Ursa Major Awards

Infobox award
name = The Ursa Major Awards
current_awards =

---

imagesize = 200px
caption = The Ursa Major Awards logo, designed by Heather Bruton.
description = Excellence in anthropomorphic and furry arts.
presenter =
country = United States
location =
year = 2001
year2 = 2007
website = http://www.ursamajorawards.org/

The Ursa Major Awards or UMAs are an annual award for outstanding achievement in anthropomorphic arts, equivalent to the science fiction fandom's Hugo Awards. The awards were first presented in 2001 at ConFurence 12. Due to the early misconception that the Awards were intended for the ConFurence alone, in 2003 it was decided that the awards would be presented at as many furry conventions as possible. To that end, the UMAs have since bee presented at a different convention every year. [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/conventions.htm|title=Conventions|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-08-23]

The UMAs were originally administered by The ConFurence Group. In 2003, administration was passed to the Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association (ALAA), who currently administers them. [cite web|url=http://www.sfawardswatch.com/?page_id=527|title=Ursa Major Awards|publisher=Science Fiction Awards Watch|accessdate=2008-05-23] The UMA trophy consists of a framed certificate containing an illustration of the award logo designed by Heather Bruton, with the name of the winner. A plaque has also been awarded on occasion.cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2007.htm|title=Award Winners, 2007|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-05-19]

Nomination process

According to the UMA website, "To be eligible, a work must have been released between January 1 and December 31 of the calendar year for that award, and must include a non-human being given human attributes (anthropomorphic), which can be mental and/or physical (for example the intelligent rabbits in "Watership Down" for the former, and Bugs Bunny for the latter.) Simply including an animal character is not sufficient to qualify."cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/|title=About the U.M.A.|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-01-12] There are three main stages of the nomination:

*The Recommended Anthropomorphics List: This a list of different anthropomorphic works of the current year. Works can be recommended for the list by anyone, submitting them via email. The list has two purposes. First, it gives people a chance to show what they think are the best anthropomorphic works of the current year. Second, its serves as a guide to which items were produced in the current year and therefore which works would be eligible for an award. [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/ReadList.htm|title=2008 Recommended Anthropomorphics List|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|date=2008-04-17|accessdate=2008-05-26]
*Nominations: Normally between January and February of the following year, voters then nominate which works should be eligible for an award. The works nominated do not have to be those on the Recommended Anthropomorphics List. All those wishing to vote have to registar. [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/nominations/|title=Enrollment|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-05-26]
*Final voting: Normally between March and April, the noinations which attracted the most votes (normally the top five) in the various categories enter a final round of voting, to determine which are the final winners. These votes are collected by email or post. The prizes are normally presented in May.

Categories

Originally there were nine different categories of award, each represented on the Recommended Anthropomorphics List. They were:

* Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture
* Best Anthropomorphic TV Series
* Best Anthropomorphic Novel
* Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction
* Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work
* Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip
* Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book
* Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip
* Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine
* Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration
* Best Anthropomorphic Game

In 2003, "Best Anthropomorphic TV Series" was changed to "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series" and "Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip" was split into two awards representing comic books and comic strips separately, increasing the number of awards to ten.cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2003.htm|title=Award Winners 2003|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-01-12] In 2005 the "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series" was changed again to "Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work or Series".cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2005.htm|title=Award Winners 2005|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-01-12] In 2006, the Recommended Anthropomorphics List introduced a new category which is a miscellany of different works that do not fit into any of the above categories. So far however, no miscellany award has been given. [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/RL2006.htm|title=2006 Recommended Anthropomorphics List|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|date=2007-03-06|accessdate=2008-05-26]

Winners

2001

Awarded at ConFurence 2002, the winners were: [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2001.htm|title=Award Winners 2001|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-01-12]

2004

Awarded at Anthrocon 2005, the winners were: [cite web|url=http://www.ursamajorawards.org/UMA_2004.htm|title=Award Winners 2004|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|accessdate=2008-01-12]

2007

Awarded at Morphicon on May 17, 2008. The winners were: [cite web|url=http://furteantimes.com/ft/7/news/|title=News|publisher=The Furtean Times|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-08-23]

References

External links

* [http://www.ursamajorawards.org/index.htm The Ursa Major Awards]