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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in an actual fairytale? To approach the castle of your archnemesis, knock down the door and…find it converted into an office space? That’s the premise behind Escape From Ever After, a delightful rpg inspired by the classic Paper Mario games. If you needed a fun game to take you back to those days and scratch an itch you didn’t know you had, Escape From Ever After is for you. This was one charming story that had me smiling the whole time despite a few minor kinks.

Dear Papabear,

I hope I'm finding you well. I'm Vodka, and I'm 18 years old as of now and have been in the fandom for a few years already. I'm in a weird position: both in the fandom and outside. I'm seeking some advice from somebody much wiser than me.

I'm an extrovert who, like other extroverts, likes partying, meeting new people, and being around the center of attention. I consider myself an interesting person. I have a good collection of nice and particular stories that people like to hear. For every taste, I have something. But the problem is I can't get myself to be alone and throw myself out there. I always need somebody to introduce me and start the conversation. Even online, I have issues. I fear being judged (even though I'm confident) and leaving a bad impression.

One time I was at meetup at an anime/cosplay convention with a friend I met on Barq (I have issues only with groups). I knew I was going to struggle socially. So, to boost my social skills, I brought half a liter of Vodka to calm myself down. It did nothing. My brain overrode the ethanol somehow. This shows how much I struggled. Thankfully, the friend of my friend introduced us, and after that we started talking with other people.

On the other hand, I managed to become a well-known member of my local MTB group of around 150 people by only joining the chat and riding with 2-3 people at a time (I got in because I met someone while riding). I even got assigned a nickname, "Mono Palla," which translates to "Single Ball." It has to do with my bike--not going to prolong on that.

I really can't figure out what to do. I joined Discord servers and the Telegram group of the meetup, but I always feel like I dont belong since I'm a stranger and they all know each other. I don't know where to seriously start. I already have a few friends, but for one reason or another they can't get me into their group (it's for valid reasons, nothing to do with me as me). I feel like I'm walking in the darkness. I'm looking for any advice, anything that will help.

Thank You,
Vodka (age 18; Rome, Italy)

* * *

Salve, Amico Mio,

Interesting letter that has a thread of contradiction (or irony?) in it. For example, you can't actually be self-confident if you are afraid of being judged by others. The confident person is assured in themself and doesn't, frankly, give a rat's ass about other people's approval. At least, that is what someone would initially believe, right?

Yet, it IS possible to be a social extrovert AND have social anxiety or a lack of self-confidence. My beloved late first husband, Jim, is a perfect example of this. To anyone who didn't know him deeply, Jim was a huge extrovert. He spent most of his working career in television and radio. He was a news director for a TV station in Lansing, Michigan, as well as being an entertainment reporter, and he spent many years in radio and, the last few years while he was with me, he ran podcasts, first in Michigan and then here in SoCal. When he was with a group of people, Jim's big personality would fill the room. He had an infectious laugh and would always make people feel comfortable with him and important. Yet, inside, Jim was actually a scared little boy in many ways. He said he had Peter Pan Syndrome--never wanting to grow up, not really. There were times I saw him weep with anxiety.

People like Jim, and, I think, you, often cover up their self-doubt, anxiety, and fear of the world with a coating of social extroversion (and often with humor, which is why many great comedians got that way because they used humor to cover up the anxiety they have had since childhood). You aren't actually comfortable with people; you pretend to be in an attempt to overcome your inner fears. You insert yourself into the groupies of the actual social butterflies, circling the centers of attention at parties, without ever becoming the center yourself. The danger of forcing yourself to be sociable is the potential for leaning on chemical help--booze or drugs--to give you the strength to continue the charade. This is why drinking vodka didn't help you: Booze just covers things up; it doesn't solve the problem. Worse, if you allow yourself to descend into addiction, you can ruin your life (please, I beg you, don't go down that path; just because the legal drinking age in Italy is 18 doesn't mean you should drink booze).

What is the problem then? The problem is you do not believe in yourself, Vodka. This is far from uncommon in one so young as you, and the solution isn't to figure out how to join a social group. The path to build self-confidence has many facets. "How do I build self-confidence?" you might understandably query. As you might guess, that's not something that happens overnight but that can take years to achieve. There are several areas to focus on that will help:
​

• Affirm your strengths each day by recognizing the positive qualities you possess and skills that you have. Acknowledge that you are a good person who has value in the world. Some psychologists suggest that it is helpful to get up in the morning each day, look in the mirror, and say something good about yourself. It helps, truly, to look in the mirror while doing this, literally facing yourself.
• Avoid self-criticism. Don't say things like, "I'm so stupid for doing such-and-such," or, "I'm always making mistakes." Also, avoid criticizing your appearance or personality. Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes; everyone has flaws. Dwelling on them with that self-critical inner voice will do nothing but erode your view of yourself. Whenever you make a mistake, don't obsess over it; learn from it and move on.
• Do not compare yourself to others. There will always be people who seem richer, more skilled, smarter, or more accomplished than you (as well as people who are poorer, more inept, dumber, less accomplished than you, so don't go the other way and put them down, either). The only thing you have control over is improving yourself, and I mean as a person, not in a material sense of wealth and possessing things.
• Surround yourself with true friends and supportive family. A true friend doesn't put you down or reject you for being you; a good family member doesn't do that, either. I'm not saying you should surround yourself with yes men; constructive criticism can be a good thing. But people who just put you down because they are trying to feel better about themselves or control you? Avoid them like the plague.
• Take time for solo meditation or just being by yourself, learning to enjoy your own company. Learn to create your own identity rather than being a mere reflection of other people's vision of who you are. You can do this simply by taking 10 minutes a day to sit quietly by yourself, or by taking a walk, especially a walk in nature.
• Always remember that you were not put here on Earth to please others. You are here to experience the world and to live on your own terms (as long as that doesn't involve hurting others, of course!)

We are all works in progress. Truly working on yourself is a self-improvement project, though. While socializing is an important skill and can be rewarding (we are a social species that needs to do this), it is not the tool we need to improve ourselves. That only comes from within. With work, you can come to believe in yourself, and when you have done that--when you no longer need approval from others because you approve of yourself--you will find that this makes you a very attractive person. There is, frankly, nothing more attractive than the person who is truly confident in who they are, and that is when you will find yourself easily accepted into social groups: when you do not need to be accepted; when it is a choice rather than a mandate.

So, focus on the things you love such as anime, cosplay, mountain biking, and anything else you enjoy. Learn about the world, learn new skills, educate yourself, do volunteer work in your community. All these things will build confidence and make you more well-rounded and interesting. That's much more valuable than being the fellow who is popular at parties.

Take Care!

Papabear

Arrkay has so many zines to catalogue! Keep him company while he and Tempe O'kun chat about vintage furry art and writing and the furries we meet along the way. Merch, Sweet Tees and stuff: https://culturally-fd-merchandise.creator-spring.com/ Support Culturally F'd: https://www.patreon.com/culturallyfd Listen in on TEMPO TALKS with Tempe O'Kun https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPyIK2c7mK-LpbvfDNqfcSW Check out Tempe O'Kun's books "Sixes Wild" and "Windfall" here: http://furplanet.com/shop/?affillink=YOUTU2907 Here's a playlist of his other Culturally F'd videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPS7tnT4hdJwBI-CeLF8Kb_

January has been a big month for Magic the Gathering as its latest in-universe set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, released on the 23rd with its pre-release the week before. What’s Lorwyn you ask? Lorwyn-Shadowmoor is a plane with a duel nature that’s often at odds with itself, as plants, animals and even the inhabitants themselves change drastically between the daytime of Lorwyn and the nighttime of Shadowmoor. Originally visited in the original Lorwyn-Shadowmoor block almost 20 years ago, the time has come to return to the iconic setting in this highly anticipated expansion.

More notable young-adult fantasy from Penguin Random House: Dragonborn, by Struan Murray. “There is a secret world of dragons that lurks at the edges of our own. But dragons also live among us. These Slumberers have been human for so long they have forgotten their true selves — until something awakens the dragon within… Twelve-year-old Alex Evans is about to wake up. Ever since her father’s death, Alex’s overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. Feeling trapped, Alex’s frustration has become too big to hide away. Burning inside, she erupts into a fierce, fiery roar… A new school and a new life await Alex on the legendary island of Skralla, one of the last surviving dragon havens. There, she will train alongside other young dragons who are wild, untamed, and — unlike Alex — skilled at transforming and embracing their dragons within. As dark factions begin to rise, Alex finds herself in a race to unlock her long-dormant power before Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, rises again to wage war against the human world.” Minor thing perhaps, but check out that dragon scale decoration on the pages. This is something else!

image c. 2026 Penguin Random House

兽展中游客突发不适 长春兽迷民间救援队第一时间支援

Dear Papabear,

I’ve been working on this gay furry romance comic, which I’ve decided to fully throw myself into finishing. The script is written, and I’ve completed 22 pages so far. I’m fairly confident in my writing, but my story turned out to be heavier than when I first started. It touches on themes like addiction, creative burnout, grief, and mortality. Throughout this project, I occasionally remember the characters are anthropomorphic animals and I wonder, “Is this too silly?”

It’s not like the whole comic is heavy. There are moments of comic relief here and there. I just worry that the whole furry aesthetic would undermine those themes. Am I overthinking this?

Second, my story has a few sex scenes in it, but they’re not the main focus of the story and are used to show the bond of the two main characters. However, I’m conflicted on how much I should actually show I’m not opposed to romance comics having explicit sex scenes, I just worry people will only read the comic for those scenes. Should I make it softcore, or just go all out and show everything?

In short, do furry characters undermine a story with more serious themes? Also, how much sexual explicitness is appropriate for this kind of story?

Cheers,
Steve

* * *

Dear Steve,

What a great question! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a comic (or graphic novel) that is furry and has mature themes. In a very real way, this is why the furry fandom was founded in the first place. A lot of adults (college age, mostly, at the time) wanted to take the Funny Animal tradition and make it more for adults, which gave rise to such things as Albedo Anthropomorphics, Associated Student Bodies, The Usagi Chronicles, Cerebus the Aardvark, Black Sad, and Omaha, the Cat Dancer, not to mention the non-furry Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer-winning Maus. So, you are on very solid ground here. If you are unfamiliar with any of these, I would suggest you look them up and read, read, read.

Some of these--especially Omaha and ASB--have some pretty kinky scenes, and you can bet that a lot of people bought them just for these. But! A lot of people bought them because they are good stories with well-rounded and interesting characters. ASB deals with some serious themes, too, such as one of the main characters being HIV+. When you are aiming for an adult audience, it is legit to address topics that include violence, drugs, racism, political corruption, sex, and more. It is fine to have sex scenes in your story, especially if it is sex with a purpose. Do you know what the difference is between a mature sex scene and porn? Porn only has one purpose: to get you off. Story and characterization are superfluous to porn. But a sex scene can be used in serious literature to advance the story and motivate characters. So, when you draw these scenes, consider whether what you are drawing contributes to your tale or if you are just doing it to get someone to buy the comic so they can pleasure themselves. When you answer that question honestly, you will know how to draw it.

The same is true with other elements in your story, not just sex. Do the comical scenes serve a function? Or are you just doing something idiotic like putting Jar Jar Binks in the story for slapstick? Is the violence gratuitous for shock value? Or are you making a point for the reader? I am a big fan of subtlety myself. A master writer, artist, or filmmaker can do wonders with suggestion. That's why Alfred Hitchcock was so brilliant. He could do more with a creaky door slowly opening in a hallway than M. Night Shyamalan does with all the buckets of blood and freaky CGI a big studio can afford.

This leads me to another element of your question: Why do people write stories with furries in them instead of human beings? One big reason is that they serve as tropes to quickly express what a character is all about. If you want a clever character, it's a fox; loyal and true, dog; selfish and sexy, cat; scary fierce, dragon; a brave leader, lion; meek but honest, mouse; and so on. It's quick characterization in a suit of fur. Furry characters can also be used as symbolic in expressing a theme. For example, there was an issue of Black Sad about racism in which animals such as polar bears and Arctic foxes and ermines represented (obviously) white people, and animals with black fur were of course representing Blacks. The hero has both white and black fur as he is from a mixed lineage. Here, you can get the clear message and yet avoid stereotypes that are often assigned to people of certain races (a technique Disney grossly failed at when creating the Siamese cat character in The Aristocats--OMG). And, of course, anthros are often seen in fantasy and sci-fi tales simply to create interesting and exotic characters for the reader. However, skilled authors use them with a purpose.

So, when you create your furry characters, do so with purpose. Don't just make your hero, say, a husky because you like huskies. Perhaps make them a hippo with something to prove because they never got over being mocked for being heavy when they were in public school, or make them a homely lizard with a heart of gold. Use the physical form to complement the spirit of your hero or heroine and all the supporting characters in the cast.

Good Luck with Your Story!

Papabear

Recently at a book store (remember those?) we came across the Impossible Creatures series of young adult fantasy novels, written by Katherine Rundell. The first book is called (appropriately) Impossible Creatures. “The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago — a cluster of un-mapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal — a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help. Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: No one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.” And don’t forget to check out the second book in the series, The Poisoned King.

image c. 2026 Penguin Random House

Fuzz and Savrin hang out after the grand journey to Further Confusion 2026. We talk about all the cool stuff they did and saw, the convention, and all the touristy stuff they did along the way. It's a very positive episode! 

Baked this one with love for you guys.
~Savrin

Bed music via Epidemic Sounds
https://www.epidemicsound.com/

Episode 569 - Show Hole

Dear Papabear,

I live away from my parents and told them [on the phone that I went to] the comic convention when it was [really] a furry convention (Further Confusion).... After the call, my younger brother who still lives with my parents said they were disgusted by it. What should I do? Should I just wait it out ... [so they can] digest the fact that I'm a furry now since I never told them before?

They have told me they support me if I'm gay or bi, but not trans.... I'm bi; just have not told them that. I guess my question is what should I do to mend the relationship?
Also, for some more info, I'm going to Japan in May. I'm in the Navy, so I would just have one last meet with them before I go.

Devon (age 19)

* * *

Dear Devon,

This is a familiar story to Papabear. I get letters like yours all the time. My first advice to you is to not pressure yourself to "go to confessional" and tell your parents about being furry and bi before you head off to Japan in May. There is no timeline for this. In fact, it might be a good break for you to be in Japan (how long will you be there?) and just take a mental holiday from worrying about your family's reactions and judgment.

While you're in Japan, by the way, if you get some shore leave and are able to travel a bit, there are several events in Japan you have the opportunity to check out:

• Japan Meeting of Furries | JMoF in Toyohashi in January (if you're still in Japan next year)
• AnimeJapan 2026 in Tokyo; I believe it is in March
• JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL - WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT2026 Official Site in Nagoya, July 31 to August 2
• Comic Market in Tokyo is a huge anime marketplace in August

As you are likely aware, Japanese animation has been a huge influence on the furry fandom and still is today. Furries of all sorts who are also anime fans often attend these functions. I encourage you to try to attend one or two of these while you are there with the Navy, if at all possible. You should, too, explore the culture of Japan in general. Sadly, I have not had the chance to visit Japan yet, but everyone I know who goes there for a vacation or long stay says it is totally pawsome, and I believe that. It is a beautiful country with a rich culture. (Oh, btw, Tokyo Disneyland is FAR better than the one in Anaheim.) You can learn a lot from seeing different lands, which can open your eyes to new possibilities for yourself. Of course, you might not have a lot of time to do this as you will be executing your military duties but do your best.

The point here is that you need to focus on yourself right now. I know, you want to be honest and open with your parents, which is a good thing, but it's pretty clear they are not completely ready for what you have to say. It is encouraging that they are supportive of you as a gay man, but they are still struggling with other concepts, such as trans and bi people and furries. You ask me, "What should I do to mend the relationship?" Relationships take two sides. This is not all up to you. Your parents need to meet you halfway. Do you feel they would be willing to talk in an open and compassionate way? Or do you think your brother's report is accurate? (Sounds like you are getting this second-hand instead of straight from your parents' mouths.)

Being open and honest with family is always the preferred way to go, but you should not feel like it is your fault if they have some prejudices that you can't overcome. That's on them. You sound like you have become independent enough to live your own life, so the good news is that--unlike some younger furries who write to me who are still financially dependent on their families to live--you don't have to do whatever they tell you in order to have a life. You can be your own man now. Your military service will help you with that, I believe.

Remember, you were not put on this Earth to please your parents, or anyone else for that matter. You are here to explore the world and to be your true self. Take as long as you need to do this. Do not let anyone set an artificial timetable on when you have to get things done. Don't let anyone dictate to you who you are or what you have to do. Don't seek other people's validation and approval. All of that is bullshit.

Be yourself. Be kind to others. That is all you need to do. And when the time is right (you will know when), you can talk to your parents about all your feelings and what you feel is the authentic you. 

Does that make sense to you? Let me know if you have further questions.

Bear Hugs,

Papabear

Sitting down and deciding what to do with your precious free time can be hard. There’s a wealth of options, with experiences ranging from the most competitive face-offs with other gamers hell-bent on ruining your day, to the easiest gaming tasks accomplished whilst bundled up and sipping on a delicious coffee. All of these games have their place, just like the one I had the pleasure of moseying cozily through recently for this review. Tailside: Cozy Cafe Sim is exactly that; a simple yet satisfying coffee shop simulator where you’re the owner, decorator, janitor, and barista, all at once. What makes the experience special though is not just the addictive gameplay loop, but the lovely cast of characters that make their way through your doors and into your hearth.

We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of animator and director Roger Allers at the age of 76. Throughout much of the world, and especially among furry fans, Allers will always be remembered as one half of the team that directed Disney’s The Lion King in 1994 (along with Rob Minkoff). The landmark movie remains the highest-grossing 2D animated film of all time. Later, Allers would apply  his talents to the adaptation of The Lion King as a very successful Broadway musical (under director Julie Taymor). But many people don’t realize just how many interesting (and furry!) animation projects Roger Allers worked on over the course of his career. He began as an animator and character designer on the Animalympics TV specials (which would later be cobbled together into a feature film). He spent some time in Canada working as an animator on Nelvana’s feature film Rock & Rule. Moving on to Disney Animation, he worked as a storyboard artist on Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, and The Rescuers Down Under, before being promoted to Head of Story on Beauty and the Beast. After the (actually unexpected!) world-wide success of The Lion King, Allers was hard at work on a film called Kingdom of the Sun — but he left the project before it got turned into The Emperor’s New Groove under director Mark Dindal. After he left Disney, Allers became co-director (with Jill Culton) on Sony Pictures’ first animated feature, Open Season. Furry fandom owes a lot to the work of this talented artist. He will definitely be missed. Blessed Be.

image c. 2026 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

TigerTails Radio Season 16 Episode 52 Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf Join the Telegram Chat: https://t.me/+yold2C77m0I1MmM0 Visit the website at http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of any song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. Credits: Opening music: Magic by Hedge Haiden (Double Hedge Studios) Character art: Fitzroy Fox - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/lunara-toons / https://bsky.app/profile/fitzroyfox.bsky.social Background art: Charleston Rat - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/charlestonrat / https://bsky.app/profile/charlestonrat.bsky.social If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Ursa art by Foxenawolf.

Don’t wait, the Ursa Major Awards nomination deadline is FEBRUARY 5.

The Ursa Major Awards feature the furry fandom’s favorite media published in the past year. Any member of the public can vote for movies, writing, art, and more — but before you can vote, nominees must be chosen. You only have until February 5 to help your favorite media make the list.

Go to the nomination page and do it now!

The Recommended Anthropomorphics List has many things to consider. The Nonfiction section has choices made possible by hard work from Dogpatch Press.

For nonfiction, please consider The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster. This TV docuseries is a result of 7 years of investigation with tens of thousands of words reported here. The show won critical acclaim and positive reporting from Time, Yahoo Entertainment, and more for putting an honest spotlight on problem-solving by and for the community. Two of those positive stories are on the recommended list, as well as three other stories by Dogpatch Press. There’s also a deeply meaningful story from NPR reporters with Dogpatch Press — KQED/Close All Tabs podcast: How the Furry Fandom Says Goodbye.

(Update) go check new comments on this great review of The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster to see why it’s being shared.

After you nominate, follow the Ursas on Bluesky. Behind the awards, a small team of devoted volunteers work hard to make them possible at personal cost, and would appreciate donations. You can support the awards here:

Like the article? These take hard work. For more free furry news, follow on Twitter or support not-for-profit Dogpatch Press on Patreon.Want to get involved? Try these subreddits: r/furrydiscuss for news or r/waginheaven for the best of the community. Or send guest writing here. (Content Policy.)