''Fursonas'' is a

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

regarding the

furry fandom The furry fandom is a subculture interested in Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic animal characters. Some examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and weari ...

. Directed by Dominic Rodriguez, it was released in January 2016. It was produced by Olivia Vaughn and edited by Christine Meyer, among others. ''Fursonas'' follows multiple individual

furries The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters. Some examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes. The te ...

being interviewed to provide

social commentary Social commentary is the act of using rhetorical means to provide commentary on social, cultural, political, or economic issues in a society. This is often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change by informing the general populace ab ...

of the fandom, its common stigmas, and how it is perceived through sensational

media coverage Media may refer to: Communication * Means of communication, tools and channels used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Interactive media, media that is inte ...

Production

Production of ''Fursonas'' began as a

senior thesis A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...

project, started by Rodriguez while a filmmaking major at

Point Park University Point Park University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered. In 2021, it had a total undergraduate ...

with Olivia Vaughn and Christine Meyer. Originally a 12-minute

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

, the film was expanded into a

feature length A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film ( motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation ...

documentary when the crew was awarded a 10,000 dollar grant from The Sprout Fund in 2013. In 2014, Meyer and Vaughn became interns at the Animal Media Group, a

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stat ...

and

visual effects Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated as VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action fo ...

studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...

. Animal allowed the crew to use their facilities to edit the footage of the documentary and later offered to be the official production company for the documentary.

Premiere

The documentary premiered at the 2016

Slamdance Film Festival The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. The annual week-long festival is held in Los Angeles in late February and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization. The organization ...

, and is distributed via

Video on demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos, television shows and films Digital distribution, digitally on request. These multimedia are accessed without a traditional video playback device and a typica ...

Gravitas Ventures Gravitas Ventures is an American film distribution company owned by Shout! Studios. The company was founded by Nolan Gallagher in Los Angeles in 2006, and moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Cleveland in 2019. It focuses on the distribu ...

Reception

''Fursonas'' was well-received, winning the "Spirit of Slamdance" award at its debut film festival and receiving positive reviews from magazines ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' and ''

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.'' Despite a positive reception, the film resulted in its director receiving a lifetime ban from

Anthrocon Anthrocon (abbreviated AC) is an annual furry convention that takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, each June or July. It caters to furries, which are fans of fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature. The conventio ...

, the biggest furry convention in the world as of 2024. Though accused of filming at the con without consent, the ban has been seen largely as Samuel Conway's retribution for his negative portrayal in the film.

Cast

(''The list consists of the interviewees'

fursona A fursona is a personally claimed persona resembling an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic animal adopted by a member of the furry fandom. Fursonas can provide numerous roles for the creator. According to ''The New Science of Narcissism'', 95% of ...

names, rather than their

real name A legal name is the name that identifies a person for legal, administrative and other official purposes. A person's legal birth name generally is the name of the person that was given for the purpose of registration of the birth and which then ...

s'') * Boomer The Dog * Freya Fox * IllKato * Grix Fox * Diezel Raccoon * Quad Shadow Bandit * Imaginary Skye La Lux * Chew Fox * Tom Cat * Uncle Kage * Varka

References

*http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2016/01/slamdance-ff-fursonas-review.html *http://www.hammertonail.com/film-festivals/fursonas-movie-review/ *http://www.ocweekly.com/film/fursonas-takes-on-the-secretive-world-of-furriesand-the-movements-furrious-fuhrer-7114105 *https://www.flayrah.com/6483/opinion-fursonas-film-we-need *https://www.flayrah.com/6560/interview-fursonas-documentary-director-dominic-rodriguez-video-wolf

External links

* {{Furry fandom Documentary films about fandom Furry fandom American independent films 2016 directorial debut films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films English-language documentary films