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Some wise words from the very talented Nym who makes a good living off of what she does. Definitely worth taking into consideration. Even if you arent an artist its still worth giving a read. The more you know!

http://eskiworks.tumblr.com/post/24598694135

Also, in the slim chance you dont know who she is you check out her work, shes pretty amazing:D

submitted by Lucaloo
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Well guys I'm relatively new to the furry community but I have always seemed to have a connection to anthropomorphism. I'd like to say I'm really happy with how welcoming and friendly this community is. I've never met a group of individuals as nice as you guys. I am looking forward to interact more with you guys. :) Have a nice day guys and if you want to get to know me more don't be afraid to message me or add me on Facebook. :)

submitted by Awesomefrancis
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Hey r/furry, my girlfriend decided to do super-cheap commissions during the holiday break, to help pay for school and keep herself occupied. Now's your chance to get your character drawn, for pretty incredibly low prices. She primarily does feral, but has done plenty of anthro as well.

Please keep requests SFW for this round (If nsfw is your thing, let me know and perhaps that can be arranged, but not in this batch)

Here's a link to the journal containing the information

submitted by zaelyx
[link] [2 comments]

Shirokuma Cafe literally translates from Japanese as Polar Bear Cafe. It’s a manga series created by Aloha Higa, following the story of a little coffee house in Japan — run by a polar bear, and frequented by any number of zoo animals. The three main characters are Polar Bear, lazy young Panda, and lovesick Penguin. (Most of the animal characters in the series are simply naked after their species.) The manga has been running since 2008, but just this year a new anime series based on it came to TV thanks to Studio Pierrot. You can find out more at Anime News Network, or check out an actual episode at Crunchyroll.

image c. 2012 Studio Pierrot

Well, that didn't go too badly...  I think.  A last minute change meant that all the jingles and sound effects were powered from a second PlayStation Portable (which belongs to Felis, but is on extended loan to TK).  So that's all non-cast audio provided by PSP consoles.  This episode features TK, Xavier, Felis, and Hedgie.  Backing music by Sanxion7.

For Done and Dusted:
Hedgie gives us his opinion of Sonic and All Stars Racing: Transformed.
TK talks about Tetrisphere.
Xavier and Felis waffle on about Borderlands 2.

Television Talk:
Merlin
Doctor Who segments of Children in Need

Question of the Week:
What game from the past would you like to bring back?

 

Download the podcast - Watch the TubeCast

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Season 7 Episode 01 Podcast Uploaded

TigerTails Radio - Season 7 Episode 01
Well, that didn't go too badly... I think. A last minute change meant that all the jingles and sound effects were powered from a second PlayStation Portable (which belongs to Felis, but is on extended loan to TK). So that's all non-cast audio provided by PSP consoles. This episode features TK, Xavier, Felis, and Hedgie. Backing music by Sanxion7. From: TigerTails Radio Views: 0 1 ratings Time: 02:10:13 More in People & Blogs

If old-school Disney gets you all tingly (in whatever part of your body, no judging), then Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is likely on your radar, or even in your possession already. It’s a fun little platformer that never quite hits greatness due to some technical hiccups and design stumbles. But to make sure you don’t make it worse for yourself, here are a few helpful tips to getting the most out of Epic Mickey 2.

Don’t go back and play Epic Mickey 1.
“But I need to know the mythos!” you cry. But honestly, if you missed the first game, oh well. It’s really not a game that is worth going back for. Besides that everything that made the first game unique and interesting is in Epic Mickey 2, along with a story recap, so there’s nothing you’ll actually miss.

Play Epic Mickey 2 on the Wii, or with a PlayStation Move, but NOT on the Xbox 360.
Epic Mickey 2 is a Wii game, pure and simple. It was developed for the Wii remote, and the port to dual analog controls is shoddy. Bluntly, the 360 (and PS3 Dualshock) controls play like garbage. The reticule resets or bugs out, and controlling the camera is slower and less intuitive.

Get a friend.
There’s a reason it’s called Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. The redundant sounding title emphasizes the co-op gameplay, which is in every second of the game. Oswald is a helpful and necessary member of the team, and the game is most fun when another person is controlling him. Combos are easier, exploring is more thorough, and the experience is more satisfying.

Frankly, Epic Mickey 2 is not a great game, but it has it’s share of fun and charming moments. And for a Disney fan the amount of detail and nostalgia inducing references will add an extra level of enjoyment. Just follow these tips to make sure you make it as fun as possible.

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We are live, so check out the Listen page for the aduio (like a real radio) or check our YouTube account (www.youtube.com/tigertailsradio) to watch the show live!

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The Black Stallion, Carroll Ballard’s 1979 debut feature, is a great film.

It’s based on a series of children’s books but isn’t simplistic or pandering. It’s meditative, beautiful, engaging and – of course – great for any furs with an affinity for our equine friends.

The movie opens with a young boy, travelling on a foreign ship with his father. The ship is carrying the titular black stallion, a beast with a questionable temperament and unquestionable power.

There is a storm. The boy frees the horse from its restraints before both are thrown overboard. The ship sinks. They find themselves on a deserted island as the only apparent survivors, marking the end of the prologue and the beginning of the movie proper.

The first half of the film is a nearly wordless tale of survival. The weathered pastels of the island and the primary blue of the ocean are stunning. This landscape acts as an ancient canvas for the emerging relationship between boy and horse.

Ballard allows the story to develop naturally, with long scenes showing the boy adjusting to his wild surroundings. Such unhurried minimalism is comparable to the quiet, tense scenes of exploration in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): the boy’s quest for survival has parallels in Kubrick’s apes discovery of tools, or Floyd’s moonwalk to the excavated monolith, or Bowman’s slow discovery of Hal’s treachery. Like Kubrick, Ballard simultaneously evokes tension and wonder with The Black Stallion, although never with the thematic reach or artistic pretension of 2001.

The second half of the film, following the rescue of the boy and the horse, is less effective. But more on that in a moment.

The relationship between the boy and the horse is one of codependence. The boy is saved from probable death twice by the stallion. Firstly, after being thrown overboard from the ship, the boy grabs the horse’s restraints and is carried to the safety of the island. Secondly, on the island, the horse tramples an aggressive snake.

The boy saves the stallion from probable death twice. He frees the horse from its restraints on the ship and again on the island, where the horse becomes trapped in a rocky outcrop.

The growing trust between the two leads to The Black Stallion‘s best scene, where the boy attempts to feed the horse by hand. If I can anthropomorphize the horse for a moment (and I’m sure readers of [adjective][species] won’t mind), I’d argue that this scene shows the greatest acting performance ever by a horse. It is certainly a triumph of animal handling. The horse is clearly nervous as he approaches the boy, pushed and pulled by the competing emotions of anxiety and hunger. His slow approach to the boy’s offering is filmed from a distance: a long single shot. The scene is amazing and natural and joyful.

The boy and the horse, doomed to early death alone, combine to thrive on the island. The horse’s power provides a blunt instrument against the forces of nature, protecting them both from danger. The boy’s resourcefulness helps them survive day-to-day, providing food and shelter. The boy is rightfully fearful of the highly-strung stallion initially but, as the two help one another, respect grows into trust which grows into a tight bond.

The scenes showing the friendship between the boy and the horse are my favourite in the whole film. The two, agents of one another’s needs, start to find island life easy. They play: they swim together and the boy (eventually) learns to ride the stallion. These scenes – the stallion’s enthusiasm and the boy’s laughter – wordlessly depict the joyfulness of their bond.

From a less life-affirming perspective, it’s possible to interpret the stallion as an agent of death. In the film’s chronology, he seems to be the arbiter of who lives and who dies. Ballard’s films often starkly depict death, and this is the case in The Black Stallion, which opens with the death of the boy’s father and presumably the rest of the ship’s passengers and crew.

The boy survives the shipwreck because his obsession with the horse draws him to deck to cut the stallion’s restraints. As the horse jumps overboard, the boy is tossed over by the storm, saving him from the boat’s subsequent explosion. Later, after the boy frees the horse from his tangle in the island’s rocks, the horse saves the boy from the snake. In both cases, the boy’s survival is directly associated with – and arguably caused by – his selflessness towards the stallion. The horse, as Death, shows mercy towards those that show mercy to him.

The same events could, of course, be interpreted as a representation of the power of friendship. However I prefer the horse-as-manifestation-of-Death theory, and I point towards the stallion’s black coat as evidence.

It might be a stretch to suggest that The Black Stallion is an exercise in karmic vengeance, but the horse is shown to be wild, powerful, and dangerous. In an early scene on the boat, the horse is shown fighting against his handlers as they corral him into his stall. The boy is fascinated by the stallion’s power and becomes drawn to him, firstly by supplying illicit sugarcubes, and ultimately cutting him to freedom in the storm.

On the island, the horse is still dangerously flighty. However the boy’s obsession means he does not see the horse as a threat, and his persevering kindness is rewarded. Their friendship endures when the boy is eventually rescued: the horse swims out to the boat, convincing the rescuers to bring the horse on board as well.

Back at home, the boy is reunited with his grieving mother, and the movie becomes a different beast. The stallion escapes from their yard; the boy meets possibly the most egregious magical negro in cinematic history (who comes with magical and totally gay horses); the horse is found in the barn of a retired jockey; they enter into a horse race for no obvious reason other than to give the film a convenient, and clichéd, climax.

The retired jockey is played by Mickey Rooney, who is most famous for hamming it up as a cherub-faced child actor in the 1920s and 30s. His brand of ham has aged poorly, and his scenes in the The Black Stallion are the worst of the film. (Kelly Reno, as the boy, comfortably out-acts one of the most celebrated child actors of all time.) While researching this article, I was shocked to learn that Rooney was nominated for an Academy Award for The Black Stallion. It must have been a sympathy vote. He did not win.

For all the lameness of the second half of The Black Stallion‘s plot, it is still a beautiful film. The small town in which the boy lives is a perfect slice of rural America. And there is a racetrack scene – a reporter is invited to see the stallion go through his paces – set in a night-time cloudburst that stands alongside the best moments of the film.

In this way, the cinematography of The Black Stallion is comparable to the craptactular films of Michael Bay (Bad Boys, Pearl Harbour, Transformers). Bay’s films may be irredeemable nonsense, but they are beautifully shot. A Bay film, randomly paused, will often be composed and striking. (It’s a pity Bay and his team don’t put as much effort into the plot, direction, continuity, or assessment of his audience’s intelligence.) The Black Stallion, even in it’s lowest Rooney-filled moments, is always pretty.

The climactic race scene of The Black Stallion is almost Bay-worthy in its preposterousness. However the horseback scenes, shot largely in close range around the boy and the horse, are vivid and moving in their depiction of the stallion’s speed and power. A similar technique is used in The Club, a 1980 film that follows an Australian Rules team. By filming close to the players and bringing their footfalls to the front of the sound mix, the viewer gets a visceral sense of the footballer (or horse) testing himself to his thoroughbred limits. These scenes, in The Black Stallion and in The Club, share the athlete’s perspective with the viewer like no other.

Notably, and laudably, The Black Stallion is not a coming-of-age story. The boy is shown to be self-reliant from the beginning of the film but is very much a child throughout. His journey, starting with the death of his father and ending in a horse race, is defined by his relationship with the horse.

Both boy and horse are juvenile. They complement one another and help one another survive, thrive, and succeed. The boy is creative and the horse is powerful: they are, each, half a man. Together they are a match for the world.

The Black Stallion, then, is a celebration of childhood. One day the boy will grow and become strong and powerful himself, and he will no longer need his other half, the horse. However this is not the subject of the film. In The Black Stallion, both boy and horse are free to enjoy and explore their childhood, through their friendship.

This is the first of four posts on the films of Carroll Ballard. The other three articles will come irregularly, as I write them. All four movies are great. Choose your species and join us:

- The Black Stallion (horse)
- Never Cry Wolf (wolf): coming soon
- Fly Away Home (goose): coming soon
- Duma (cheetah): coming soon

submitted by xandertheblue
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submitted by Geek143
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submitted by ThePiachu
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...I went to my local library. In the mood for some light reading, I spied a book on the shelf called World's Worst Travel Destinations. Thumbing the pages, I stopped at page 46 because I spied a name: Anthrocon.

Indeed. THAT Anthrocon.

So I read the entry. Below is the review I read in its entirety.

NOTE: This is from _World's Worst Travel Destinations: 50 travel experiences you will want to miss..._, and published in 2012 by Dog 'n' Bone Books. The author is Kara Simsek. pp. 46-47


Anthrocon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When Children see someone dressed up in an animal costume, their first instinct is to run toward them with their arms outstretched, their face a giant beacon of joy ready for a quick cuddle. The same can be said of "furries" -- adults who have a fixation with humanoid animal characters.

There are many Furry COnventions -- or Fur Cons, as they're also knowm--held every year across the US. Such gatherings provide a suitable opportunity for fetishists to show off their "fursonas," the name given to their animal alter-egos who are usually only given the chance to socialize in internet forums. The largest of these conventions is Anthrocon, which is held every year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended by over 4000 people who roan around as humanoid cats, dogs, wolves, and even cockroaches. Foxes are also popular.

Many of the furries wear full costumes that they have painstakingly made themselves, while others opt for a more subtle get-up, such as adding a discreet tail to their clostes or wearing gloves that look like paws. The furries' outfits help to portray their character, with some having a medieval mentality that involves wearing fantasy outfits like cloaks and tunics, while others appear in uniforms for more relaxed clothing such as dungarees.

Thousands of furry fans make the most of Anthrocon, relishing the chance to hang out with other people in animal suits and dancing all night at specially organized discos, where any record by the rock band Super Furry Animals go down especially well. It's also a chance to bring their online role-playing games to life, as they speak and act in character totally unlike their everyday persons. It's not all fun and games, though, as the more serious side of the fandom is explored in a series of panel discussions. There are also art shows, auctions, puppetry, and stalls selling comic books, accessories, collectibles, and, of course, animal costumes.

Getting into a Fur Con can be tricky, however, as the media has painted such events as sexually charged weekends that culminate in wild orgies; as a result, the furries are understandably wary of of outsiders. Make an effort, though, and perhaps you'll see a grinning six foot tall crocodile slide up to a mouse, take them by the paw, and lead them to a hotel suite with the intention of doing beastly things to them.

As is WagzTail tradition, we talk about food today! Wolfin wanted to talk about stuffing, which proved a challenge when it was discovered he was the only one who liked to eat it. So we talk about other foods too.

Featured image provided by sbpp.
Hosts: Levi, Silent, Wolfin

Daily Show: November 19, 2012 - As is WagzTail tradition, we talk about food today! Wolfin wanted to talk about stuffing, which proved a challenge when it was discovered he was the only one who liked to eat it. So we talk about other foods too. - Featured image provided by sbpp.

submitted by Thirsty_Pickle
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Yes, today marks the start of TigerTails Radio - Season 7.  We have had 3 test shows to make sure things are working as expected, and while everything isn't 100% to TK's satisfaction, things aren't going to get any better than what they are, so we might as well go ahead.

What new for Season 7 then?  Well, first off, have a look at our nice new website.  Isn't it pretty?  It's pretty functional (well it's not winning any awards for style, put it that way), but certainly a lot better looking than the previous one.

The important things are still around.  The 'Listen' page has links to for you to listen with most major media players.  We're looking for a workaround for the Flash player, so if you used that just sit tight and hopefully it will be back soon.  If the main links don't work for you, we have the raw server details on hand so you can dump them in to your media player of choice and listen that way,

Podcasts will return, and now have their own section.  Well, ish.  Podcasts will be hosted off-site now, as that reduces our bandwidth commitments.  From now on, each new podcast will be linked to from a post on the main page.  The post will be tagged "Podcast", and thus by clicking on the podcast link in the top menu, you will be presented with the posts containing the podcasts.  Magic.

The ways and means of contacting us haven't changed, and links to all our social media sites (Facebook, Google+, and Twitter) have been added to the bottom of the "Contact Us" page.  The IRC details are also there, too.

So, that's the website covered...  What about the show?  Well, our biggest change is the move from Livestream.com to YouTube via Google Hangouts on Air.  Why did we do this?  There's a few reasons.  Most noteably, the Livestream was low frame-rate crap. It saved a local file to TK's computer but the quality of video was appalling.  Hangouts on Air aren't much better in terms of quality, and it eats the broadcasting equipment, but archives are saved to YouTube automatically. This means a TubeCast is available moments after the show has finished each night.  There are also lots of toys for TK to play with (early in the show, before the broadcasting hardware runs out of resources).

The Audiosurf challenge is no more, for the time being.  We will try to work out another challenge instead.  Winners of the Off Season challenge will be announced during the live show tonight.

Old favourites like Review of the Week, The Gaming News, Done and Dusted, and Role Play Talk are back.  The show will follow the regular format, with Review of the Week and The Gaming News taking up the first half of the show, and Done and Dusted followed by Role Play Talk taking up the second.  This should, in theory, give us a good 2 hour show.

Finally, the show now starts from 8pm UK time!  An hour earlier than it used to.  This also means it finishes at 10pm (if it doesn't over run) so all you Brits can go to bed at a reasonable hour (he says, typing this at 6.30am).

If you made it this far down, congratulations.  Give yourself a pat on the back...  Or a cookie, whichever is easiest.  Why not drop in to IRC during the live show and tell TK you've read this bit?  Let him know that typing this post up for over an hour has been worth it.

Enjoy the show.

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submitted by Geek143
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submitted by Yama_Roo
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Well I'm a relatively new furry and so sorry for that. I am wondering how I create a Fursona...especially since I have no artistic abilities. I have always like anthropomorphic animals. I have always liked the dragon variety the most...thanks for the help :)

submitted by Awesomefrancis
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submitted by Indycoone
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