You’ve probably seen them at conventions or maybe just in a viral TikTok—people in elaborate animal costumes with oversized paws and expressive eyes. But if you’re asking when did furries start, you aren't just looking for the date a specific costume was made. You’re looking for the spark. Most people assume it started with the internet. They’re wrong. It goes way back, long before high-speed Wi-Fi or even the first clunky home computers. It’s a history of underground zines, niche sci-fi parties, and a shared love for "funny animals" that refused to grow up.
The 1980 WorldCon Incident
Technically, the big bang of the furry fandom happened in a crowded, sweaty hotel room in Boston during the 1980 World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon). It wasn't some grand planned event. It was just a small gathering of people interested in anthropomorphic characters. Steve Gallacci, a notable artist, was there showing off his work for Albedo Anthropomorphics. He had these drawings of sophisticated, military-style animal characters that looked nothing like Mickey Mouse.
People were hooked. This wasn't "kids' stuff." It was science fiction that just happened to feature animals. Mark Merlino and Fred Patten, two pivotal names you'll hear in any serious history of the subculture, started discussing these characters with Gallacci. They realized there was this weird, untapped overlap between traditional sci-fi fans and people who just really liked the aesthetic of talking animals.
It started small. Very small.
By the mid-80s, these fans began organizing their own "parties" at larger sci-fi or comic book conventions. They called them "Prancing Skiltaire" parties, named after a species in one of the stories. Honestly, the early days were just about trading photocopied art and talking about Watership Down or Star Trek aliens. There were no six-figure fursuits. There were barely any "fursuits" at all back then—maybe a pair of ears or a tail pinned to a pair of jeans.
The Era of the "Funny Animal" Zines
Before Reddit or FurAffinity, there were zines. This is where the fandom really found its legs. If you wanted to see furry art in 1985, you had to subscribe to a physical, printed booklet that someone put together in their garage. We’re talking about publications like Vootie and Rowrbrazzle.
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Rowrbrazzle, founded by Marc Schirmeister, was a cornerstone. It was an APA—an Amateur Press Association. This basically meant that if you wanted to receive the zine, you had to contribute to it. It created a tight-knit community of creators. They weren't just consumers; they were all part of the engine. This period is vital because it established the "furry" identity as distinct from general cartooning.
They weren't "funny animal" fans anymore. They were "furries."
Why the 1990s Changed Everything
If the 80s were the birth, the 90s were the awkward, explosive teenage years. This is when the question of when did furries start gets complicated, because the fandom morphed from a hobby into a lifestyle.
In 1989, the first actual furry-only convention, ConFurence, took place in California. About 65 people showed up. By today's standards, that's a small dinner party, but back then? It was a revolution. It meant they didn't have to hide in the basement of a sci-fi con anymore. They had their own space.
Then came the internet.
The arrival of MUCKs (Multi-User Created Kingdoms) allowed people to "be" their characters in text-based environments. Places like Tapestries or Furcadia (which launched in 1996) gave people a way to inhabit their "fursonas" 24/7. This is where the modern concept of the fursona—a personal animal avatar—really solidified. It wasn't just about liking a character in a book; it was about being that character online.
The Myth of the "Disney Influence"
A lot of outsiders think the fandom started because everyone watched Robin Hood (1973) or The Lion King (1994) and got obsessed. While those movies definitely acted as a gateway drug for a lot of kids, they didn't "start" the fandom. The foundation was already built by underground comic artists and sci-fi nerds who were looking for more mature themes in animal stories.
Funny enough, the fandom has always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with big corporate animation. They love the art, but they hate being seen as "just for kids."
The Evolution of the Fursuit
You can't talk about when the furry fandom began without mentioning the costumes. Interestingly, for the first 15 years, fursuits were rare. They were expensive, difficult to make, and honestly, a bit primitive. Most early suits were made from upholstery foam and cheap craft store fur.
Hilda Harvey is often credited with some of the earliest pushes toward the "costuming" aspect of the fandom. In the 90s, the "mascot" style began to merge with the fan-made aesthetic. As materials like high-quality faux fur and lightweight 3D-printed bases became available in the 2000s, the "look" of the fandom shifted toward the brightly colored, expressive suits we see today.
But even now, only about 15-20% of the fandom actually owns a full suit. It’s a common misconception that you need a suit to be a furry. In reality, the fandom started with pencils and paper.
Defining the "Furry" Identity
So, what are we actually talking about when we say "furry"? It’s essentially a fan of anthropomorphic animals—animals with human traits. This can be anything from Bugs Bunny to the more complex, world-building characters found in graphic novels like Blacksad.
The reason it stuck—the reason it didn't just fade away like other 80s fads—is the community. The furry fandom is one of the few subcultures that is almost entirely user-generated. There is no "official" furry company. There’s no "Head Furry." It’s a giant, decentralized network of artists, writers, and performers.
Key Milestones in Furry History
To keep things simple, look at the timeline like this. It helps visualize how a few guys in a hotel room turned into a global movement.
- 1980: The "Initial Spark" at WorldCon.
- 1983: The term "furry fandom" starts appearing in zines.
- 1989: ConFurence 0, the first dedicated convention.
- 1996: Furcadia launches, bringing the fandom to the digital masses.
- 2003: The infamous CSI episode "Fur and Loathing" airs, introducing the fandom to the general public in a... less than flattering way.
- 2016: Zootopia releases, causing a massive surge in new members.
Addressing the Stigma
It's impossible to discuss the history of this group without mentioning the "weirdness" factor. For a long time, the media only focused on the sexual aspect of the fandom. It was an easy punchline. Because the fandom started in the 80s and 90s—eras not known for being particularly open-minded—many furries felt the need to be secretive.
But things have shifted.
The "weirdness" hasn't gone away, but the world has gotten weirder too. With the rise of cosplay culture and the mainstreaming of "nerd" hobbies, being a furry isn't the social death sentence it used to be. Today, you’ll find furries working at NASA, Google, and in every branch of the military. They’ve gone from being outcasts to being one of the most tech-savvy and philanthropic fanbases on the planet. Anthrocon, one of the largest conventions held in Pittsburgh, brings in millions of dollars to the city every year and raises massive amounts for animal charities.
The Future of the Furs
The fandom is currently in a "Golden Age." Social media platforms like TikTok and VR sites like VRChat have made it easier than ever to find a community. You don't have to wait for a zine in the mail anymore. You can put on a VR headset and literally walk around as your fursona in a digital world.
When you look back at when did furries start, you see a group of people who were just looking for a way to express creativity outside the boxes society had built for them. It wasn't a trend. It was a slow-burn evolution.
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How to Explore the Fandom Further
If this history has piqued your interest, don't just take my word for it. The best way to understand the roots is to look at the primary sources.
- Check out the "Fursonas" Documentary: It’s a raw, honest look at the community that avoids the usual stereotypes.
- Look up the "Fred Patten" Archives: If you’re a history buff, Patten was the fandom’s unofficial historian, and his writings are a goldmine for early zine culture.
- Visit a Local Meetup: Before dropping thousands on a suit, find a local "furmeet." Most are held in parks or bowling alleys and are the best way to see the community in its natural, low-key state.
- Support Small Artists: The heart of the fandom is still the art. Browse sites like FurAffinity or follow furry artists on X (Twitter) to see how the aesthetic is still evolving today.
Understanding the history of the furry fandom is about realizing that "weird" is often just another word for "pioneering." What started as a few photocopied drawings in 1980 has become a global culture of creativity and identity.