The winners of the tenth annual Ursa Major Awards for the best in anthropomorphic/"funny animal" literature and art first published during the calendar year 2010 have been announced at a presentation ceremony tonight at Morphicon in Columbus, OH.

Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture:
"How To Train Your Dragon"
(Producers: DreamWorks, Mad Hatter, Vertigo. Distributor: Paramount Pictures, March 26)

Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series:
"Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention"
(Produced by Aardman Animations for BBC One. Episode 1 to 6; November 3 to December 8)

Best Anthropomorphic Novel:
"Shadow of the Father" by Kyell Gold
(Sofawolf Press, January)

Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction:
"Bridges" by Kyell Gold
(Novella released as single publication by FurPlanet Books, February)

Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work:
"Fur-Piled" #4 by Leo Magna
(Sofawolf Press, comic collection with some new material, July)

Best Anthropomorphic Graphic Story:
"Twokinds" by Tom Fischbach
(Internet, January 6 (#537) to December 4 (Holiday 2010))

Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip:
"Housepets!" by Rick Griffin
(Internet strips from January 1 to December 31)

Best Anthropomorphic Magazine:
"Heat"
(Sofawolf Press, July)

Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration:
Cover for Kyell Gold's "Shadow of the Father" by Sara Palmer
(Sofawolf Press, January)

Best Anthropomorphic Game:
"Disney Epic Mickey"
(Developer: Junction Point Studios; Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios, November 25)


More formally known as the Annual Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Awards, the Ursa Major Awards are presented each year for excellence in the furry arts. They are intended as Anthropomorphic (a.k.a. Furry) Fandom's equivalent of the Hugo Awards presented by the World Science Fiction Society, mystery fandom's Anthony Awards, horror fandom's Bram Stoker Awards, and so forth. The physical award consists of an illustrated trophy certificate or plaque, designed by artist Heather Bruton.

Eligibility in the ten categories is for works featuring anthropomorphic characters first published during the calendar year 2010. This can include new compilations of older works, such as a new collection of previously-published separate works. Nomination and voting for the awards was open via the Internet to anyone who is a fan of anthropomorphic characters. There were five finalists in each category except where there was a tie for fifth place, in which case there were six finalists.

Between March 13 and April 17, 1,372 voters from countries as diverse as Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Laos, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA selected the winners.

The Ursa Major Awards are administered by the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA), a membership organization dedicated to promoting anthropomorphic literature and arts. Each year, the ALAA encourages fans to suggest worthwhile works for inclusion in the Recommended Anthropomorphics List at http://www.ursamajorawards.org/ReadList.htm , which fans often use as a guide when nominations for the next Ursa Major Awards open in January.