I’m about six years deep into this project which has defied completion. I could rightly blame the pandemic for much of the delay, but it doesn’t help that I conceived it as a large project with many guest voices from our fandom. Yes, we sort of have the technology, but not everyone’s well set up for, or comfortable with, remote audio recording. A few people simply weren’t interested in being involved. I don’t always have enough money to pay the people who are interested. Then there’s my own indecision. If I were forced to release it today, it would be an incomplete mess.

I wear my heart on my sleeve on this project. It feels very personal and I truly do believe in its themes, even against today’s prevailing culture. Gen Z seems comfortable with a “cut problematic people out of your life forever and don’t look back” ethic, which might serve them well in a largely online culture. But the story of Ony feels more ancient, even though it’s set only thirty to forty years ago, in the Midwest where I grew up. Back then, even avoiding a select few people might mean that you’re alone, or worse, alone in an inescapable group. Ony doesn’t really fix his situation; he merely reframes it, which is all he needed to do.

We’ve now performed Ony four times; one “work in progress” version and three “mostly complete” versions, one of those with a live band. After each performance, people have told me that it made them cry; each person has cited a different scene. Clearly, I don’t know my own strength. Even in its rough state, it’s starting to connect with people in ways I didn’t predict. I’m more determined than ever to make it exist in audio form, for future animators, puppeteers, etc. to take the concept further than I’ll ever be able to take it on my own.

We never did get a full rehearsal - the ongoing curse of furry convention entertainment - but my cast was fearless. Massive thanks and love to the FurSquared cast: Buddy Goodboy as ex-lawyer Paul, Bennie Growltiger as bandleader James King and others, Sue The Deer as all the female characters including 8 year old Tabitha, Pepper Coyote returning to the role of pediatrician Dr. Lucas, and my very own Cosmik as Ringmaster Phil. More massive thanks and love for the FurSquared staff which brought us to Milwaukee and made everything possible.

Stay tuned.