In Singapore, an unexpected community is garnering attention for offering a warm and cuddly solution to the social issue of loneliness. Every last Saturday evening of the quarter, hundreds of teenagers and young adults spread out picnic mats along the Sentosa Boardwalk, enjoying soft plushies, board games, and packed food. While they might initially seem like anime fans or gaming enthusiasts, they are members of Singapore's rapidly growing online-based subculture: the 'furry' community.
They belong to 'Singapore Furries,' the largest furry community in Singapore with over 500 members, predominantly comprising Gen Z and Millennial males. While individuals from various professions gather, those working in the technology sector are particularly well-represented.
'Furries' are fans who adore anthropomorphic animal characters with human-like traits, reminiscent of characters from animated films like <Zootopia> (2016) or <Robin Hood> (1973). They are best known for donning elaborate and detailed 'fursuits' to bring their created characters to life.
Lira (not her real name), a 30-year-old working in the events industry, defines the Singapore furry community as "a gathering of people who share a common passion for cartoon animals, in layman's terms." She adds, "But to me, it means a community of people where I can freely express myself without judgment. The cartoon animal is just a way to express what's inside." Her fursona is Faye, a blue lynx.
What is a Fursona?
Unlike other fandom communities formed around media franchises like <Pokémon> (1997~) or <Star Wars> (1977~), furries often create most of the content they consume themselves. One of the most distinctive aspects of this subculture is the creation of a 'fursona' (furry persona). A fursona is a fictional anthropomorphic animal character that represents one's identity within the community and often differs from their everyday name.
Gabriel (not his real name), a 30-year-old who is part of the Singapore Furries' management team, views his fursona, Decro the arctic wolf, as akin to a digital avatar. He explains, "It's similar to having a character creation page before starting a game. My fursona is basically the furry version of me. His likes are my likes, his goals are my goals, and his life is my life."
Others create their fursonas in various ways, drawing inspiration from their favorite animals in real life or imagining an idealized version of themselves with muscles or wings. Much of this activity takes place online. Furries gather on forums like FurAffinity to share digital art of their characters. This provides a steady stream of work for a small global industry of furry artists, who can charge anywhere from $50 to over $1,000 for custom artwork for other furries.
Behind the custom-made costumes (costing upwards of $5,000) and community-created artwork lies a unique social dynamic that many members describe as "socializing on easy mode." Members rarely question how others choose to present themselves, whether online or offline. This is based on an understanding that everyone should respect another person's chosen identity and pronouns. For example, while most people choose common animals like wolves or cats as their fursonas, others opt for squids or dragons.
Gabriel, who joined Singapore Furries at the age of 23, says, "Some people only make their first friends in the furry community at the age of 30. You could call it optimistic, but it's a big help for people who are struggling because there's much less prejudice and judgment."
Lira adds, "We don't ask you to change yourself or express yourself in a different way. I think it's easy to take it for granted when you're within the furry bubble." She emphasizes, "At furry conventions, whether you're in fursuit or not, it's easy to make friends with strangers passing by in the hallway. A compliment starts a conversation, and before you know it, you're friends. It's not something that happens often in everyday life." She points out that there are few other spaces in Singapore where people can recreate themselves without others considering them "very strange."
Furries of the Republic
While elements of the furry subculture coalesced around popular animated media, it was the rise of the borderless internet that exposed the furry fandom to a wider audience here. Singapore Furries currently has over 500 members on Discord and Telegram platforms, but the actual furry population in Singapore is estimated to be much larger, as many also participate in other online communities not limited to Singapore.
For Ark (his fursona name), a 35-year-old nurse who has been a furry since 2010, the group has become an integral part of his daily life, with fellow fandom members making up most of his social circle. From conventions held in hotels to large gatherings in outdoor spaces, furries in Singapore often engage in various activities together, mainly without fursuits, such as barbecue parties, hiking, and cafe meetups. "We even rented out an entire cinema before," Ark recalls.
Furries interviewed by ST (The Straits Times) say there are widespread misconceptions about the group, with American media coverage often focusing on the subculture's unusual nature and sexual aspects. A 2001 article in <Vanity Fair> even described it as "part sex, part religion, and an entirely new way of life."
Many still associate the furry fandom with sexual fetishes. In response, Singapore Furries strongly refutes this, stating that most internet fandom groups have "adult" elements that do not receive the same level of scrutiny, and such elements are only a tiny fraction of the subculture here.
In recent years, the general attitude towards furries in Singapore appears to be a mix of confusion and fascination.
When Ark walked through VivoCity with ST wearing his custom-made teal wolf fursuit, which cost him US$2,900 (S$3,800) from an American maker in 2015, his usually quiet demeanor transformed into a lively and expressive one that drew the attention of curious onlookers. Many children and families, as well as students, approached him to take selfies with the giant cartoon wolf. Ark says he finds joy in learning non-verbal communication, such as exaggerated gestures and high-fives, while in fursuit, which often amuses the public.
Gabriel notes that things were not always this inclusive and open for furries in Singapore. Before 2018, Singapore Furries had only a few dozen members. At that time, joining required a vote from all existing members due to fears of the stigma that had long plagued the fandom.
The tide began to turn when Gabriel started organizing offline meetups in 2018. He recalls asking a restaurant if they had a table for 40 people, only to have over 80 furries show up, exceeding the space.
Today, they host "Mega Meet-ups" with hundreds of attendees at outdoor locations like the Sentosa Boardwalk every quarter, as well as the annual Little Island Furcon in June, which also attracts international furries. The event, now in its seventh year, is usually held at One Farrer Hotel.
In 2024, Singapore held its first furry wedding, with the bride and groom marching down the aisle in fox and wolf fursuits, blessed by their furry friends in attendance.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
