The Ursa Major Awards (2016)
The Ursa Major Awards (UMAs) are the furry fandom’s awards for outstanding achievement in animal-anthropomorphic literature and arts, similar in spirit to the Hugo Awards from the science fiction fandom. Their first iteration was in 2001 at ConFurence 12, California. Since then, they have been presented yearly at several different furry conventions. The awards are run by the ALAA (Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association), a group of experienced furries; however, the winners are decided not by a committee, but by fans all around the globe.
Each year the ALAA invites people to nominate and vote for what they may consider the best furry works that have been published or released the previous year, fitting a number of categories. Any furry who wishes to vote can easily register at their website, UrsaMajorAwards.org , and follow their simple steps. Alternatively, you can also vote by e-mail or snail mail. Votes can be made for any, or all, categories; so make sure to vote yearly for the candidates you consider the best!
Up until the 2014 awards, the UMAs consisted of a framed certificate with an illustration of the award logo by Heather Bruton. Last year, they changed to an acrylic glass trophy that stands upright.
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This year, the Ursa Major Awards for 2016 were granted. The ceremony took place at the Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (North-East USA), the 30th of June. There were 1,446 votes (by comparison, the Hugo Awards have had, the last years, between 3,000 and 6,000 votes.) There are five nominees for each category, one of which gets the rank of winner. There are a total of 12 categories. Congratulations to the winners!
Beginning next year, a thirteenth category will be added for Best Anthropomorphic Fursuit, to be awarded to the fursuit maker (not the wearer), with a number of additional rules that can be checked at the ALAA’s website.
Ursa Major Awards 2016
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Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Zootopia Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush; February 11 Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Directed by James Thiessen, Jim Miller, Tim Stuby, and Denny Lu; Season 6 episodes 1 to 143 [TV] Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Novel My Diary, by Fredrick Usiku Kruger, Lieutenant of the Rackenroon Hyena Brigade By Kathy Garrison Kellog (The Cross Time Cafe; April 2) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction 400 Rabbits By Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden, in Gods With Fur (FurPlanet Productions; June 30) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work Gods With Fur Edited by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions; June 30 [anthology]) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Non-Fiction Work The Art of Zootopia By Jessica Julius (Chronicle Books; March 8 [book; making of feature film]) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Graphic Story TwoKinds By Tom Fischbach (Internet; January 6 to December 25) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Housepets! By Rick Griffin (Internet; January 1 to December 30) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Magazine Dogpatch Press Edited by Patch Packrat (Internet, January 4 to December 20) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover of Anthrocon 2016 Souvenir Book By Tracy J. Butler Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Game Major / Minor Developer: Klace; Publisher: Steam; October 11 Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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Best Anthropomorphic Website Fur Affinity (Internet, [furry art & discussion]) Runners-Up (in descending number of votes)
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