Ursa Major Awards

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The Ursa Major Awards

The Ursa Major Awards logo, designed by Heather Burton.
Awarded for Excellence in anthropomorphic and furry arts.
Country United States
First awarded 2001
Last awarded 2007
Official website

The Ursa Major Awards are an annual award for outstanding achievement in anthropomorphic arts, equivalent to the science fiction fandom's Hugo Awards. The awards were first presented in 2001 at ConFurence 12. Due to the early misconception that the Awards were intended for the ConFurence alone, in 2003 it was decided that the awards would be presented at as many furry conventions as possible. To that end, the UMA's were presented at C-ACE in 2004, at Anthrocon in 2005, at Rocket City FurMeet in 2006, at CaliFur in 2007, and will be presented at Morphicon in 2008.

The UMA's were originally administered by The ConFurence Group. In 2003, administration was passed to the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA), who currently administers them.[1]

The UMA trophy consists of a framed certificate containing an illustration of the award logo designed by Heather Bruton, with the name of the winner. A plaque has also been awarded on occasion.

Contents

[edit] Nomination process

According to the UMA website, "To be eligible, a work must have been released between January 1 and December 31 of the calendar year for that award, and must include a non-human being given human attributes (anthropomorphic), which can be mental and/or physical (for example the intelligent rabbits in Watership Down for the former, and Bugs Bunny for the latter.) Simply including an animal character is not sufficient to qualify."[2] There are three main stages of the nomination:

  • The Recommended Anthropomorphics List: This a list of different anthropomorphic works of the current year. Works can be recommended for the list by anyone, submitting them via email. The list has two purposes. First, it gives people a chance to show what they think are the best anthropomorphic works of the current year. Second, its serves as a guide to which items were produced in the current year and therefore which works would be eligable for an award.[3]
  • Nominations: Normally between January and February of the following year, voters then nominate which works should be eligable for an award. The works nominated do not have to be those on the Recommended Anthropomorphics List. All those wishing to vote have to registar.[4]
  • Final voting: Normally between March and April, the noinations which attracted the most votes (normally the top five) in the various categories enter a final round of voting, to determine which are the final winners. These votes are collected by email or post. The prizes are normally presented in May.

[edit] Categories

Originally there were nine different categories of award, each represented on the Recommended Anthropomorphics List. They were:

  • Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture
  • Best Anthropomorphic TV Series
  • Best Anthropomorphic Novel
  • Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction
  • Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work
  • Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip
  • Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book
  • Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip
  • Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine
  • Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration
  • Best Anthropomorphic Game

In 2003, "Best Anthropomorphic TV Series" was changed to "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series" and "Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip" was split into two awards representing comic books and comic strips separately, increasing the number of awards to ten.[5] In 2005 the "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series" was changed again to "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series".[6] In 2006, the Recommended Anthropomorphics List introduced a new category which is a miscellany of different works that do not fit into any of the above categories. So far however, no miscellany award has been given.[7]

[edit] Winners

[edit] 2001

Awarded at ConFurence 2002, the winners were:[8]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Shrek DreamWorks SKG
Best Anthropomorphic TV Series Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat CinéGroupe
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Casual Rex Eric Garcia
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction Beneath the Crystal Sea Brock Hoagland
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work The Sound & the Furry: The Complete Hoka Stories Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine Yarf! Jeff Ferris and others
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Front cover of Fur Visions, Issue 20 XianJaguar (Brenda DiAntonis)
Best Anthropomorphic Game Conker's Bad Fur Day Rareware

[edit] 2002

Awarded at ConFurence 2003, the winners were:[9]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Lilo & Stitch Disney
Best Anthropomorphic TV Series Greg the Bunny Steven Levitan Productions
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Rescue Ferrets at Sea (The Ferret Chronicles #1) Richard Bach
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction Familiars Michael H. Payne
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work Ozy and Millie IV: Authentic Banana Dye D. C. Simpson
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine Yarf! Jeff Ferris and others
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover of Furrlough, Issue 109 Natasha "Dark Natasha" Mleynek
Best Anthropomorphic Game Star Fox Adventures Rare, Ltd.

[edit] 2003

Awarded at C-ACE 2004, the winners were:[5]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Finding Nemo Disney and Pixar
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series Gary the Rat Grammnet Productions
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Between Darkness and Light Lisanne Norman
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction In the Line of Duty M. C. A. Hogarth
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work Best in Show: Fifteen Years of Outstanding Furry Fiction Fred Patten
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Kevin and Kell Bill Holbrook
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine Tales of the Tai-Pan Universe Various writers
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover of Best in Show: Fifteen Years of Outstanding Furry Fiction Ursula Verno
Best Anthropomorphic Game Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo Frontier Developments, Ltd.

[edit] 2004

Awarded at Anthrocon 2005, the winners were:[10]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Shrek 2 DreamWorks
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series Father of the Pride DreamWorks SKG & Imagi International Holdings for NBC
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Never Again a Man Charles Matthias
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction Felicia and the Tailcutter's Curse Charles P. A. Melville
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work The Art of Usagi Yojimbo Fred Patten
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Faux Pas Robert and Margaret Carspecken
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine Tales of the Tai-Pan Universe Various writers
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover painting for Fur Plus, Issue 22 Kacey Maltzman (Kacey Miyagami)
Best Anthropomorphic Game Sly 2: Band of Thieves Sucker Punch Productions

[edit] 2005

Awarded at Rocket City Fur Meet 2006, the winners were:[6]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series Cake Dance, aka "There She Is!! Step 2" Music video of "Happy Birthday to Me" by Bulldog Mansion, by SamBakZa
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Volle Kyell Gold
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction In His Own Country Kristin Fontaine
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work Tales of the Questor, Volume 1 Ralph E. Hayes, Jr.
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Faux Pas Robert and Margaret Carspecken
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine South Fur Lands Bernard Doove
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover painting for Transformations: A Forest Tales Story Stephanie Stone (Cybercat)
Best Anthropomorphic Game Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves Sucker Punch Productions

[edit] 2006

Awarded at CaliFur 3 in 2007, the winners were:[11][12]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Over the Hedge Dreamworks Animation
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series Hammy's Boomerang Adventure Dreamworks Animation
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Pendant of Fortune Kyell Gold
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction Jacks to Open Kyell Gold
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work A Doemain of Our Own, Volume 1 Susan Rankin
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book i.s.o. Vince Suzukawa
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Ozy and Millie D. C. Simpson
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine Anthrolations Kris Schnee
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration Cover painting for Pendant of Fortune Sara Palme
Best Anthropomorphic Game Ōkami Clover Studios and Capcom

[edit] 2007

Awarded at Morphicon on May 17, 2008. The winners were:[13]

Award Winner Creator/Producer
Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Ratatouille Walt Disney and Pixar
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series "Gridlock (Doctor Who episode)" BBC
Best Anthropomorphic Novel Life's Dream Bernard Doove
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction Don't Blink Kyell Gold
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work All the Newshounds Fit to Print Thomas K. Dye
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book Gargoyles Greg Weisman, Gordon Purcell, Dustin Evans, and Greg Guler
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip Ozy and Millie D. C. Simpson
Best Anthropomorphic Magazine Heat Various authors
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration "Blotch", cover painting for Fur Affinity United Convention Souvenir Book Fur Affinity
Best Anthropomorphic Game Sam & Max Season Two, Episode 1: Ice Station Santa Clover Studios and Capcom

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ursa Major Awards. Science Fiction Awards Watch. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  2. ^ About the U.M.A.. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  3. ^ 2008 Recommended Anthropomorphics List. Ursa Major Awards (2008-04-17). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  4. ^ Enrollment. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  5. ^ a b Award Winners 2003. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  6. ^ a b Award Winners 2005. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  7. ^ 2006 Recommended Anthropomorphics List. Ursa Major Awards (2007-03-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  8. ^ Award Winners 2001. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  9. ^ Award Winners 2002. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  10. ^ Award Winners 2004. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  11. ^ Award Winners 2006. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  12. ^ The News. The Furtean Times (2007-06-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  13. ^ Award Winners, 2007. Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.

[edit] External links