Can Nanotech Be Used to Create a Legit Furry?

Hello, Papabear,

Is it a furry if a human uses transformation by nanotechnology to morph into anthropomorphic animals? Uses digital construct nanotechnology?

Skorge

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Hi, Skorge,

What an interesting question :) Thanks for posing it.

Traditionally, a furry is simply an anthropomorphized animal. This can mean anything from feral critters that communicate and express emotions like humans but who live mostly like animals (e.g. Watership Down) to bipedal characters that are very human in the society they live in and in being bipedal and acting human in every way. But, even early in the fandom, it could also mean aliens that have animalistic forms or mythological creatures that talk and think like humans.

Usually, these furry characters take whatever form they are in from birth, we assume. But, of course, there are also many transformation stories. Transformations (from human to animal, but also at times the reverse) commonly occur with the use of some kind of magical spell or other. This goes back to ancient mythological tales to modern literature and TV/film stories (e.g. Turning Red). Another method of transformation is through the use of science. This can be a slow process (e.g. H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, the "Uplift" sci-fi novels by David Brin), or it can be a quick process (the "Animorphs" books in which an alien gifts five youngsters the power to turn into animals). The Animorphs books, in fact, use the premise that this transformation is accomplished through the use of advanced nanotechnology. I think it's pretty safe to say that Animorphs qualifies as being a fiction series that falls under the umbrella of furry fiction. 

High-tech stuff is increasingly popular in the modern fandom. Cyborg tech has led to the creation of protogens and primagens, for example. I have also been seeing fursonas in the fantom that are 100% robots that take on animal shapes.

In summary, one can say that a furry character is pretty much any non-human being that has an animal form. Whether this is achieved by natural biology, magical forces, or advanced technology doesn't really matter. 

A long time ago, there was a debate among those in the early fandom whether to call ourselves furries or anthros. Furries won, but I kind of wish they hadn't because "furry" only describes anthros that are covered in fur (or, at least, hair), and that never applied to all anthros (e.g. reptiles, avians, fish...). And now, with the increasing number of cybertronic "furries," it is even less apt to call ourselves "furries." But that is how language works. Kind of like the name Holy Roman Empire, which was not an empire, wasn't Roman, and certainly wasn't holy. That's just how things go sometimes, but I digress.

To answer your question: yes, you can call an anthropomorphic animal that becomes such through the use of nanotech a "furry." And if people object, that's their problem. Don't let people gatekeep you.

Have a Happy Day!

Papabear