2006 Ursa Major Awards Announced!

[Steve Hubbell]

The winners of the sixth annual Ursa Major Awards (formally the Annual Anthropomorphic Literature & Arts Awards), for the best in anthropomorphic/"funny animal" literature and art first published during the calendar year 2006, were announced at a presentation ceremony on Friday, May 4, 2007 at CaliFur III, held at the the Costa Mesa Holiday Inn, Costa Mesa, CA on May 4-6, 2007.

The Ursa Major Awards are Anthropomorphic (a.k.a. Furry) Fandom's equivalents of s-f fandom's Hugo Awards, mystery fandom's Anthony Awards, horror fandom's Bram Stoker Awards, and so forth. The Ursa Majors are administered and presented by the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA), an organization dedicated to promoting anthropomorphic literature and arts both within and outside of the fandom. Nominations and voting for the awards are open to the public. The physical award consists of an illustrated trophy certificate or plaque, designed by the artist Heather Bruton.

Eligibility in ten categories is for works featuring intelligent and/or talking animals first published during the calendar year 2006. This can include new compilations of older works, such as a new collection of previously-published separate works. The winners are chosen by popular vote among those participating in Anthropomorphic Fandom who, first, submitted their nominations for the winners, and then voted upon a final ballot consisting of the five finalists (those receiving the most nominations) in each category. The voting for the awards was open to all furry fandom via the Internet; and took place between March 10th and April 14th; and received votes from countries as diverse as Germany, Finland, Russia, the Philippines, Australia, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book
i.s.o. by Vince Suzukawa. (Vince Suzukawa, issues #1 and #2)

Also nominated were:
Extinctioners, by Shawntae L. Howard. (Shanda Fantasy Arts, irregular, 2006 issues include #15, January)
Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Volume II, written by Mike Bullock, art by Jack Lawrence. (Image Comics issues from #1 March to #4 June)
Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai. (Dark Horse, monthly issues from January to December)
ZED #7, by Michel Gagné. (Gagne International, June)

I think this is the first time Usagi Yojimbo did not win in the comic book catagory!

[Musashi]

Yeah, I can't believe Usagi (and Stan) didn't win. I've never even heard of the winner. A quick internet search finds claims that it's some sort of homosexual-themed romantic comedy work. (That's according to Wikipedia, so I cannot confirm accuracy.)

[Stan Sakai]

I've won more than my fair share of Ursa Majors. I'm surprised that Zed did not win.

Another big surprise is that Mouse Guard was not nominated.

[morna-san]

ya, I kinda expected to see MG in the list of nominees. Odd.

[Robweiller]

I know Vince Suzukawa from "The Class Menagerie" and I must admit that I really enjoyed this webcomic and his drawing style. I'm glad he won something, even though I've never read "i.s.o.", just heard of it.