2015 Ursa Major Awards

[Rakuen Growlithe]

It's time to vote for the 2015 Ursa Major award winners. You can get the link and see the nominees here: https://www.flayrah.com/6490/2015-ursa- ... nal-ballot

And once you've done that we can always discuss the nominees and who should win. I already voted and my choices are below (copied from my Flayrah comment).

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MOTION PICTURE

Haven't seen any of those so I'm not voting. However, Inside Out is not furry! I know the Ursa Majors are anthropomorphic in general but I think it should be a furry award. Similarly, Peanuts is not furry. One character does not a furry movie make, it needs to be a significant aspect of the movie. If I had to guess I'd probably say The Lion Guard or Shaun the Sheep should win.

DRAMATIC SHORT WORK OR SERIES

I'm a brony, so MLP it is! It is a really good show though and inspired a really creative community.

NOVEL

Sadly, I haven't read any.

SHORT FICTION

As above.

OTHER LITERARY WORK

Here I have read Furries Among Us, I even lent it to my aunt. I'll give it my vote but, because of the different authors, it's a mixed bag. Some I really disagree with, no surprises, and some are not great. I admire Fred but the publishing history seemed particularly dry. However the essays from the IARP members were very interesting and helped me see some aspects of the fandom in a different light.

GRAPHIC STORY

Not read either.

COMIC STRIP

Only read Housepets! and I'm giving it my vote just like every year.

MAGAZINE

Obviously Flayrah comes first! Then Dogpatch Press as second. I see the InFurNation bits here but I seldom read them and I'm familiar with Heat only by reputation. I'm a bit disappointed not to see [adjective][species] there as it does some really cool things, even if most of what they say is wrong. :p

PUBLISHED ILLUSTRATION

Some really beautiful choices there. It was a close call between Kenket and Rukis but since I went to EF21 and had a great time, I'm giving Kenket's work the top spot. It's followed by Rukis' and Teagan Gavet's.

GAME

I've not heard of Yo-Kai Watch but I know all the others. But I've not actually played any. People say Undertale is amazing but the look and price put me off buying it. FNAF3 and Armello didn't sound too great. Ori and the Blind Forest looked beautiful in the bits I did see and I'm pretty sure it would've got my vote if I'd played it.

WEBSITE

SoFurry should get the top spot, although I am a SoFurry ambassador so not entirely unbiased. I use Wikifur a lot when I'm writing articles or need to check something so I find it a really useful, if very incomplete, reference. It gets my second vote. I know some people really hate it but E621 does make finding porn really convenient... >.< It gets a spot for that.

[Raven Song]

MOTION PICTURE
Live-action or animated feature-length movies.

1) Shaun the Sheep wins for me because of a lot of memories it carries for me, I love stop motion animation, it's adorable and is entertaining to many age groups, and is underrated.
2) Inside Out, because it really was a good film and was one of the first animated films to have an actual use, it's being used to teach and help explain to children with emotional/mental problems what's going on in their bodies/heads.
3) The Good Dinosaur, because why not

DRAMATIC SHORT WORK OR SERIES
TV series or one-shots, advertisements or short videos.

1) Danger mouse because Danger Mouse.
2) MLP because I do really enjoy it and I do think it is genuinely a good show
3) Littlest Petshop because they are kind of cute

NOVEL
Written works of 40,000 words or more. Serialized novels qualify only for the year that the final chapter is published.

1) Windfall is the only one I know, therefore...

SHORT FICTION
Stories less than 40,000 words, poetry, and other short Written works.

None

OTHER LITERARY WORK
Story collections, comic collections, graphic novels, non-fiction works, and serialized online stories.

None

GRAPHIC STORY
Includes comic books, and serialized online stories.

1) Lackadaisy is, visually and story based the best furry related graphic story I have ever read. It is gripping, beautiful to look at and enjoy and is one of my favourite things ever!
2) Two Kinds, because it's not too bad either

COMIC STRIP
Newspaper-style strips, including those with ongoing arcs.

1) Housepets is the only one I know so that'll do

MAGAZINE
Edited collections of creative and/or informational works by various people, professional or amateur, published in print or online in written, pictorial or audio-visual form.

1) Flayrah, because Greenreaper

PUBLISHED ILLUSTRATION
Illustrations for books, magazines, convention program books, cover art for such, coffee-table portfolios.

None

GAME
Computer or console games, role-playing games, board games.

1) Ori and Blind Forest. Visually one of the prettiest games I've ever been privileged to play. The story is simple and fun, and throughout it feels like a tale being told through me as opposed to a character. My little sprite endeared itself to me, not just because it was pretty... but because it is genuinely a fun game and a fun concept.

2) Five Nights, the only other game on the list I've dealt with and I did enjoy it, I even screamed once.

WEBSITE
Online collections of art, stories, and other creative and/or informational works. Includes galleries, story archives, directories, blogs, and personal sites.

1) Wikifur - Because Greenreaper gave me a long talk this weekend and I wanna support it, it sounds awesome.
2) Culturally F'd - Because I donate to them on Patreon