as originally posted on shakopee valley news
By Amanda McKnight
The Marcus movie theater in Shakopee was crawling with foxes and bears and cats earlier this month, but not the kind that live in the wild.
More than 100 people were in town dressed up as anthropomorphic animals to attend a showing of “Zootopia,” hosted by MN Furs.
“The term ‘furry’ refers to people that are into anthropomorphic artwork,” said Trent “Drake” Fleury, events department head for MN Furs. “We heard ‘Zootopia’ was coming, and there was a huge interest in the fur community.”
People of all ages streamed into the theater on March 5, some wearing tails, some with fur-suit heads tucked under their arms, and some pulling suitcases on wheels so they could change into costume in the theater.
Attendees of MN Furs events range from casual or minimalist “cosplayers,” who may only sport paws and a tail to those who invest thousands of dollars into their fur-suits. For some, putting on their fur-suit means adopting an entirely different persona.
“People have personas,” explained Fleury. “So I’m a silver fox. My character name is Drake. He’s into writing poetry and organizing for the MN Furs. I’ve earned the fun name of Business Fox.”
For local fur-suit designer Carly Paulson, fur-suit cosplay is a fun way to express herself and not take life too seriously.
Paulson, who lives in Shakopee, has been a full-time fur-suit designer since she graduated Shakopee High School in 2012. Now her fur-suits are in such high demand she can only take orders once a year, and even then she often receives hundreds more requests than she can fill.
“I have to narrow it down and choose around 10 people [annually],” she explained. “My queue can be up to a year wait.”
Paulson said some fur-suit makers have waiting lists up to three years long.
Paulson became interested in anthropomorphic fandom around the age of 15, but as a teenager she couldn’t afford the elaborate costumes that cost thousands of dollars. She began making her own, and over time it grew into more than a hobby. To other furries, she is known as Phoenix Wolf.
Some costumes even have specialized features like reptilian skin or light-up eyes.
“Each fur-suit is very special to each person, an expression of their own character,” she explained. “It’s a way to escape stressful life and just have fun, make people smile and be an animal for a while.”
According to Fleury, furry fandom is more common than some people might think. The MN Furs hosts everything from conventions to social meet-ups to fundraisers for charity, and all of it revolves around a love for anthropomorphic artwork and entertainment. Hundreds of people from around the metro area attend the events, most dressed in character.
“The key word is community,” said Fleury. “This is a community where everyone can come together with that same interest and have fun with it.”
Furry Times 