The 2019 Ursa Major Awards winners were announced May 23 (in a video that confusingly labels them the 2020 awards.)
More than 1100 fans nominated and voted this year.
Best Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Directed by Rob Letterman; May 3)
Best Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Beastars (Directed by Shinichi Matsumi) Episode 1, October 8, 2019 (Japan)
Best Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for the year that the final chapter is published.
Fair Trade, by Gre7g Luterman
Best Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.
This Dog For Hire, by Mary E. Lowd, in Jove Deadly’s Lunar Detective Agency
Best Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and serialized online stories.
Fang 10, edited by Kyell Gold and Sparf
Best Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
Beastars: Volume 12-16, by Itagaki Paru
Best Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin
Best Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people, professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or audio-visual form.
Dogpatch Press, edited by Patch Packrat
Best Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for such, coffee-table portfolios.
Moth Monarch, Furnal Equinox 2019 T-shirt design
Best Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Untitled Goose Game
Best Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal sites.
Fur Affinity
Because there were insufficient qualifying nominations, there was no Non-Fiction Work or Fursuit category this year.
The 2019 Ursa Major Awards final ballot is open for voting from
March 1 to March 31 on the UMA website.
The 2019 Nominees
Best Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Avengers: Endgame (Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo; April 26)
Frozen 2 (Directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck; November 22)
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Directed by Rob Letterman; May 3)
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling (Directed by Joe Murray and Cosmo Serguson; August 9)
Toy Story 4 (Directed by Josh Cooley; June 21)
Best Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Aggretsuko, Season 2 (Directed by Rarecho)
Amphibia (Directed by Bert Youn and Derek Kirk Kim)
Beastars (Directed by Shinichi Matsumi) Episode 1, October 8, 2019 (Japan)
Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Written and Storyboarded by Phil Ahn, Allison Craig, Nathanael H. Jones, Griffith Kimmins, Alexandria Kwan, Nora Meek, Michael Moloney, Emily Oetzell, Parker Simmons, and Chris Ybarra)
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Season 9 (Directed by Denny Lu, Mike Myhre, and Gillian Comerford)
Best Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for
the year that the final chapter is published.
Darwin-sensei, Kemono Musume-tachi ga Gakuen de Omochi desu!, by Daisaburo Nonoue
Fair Trade, by Gre7g Luterman
Nexus Nine, by Mary E. Lowd
Off The Mark, by Bernard Doove and Jeff Hartt
Red Skies, by GS Cole and NC Shapero
Best Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.
Black Out In Space, by Mary E. Lowd
Bourbon Jack, by Linnea Capps
Ecto-Cafe, by Mary E. Lowd
The Move, by Kristi Brooks
This Dog For Hire, by Mary E. Lowd, in Jove Deadly’s Lunar Detective Agency
Best Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and
serialized online stories.
Fang 10, edited by Kyell Gold and Sparf
Heat 16, edited by Alopex and Dark End
Jove Deadly’s Lunar Detective Agency, by Garrett Marco and Mary E. Lowd
ROAR Volume 10, edited by Mary E. Lowd
The Rabbit Dies First, edited by Ryan Campbell
Tri-Galactic Trek, edited by Mary E. Lowd
Best Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
Beastars: Volume 12-16, by Itagaki Paru
The Dreamkeepers, by David & Liz Lillie
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler
Shine, by Babystar
Slightly Damned, by Chu
Best Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison Kellogg
Doc Rat, by Jenner
Freefall, by Mark Stanley
Friends You Are Stuck With, by Gabe Bold
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin
Best Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people,
professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or
audio-visual form.
Dogpatch Press, edited by Patch Packrat
Flayrah, edited by GreenReaper, Sonious, and Dronon
Up Fur Review, podcast by Jaden Drackus, TJ Minde, and Mog K. Moogle
Virginity Clan, YouTube videos
Zooscape, edited by Mary E. Lowd
Best Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for
such, coffee-table portfolios.
Idess, Jove Deadly’s Lunar Detective Agency book cover
Moth Monarch, Furnal Equinox 2019 T-shirt design
Moth Monarch, Surf Pacific Anthrocon 2019 banner and conbook art
Silfoe, Off The Mark book cover
Teagan Gavet, Tri-Galactic Trek book cover
Best Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Blacksad: Under The Skin
Kingdom Hearts III
Pokémon: Sword and Shield
Untitled Goose Game
Winds of Change
Best Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational
works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal
sites.
e621.net
Fur Affinity
Inkbunny
Newgrounds
WikiFur
Because there were insufficient qualifying nominations, there will
not be a Non-Fiction Work or Fursuit category this year.
Best
Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Isle of Dogs (Directed by Wes
Anderson; April 13)
Best
Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Aggretsuko (Directed by Rarecho,
episodes 1-10)
Best
Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify
only for the year that the final chapter is published.
Small World, by Gre7g Luterman.
(Thurston Howl Publications; April 23)
Best
Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written
works.
Uri’s Bitterweet Story, by
Uranium 235. (CrossTime Cafe; December 9)
Best
Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction
works, and serialized online stories.
What the Fox!, edited by Fred Patten.
(Thurston Howl Publications; March 6) both trade paperback and deluxe editions
Best
Non-Fiction Work Includes documentaries, opinion pieces, and news articles.
Furries | Down the Rabbit Hole
(Created by Fredrik Knudsen, August 13)
Best
Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler
(internet; Lackadaisy Liaison to Lackadaisy Overdrive)
Best
Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison
Kellogg (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Best
Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by
various people, professional or amateur, published in print or online in
written, pictorial or audio-visual form.
Culturally F’d
(YouTube videos, Sonic OC Rusty Knucklesfur to Fursuit History Part 5: Cosplay)
Best
Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books,
cover art for such, coffee-table portfolios.
Caraid, Pirates!, website header for Furry
Weekend Atlanta 2019, April 12
Best
Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Deltarune: Chapter 1
(Developer: Toby Fox, October 31)
Best
Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or
informational works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs,
and personal sites.
e621.net (art, discussions, etc.)
Best
Fursuit Anthropomorphic costumes.
SonicFox, worn at Esports Award.
Costume by Yamishizen/Fursuit Enterprise.
The 2018 Ursa Major
Awards final ballot is open for voting from March 1 to March 31 on the UMA website.
The winners will be
announced at a presentation ceremony at AnthrOhio,
to be held in Columbus, OH from May 23-26.
The 2018 Nominees
Best
Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Avengers: Infinity War (Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo; April 27)
Isle of Dogs (Directed by Wes Anderson; April 13)
Mary Poppins Returns (Directed by Rob Marshall; December 19)
Peter Rabbit (Directed by Will Gluck; February 9)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman; December 14)
Best
Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Aggretsuko (Directed by Rarecho, episodes 1-10)
Bojack Horseman (Directed by John Aoshima, Dana Terrace; Season 1, August 12 to December 2)
Brush: A Fox Tale (Directed by Willi Anton and Faustina Arriola; May 12)
DuckTales (Directed by John Aoshima, Matthew Humphreys, and Dana Terrace, Episode 10 to 30)
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Directed by Denny Lu and Mike Myhre, Season 8 Episode 1 to My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever)
Best
Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for
the year that the final chapter is published.
Cosmic Lotus, by Bernard Doove (CreateSpace; June 26)
Once A Dog, by Shaune Lafferty Webb. (Jaffa Books; May 7)
Small World, by Gre7g Luterman. (Thurston Howl Publications; April 23)
The Snake’s Song, by Mary E. Lowd. (ShadowSpinners Press; March 13)
Voyage of the Dogs, by Greg van Eekhout. (HarperCollins; September)
Best
Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.
The Beating of Wild Hooves, by Dwale. (In CLAW, volume 1, July) Mature Audiences
Come To Todor!, by Fred Patten. (In Exploring New Places, FurPlanet Productions; July 5)
A Legend in His Own Time, by Fred Patten. (In What the Fox?!, Thurston Howl Publications; March 6)
Of Starwhals and Spaceships, by Mary E. Lowd. (In Daily Science Fiction; January 31)
Uri’s Bitterweet Story, by Uranium 235. (CrossTime Cafe; December 9)
Best
Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and
serialized online stories.
CLAW Volume 1, edited by K.C. Alpinus. (FurPlanet Productions, July 5)
Heat 15, produced by Dark End, Teagan Gavet. (Sofawolf Press, July 5) Mature Audiences
ROAR 9, edited by Mary E. Lowd. (FurPlanet Productions, July)
Tales From the Guild: World Tour, edited by Ocean Tigrox. (FurPlanet Productions, story anthology, July)
What the Fox!, edited by Fred Patten. (Thurston Howl Publications; March 6) both trade paperback and deluxe editions
Best
Non-Fiction Work Includes documentaries, opinion pieces, and news articles.
The Day the Fandom Died – November 12th, 2018 – Loss of a creator and a super fan (Rooview, November 25)
Furries Assist, help lead to arrest of Levi “SnakeThing” Simmons (Rooview, October 28)
Furries | Down the Rabbit Hole (Created by Fredrik Knudsen, August 13)
Fursuit History (Culturally F’d, videos; parts 1 to 5, February 16 to December 11)
This is Life with Lisa Ling: Furry Nation (CNN, video; November 18)
Best
Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
The Dreamkeepers, by David & Liz Lillie (Internet; January 5 [#386] to December 15 [#432])
DreamKeepers Prelude, by David & Liz Lillie (Internet; January 5 [#394] to December 15 [#428])
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler (internet; Lackadaisy Liaison to Lackadaisy Overdrive)
Rising Sand, by Ty Dunitz and Jenn Lee (internet; March 7 [RS057] to September 12 [RS083])
Scurry, by Mac Smith. (Internet; January 4 to December 31)
Best
Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison Kellogg (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Doc Rat, by Jenner (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Freefall, by Mark Stanley. (Internet; #3065 to 3221)
Part Time Dragons, by Spike Parra and Donna Vu (Internet; March 28 to December 30)
The Whiteboard, by Doc Nickel. (Internet, January to December)
Best
Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people,
professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or
audio-visual form.
Culturally F’d (YouTube videos, Sonic OC Rusty Knucklesfur to Fursuit History Part 5: Cosplay)
Dogpatch Press, edited by Patch Packrat. (Internet; January 2 to December 31)
Flayrah, edited by GreenReaper, Sonious, and Dronon. (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Moms of Furries (YouTube videos, Moms of Furries Our First Con to How Do You Tell Them Start With the Art)
South Afrifur Pawdcast (You Tube videos, January to December)
Best
Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for
such, coffee-table portfolios.
Ashley Ash, Will You Be My Valentine February 14
Tracy Butler, Murder in Surfer’s Paradise, cover of FurDU 2018 convention souvenir book, May 6
Caraid, Pirates!, website header for Furry Weekend Atlanta 2019, April 12
Demicoeur, cover for Exploring New Places edited by Fred Patten, FurPlanet Productions, July 5
Teagan Gavet, cover for CLAW Volume 1, edited by K.C. Alpinus,FurPlanet Productions, July 5
Best
Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Deltarune: Chapter 1 (Developer: Toby Fox, October 31)
Detective Pikachu (English release) (Developer: Creatures, Publisher: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company; March 23)
Ghost of a Tale (Developer and Publisher: SeithCG; March 13)
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! (Developer: Game Freak, Publisher(s): The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, November 16)
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Developer, Toys for Bob, Publisher, Activision, November 13)
Best
Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational
works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal
sites.
e621.net (art, discussions, etc.)
Furry Writers’ Guild (Supporting, informing, elevating, and promoting quality anthropomorphic fiction and its creators)
Inkbunny (furry art community)
Lackadaisy.com
WikiFur (furry fandom encyclopedia)
Best
Fursuit Anthropomorphic costumes.
Penelope, made by Dludnerad (AKA Tamara Carmichael) and Paul Kidd, owner Paul Kidd.
Ravtrag, made by Suit-a-dile.
SonicFox, worn at Esports Award. Costume by Yamishizen/Fursuit Enterprise.
Zabivaka, FIFA World Cup Mascot 2018
Note: Kyell Gold withdrew from
consideration for the Novel and Short Story categories. He wrote on his blog Fur Affinity:
…There is precedent in other awards for frequent winners stepping back. One of the people on the Ursa Major committee told me that in a musical award, when someone wins three years in a row, they are retired from that category by the award. That’s not how the Ursas work: they have been very hands-off and admirably resistant to public opinion. When Stan Sakai won the Best Comic award multiple years running, they assured people that in time, other comics would win, and they were right. In response to my multiple wins, they have assured people that, in time, other authors will win. I have no doubt that they are correct, given the profusion of talent in the fandom. In fact, each of the last two years I have been convinced I would not win one of the two awards (perhaps neither). But I have also observed that it would probably be better for the writing scene if that day comes sooner rather than later.
Ultimately, what it comes down to is this: I’ve won a dozen awards over seven years. I know you guys love me and my books. 🙂 But I’d like to help the fandom’s literary scene mature, and part of that is showcasing more of the authors that are doing really good work. My name’s already up there in the lists; let’s see some of the other people….
The 2017 Ursa Major Awards were announced at FurDU 2018 at Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia on May 4-6.
Best Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (Directed by James Gunn; May 5)
Best Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Duck Tales [2017 reboot] (Directed by John Aoshima, Dana Terrace; Season 1, August 12 to December 2)
Best Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for the year that the final chapter is published.
The Wayward Astronomer, by Geoffrey Thomas (Corvus Publishing; May 9)
Best Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.
Lieutenant Kruger and the Mistress Jade Trophy Game, by Kathy Garrison Kellogg (in The Cross Time Cafe; October 5)
Best Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and serialized online stories.
Dogs of War, edited by Fred Patten (anthology; FurPlanet Productions; January 12)
Best Non-Fiction Work Includes documentaries, opinion pieces, and news articles.
Furry Nation, by Joe Strike (Cleis Press; October 10)
Best Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
DreamKeepers, by David & Liz Lillie (Internet; January 2 [#340] to December 18 [#385])
Best Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin (Internet; January 2 to December 29)
Best Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people, professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or audio-visual form.
Dogpatch Press, ed. by Patch Packrat (Internet; January 5 to December 25)
Best Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for such, coffee-table portfolios.
David Lillie, cover for The Wayward Astronomer, by Geoffrey Thomas (Corvus Publishing; May 9)
Best Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Night in the Woods (Developer: Infinite Fall, Publisher: Finji; February 21)
Best Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal sites.
The 2017 Ursa Major Awards final ballot is open for voting from March 1 to March 31 on the UMA website.
The winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony at FurDU 2018 at Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia on May 4-6.
Best Motion Picture Live-action or animated feature-length movies.
Ferdinand (Directed by Carlos Saldanha; December 15)
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (Directed by James Gunn; May 5)
My Little Pony: The Movie (Directed by Jayson Thiessen; October 6)
Rock Dog (Directed by Ash Brannon; February 24)
War for the Planet of the Apes (Directed by Matt Reeves; July 14)
Best Dramatic Series or Short Work TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.
Doodle Toons (Directed by Jack C; Pilot episode to “Deleted Scene: Fast Food Follies”)
Duck Tales [2017 reboot] (Directed by John Aoshima, Dana Terrace; Season 1, August 12 to December 2)
Here’s the Plan (Directed by Fernanda Frick; April 27)
Kouka and Bibi (by Dan Variano; January 8)
Mascot Fur Life (Directed by Jens Wernstedt; December 23)
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Directed by Jim Miller, Tim Stuby, Denny Lu, Mike Myhre; Season 7, episodes 1 to 26)
OK KO! Let’s Be Heroes (Directed by Hwang Ki-hoo, Chang-woo Shin, Sunjae Lee, Byungjae Oh, Eunyung Byun, Sunhung Kim; Season 1 Episode 1 to 42)
Best Novel Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for the year that the final chapter is published.
Always Gray in Winter, by Mark J. Engels (Thurston Howl Publications; August 10)
Black Friday, by Jan Stryvant (CreateSpace; September 8)
Kismet, by Watts Martin (Argyll Productions, FurPlanet Productions; January 12)
Otters in Space III: Octopus Ascending, by Mary E. Lowd (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
The Wayward Astronomer, by Geoffrey Thomas (Corvus Publishing; May 9)
Best Short Fiction Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.
Behesht, by Dwale (in ROAR volume 8; June 30)
Beyond the Great Divide, by S. H. Mansouri (in Cirsova Heroic Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine #5; Spring 2017)
Lieutenant Kruger and the Mistress Jade Trophy Game, by Kathy Garrison Kellogg (in The Cross Time Cafe; October 5)
The Moon Like an Unhatched Egg, by Mary E. Lowd (in Symbol of a Nation; June 30)
Rickety V, by Rechan (in Intimate Little Secrets; March 24)
Best Other Literary Work Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and serialized online stories.
Arcana: A Tarot Anthology, edited by Madison Scott-Clary (anthology; Thurston Howl Publications; November 9)
Dogs of War, edited by Fred Patten (anthology; FurPlanet Productions; January 12)
Intimate Little Secrets, by Rechan (collection; FurPlanet Productions; March 24)
ROAR volume 8, edited by Mary E. Lowd (anthology; Bad Dog Books; June 30)
Symbol of a Nation, edited by Fred Patten (anthology; GoAL Publications; June 30)
Best Non-Fiction Work Includes documentaries, opinion pieces, and news articles.
Furries Among Us 2; More Essays On Furries By Furries, edited by Thurston Howl (Thurston Howl Productions; August 18)
Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015, by Fred Patten (McFarland & Co.; January 3))
Furry Nation, by Joe Strike (Cleis Press; October 10)
The Shocking Furry Fandom Conversation. Yes, Really! (on YouTube, featuring Stefan Molyneux; October 16)
3 Ursa Major-ly Painful Victories, by Rooview (on YouTube; April 23)
Best Graphic Story Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.
A&H Club, by Rick Griffin (Internet; January 7 to November 25)
DreamKeepers, by David & Liz Lillie (Internet; January 2 [#340] to December 18 [#385])
Endtown, by Aaron Neathery (Internet; January 2 to December 25)
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler (internet; Lackadaisy Gimmickry to Lackadaisy Deliria)
TwoKinds, by Tom Fischbach (internet; January 5 to December 28)
Best Comic Strip Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison Kellogg (Internet; January 1 to December 29)
Doc Rat, by Jenner (Internet; January 4 to December 29)
DreamKeepers Prelude, by David & Liz Lillie (Internet; January 6 [#350] to December 28 [#393])
Freefall, by Mark Stanley (Internet; January 2 to December 29)
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin (Internet; January 2 to December 29)
Best Magazine Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people, professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or audio-visual form.
Dogpatch Press, ed. by Patch Packrat (Internet; January 5 to December 25)
Flayrah, edited by GreenReaper, Sonious, and Dronon (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
FurryFandom.es, edited by Mike Retriever (Internet; February 19 to October 9)
InFurNation, ed. by Rod O’Riley (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Typewriter Emergencies: A Journal of Furry Lit, edited by Weasel (Weasel Press; May)
Best Published Illustration Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for such, coffee-table portfolios.
Bone, cover for Always Gray in Winter by Mark J. Engels (Thurston Howl Publications; August 10)
Baron Engel, Prepare to Engage the Enemy, cover for A Different Perspective by Bernard Doove (June 8)
Ashley Foy, Valentine’s Gifts (February 14)
Teagan Gavet, cover for Dogs of War, edited by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions; January 12)
Teagan Gavet, cover for ROAR vol, 8, edited by Mary E. Lowd (Bad Dog Books; June 30)
Idess, cover for Otters in Space III: Octopus Ascending, by Mary E. Lowd (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
David Lillie, cover for The Wayward Astronomer, by Geoffrey Thomas (Corvus Publishing; May 9)
Best Game Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.
Cuphead (Developer and Publisher: StudioMDHR Entertainment; September 29)
Night in the Woods (Developer: Infinite Fall, Publisher: Finji; February 21)
Sonic Mania (Developer: PagodaWest Games and Headcannon, Publisher: Sega; August 15)
Star Fox 2 (Developer: Nintendo and Argonaut Games, Publisher: Nintendo; September 29)
Yooka – Laylee (Developers: Playtonic Games; April 11)
Best Website Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal sites.
The Cross Time Cafe (forum for comic discussions, including many on the Recommended List)
e621.com (art, discussions, etc.))
Furry Writers’ Guild (Supporting, informing, elevating, and promoting quality anthropomorphic fiction and its creators)
Nominations for the 2017 Ursa Major Awards have begun and will continue until February 15. Click here to participate.
To be eligible, a work must include a non-human being given human attributes (anthropomorphic), which can be mental and/or physical (for example the intelligent rabbits in Watership Down for the former, and Bugs Bunny for the latter.) Simply including an animal character is not sufficient to qualify. Non-animal characters such as Wall-E are also anthropomorphic.
The awards are selected by a two-stage process of nominating and voting. Members of the public send in up to five nominations in each of the categories. The top five nominees in each category (more in case of a tie) are then presented on a final ballot for a public vote.
The twelve categories are: Motion Picture, Dramatic Short Work or Series, Novel, Short Fiction, Other Literary Work, Graphic Novel, Comic Strip, Magazine, Nonfiction, Published Illustration, Website, and Game.
Many nominations are likely to come from the 2017 Recommended Anthropomorphic Reading List, which has been built up through prior recommendations. However, inclusion on the List is not necessary for nomination if a work is otherwise eligible; first published during January to December 2017.
The final ballot will be announced on March 1 and voting will take place until the end of March.
The ballots will be counted, the trophies made, and the results will be announced at the award presentations in Surfer’s Paradise, Queensland, at FurDU 2018, scheduled for May 4-6.
The 2016 Ursa Major Awards were announced on June 30 at Anthrocon in Pittsburgh. The Ursa Major Awards, for the best anthropomorphic works of the past calendar year, are presented by the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA) in twelve categories, and are voted upon by the public on the Ursa Major Awards website, Ursa Major Awards website.
There were 1,446 votes this year, most from the U.S. but some from throughout the rest of the world. Below are listed the winners and nominees of the 2016 Ursa Major Awards.
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture
Winner
Zootopia (Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush; February 11)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Finding Dory (Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane; June 17)
Sing (Directed by Garth Jennings and Christophe Lourdelet; December 21)
Kung Fu Panda 3 (Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni; January 29)
The Secret Life of Pets (Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney; July 8)
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series
Winner
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Directed by James Thiessen, Jim Miller, Tim Stuby, and Denny Lu; Season 6 episodes 1 to 143 [TV])
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
The Lion Guard (Directed by Howy Parkins; Season 1 episodes 1 to 22 [TV])
Bunnicula (Directed by Jessica Borutski, Maxwell Atoms, Robert F. Hughes, Matthew Whitlock, and Ian Wasseluk; Season 1 episodes 1 to 8 [TV])
Littlest Pet Shop (Directed by Joel Dickie, Steven Garcia, and Mike Myhre; Season 4 episode 10 to Season 4 episode 26 [TV])
Petals (Directed by Andrea Gallo and Alvaro Dominguez; November 29 [student film])
Best Anthropomorphic Novel
Winner
My Diary, by Fredrick Usiku Kruger, Lieutenant of the Rackenroon Hyena Brigade, by Kathy Garrison Kellog (The Cross Time Cafe; April 2)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Sixes Wild: Echoes, by Tempe O’Kun (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
Dog Country, by Malcolm F. Cross (Amazon Digital Services; March 28)
Fracture, by Hugo Jackson (Inspired Quill; September 1)
The Origin Chronicles: Mineau, by Justin Swatsworth (Dolphyn Visions; June 14)
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction
Winner
400 Rabbits, by Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden, in Gods With Fur (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
A Gentleman of Strength, by Dwale, in Claw the Way to Victory (Jaffa Books; January 24)
Questor’s Gambit, by Mary E. Lowd, in Gods With Fur (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
Marge the Barge, by Mary E. Lowd, in Claw the Way to Victory (Jaffa Books; January 24)
Sheeperfly’s Lullaby, by Mary E. Lowd, in GoAL #2 (Goal Publications; March 27)
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work
Winner
Gods With Fur, ed. by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions; June 30 [anthology])
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Claw the Way to Victory, ed. by AnthroAquatic (Jaffa Books; January 24 [anthology])
ROAR volume 7, ed. by Mary E. Lowd (Bad Dog Books; June 30 [anthology])
The Muse, by Alex Cockburn (Rabbit Valley Publishing; March [background booklet for Lucid’s Dream])
Hot Dish #2, ed. by Dark End (Sofawolf Press; December 1 [anthology])
Best Anthropomorphic Non-Fiction Work
Winner
The Art of Zootopia, by Jessica Julius (Chronicle Books; March 8 [book; making of feature film])
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Fursonas (Directed by Dominic Rodriguez; May 10 [documentary film])
17 Misconceptions About Furries and the Furry Fandom (Culturally F’d #23; February 11 [podcast])
CSI: Fur Fest; The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention, by Jennifer Swann (VICE Media; February 10 [Internet])
Burned Furs and How You Perceive Porn (Culturally F’d: After Dark; October 6 [podcast])
Best Anthropomorphic Graphic Story
Winner
TwoKinds, by Tom Fischbach (Internet; January 6 to December 25)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Swords and Sausages, by Jan (Internet; January 10 to December 25)
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler (Internet; Lackadaisy Sabbatical to Lackadaisy Headlong)
Lucid’s Dream, by Alex Cockburn (Rabbit Valley Publishing; March)
Endtown, by Aaron Neathery (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip
Winner
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Savestate, by Tim Weeks (Internet; January 6 to December 28)
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Kevin & Kell, by Bill Holbrook (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Doc Rat, by Jenner (Internet; January 1 to December 29)
Best Anthropomorphic Magazine
Winner
Dogpatch Press, ed. by Patch Packrat (Internet; January 4 to December 20)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Fur What It’s Worth (Podcast; Season 5 episode #8 to Season 6 episode #8)
InFurNation, ed. by Rod O’Riley (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Flayrah, ed. by crossaffliction and GreenReaper (Internet; January 1 to December 29)
Fangs and Fonts (Podcast; episodes #57 to #72)
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration
Winner
Tracy J. Butler, cover of Anthrocon 2016 Souvenir Book
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Teagan Gavet, cover of Gods With Fur, ed. by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions, June 30)
Iskra, “Autumn”, FurAffinity, October 22
Jenn ‘Pac’ Rodriguez, cover of Claw the Way to Victory, ed. by AnthroAquatic (Jaffa Books, January 24)
Dolphyn, “Hey Baby, You’re the Cat’s Meow!” in Anthrocon 2016 Souvenir Book
Best Anthropomorphic Game
Winner
Major \ Minor (Developer: Klace; Publisher: Steam; October 11)
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
Pokémon Sun & Moon (Developer: Game Freak; Publishers: Nintendo and the Pokémon Company; November 18)
Overwatch (Developer and Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment; May 24)
Stories: The Path of Destinies (Developer and Publisher: Spearhead Games; April 12)
Bear Simulator (Developer and Publisher: Farjay Studios; February 26)
Best Anthropomorphic Website
Winner
Fur Affinity (Internet [furry art & discussion])
Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
E621 (Internet [furry art & discussion])
WikiFur (Internet [furry wiki])
The Furry Writers’ Guild (Internet [FWG news & discussion])
Culturally F’d, ed. by Arrkay and Underbite (YouTube [furry history & sociology])
Next year’s presentation venue will be at the FurDU convention, May 4-6, 2018, in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia. In addition, the Ursa Major Awards are adding a thirteenth category beginning this year, for Best Anthropomorphic Fursuit, but with special rules. See the UMA website.
Voting has opened in the 2016 Ursa Major Awards for the Best Anthropomorphic Literature and Art of the and will continue until April 30. The winners will be announced at Anthrocon 2017 (June 29-July 2) in Pittsburgh, PA.
Anyone may vote. Go to the awards website and click on “Voting for 2016” at the left for instructions on how to register to vote.
This final ballot has been compiled from those eligible works receiving the most nominations.
2016 Final Ballot
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture
Finding Dory (Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane; June 17)
Kung Fu Panda 3 (Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni; January 29)
The Secret Life of Pets (Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney; July 8)
Sing (Directed by Garth Jennings and Christophe Lourdelet; December 21)
Zootopia (Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush; February 11)
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series
Bunnicula (Directed by Jessica Borutski, Maxwell Atoms, Robert F. Hughes, Matthew Whitlock, and Ian Wasseluk; Season 1 episodes 1 to 8 [TV])
The Lion Guard (Directed by Howy Parkins; Season 1 episodes 1 to 22 [TV])
Littlest Pet Shop (Directed by Joel Dickie, Steven Garcia, and Mike Myhre; Season 4 episode 10 to Season 4 episode 26 [TV])
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Directed by James Thiessen, Jim Miller, Tim Stuby, and Denny Lu; Season 6 episodes 1 to 143 [TV])
Petals (Directed by Andrea Gallo and Alvaro Dominguez; November 29 [student film])
Best Anthropomorphic Novel
Dog Country, by Malcolm F. Cross (Amazon Digital Services; March 28)
Fracture, by Hugo Jackson (Inspired Quill; September 1)
My Diary, by Fredrick Usiku Kruger, Lieutenant of the Rackenroon Hyena Brigade, by Kathy Garrison Kellog (The Cross Time Cafe; April 2)
The Origin Chronicles: Mineau, by Justin Swatsworth (Dolphyn Visions; June 14)
Sixes Wild: Echoes, by Tempe O’Kun (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction
400 Rabbits, by Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden, in Gods With Fur (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
A Gentleman of Strength, by Dwale, in Claw the Way to Victory (Jaffa Books; January 24)
Marge the Barge, by Mary E. Lowd, in Claw the Way to Victory (Jaffa Books; January 24)
Questor’s Gambit, by Mary E. Lowd, in Gods With Fur (FurPlanet Productions; June 30)
Sheeperfly’s Lullaby, by Mary E. Lowd, in GoAL #2 (Goal Publications; March 27)
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work
Claw the Way to Victory, ed. by AnthroAquatic (Jaffa Books; January 24 [anthology])
Gods With Fur, ed. by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions; June 30 [anthology])
Hot Dish #2, ed. by Dark End (Sofawolf Press; December 1 [anthology])
The Muse, by Alex Cockburn (Rabbit Valley Publishing; March [background booklet for Lucid’s Dream])
ROAR volume 7, ed. by Mary E. Lowd (Bad Dog Books; June 30 [anthology])
Best Anthropomorphic Non-Fiction Work
The Art of Zootopia, by Jessica Julius (Chronicle Books; March 8 [book; making of feature film])
Burned Furs and How You Perceive Porn (Culturally F’d: After Dark; October 6 [podcast])
CSI: Fur Fest; The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention, by Jennifer Swann (VICE Media; February 10 [Internet])
Fursonas (Directed by Dominic Rodriguez; May 10 [documentary film])
17 Misconceptions About Furries and the Furry Fandom (Culturally F’d #23; February 11 [podcast])
Best Anthropomorphic Graphic Story
Endtown, by Aaron Neathery (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Lackadaisy, by Tracy J. Butler (Internet; Lackadaisy Sabbatical to Lackadaisy Headlong)
Lucid’s Dream, by Alex Cockburn (Rabbit Valley Publishing; March)
Swords and Sausages, by Jan (Internet; January 10 to December 25)
TwoKinds, by Tom Fischbach (Internet; January 6 to December 25)
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip
Carry On, by Kathy Garrison (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Doc Rat, by Jenner (Internet; January 1 to December 29)
Housepets!, by Rick Griffin (Internet; January 1 to December 30)
Kevin & Kell, by Bill Holbrook (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
SaveState, by Tim Weeks (Internet; January 6 to December 28)
Best Anthropomorphic Magazine
Dogpatch Press, ed. by Patch Packrat (Internet; January 4 to December 20)
Fangs and Fonts (Podcast; episodes #57 to #72)
Flayrah, ed. by crossaffliction and GreenReaper (Internet; January 1 to December 29)
Fur What It’s Worth (Podcast; Season 5 episode #8 to Season 6 episode #8)
InFurNation, ed. by Rod O’Riley (Internet; January 1 to December 31)
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration
Tracy J. Butler, cover of Anthrocon 2016 Souvenir Book
Dolphyn, “Hey Baby, You’re the Cat’s Meow!” in Anthrocon 2016 Souvenir Book
Teagan Gavet, cover of Gods With Fur, ed. by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions, June 30)
Iskra, “Autumn”, FurAffinity, October 22
Jenn ‘Pac’ Rodriguez, cover of Claw the Way to Victory, ed. by AnthroAquatic (Jaffa Books, January 24)
Best Anthropomorphic Game
Bear Simulator (Developer and Publisher: Farjay Studios; February 26)
Major \ Minor (Developer: Klace; Publisher: Steam; October 11)
Overwatch (Deveoper and Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment; May 24)
Pokémon Sun & Moon (Developer: Game Freak; Publishers: Nintendo and the Pokémon Company; November 18)
Stories: The Path of Destinies (Developer and Publisher: Spearhead Games; April 12)
Best Anthropomorphic Website
Culturally F’d, ed. by Arrkay and Underbite (YouTube [furry history & sociology])
E621 (Internet [furry art & discussion])
Fur Affinity (Internet [furry art & discussion])
The Furry Writers’ Guild (Internet [FWG news & discussion])
By Carl Slaughter: Malcolm Cross does military science fiction. He also gets pirated.
His novel Extinction Biome: Invasion, co-authored with Anne Tibbets and published under the house name Addison Gunn), was released in five eBook novellas earlier in 2016, culminating in a collected print edition in June. His novel Dog Country came out in the spring. “Dangerous Jade” won the Ursa Major Award for best anthropomorphic short fiction.
Alex Miller trained for years in the Army, waiting for a war that never came. Now a corporate bodyguard and driver, he’s about to bear witness to the end of the human race.
An ancient ecology has reawakened, and like a Biblical plague it threatens to consume all life on Earth. Hordes of parasite-infected humans riot in the streets, as vast fungal blooms destroy our crops and fast-evolving horrors stalk our cities.
The last time this happened, T-Rex found itself on the menu. But mankind’s got more than teeth – it’s got guns. Miller and the men and women of COBALT, the Schaeffer-Yeager Corporation’s elite security team, are pressed into service to fight the onslaught, but they have no idea how cut-throat their company masters can be…
Praise for Extinction Biome:
“Ruthless and fast-paced, Extinction Biome is a planetary gut-punch.”
— Weston Ochse, award-winning author of Grunt Life and Seal Team 666
Dog Country
A crowdfunded civil war is Azerbaijan’s only hope against its murderous dictatorship. The war is Edane Estian’s only chance to find out if he’s more than what he was designed to be.
He’s a clone soldier, gengineered from a dog’s DNA and hardened by a brutal training regime. He’d be perfect for the job if an outraged society hadn’t intervened, freed him at age seven, and placed him in an adopted family.
Is he Edane? Cathy and Beth’s son, Janine’s boyfriend, valued member of his MilSim sports team? Or is he still White-Six, serial number CNR5-4853-W6, the untroubled killing machine?
By joining a war to protect the powerless, he hopes to become more than the sum of his parts.
Without White-Six, he’ll never survive this war. If that’s all he can be, he’ll never leave it.
Praise for Dog Country:
“Very much informed by 1980s cyberpunk fiction. The richly staccato narration and dialogue-heavy scenes carry the distinctive generic DNA of sexualised, late-modern (and postmodern) cityscapes fed through Raymond Chandler, Ian Fleming and Jack Kerouac.”
— Dr. Robin Stoate (co-author, BFI Film Classics: Back to the Future)
“Cross shows an extremely distinctive voice, staying so much in the viewpoint character’s head that it borders on stream of consciousness. … there are few genuine stylists among furry authors and even fewer this good.”
“Opening with a powerful, visceral chapter, Dog Country is a novel that grips your imagination from the start and doesn’t let go. … Both in terms of the larger, fractured political situation as well as the immediate, intense military action, Cross has created a remarkable novel.”
