It is what the title entails. I am officially retiring AnkuTen as a fursuit. It disheartens me to let him go as a fursuit, but I definitely had a good run while it lasted.

I'm pretty sure most of you are wondering the reason behind this choice. It has come a big realization that I no longer feel connected to him as a character that I did before. If anything, he was the anguish, the sorrow and pain that I have brought with me as I grow older and continue to develop in the fandom. He was, in a way a physical manifestation of my grief and sadness, and tries to be happy by being around friends but also has gone through a lot of hardships and anxieties that has held him back from being truly happy. As cute as a character he can be in drawings, that is far from the truth from what he truly holds internally. He was the dark angel in my mind that has tried to save my from my own internal struggles. He is also the comfort whenever I have gone through some dark times. That is the true nature of AnkuTen. He was never happy to begin with.

When I have came up with Hiro, I didn't think twice that he would come out the way he did. But every time I do look at him, I see hope, a changed person, someone that won't let anything bring him down. Someone who's always happy and always willing to help out a friend with their internal struggles. His full name is Hiro Yasuragi, the last name being a Japanese adjective that means "Peace (of mind), tranquility and serenity. That's exactly how I want Hiro to be in front of everyone he meets.

But this doesn't mean that I'm not giving up AnkuTen. He is the one side I do not wish to impose on others. Even as much as I don't want to, the personality of AnkuTen still can come out when my inner demons like to play with me, but as Hiro he shows the better and lighter side of me. I believe both play an important role in my life. AnkuTen being the darker, realistic side as for Hiro being more hopeful and uplifting. I do not want to be reminded again of all of the personal struggles I have gone through as AnkuTen and start anew and reborn as Hiro.

I've always wanted to act a little more bouncy and silly while performing as Hiro when I eventually gather the funds for a fursuit, which in a related update I actually am getting a fursuit head for him! I will eventually make a FA separately for Hiro as this account will officially be a secondary fursona as I am claiming Hiro to be my new main fursona! I honestly needed a fresh new face for me to run around as and I'm hoping that those that are still with me will realize who I am under the suit when I do go to future cons as Hiro! I just want to say thank you to those that have been on my side since the day we have met online and at cons! It is a bittersweet goodbye for AnkuTen and he will no longer be showing face at conventions. I hope you all will enjoy my new main, Hiro!