In-Fur-Nation

In honor of Pride Month, IDW Comics have released Monster High Pride 2025, an annual special issue of their popular Monster High series. Featuring two teenage love stories — one of them decidedly more “furry” it seems… “First, we all know and love the fiercest and most fashionable ghoulfriends: Clawdeen Wolf and Toralei Stripe, A.K.A. Toradeen. But how did they go from hisses to kisses? It’s simple math, really. Clawculus + a common enemy + forced proximity = the perfect love story. Nothing screams romance quite like math camp.” We’ll take your word for it. And it’s on the shelves now. Happy Pride!

image c. 2025 IDW Comics

The things we stumble across on the Internet — when we’re looking for something else. The Secret Kingdom is a 2023 family fantasy film from Australia, written and directed by Matt Drummond. “Hidden beneath their bedroom floor lies a land of enchantment, which must be protected from an ancient enemy — the evil Shroud. As they embark on their quest to unite five mystical treasures and save the Kingdom, Peter and Verity must face epic challenges that will test their bravery to the limit.” Doesn’t sound like much, but take a look at the trailer (and the poster!) and you’ll see what caught our interest. True, it’s clearly plotted and written for the younger set, but how often do you get anthropomorphic armadillos? It’s available on YouTube and other platforms too.

image c. 2025 Little Monster Productions

With the new Superman movie coming up soon (directed by James Gunn), DC comics have brought us a new tie-in mini-series: Krypto, The Last Dog of Krypton, written by Ryan North and illustrated by Mike Norton. “There will come a day when Krypto stands beside Superman, helping him fight off monsters, aliens, and supervillains — a day when this dog will save his adoptive world thanks to the incredible powers granted him by Earth’s strange yellow sun. But he’s not there yet. Today, Krypto is a normal puppy on Krypton, spending each happy, snoozy, endless day alongside his family: Jor-El, Lara, and baby Kal-El. But when a rocket test goes wrong, Krypto finds himself lost in space — and soon crash-landing, all alone, on a strange and alien world called Earth.” The first installment of this new 5-issue series hits the shelves later this month.

image c. 2025 DC Comics

Escape is a violent new war comic from Image Comics, written by Rick Remender and illustrated by Daniel Acuna. “Milton Shaw is a battle-hardened bomber pilot, flying missions over a war-torn world ruled by a ruthless empire. But when his plane is shot out of the sky, Milton wakes up behind enemy lines—in the smoldering ruins of a city he helped burn. And in less than 24 hours, his own side is dropping the big one to finish the job. Now, injured, unarmed, and being hunted through enemy streets, Milton’s only shot at escape comes from the unlikeliest place: A grieving father and his son — civilians shattered by the same fascist regime that rules this land with an iron claw. Enemies by blood. Allies by circumstance. Together, they’ll have to fight their way out before the bomb drops and erases everything…and everyone. Set in a brutal, fully painted world of anthropomorphic animals — think Inglourious Basterds meets Blacksad — Escape is a gritty, bullet-riddled journey through war’s scorched aftermath.” Funny how they wait until the very end to tell you it’s anthropomorphic, huh? Anyway, it’s coming to your local comic book store this August.

image c. 2025 Image Comics

Recently we stumbled across a new trailer for an upcoming animated film called Iggy the Eagle — from Poland, of all places, but it’s being released in English. The story goes like this: “Every night, a young eagle named Iggy dreams of flying alongside his imaginary brother, Felix. In reality, Iggy lives in a technically advanced society of birds so civilized, they all forgot how to fly. Iggy is being raised by his highly responsible Mom and a slightly rebellious, old-school Dad. When Iggy meets his new aviation-crazy classmate Eve, he finally gets the courage to confront his dreams, discovers the true nature of Felix… and spreads his wings in the real world for the very first time.” The 2D animation on realistic backgrounds style is highly unusual and very interesting in today’s media. We’ll be looking for this one when it comes to North America in 2026.

image c. 2025 Horus Movies

Lulu is a Rhinoceros is a new 2D animated special we just found out about. It’s based on a popular children’s picture book by Allison Flum and Jason Flum. In a world of anthropomorphic non-humans, Lulu appears to be a young, jovial bulldog. But when she looks in the mirror, she sees a rhinoceros! And so she sets out to convince not only her friends but the whole world that that’s what she is — in the meantime, spreading a message of tolerance and kindness for those who might be different and who don’t fit into the Norm. The musical special just premiered on Apple TV+. It features the voice of Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) as Lulu.

image c. 2025 Apple TV+

More discoveries from this year’s Festival of Books at USC: A new fantasy novel by Daniel Fliederbaum, Smash the World’s Shell. “When a mysterious ring suddenly appears on reclusive teenager Ellen’s bookshelf, she is granted the power to travel miles away from everything she’s ever known. There she meets Shard, a friendly dragon who offers to help Ellen grow her stunted-since-birth magic. Although it seems too good to be true, Ellen accepts, sure she can conquer her self-hatred by becoming an accomplished magician. Little does she know, her magical voyages have raised the suspicions of those who would destroy her… Young and lonely, Shard is determined to find his first friend in Ellen. But befriending a creature as detested as a human could spell banishment from his tribe — or worse. As the bond between them grows, they will have to face their deepest fears. If they can’t, their friendship is doomed … along with any chance they have of saving both their kinds from annihilation.” It’s available now in paperback. Find out more at Water Dragon Publishing.

image c. 2025 Water Dragon Publishing

Looking for something else, we stumbled upon this: The Green Ember series of fantasy novels (with a light Christian theme), written by S.D. Smith. “Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world. Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend. Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?” Several books have followed in the series, but here is where you get started.

image c. 2025 Story Warren Books

The winners for the 2024 were presented at Furry Weekend Atlanta 2025 by Rowedahelicon, one of the newest members of the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA). This year’s recipients, as chosen by furry fans like you from around the world, included:

Best Anthropomorphic Music: Monarch of Monsters, by Vylet Pony

Best Anthropomorphic Web Site: FurAffinity.net

Best Anthropomorphic Game: Webfishing, developed and published by Lame Developer

Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration: Adventurers and Explorers, by Royz

Best Anthropomorphic Magazine: Dogpatch Press, edited by Patch Packrat (We came in 3rd!)

Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip: Foxes in Love, by Toivo Kaartinen

Best Anthropomorphic Graphic Story: Swords and Sausages, by Jan

Best Anthropomorphic Non-Fiction Work: Celebrating 85 Years of Conventions, by Con History

Best Anthropomorphic General Literary Work: Swords and Sausages — Volume 2, by Jan

Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction: Monarch  of Monsters, by Vylet Pony

Best Anthropomorphic Novel: The Varcross Key, by Aeron Dusk

Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work: Bun Hunting — Overture, directed by Piti Yindee

Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series: Beastars — Season 3, directed by Shinichi Matsumi

Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture: The Wild Robot

The ALAA congratulate all the winners, all the nominees, and all of you who took the time to nominate and vote! Makes sure to do so again in early 2026! Visit www.ursamajorawards.org to find out more about the awards.

image c. 2025 ALAA

And then, we went to the L.A. Times Festival of Books — where we saw things like the preview of Ten Ton Titan Terrier, a new comic from writer David Pepose (Spencer & Locke) and artist Ornella Greco (Total Suplex of the Heart). “When an asteroid unleashes a horde of alien monsters known as Bio-Titans, Earth must turn to a suit of extraterrestrial battle armor to save the day — but there’s just one catch. Because the only creature on the planet capable of turning it on… is an 11-inch-tall terrier named Holly. With the Bio-Titan threat escalating by the second, Holly and her scientist owner Sam will find their unique bond tested, as he trains his mischievous mutt to become not just man’s best friend, but humanity’s only hope.” Look for it this October, from Papercutz.

image c. 2025 Papercutz

Here’s another independent comic book series that’s been around for a while — but we were only lucky enough to discover it recently. Tokai is a shaded black & white science fiction comic written and illustrated by A.R. Lytle. According to them, it’s about “…a little alien named Tokai caught in a war on his home planet, Arurha. He’s taken in by a family of rebels, bent on reclaiming their planet from the Network Invaders. The only problem,:Tokai is a pacifist. Tokai must use his wits to stay alive and protect the innocent as the war gradually descends into chaos at the hands of religious fanatics.” Four issues are available now.

image c. 2025 Andrew Lytle Press

More kung fu fighting from WonderCon! Last year brought us a new comic, Animal Warriors of the Kingdom, written by Jason Bienvenu and illustrated by Utuma Prastha. “The Great Houses of the Animal Kingdom are in shambles. A tyrannical ruler has all but consolidated his complete control over the land and sea. With the impending fall of the last resistance stronghold, the flame of hope is almost extinguished. One last beacon of light is all that remains of the once robust resistance-a young ape named Pale, whose quest to mend the fractured trust between the great animal houses will be tested as he seeks to neutralize, Emperor Kah Lee!” The big news? This year the creative team were introducing a brand new line of tie-in action figures from Spero Toys.

image c. 2025 Spero Toys

While at WonderCon we met Stephan Franck and got to check out their new full-color furry comic. Here’s how they describe it: “Romance in the Age of the Space God takes place in a world not unlike ours, in which Nate, Lydia, and Anya struggle to find their place and purpose, only to find themselves at the center of a mysterious plot of cosmic proportions. [It is] either the first chapter of a long saga, or an open ended short-story—only time will tell. It is part dystopian sci-fi thriller, part slice-of-life, part political satire. It is about life in a world where the unthinkable has been slowly normalized, and follows adorable little mice struggling to find their purpose and meaning in it.” Take a look at the preview pages over at the web site for Dark Planet Comics.

image c. 2025 Dark Planet Comics

Zoo Jitsu Fighters is a new full-color independent comic series, created by martial arts fans for those who feel the same! “Successfully funded on Kickstarter, this action-packed series plunges readers into a dystopian future where genetically engineered animals are forced to battle in brutal combat. Follow the heroic journey of Tiago the Tiger as he fights for freedom and justice in a world of exploitation and cruelty.” Created by Patrick Wang (a 2nd-degree black belt himself), two issues have been released so far. What’s more, recently Patrick and crew released a new line of tie-in action figures as well!

image c. 2025 Icon Heroes

More cool stuff from WonderCon. This one we’ve heard was upcoming, but we’ve been waiting for the official release. And here it is! Littoral Magic is a new fantasy novel by Aaron Mason and Leslie Ann Moore — the first in the All Oceans Aglow series. “For Ayana Outerbridge, a biracial fourteen-year-old girl, summer vacations on the evergreen Pacific Northwest coastline had once been a time of play and relaxation. But now her father is dead, and all that was bright is now dark. Until one day she finds a strange and startlingly beautiful seashell… Just offshore, the river otter Sleek has broken the Law. He has entered the forbidden Garden to retrieve a mind-elevating gift for his true love Gloss, headstrong daughter of the sea otter king. His trespass threatens to push both tribes closer to all-out war. But will Gloss follow her heart or the rules of her kin? The fates of Ayana, Sleek, and Gloss will soon converge — and when they do, the all oceans will shine with an otherworldly light.” Find it now over at Barnes & Noble.

image c. 2025 Norton Place Publishing

Recently we visited WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Lots to see, of course — and quite a few interesting furry things snuck in there, if you know where to look! The Council of Frogs is a new fantasy graphic novel by Matt Emmons, freshly released after a successful Kickstarter campaign. “Sent out by his ‘father’ – a kindly old swamp lich – one tiny frog must leave the safety of his home in order to deliver a message of grave importance to a warlock in order to save the entire Council of Frogs. Aided by many unconventional friends along the way, this little frog discovers the dangers of the world beyond his beloved swamp grove. But the world is a big, harsh place, and he may need more than his dandelion hat and a tiny sword to make it back home before it’s too late.” Find it now from Second At Best Press, and check out the review over at Comics Beat.

image c. 2025 Second At Best Press

And speaking of dogs who have a different take on things, let’s join some gamer-dogs as DnDoggos — Get The Party Started. “Magnus is tail-waggingly excited to share his favorite role-playing game with his friends! They’ve picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure Magnus has created for them. Pickles, a rough-and-tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn’t the only thing that has gone missing from Tail’s Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor’s young son, has set off on his own to find them. It’s up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day!” This graphic novel by Scout Underhill is illustrated by Liana Sposto, and it’s available now all over.

image c. 2025 Feiwel & Friends

Here’s a short graphic novel we just stumbled across: Life Is An Open Door, a full-color one-shot by Mason Mendoza, with art by Alonso Molina-Gonzales. “Have you ever worked in a cramped office, looked at the exit door, and felt that urge to get up from your desk and make a break for it? Al, the working class Dalmatian, channels his animal impulses in this fun comic book short story about giving into instinct and going remote.” Check out the preview pages.

image c. 2025 Critical Entertainment

We’re learning more about Hoppers, the upcoming Pixar Studios feature for 2026. It’s written and directed by Daniel Chong, the creator of We Bare Bears. The official Pixar press release goes like this: “What if you could talk to animals and understand what they’re saying? In Disney and Pixar’s all-new feature film Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to ‘hop’ human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! The adventure introduces Mabel, an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.” Hoppers is set to hit theaters in March of 2026. Want to see some early footage? Check out the report from last year’s D23 Expo (and look for the Zootopia cosplay!)

image c. 2025 Pixar Studios

If you’re not big on collecting exclusive toys, you might not be familiar with the Be@rbrick series of collectible anthro-bear figurines, created by the MediCom Toy Company of Japan. Well now, they’ve stepped things up even further by teaming with Dreamworks Animation to bring us the new Be@rbrick CGI series, which premiered on Apple TV+ this month. According to Animation World Network, “Be@rbrick follows Jasmine Finch and her bandmates as they pursue their dreams and inspire others to do the same. But it won’t be easy to do when living in a world where everyone’s role is chosen for them and where the painted-on look you receive when you graduate from high school determines who you’ll be for the rest of your life. Jasmine realizes that in order for her world to change, she and her friends will have to make it happen themselves.” More interesting stuff: “Meghan McCarthy (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Centaurworld) serves as developer, showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Alex Almaguer (TrollsTopia) is the supervising producer, with Taylor Orci (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts) serving as story editor, and Athena Hofmann (Amateur) serving as line producer. Timbaland serves as executive music producer.” That’s a serious line-up of experienced talent for a new show. Check out the article over at Billboard, which includes an interview with Ms. McCarthy and an exclusive trailer.

image c. 2025 Dreamworks Animation