Feed aggregator

Here’s an interesting story. Animation Magazine guided us to Miss Camel, a new animated feature. Deadline reported it like this: “Wadjda writer-director Haifaa Al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia’s trailblazing first female filmmaker, is setting up female empowerment animation Miss Camel at LA-based animation hub ShadowMachine, producer of Netflix’s Bojack Horseman and Cartoon Network’s Robot Chicken… Miss Camel, the story of a Saudi teen named Hayla who will do anything to escape her arranged marriage and fulfil her goal of attending art school outside of Saudi Arabia, won the IWC Filmmaker Award, worth $100,000, at the Dubai International Film Festival in December… According to the film’s synopsis, while scheming to make her way to the in-person interviews for the art college in a neighboring Gulf state, Hayla makes a startling discovery at her cousin’s wedding: She can talk to animals.” No more news yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do when the film is set to be released!

image c. 2018 GoodFreePhotos.com

Another obscure animated feature we found through Animation Magazine — this one from Latvia, of all places. Jacob, Mimmi, and the Talking Dogs is a new feature film from Atomart Studios, directed by Edmunds Jansons. It’s based on the book Dog Town by Luīze Pastore, and animated in an interesting combination of cut-out style and 2D CGI. “When Dad brings Jacob to spend summer in one of the city’s suburbs, the boy not only discovers an environment never seen before, becomes acquainted with his cousin, the smarty-boots Mimmi, and his uncle, the former seaman Eagle, but also makes friends with Boss, the leader of a horde of talking homeless dogs. Will Jacob and Mimmi succeed to make friends and together with the talking dogs rescue the place from the rich Lord Pie who has plans to convert the romantic wooden house neighbourhood into an impersonal glass skyscraper area?” The official web site has clips in the original Latvian, but there’s an English language trailer up on Vimeo too.

image c. 2018 Atomart Studios

Looks like Wizart has a sequel to Sheep and Wolves in the works and have released this clip. "The exiting news for all fans of 'Sheep and Wolves'! We are thrilled to introduce you an exclusive scene from the long-awaited animated film 'Sheep and Wolves: Pig deal'. Have a lot of fun!
View Video

Hiya Papabear,

I wrote you a weeks... month? I'm not sure, I'm bad with time. Anyways, I wanted to let you know that I got my fursuit (fullsuit) and I absolutely couldn't be happier with it, you're advice really helped me and I thank you for that. 

Onto my actual question, well... its not easy to explain but I'll try to keep it short. I grew up in a very isolated household where my parents weren't around often, me and my two brothers pretty much learned to fend for ourselves growing up. Because of this experience I kind of forced myself to be strong and try to make everything ok because back then I couldn't afford to be soft. This unfortunately has followed me throughout life, I seem to be unable to show my true emotions. I know I'm sensitive and am often hurting, but for some reason I am completely unable to outwardly show it. I can't cry, I can't even tell people what's wrong, my instinctual response to when anyone asks me if something is wrong, is to say "nothing" and "I'm fine" or sometimes its just "Don't worry about me, I'm tough" and these are all lies. Ugh, this is already getting to long and I'm sorry for that. But there's a prime example, I feel like I'm not worth anyone's time, I'm not worth help. And this st ems from my childhood as well as other experiences I've had, because the few times I've actually opened up to people, they've left because they didn't want to deal with me. All these things have led me to just build a wall around myself and not let anyone see the real me, and because I've been doing it for the majority of my life, I'm not even sure what the "real me" is anymore. I've sought out therapy and medicine, neither worked so I stopped. At this point I'm just kind of forcing my way forward day by day pretending I'm fine when I'm not.

Sorry about the potentially unnecessary backstory. My question is this, how do I let people in? How do I open up to people who want to help me? I'm terrified of what will happen when I do, I'm terrified if I stop being what I am now, there isn't anything left. What do I do?

Kayne

* * *

Dear Kayne,

I'm glad to hear my earlier response was helpful to you; thanks for telling me :-3

Yes, having a difficult childhood can certainly lead to the problems you're currently experiencing. As you say, you had to be tough to survive your travails, and now this toughness has become entrenched into your personality. Fortunately, I would not say you are suffering from an emotional or mental health issue because you do feel emotions (and I assume they are appropriate emotions); you just are unable to let them out. What we have here, then, is a habit issue. You have programmed yourself not to show emotions to other people and you can't figure out how to break this habit.

How do you break a bad habit?

One classic way to do so is to replace it with a good habit. I suggest you already have such a habit available to you now: fursuiting! When you feel the need to express yourself, do so in fursuit. Being in fursuit (and in character) allows you to reduce or eliminate feeling self-conscious about your emotions because you have a secure barrier around you, so to speak, to protect you from feeling judged. When people react to what you are doing, they are reacting to your fursona and not "you," you see. This is the same method that actors on stage use. Many actors are quite shy in person, but when they are in character on stage or in front of a camera, they have a tool for letting out their emotions.

And you don't always have to do this while wearing your fursuit. You can also do it while just being your fursona in, say, roleplaying games online. You might think this is "hiding," but what it really is, is a way for you to rehearse and exercise your emotions. Just like working a flabby body gives you stronger muscles, exercising your self-expression will improve it over time. By doing so under the protection of your fursona, you will get lots of solid practice on how to openly let out your feelings to others in a relatively safe and productive way.

Another method you can use in concert with the above is to practice expressing emotions in a private setting. While no one else is around, go into your bedroom or bathroom and practice all sorts of emotional outbursts: cry, scream in anger, laugh out loud, express passion, express anguish. It is important to do this out loud and not in your head. Talk to the mirror about what is frustrating you or bringing you happiness or sadness. You can also try doing this with a plush toy or other object. Talk to, say, a teddy bear and tell it you hate it, you love it, it's driving you crazy, whatever you're feeling inside. Let it all out.

Keep doing these things over and over and eventually you will become comfortable enough to wean yourself off the teddy bear and fursona and begin expressing yourself to others as yourself. Do this on your own schedule and don't push yourself and don't give yourself unrealistic expectations or deadlines. This could take weeks, months, even years to happen, but it will happen if you keep at it diligently.

Good Luck!

Hugs,
Papabear
​

We missed the announcements of these animated films last year, but now we’ve found them thanks to Animation Magazine. Both are adaptations of popular children’s literature, and both of them are international co-productions. Dragonkeeper (based on a series of books by Carole Wilkinson) comes to us from China Film Group and Spain’s Dragoia Media.  According to Variety, “Set during the Han Dynasty in a magic, epic and classic China… the first Dragonkeeper installment turns on the adventures of Ping, a slave girl so humble that she thinks she doesn’t deserve a name. Yet she finds the courage to become a true Dragonkeeper, helping the ancient last imperial dragon, Long Danzi, in its quest to transport a dragon egg across China to the coast, the only place it can hatch.” Then there’s Dragon Rider, based on the book by Cornelia Funke (Inkheart) and produced in cooperation between Germany and the UK. (It’s being adapted by Johnny Smith, writer for the original Gnomeo & Juliet.) Again, from Variety: “High-end by European standards, the 3D children’s fantasy adventure turns on Firedrake, a young silver dragon, Sorrel, a mountain brownie, and Ben, a human orphan who search among the highest Himalayas for the Rim of Heaven, which can offer sanctuary for Firedrake’s kin, whose valley is made uninhabitable by a dam.” No word yet on a planned release date for either film.

image c. 2018 Dragoia Media

Furcast was nice enough to have us on their show! Here is that excerpt from ep. 302 - Sky Daddy at https://furcast.fm/ support us on Patreon! -- https://www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow http://www.draggetshow.com Dragget Show telegram chat: https://telegram.me/draggetshow Dragget Show joins Furcast! - Furcast was nice enough to have us on their show!…

This is a cute furry commercial for a new startup created by Maisie Williams (Game Of Thrones, Doctor Who) which appears to be a social network [1] for creative people. "The launch film for Maisie Williams' new startup app where creators can collaborate, make and share projects. This project was particularly great because there was so much creative freedom, from developing the script with Dom the CEO of Daisie, creating unique character designs and backgrounds, to adding loads of fun little touches in the art and animation." [1] https://www.daisie.com
View Video

reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube if you would like to join the chat! Here's the vid of it on Youtube = youtu.be/7DFg5LdIlMQ for all things Dragget: www.draggetshow.com Our Patreon w/ great new rewards! www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Telegram Chat: t.me/draggetshow Dungeons & Draggets #19 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…

reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube if you would like to join the chat! Here's the vid of it on Youtube = youtu.be/7DFg5LdIlMQ for all things Dragget: www.draggetshow.com Our Patreon w/ great new rewards! www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Telegram Chat: t.me/draggetshow Dungeons & Draggets #18 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…

Where do furries come from? Here’s how ones who answered were zapped. Below: A picture is worth 1000 words. Classics & nostalgia (blame the 80’s!) Born This Way. Self Discovery and forbidden curiosity. A community or even family, and a fascinating hobby. – Patch

ElliotTheBunny

A picture is worth 1000 words

pic.twitter.com/0qHzZYEnej

— Sir Fox (@DemonBob_Badman) August 1, 2018

pic.twitter.com/6lLdseQltH

— Benny-G (@bengoodridge) August 1, 2018

One word: Weregarurumon pic.twitter.com/39Qgt49Lxh

— @SpookyBiscuits@mastodon.social (@SpookyBiscuits) August 1, 2018

Classics & nostalgia

OOH yeaaah pic.twitter.com/zN1qCmO4ci

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 1, 2018

But before then, I was pretty into the Two Jungle Books by Kipling, that was around 1975.

— Rainbow Ark (@Rainbow_Ark) August 1, 2018

Release year for this pic.twitter.com/w8qJZyu7y0

— The Over-opinionated Ebony Gorilla (@EbonyGorilla) August 1, 2018

@Pixiemuledonkey

i blame the 80s. i got a box of old comics from a cousin and one of them was called Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew, all furry superheroes.

Born This Way

I would be more surprised if a furry said they *didn't* play dogs/wolves/etc. as a kid. Born this way

— Lee-troit: Become Human (@HRHSherlock) August 1, 2018

This was the first thing I ever watched and from then on I loved animal toys and ponies and OH MY GOD I WAS BORN A FURRY pic.twitter.com/h6PZsdssWb

— SonicFox Stan (@Steggydon) August 1, 2018

@bluesleddog:

I watched Disney’s Robin Hood A TON as a kid, so much so that my mom helped me write and illustrate a little homemade book about my first day of kindergarten where all the characters were animals.

@Raishi_fox

I got an incredibly early start; I was two years old when my mother brought home the soundtrack to Cats. I grew up absolutely obsessed with it; my brother and I could practically perform the entire musical for most of our childhoods…

@PBnJeanie

Was 13 when people always told I acted like a bear. I started to represent myself as one for years. Until someone told me “Wait are you a furry ?” One internet search later, I realized there was already a ton of furry related books and show that I loved. So I kinda just gave in.

@CassidyTheCivet

I think I made animals an aesthetic of mine in middle school, cosplaying as Geoffrey St. John from the Sonic comics, and I was bullied for being a furry before I really knew what furries were. And I decided on a whim to look up BC Furries and there happened to be forums :v

Always enjoyed any animal cartoons, moreso cats. Enjoyed Heathcliff & the Cadillac Cats cartoon 2much (drew a life-size Cleo on my mom's classroom blkboard. Her students loved it that they didn't want it erased) & then Thundercats happened. I get the subtext of that sword now. pic.twitter.com/yNrf33nYQQ

— Redcap Goblin (@kayfey) August 2, 2018

Redecorating my living room with wildlife art & son asked me if I was furry. Reflected back on: Robin Hood, Lion King (yes, *that* scene), werewolves, 80s comic book series Xanadu, fursuit pix, and came to one inescapable conclusion: Yes, I am furry.

— Varek ManeyFox (@VarekWolf) August 1, 2018

Self Discovery

Then a huge pattern of things like reading every werewolf erotica I could find as a teenager and loving the animal nickname my husband gave me came into SUPER SHARP FOCUS.

— Pasha (@pashawasha) August 1, 2018

@Evan_sou1

When I was 13 I was watching terrible slideshow videos of couples late at night because teenager. Then one came up with gay furry couples and within 10 seconds I discovered interesting things about myself.

@Fauxglove

Back when the Internet was still new to me, I ran an Ask Jeeves (Yes, that was a thing) search for StarFox. I found Yerf. It was both my gay and furry awakening all at once.

@Huxleyfur

I was trawling around the internet in 2000 and stumbled across an odd website called Furry Pleasures. Seeing a blurry jpg of two wolves kissing in the banner, it was like a switch got flipped.

For whatever reason I do remember my first fictional crush was Lord Kass from Neopets, even though I didn’t actually play Neopets or really know anything about it that didn’t involve him >.>

— Thorn the Virus (@CyberContagion) August 1, 2018

Sonic was my first furry crush but Sally Acorn was the first time I felt feelings for girls. pic.twitter.com/m5sP7l11C8

— Mama's Moving MANIA (@WolfDrawingDesk) August 1, 2018

Anon:

I dont think it’s the same “awakening” others have. Though at the same time I hope it goes on to help someone.

I was abused. When you live in a very religious family, sometimes they mean well but you become subject to abuses to try and force you to become what you are not. I went to a “pray the gay away” camp and had to endure many sufferings. I wasn’t allowed to be myself. I wasn’t allowed to be a lesbian. I wasn’t allowed to like certain types of toys as a child. I wasn’t allowed many things, including my own freedom. When I was 18 I moved away from my family. I was living in a town all alone, and didn’t have any friends close by. My girlfriend at the time knew I loved gargoyles and anime. I had been fascinated by Bronx the most and had really started to get into animal based characters and art. She mentioned that near me in my new town there was a meet up for people that liked these kind of things, she called them furries. I went to my first meet and not only found animal based awesome, but the freedom to be myself in all respects. That’s when I knew I was a furry.

@EzraRobles

I found the fandom while stuck in a mental hospital back in high school (2006) and after a few years of soul searching found my fursona in 2012. It’s quite a bizarre adventure, but it’s changed me as a human being a considerable amount.

Forbidden curiosity

@KiranLightPaw:

Was 1994. I saw The Lion King and knew teenage boys weren’t supposed to obsess about Disney lions. So after exhausting everything on AOL, I landed in Usenet, http://alt.fan .lion-king. That lead to http://alt.fan .furry and FurryMUCK and awesomeness.

@Moryethehusky

I accidentally found Lucario Yiff when I was 13, and was “traumatized”. I then remembered it 5 years later, tried to do some “research” and I’ve been a furry since. Started writing shortly after that.

THOSE eyes

pic.twitter.com/t3pBlziXYO

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 1, 2018

@MadokaMeowgica:

For me it was going online at 16 and seeing a picture of star wolf smiling with CFM eyes at a cafe. I don’t remember who did it, I just remember it was on deviant art lmao. I kept going back to look at it and thinking “he’s cute but I don’t think he’d actually wanna date me”

FURRIES HAVE COOTIES! 

@RejaxWolf

Someone in high school I knew started complaining about furries and told me to look it up when I asked. His big mistake!

@FelixSilverFoxy:

I actually heard a friend of mine talking about how much he hated “fucking furfags” back in 2012 and I decided to look them up and form my own opinion about them rather than take his word for it. I liked what i saw and I signed up on FurNation just a few days later!

@HRHSherlock:

2004, freshman in college. My artist friend was talking shit about how much she hates furries. I was like “what’s a furry” and she was like “it’s gross people who like to pretend they’re animals” and I was like “OWO WHAT’S THIS” and immediately went to my dorm room and found YERF

@arctickishi

i used to be that kid on ifunny who would go on furry profiles and say shit like “kys drink bleach!!1!!” but i realized i enjoyed the art deep down then march 2016 my close friend who’s a furry showed me her art & brought me into it lmao

A community or even a family

Mine was more of a slow-roll. Crushes on cartoon mice in the 80's. TMNT RPGs and Usagi Yojimbo in the 90's.
Once I discovered the "Anthropomorphic" comic section, I was hooked. By the time we got the internet around '93-94 I was actively searching for others like me.

— Jonathan Roth (@RothAnim) August 1, 2018

@Tbestig

I read a shit ton of furry webcomics and ended up making friends with a lot of furries on kik. I still claimed I wasn’t a furry. They rightly found that hilarious. Finally I accepted that I “probably” was one and they immediately helped me come up with a fursona

@BluYote

Played Okami, loved the art style, went on DeviantArt to find fanart to use as a desktop wallpaper, discovered sparkledogs XD. Later found out my good friend was a furry and hid it from me. I insisted to go to a con w/him. Thus I am now anthro but still a little sparkly.

To finish the story off, I basically was swept up at some point by the brony community and around the time I learned what a furry is, so that pretty much wraps that up.

— Pheonix (@PheonixFyr) August 1, 2018

Road Rovers was my favorite show as a little kid. It only aired one season but I never forgot it. Years later I Googled it for nostalgia's sake and discovered a whole community of fans of animal people. pic.twitter.com/yZRptDW0zq

— Kasyl (@kasylwolf) August 1, 2018

It was my whole life through middle and high school I had a hard time fitting in and making friends so I found comfort in the fandom and my small moonbloods family i hope wherever rain and dusty are they’re doing well I’ll always love them. This is shiver today Thanks for reading pic.twitter.com/pnJiqydyTP

— Nash bean (@NashSuxx) August 1, 2018

A fascinating hobby

@MrCheeseGaming

I blame video games. I was a fan of Pokémon so I started reading Pokémon webcomics. I discovered Kemonomimi art from Touhou so I tried searching for Kemonomimi webcomics. Search results showed really good furry art that gave me a newfound appreciation for the community.

@WhatTheFolflion

These are some of the video games I played growing up that made me what I am, yes. A furry. 

One of the first game I ever played was Pokemon Blue. I’ve always had a fascination with pokemon ever since, but Blue, Phew. On my very first playthrough, I had an entire female team. Female Charizard, Totodile, Drowzee, Venusaur, and Ratata. Now, I’m not saying the influence of my team in this game got me addicted to anthropomorphic animals, no. That comes later.

The next game that pulled me a little further was Hey You, Pikachu on the N64. Being able to talk to my favorite pokemon was the best thing to ever exist in my childhood.

Next up, Star Fox Adventures and Assault, Gamecube. Wow. Anthro Fox, Wolf, Hawk (I believe, Falco Lombardi), and Hare. Being able to play as an Anthro animal kicking a** in a virtual galaxy was another thing that brought me one step closer. Next on my list is Digimon Rumble Arena 2. That game is the first game where I encountered Renamon. Another star in the Fandom’s roster.

My next games bring up the handheld generation. First up: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon for the DS. Being able to play as a pokemon and help other pokemon? Sign me up! Dream world, helping Pokemon out of tough situations!

Next up, Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia. Most of the Pokemon games are having to capture the creatures and fight them against others, but in Pokemon Ranger, you do capture pokemon, but you and the pokemon work together to help people in trouble, much like Mystery Dungeon. Most of the Pokemon series brought me up, and helped me find my place with a lot of fandoms. Anime, Pokemon, Video games, and yes, Furries.

Next up, Dust: An Elysian Tail. I first found this gem on the Xbox 360 Marketplace back in 2013. It’s a side scrolling platformer with Anthropomorphic creatures. That game really brought my feelings for the fandom and it’s associated creatures way up the scale. Ever since that game, I’ve been a furry.

I have been playing games with Anthropomorphic animals since, and it continues to strike my heart as why I joined: the love of Anthro creatures.

So I just
And this pic.twitter.com/xGgYTUhR02

— Warzy Raptor Furpoc (@WarszawaScream) August 1, 2018

Like the article? It takes a lot of effort to share these. Please consider supporting Dogpatch Press on Patreon.  You can access exclusive stuff for just $1, or get Con*Tact Caffeine Soap as a reward.  They’re a popular furry business seen in dealer dens. Be an extra-perky patron – or just order direct from Con*Tact.

The June/July issue of Animation Magazine features a huge list of upcoming animated films in production all over the world. Including one from Poland: “Human Ark, one of Poland’s leading animation studios, has launched a new animation test for its new animated feature comedy Diplodocus. The movie is a family comedy inspired by classic 1980s comic books by the cult Polish author Tadeusz Baranowski, which have sold over 2.5 million copies. It tells the epic adventure of a little dinosaur, who has to find his missing parents and discovers that he actually lives inside of a comic book. The project is the second feature-length animated film by Wojtek Wawszczyk (George the Hedgehog), who also wrote the script in collaboration with Mark Palmer (The Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Kim Possible). Set for completion in 2020, the movie is the biggest 3D CGI production for children ever produced in Poland.” The article in Animation features several illustrations from the film, and Human Ark has also produced a promo clip on Vimeo.

image c. 2018 Human Ark

I should assume everybody has seen this, but in case somebody has been under a rock I give you some Kaiju action.    
View Video

Introduction topic

Rebooting the show

Update on what’s been happening during the hiatus

Explaining the new format

Topic

What Are Values?

“a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life” - Google Dictionary

We use our values to make judgements, particularly judgements of good and bad or right and wrong

Chase’s perspective on values

Personal constitution or bill of rights

Values (In Combination with Morals and Ethics) form a personal doctrine by which to live

Affects all decisions in Life

Much like Laws, can be changed but it is a difficult process

Where Do Our Values Come From?

Parents

Peers

Friends

Relationship partners

Society

Society at large

Subcultures we participate in

Types of Values

Fear-based values

Values based on fear are those that cause you to take action in order to avoid something

Think “have to”

Common fear-based values

Safety / Security

Absence of pain

Avoidance of conflict/confrontation

Physical appearance

Power/Control

Privacy

Religousity (fear of hell)

Recognition / Respect

Knowledge (based in fear of the unknown)

Consciousness-based values

What do we mean by consciousness?

Consciousness is your awareness of who you *really* are, as opposed to the “you” that you believe yourself to be, or the you that you were taught you were supposed to be

Consciousness-based values are those that cause you to take action to bring something desirable into your world

Think “want to”

Common consciousness-based values:

Pleasure/sensuality (as opposed to absence of pain)

Freedom (as opposed to security)

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Ben Franklin

Achievement

Vs recognition (internal to self)

Leadership

Vs. control/management
(lead self before leading others)

Adventure/novelty

Autonomy

Spirituality (vs. religiousity, internal/external)

Chase Wolf: Notes on his experiences growing up in a religious household and finding spirituality outside of that setting.

Personal growth

Intimacy (vs privacy)

Community

A metavalue; valuing others who share your values

Important to know what your values are and what those of your community are to know whether it’s a good fit

If a conflict in values are present:

Accept paying the “price of admission” to be part of the community and tolerate the difference

Examine your values, and decide whether yours should change

Choose not to be a part of the community, and find a community that is a better fit for you

Chase Wolf: Notes on changes in the Gamer Community values and the impacts thereof.

Self-expression

Fulfillment

Truth

Justice

Knowledge (based in curiosity, as opposed to fear of the unknown)

Chase Wolf: Notes on his curiosity in understanding the ABDL/Baby-Fur community allowing a shift in opinion

Having fear-based values is not necessarily a bad thing, but as a general rule, happier people tend to hold more consciousness-based values than fear-based values

Chase Wolf: Often, fear-based values are those instilled in us by friends, family, and society.

Choosing Your Values

Think of each new moment as a fresh opportunity to decide who you want to be; the greatest freedom is the freedom of choice

“It is better to follow the voice inside and be at war with the whole world, than to follow the ways of the world and be at war with your deepest self” - Counselor and educator Michael Pastore

What are your values?

What situations or conflicts make you highly emotional, either positively or negatively?

Think about what value was respected in the situations that made you feel positively

Think about what value was not respected in the situations that made you feel negatively

Empowering questions to ask yourself:

What am I unwilling to tolerate?

What am I unwilling to give up?

What recharges my batteries?

What really makes me feel excited?

What experiences or activities have the most meaning for me?

Why do I “need” the things I tell myself I need?

When do I compromise my values? Why?

What keeps me going when times get tough?

Where is there a gap between who I am and who I really know myself to be?

Why choose new values?

When different values conflict with one another

Reconciling values with a relationship partner or a community

When acting according to a certain value just doesn’t feel right

When you realize a value is coming from outside, and isn’t something you really care about

When a particular value is constantly transgressed, to the point that it is draining your energy and emotional bandwidth

When failing to live up to a value is causing you great deals of shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, or fear

How Chase changed his values to serve him better

How changes in Chase’s values allowed him to overcome issues in his life

Values Assessment Tool

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qg8hegtswsullwk/Values%20Assessment.doc?dl=0

Feedback

None for this week

Question(s)

Subject: Mates now metamours

My two mates recently broke up with each other leaving me in the middle. One mate is desperately clinging to me and the other is constantly offering advice on how to keep my other relationship healthy. How do I just let things happen without the other thinking they had a hand in it?

Received via contact form (anonymous)

Closer

Contact info

Contact Viro:

t.me/viroscicollie

twitter.com/viroscicollie

Contact Chase:

twitter.com/Chase_WolfBTG

wolf4life.bandcamp.com

Feral Attraction Twitter:

twitter.com/feralattractfm

Feral Attraction Facebook:

facebook.com/feralattractfm

Feral Attraction Contact Page:

feralattraction.com/contact

Coaching Services now available!

As our audience has grown, many of our listeners and advice column readers have asked to speak with Viro or Metriko in a one-on-one setting so as to get help with resolving relationship issues or overcoming stumbling blocks that can trip us up on life's journey. Until now, it was not possible to offer such one-on-one attention, simply because of time constraints. Fortunately, Viro is now offering this kind of individualized attention as a service!

For more information, visit feralattraction.com/coaching.

Other business

Patreon

Joel Kreissman is a published author of anthropomorphic science-fiction in his Para-Imperium universe. His first novel, The Pride of Parahumans, was published with Thurston Howl publications in 2017 and he has more free stories on his blog at https://paraimperium.wordpress.com/

FA 105 Choosing Your Values - Choosing your values; what are values, where do they come from, and how do we choose the values that will support what we most want to experience in life?

Nothing worse than being a dragon and having to deal with having a cold and jerks. "In ancient China, a little dragon who can't breathe fire will fight to overcome his weakness in order to take part in the New Year’s celebration."  
View Video

Here’s another project we found out about through Animation World Network: “Fox Family is prepping children’s book The Royal Rabbits of London as a hybrid CG-animation/live-action feature film, Variety reports. Screenwriter Will Davies, whose credits include Flushed Away, Puss and Boots, How to Train Your Dragon, and the forthcoming Abominable, has been hired to write the script. The Royal Rabbits of London is based on the 2016 children’s book written by husband-and-wife team Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore… There’s no word yet on where the animation will be produced. The story introduces the Royal Rabbits of London, who have secretly protected England’s Royal Family for centuries. When a small country rabbit uncovers an devious plot against the royals, he travels to London to warn the protective order.” Not to leave it out: The book was illustrated by Kate Hindley and it’s available at Barnes & Noble.

image c. 2018 Aladdin Publishers

Ok, hear me out. Imagine Redwall mixed with Game of Thrones mixed with a healthy dose of Phil Geusz' post-apocalyptic science fiction. That's what you're getting with Jaysen Headley's newest book, Longtails: The Storms of Spring.In a mildly futuristic Earth, society is comprised of anthropomorphic animals who use swords and magic alongside super-advanced technology. Of course, "science fantasy" is an emerging genre still, and it's great to see this in a furry book. We follow the main mousetagonist Del Hatherhorne who is claimed to be a nobody much like Harry Potter who naturally finds himself to be born with certain special talents, namely the ability to use multiple elements of magic.Part of the more metaphorical magic of this book is the amount of worldbuilding the author put into this work. It is such a rich and advanced world with history, lore, literature, and politics. It is such a unique world.However, I'd hesitate to give the book a full five stars. The tone is at such odds with itself, mostly being a very young adult style—similar to Harry Potter (the early books) or the Redwall series—but then having bloody scenes that are sharp, shocking, visceral, and grotesque. It reminds me of Kurtis Jobling's young adult animal fantasy series because of that contrast in audience.At times, the dialogue comes off as incredibly choppy and unrealistic. We have this amazing world to explore, but it's hard to want to explore it with fairly simple characters who are generally hard to bond with. When it comes to plot, the narrative is fairly straightforward as a young adult fantasy.However, if you are an avid devourer of fantasy literature, then please check this out. The worldbuilding is delightful. Its pacing may seem pedantic at points, especially the beginning, but it does get better. And you will find yourself asking where you would fit in this society if given the choice.I also want to commend the book as a product itself. The cover is stunning considering this isn't done by one of the "major houses," and the interior layout is likewise impressive.Would I join the Longtails? Hells yeah.

So Animation Magazine lead us to discover Krocchi the Street Cat, a new animated character brought to us by Nurue in Japan. Here’s what they say: “Krocchi is a tough cat who’s seen a lot, a new type of hero for children who teaches them to have a strong heart that never gives up, no matter how bad things get. Through this series children will learn creativity, and how to invent games with natural materials like grass and plants. And by dancing with Krocchi, they can have fun exercising too.” Besides the animated series for preschoolers, Nurue has also created a line of Krocchi artwork and plush toys.  Currently they’re seeking international distribution, and they’ve had some success in Asia.

image c. 2018 Nurue, Inc.

We just don't get enough young rat representation, thankfully Nicktoons can provide us that here.
View Video

(There are many reasons to give this thoughtful discussion and avoid knee-jerk reaction about cost – it will happen, but please read on! – Patch)

MixedCandy gets fandom’s current highest auction price at The Dealer’s Den.

Congrats to MixedCandy for their successful auction. One of the fandom’s highest-powered creative stars has also raised attention for The Dealer’s Den, an online marketplace for this special niche.

This new record price was set 6 months after the previous one: $13,500 for a commission slot by Made Fur You, sold on The Dealer’s Den with 82 bids on 1/29/18. It was preceded by a record that stood for 3 years: $11,575 for Sniper Angeldragon by PhoenixWolf, sold on Furbuy with 187 bids on 2/14/15.

A few years ago, The Dealer’s Den looked like more or less a ghost town when I looked at its activity. Change of ownership to Vitai Slade brought healthy growth. It now roughly compares to the much longer established Furbuy, offering more options to the fandom. Both are free to use. At time of posting, both have around 350-500 active auctions and 1800 Twitter followers. The Dealer’s Den also has a Telegram group of 3,000 users advertising their goods, while Furbuy is doing in-person promotion with con panels and flyering. I’ve personally had good experiences with both.

A look at this auction and why it matters.

MixedCandy’s sale happened in 3 days time, shortly after the onslaught of mainstream media attention Anthrocon brings every year. I wouldn’t call that coincidental – timing an auction that way may be a great strategy! The bidding was most intense among 4 bidders who went way above usual market prices. I’d say $5000-6000 is still in a reasonable range of about double the usual cost of a full fursuit (it depends on features). Over that limit is where it really became a war.

I’m not surprised to see that happen with a character like Manuel Dog. I think he’s super handsome, with personality between fierce and cute. He seems made to make you run away in fear, but run up for a cuddle at the same time. He’s full of oodles of delicious fursuit crush power. I can’t wait to see him in action.

I will never get tired of adorable "were"wolves trying to look all scary but the only thing they succeed in is being cutie patooties :3

Werepups - @LibreWulf and @Dart_fur pic.twitter.com/RLlWwcwkjY

— LION!!! (@dethbox) July 13, 2018

When there’s mainstream talk about movie box-office records, or Zootopia being a billion dollar blockbuster – the fandom equivalent is convention attendance or a fursuit price record. It may be just symbolic, but you can call this a marker for “furry industry”, fandom growth, and how its artists are valued.

If you liked Zootopia‘s success, this is the fandom’s. Fursuits (and massive gatherings of them) are where the subculture flexes creative muscle and visual showstopping power. A con’s group photo can be considered a money shot of the show. There’s a lot more going on with this subculture, and an outsider may only see the surface of it – but a picture is worth 1000 words. That’s part of Manuel’s appeal and price.

Paying that much for a suit is very subjective personal worth. Other hobbies can get way more expensive (like a flashy car nobody needs). This is skilled work, and a serious gallery piece by a painter, sculptor, or other professional can cost more. “You could have gotten something else” isn’t relevant to a unique piece (for pure cheapness, try Walmart.) But such sales aren’t an investment with “high culture” recognition. It’s also for using and participating for the love of it.

Perhaps fandom is catching a generational groove like in the 1980’s and 90’s, when comics crossed a line from disposable trash to massive collectibles. Superman #1 selling for a million didn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy comics. It did say a lot about adult geeks rediscovering nostalgia for things they loved but weren’t super free to enjoy as kids. Manuel is like a huggable toy and an adult inside too. Of course, you can’t print millions of Manuels; there’s just one of each.

A fursuit business isn’t a path to riches.

Does a high price mean success by itself?

From tips I’ve gotten, I’m not sure MixedCandy has had a smooth ride behind their high-demand customer queue. If that’s true, maybe this auction will help them breathe a little with relief. Cute art is Grown Up Business now, and sometimes that means Grown Up Problems.

My recent article: ArtworkTee issues and the heart of the furry economy looked at problems of indie business. For what seems like brilliant successes on the surface, there can be killer pressure from liabilities and debts or business backups. Look at Hollywood celebs or music stars saddled with massive tax debts, unpaid by bad contracts, or cheated by managers. I had a friend who took incoming calls for the IRS who helped counsel people on how to ease their burdens, who occasionally dealt with names you may know. One was a famous pop music singer whose finances were in shreds behind a long and lauded career. Creative business has had such issues forever.

Tips I was sent about MixedCandy came from an average fan looking into their business, who asked me to take it further. According to them in March 2018, they saw a Trello queue with a long backlog for commissions. It had to involve a lot of deposits. Turnaround time and outlook on catchup was questioned. But when I revisited the tip in July, they saw progress and counted the auction win as helpful for an upward trajectory. They commented that it could even inspire people with backlogs to overcome them, and wanted it to spread a hopeful message.

To research, I asked MixedCandy for their side, but didn’t get responses to share. Of course a potential customer of any business should do their own research.

MixedCandy clearly love what they do. No fursuit maker would be alone in having business issues. As long as fans want what they create, those issues will be balanced by fandom love over money. Rising from a hobby for the love of it to a reliable living and business is a real achievement.

Higher prices help risky business, and you don’t need “Name Brands” when a smaller maker is a great option.

I’ve casually tracked fursuit makers for years. They have a lot of turnover and full time ones work their tails off. Do you want them to stick around?

Furries put out so much trust to pay thousands, do the DTD thing, and wait years for a suit. On the other side, high labor goes in while some customers expect hobby prices for professional goods. It seems like a pincher.

Scaleup can hurt when a business takes on too many commitments, without charging enough to meet them. Another common problem is unforseen bills or runaway debt, like medical expense that can kneecap a business. A theft or illegitimate refund claim can compound problems. Burnout happens. At the small business level we’re discussing, going to court is unlikely. It just ends up being a mess for everyone. I think this is built in risk with fursuit making.

People who go to art school or come up the independent way may not be taught to plan for this like in business school. They just figure it out. It takes foresight to navigate the obstacles, and many don’t. This is why rising fursuit prices help.

There’s also no need to wait for years for a highly demanded maker… or complain about one auction beyond your budget. With new up-and-coming makers emerging all the time, don’t overlook a close relationship with a small, personal one hungry to get started. They’ll be grateful for support, and you may get a crazy deal with all the personal attention you could want. If you do, Tip Your Makers.

Like the article? It takes a lot of effort to share these. Please consider supporting Dogpatch Press on Patreon.  You can access exclusive stuff for just $1, or get Con*Tact Caffeine Soap as a reward.  They’re a popular furry business seen in dealer dens. Be an extra-perky patron – or just order direct from Con*Tact.