Anthrocon

Anthrocon
Anthrocon's official logo
Status Active
Genre Furry
Venue
Location(s) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Inaugurated 1997
Most recent 2018
Attendance 8,407 in 2018
Organized by Anthrocon, Inc.
Filing status 501(c)7
Website www.anthrocon.org

Anthrocon (abbreviated AC) is the world's second largest furry convention, taking place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania each June or July. Its focus is on furries: fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature. The convention was first held in 1997 in New York State, and draws over 7,000 attendees annually. Anthrocon 2017 drew 7,544 attendees, with 1,890 fursuiters participating in the fursuit parade.[1] Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2006, the convention draws millions in financing to the local economy; particularly, the 2015 convention brought $5.7 million to the city of Pittsburgh.[2]

Background and history

Anthrocon was founded in 1997 as Albany Anthrocon (AAC) in New York State, with a membership of about 500. The convention was renamed to 'Anthrocon' and moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1999 and 2000; then to a larger hotel, the Adam's Mark, on the outskirts of Philadelphia in 2001. Attendance grew each year, Anthrocon becoming the largest furry convention in 2001 with an attendance of 1,457. In 2004 it had climbed to 2,404 attendees in its final year at the Adam's Mark.

Due to the unforeseen sale of the Adam's Mark Hotel in November 2004, Anthrocon chose the Wyndham Franklin Plaza in Philadelphia as the site for its 2005 convention. Attendance that year dropped slightly to 2,373, due in part to higher parking fees, a different and unfamiliar hotel with less convention space, and possibly due to Hurricane Dennis' effect on the southern United States which closed many airports and prevented people from traveling. In June 2005, a contract with the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh was signed, and Anthrocon was scheduled to be held at the adjoining David L. Lawrence Convention Center between June 15 and 18, 2006. Despite concerns that the move to Pittsburgh would decrease attendance, it actually rose to 2,489, which was enough to ensure the future of the convention in Pittsburgh.

In 2007 Anthrocon was featured in the Guinness World Records (2008 Edition) as the "largest furry fan club" in the world. In 2008, Anthrocon became the first furry convention to have an attendance exceeding 3,000 members, the official count reaching 3,390.[3] In 2009, attendance rose 11% to 3,776, and the Fursuit Parade count jumped to 640—a 41% increase.[4][5] Anthrocon 2009 brought approximately $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy.[6]

Anthrocon 2010 had an attendance of 4,238, the first furry convention to exceed 4,000 members; and by 2012 saw 5,179 attendees, with a Fursuit Parade exceeding 1,000. The admission price was also set overall at $60 for a four-day pass, though pre-registered attendees paid $50.[7] In 2013, Anthrocon contracted roomspace with seven of Pittsburgh's ten downtown hotels.

In 2017, Anthrocon lost the title of "World's most attended furry convention", as Midwest FurFest in Rosemont, Illinois claimed the title with an attendance of over 8,700.

The chairman of the convention since 1999, Dr. Samuel Conway (nicknamed "Kagemushi" or "Uncle Kage" among attendees), oversees the operations of Anthrocon, with the help of convention staff and volunteers who donate their time and energy throughout the weekend to assist the multitude of small tasks which arise. Since 1997, Anthrocon has raised more than $200,000 for animal-related charities.[3]

Fernando's Café

Since the convention's presence in Pittsburgh, Fernando's Café, a fast food restaurant located near the Westin Convention Center, is one of many restaurants that cater to furries during Anthrocon weekend.[8] However, in 2012, Fernando DeCarvalho, the owner of the restaurant, called Conway informing him that he had gone into debt as a result of the Great Recession. In response, Conway initiated a fundraising campaign which resulted in the restaurant receiving $20,000, a move the Huffington Post says would "alleviate some of [DeCarvalho's] debt and allow him to keep his doors open long enough for one last Anthrocon."[8]

Typical programming and events

There are areas open most of the day to accommodate sales by Dealers and Artists as well as an area to congregate and socialize (see "The Zoo" below).

Anthrocon provides a number of specialized 'tracks' of programming with similar furry based themes and scheduled 'events'.[9][10]

The programming tracks involve discussions and work groups focused on the application of furry in Art, Comedy and Improv, Computer Gaming, Costuming (Fursuits), Music, Puppetry, Role-Playing (both gaming and real-life), and Writing.

The scheduled events that take place are the Charity Auction, the Masquerade, the Fursuit Parade, nightly dances, Art Show Auctions, and special presentations by Uncle Kage and "2 the Ranting Gryphon".[11]

Every year the convention has several Guests of Honor – prominent individuals who are compensated for their attendance and travel expenses. Past Guests of Honor at Anthrocon have included Rob Paulsen and Mark Evanier.[12][13]

Anthrocon by year

This table includes the locations of each convention as well as attendance figures, charity donations, convention themes, and guests of honor by year.

Additional source:[14]

YearLocationAttendance[15]Charity
Donation		CharityThemeGuests of Honor
1997Albany, NY300 est$2,200Therapy Dogs/K9 FriendsAn East Coast Furry Conventionartist Daphne Lage
author Watts Martin
1998Albany, NY600 est$3,092WhiskersHere There Be Dragonsartist Jim Groat
author Jeffrey A. Carver
1999Valley Forge, PA842$3,600Great Valley Nature CenterJoin the Furry Revolutionartist Vicky Wyman
author S. Andrew Swann
2000Valley Forge, PA1,128$6,534The National Greyhound Adoption ProgramFurries of Myth and Legendartist Sara "Caribou" Palmer
author Paul Kidd
2001Philadelphia, PA1,457$7,237Reins of LifeFurries in Flightcomic-book artist Dan DeCarlo (creator of Josie and the Pussycats)
syndicated cartoonist Bill Holbrook
2002Philadelphia, PA1,648$13,280Canine Partners for LifeInventionsauthor Lisanne Norman (of The Sholan Series)
artist Heather Bruton
2003Philadelphia, PA1,949$8,348Support Our SheltersCreatures of the Nightartist Guy Gilchrist
artist Mark E. Rogers
2004Philadelphia, PA2,404$7,200Forgotten Felines & Fidos (FFF)Summer Gamesartist Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo)
artist Michael Gagne
2005Philadelphia, PA2,370$6,470Greater Philadelphia Search & RescueHeroesPeter Laird (co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Timothy Albee (director "Kaze, Ghost Warrior")
2006Pittsburgh, PA2,489$8,407Western Pennsylvania National Wild AnimalMaking Historyartist Scott Shaw! (creator of a number of comic book and cartoon characters)
Diane Duane (author of several series including So You Want to Be a Wizard)
2007Pittsburgh, PA2,849$7,608Animal FriendsLooking to the Futurevoice actor Rob Paulsen
writer Mark Evanier
artist Carolyn Kelly
2008Pittsburgh, PA3,390$13,154Pittsburgh Parrot RescueIt's a Jungle Out Thereanimator and Disney Legend Floyd Norman
2009Pittsburgh, PA3,776[16]$8,993[17]Animal Rescue League Wildlife RehabilitationOMG Alienscharacter developer and artist Joe Harris
Character artist and story designer Ben Balistreri
illustrator and television producer Bob Boyle
2010Pittsburgh, PA4,238$12,849Fayette Friends of AnimalsModern Stone-Age Furriesauthor and illustrator James Gurney
puppeteer and director Jim Martin with Gary Gnu from The Great Space Coaster
2011Pittsburgh, PA4,400[18]$11,522[19]ToonSeumThe Anthropomorphic Institute of Magicauthor and illustrator Andy Runton
writer Peter S. Beagle
2012Pittsburgh, PA5,179$20,656Hello BullyA Midsummer Night's DreamComic Artist, Animator, Director, TV Repairman Mike Kazaleh
Comic Artist and Video Game Art Director Dev Madan of Sly Cooper fame.
2013Pittsburgh, PA5,577$31,255[20]Equine Angels RescueThe Fast and the Furriouswriter Mercedes Lackey
illustrator Larry Dixon
animation writer, storyboard artist Tom Minton
2014Pittsburgh, PA5,861$32,372The National AviarySecret Societiesvoice actor Lee Tockar
voice actor Jim Cummings
2015[21]Pittsburgh, PA6,348$35,910The Western PA Humane SocietyVikings Invasionvoice actress Kimlinh Tran
Major League Baseball mascot The San Diego Chicken
2016Pittsburgh, PA7,310[22]$30,880[22]Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG AquariumRoaring Twentyanimator Joaquin Baldwin
Tracy Butler, creator of Lackadaisy
voice actor Trevor Devall[23]
2017Pittsburgh, PA7,544$37,598Hope Haven Farm SanctuaryTake Me Out To The Ballgamevoice actor Charlie Adler
2018Pittsburgh, PA8,407$42,051South Hills Pet RescueMovie Monstersartist Len Simon
writer Ursula Vernon

References

  1. ↑ "Anthrocon 2017 Wrapup! | Anthrocon 2017: Take Me Out To The Ballgame". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ Dale, Joshua Paul; Goggin, Joyce; Leyda, Julia; McIntyre, Anthony P.; Negra, Diane. The Aesthetics and Affects of Cuteness. Routledge. ISBN 9781317331308.
  3. 1 2 Anthrocon, Inc. (March 29, 2006). "Anthrocon History". Archived from the original on April 4, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
  4. ↑ John Cole (July 7, 2009). "Anthrocon 2009 – A Final Look Back".
  5. ↑ Karl Jorgensen (July 6, 2009). "A Bunch Of Anthrocon News Coverage In One Convenient Post!".
  6. ↑ Brandolph, Adam (June 28, 2008). "Furry Convention $3 Million Cash Cow for City Businesses". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  7. ↑ Katie Notopoulos (June 20, 2012). "Are Furries Really So Bad?". BuzzFeed. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Anthrocon Furries Aid Fernando's Cafe in Pittsburgh". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Events" (PDF). Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Our 2017 Schedule". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ranting Gryphon Studios - News". Ranting-gryphon.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Anthrocon's first guest of honor named, Uncle Kage, Anthrocon LiveJournal, August 19, 2006
  13. ↑ Anthrocon's 2007 Guests of Honor announced! Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Uncle Kage, Anthrocon website, November 12, 2006
  14. ↑ "Convention Date Related Questions | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty!". Anthrocon.org. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Anthrocon History | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty!". Anthrocon.org. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Anthrocon 2009 - a final look back". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Anthrocon 2009 Charity Auction/Raffle Followup | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty!". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on July 11, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Anthrocon 2011 attendance". Anthrocon. June 26, 2011.
  19. ↑ Brian Harris (June 28, 2011). "Anthrocon 2011 Charity Event Followup". Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Anthrocon 2013 Charity Event Followup | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty!". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  21. ↑ Garcia, Deanna. "The Furries Have Landed — And Pittsburgh Is Giving Them A Bear Hug". NPR. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Anthrocon 2016 Wrapup! | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty!". Anthrocon.org. Archived from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  23. ↑ Anthrocon History, Anthrocon website, August 15, 2016
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