’t, you’re not one, EVEN if you create anthro works.

[obscuredogs]

Reminder that while furries fucking annoy the shit out of me as an anthro lover who doesn’t identify as one.

I still, do NOT hate furries. I repeat. I do NOT hate them.

Furry hating is for fucking poser ass yuppies.

People who throw a fit over someone liking animal characters are fucking crybabies who can’t handle people being different than them. Literal 4 year old mentality. Fuck that noise.

Hating on someone cuz you think they’re weird is NOT punk. It is NOT GRIND

[obscuredogs]

I fucking hate how anthropomorphism and “furry” became 100% synonymous all the time to 99% of people. One of my biggest fucking pet peeves of the internet

[obscuredogs]

obscure dog of the month 2

Jean from the new manga Siland (シランド) by Ryo Sumiyoshi

[obscuredogs]

Obscure dog of the month

Rouen - Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero

[obscuredogs]

Recently bought an Akira Toriyama art book from the 90s and found these cute wolves. It was from a VHS children’s puppet show he did concept art for called Apple Pop. 

[obscuredogs]

I know I sound mean when I post but don’t worry I don’t bite in dms or in responses. This is my only place I can rant really

[obscuredogs]

My autistic special interest is anthro canines and I gotta say the way most furries view them fucking infuriates the hell out of me.

God you people are insufferable

[obscuredogs]

Next time ur furry homie says “canines are generic” you should sock em in the balls

[obscuredogs]

I will not participate in your annoying “furry character of the month/tier list” bullshit.

Get that shit away from me.

[obscuredogs]

Did you know we develop a game? Yeah we do! Things are very hot here lately, a lot of work is going ooooon. Anyway, let us post some of the older materials from The Crown of Leaves: Chapter II!

[obscuredogs]

obscure dog of the month

the wolf from the oneshot manga "parent and child" also known as 鶏と狼の親子の話 or Niwatori to Ookami no Oyako no Hanashi

[obscuredogs]

Obscure dog of the month 1

Ryker from Morimens

[obscuredogs]

Sorry it’s been slow. Been a hell of a month for me.

I’ll go back to posting obscure fictional canines soon

[obscuredogs]

Guys... I think I might have an unhealthy obssesion with fictional Wolves 😳

[obscuredogs]

beautiful, gorgeous

[obscuredogs]

evgenii rachev's foxes