2002 Ursa Major Awards

The 2002 Ursa Major Awards were held on Friday, April 25, 2003, at the Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center in Burbank, California during the festivities of ConFurence 2003. The ceremony was the last to be hosted as a ConFurence festivity, as the convention's organizers wound down operations following the end of this iteration of the convention; the 2002 awards were also the last to be awarded and organized by the ConFurence Group, and future ceremonies would be organized by the independently-established Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Association in conjunction with other conventions.

Process
Most of the nominated works were listed in the 2002 Anthropomorphic Recommended Reading/Viewing List alongside others which were, ultimately, not included among the top five nominees.

The nomination process took place from December 7, 2002 to January 7, 2003, and was publicly available via e-mail and postage mail to the ConFurence Group; the voting process was made available only to preregistered ConFurence 2003 attendees.

Ceremony
On hand to receive an award was Chris Sanders of Walt Disney Feature Animation, one-half of the writing/directing team behind Disney's Lilo & Stitch (the winner for Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture) as well as the creator and voice of latter title character Stitch.

Nominations
Winning nominees are highlighted in bold.

Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture

 * 1) Ice Age (20th Century Fox, March 15, 2002)
 * 2) Lilo & Stitch (Disney, June 21, 2002)
 * 3) Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (DreamWorks SKG, May 24, 2002)
 * 4) Spirited Away (Disney, September 20, 2002)
 * 5) Stuart Little 2 (Columbia Pictures, July 19, 2002)

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Motion Pictures

 * Balto II: Wolf Quest (Universal Cartoon Studios, February 19, 2002)
 * The Country Bears (Disney, July 26, 2002)
 * Scooby-Doo (Warner Bros., June 14, 2002)
 * Snow Dogs (Disney, January 18, 2002)
 * The Wild Thornberrys Movie (Paramount Pictures, December 20, 2002)

Best Anthropomorphic TV Series

 * 1) Between the Lions (WGBH Boston and Sirius Thinking, Ltd. for PBS syndication; 2002 new episodes, 3rd season, #56 - #65, September 16 - November 18)
 * 2) Dinotopia (Hallmark Entertainment and MAT I Production for ABC; 3 episode mini-series, May 12 - May 14). Dinotopia: The Series (Hallmark Entertainment and MAT I Production for ABC; 2002 new episodes, 1st season, #1 - #6, November 28 - December 26)
 * 3) Greg the Bunny (Steven Levitan Productions for 20th Century Fox Television; 13 episodes, March 27 - August 25, 2002)
 * 4) Redwall; a.k.a. Brian Jacques' Martin the Warrior: A Tale of Redwall (Nelvana Ltd. for Teletoon in Canada, December 2001 and PBS syndication in the U.S., 2002; 2002 U.S. new episodes, Redwall 3rd season #27 - #39; a.k.a. Martin the Warrior 1st season #1 - #13, April 14 - July 28))
 * 5) Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (CineGroupe, in association with Children's Television Workshop and IF/X Productions for PBS syndication; 2002 new episodes, #21 (February 13) to #40 (October 5))

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for TV Series

 * Digimon: Digital Monsters (Saban Entertainment/Toei Animation Company for the FoxKids/UPN network; 2002 new episodes, last part of Season 3 through first part of Series 4, #130 - ? [latest is #173], February 9 - [November 22])
 * Inuyasha (The Ocean Group, in association with Viz Communications, for The Cartoon Network/Adult Swim; 2002 new episodes, Season 1, #1 (August 31) through #10 (November 2))
 * Tokyo Pig (Miramax Television, in association with SME Visual Works, Inc., for ABC Family Channel; 2002 new episodes, Season 1, #1 (September 14) through #8 (November 2))
 * The Wild Thornberrys (Klasky Csupo, Inc., for Nickelodeon; 2002 new episodes, Season 4, #82 (February 16) to #91 (postponed to just before movie's release))

Best Anthropomorphic Novel

 * 1) Rescue Ferrets at Sea, by Richard Bach. (The Ferret Chronicles #1) Scribner/Ferret House Press, June 2002.
 * 2) Ecce Femina, by Raven Blackmane, in TSAT (Transformation Stories, Art, Talk) #25, December 2002-January 2003. (http://tsat.transform.to/stories/ecce.femina.html)
 * 3) Changespell Legacy, by Doranna Durgin. Baen Books, June 2002.
 * 4) Scars: An Ironclaw Novel, by Ted MacKinnon. Sanguine Productions, Ltd., January 2002.
 * 5) Doom's Break: The Third Book of Arna, by Christopher Rowley. ROC Books, December 2002.

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Novels

 * Air Ferrets Aloft, by Richard Bach. (The Ferret Chronicles #2) Scribner/Ferret House Press, June 2002.
 * Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse, by Richard Bach. (The Ferret Chronicles #3) Scribner/Ferret House Press, October 2002.
 * You're an Animal, Viskovitz!, by Alessandro Boffa. Translated from the Italian by John Casey, with Maria Sanminiatelli. A. A. Knopf, May 2002.
 * Insect Dreams: The Half Life of Gregor Samsa, by Marc Estrin. Penguin Putnam/BlueHen Books, February 2002.
 * Vampire Voles: A Welkin Weasels Adventure, by Garry Kilworth. Corgi Books, May 2002.
 * Elvenborn, by Andre Norton & Mercedes Lackey. Tor Books, August 2002.
 * Firewing, by Kenneth Oppel. HarperCollins Canada, April 2002.

Best Anthropomorphic Short Story

 * 1) "Six", by Samuel C. Conway, in Anthrolations #5, July 2002.
 * 2) "Ailoura", by Paul Di Filippo, in Once Upon a Galaxy, edited by Wil McCarthy, Martin H. Greenberg & John Helfers. DAW Books, September 2002.
 * 3) "Milk Run", by Jim Hayden, in Yarf! #65, July 2002.
 * 4) "Familiars", by Michael H. Payne, in Sword and Sorceress XIX, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley. DAW Books, January 2002.
 * 5) "A Prison of Clouds", by Tim Susman, in Breaking the Ice: Stories from New Tibet, edited by Tim Susman. Sofawolf Press, January 2002.

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Short Stories

 * "Code Blue", by Phillip Eggerding, in Fur Visions #26, October 2002.
 * "Midnight Blue", by Phillip Eggerding, in Fur Visions #24, April 2002.
 * "Our Child", by Phillip Eggerding, in Fur Visions #24, April 2002.
 * "Common Ground", by Phil Guesz, in TSAT (Transformation Stories, Art, Talk) #25, December 2002-January 2003. (http://tsat.transform.to/stories/common.ground.html)
 * "Fast Break", by Quentin Long & Hallan Mirayas, on the Cubist's Stories website, posted September 17, 2002. (http://transform.to/~cubist/)
 * "The Flying Fox", by Karl F. Meyers, in Fur Visions #24, April 2002.
 * "Treasure Grows There", by Richard Reid, in Fantastic Furry Stories #3, January 2002.
 * "Up From Nowhere", by Kris Schnee, in Fur Visions #26, October 2002.

Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work

 * 1) Fornax: Outtakes from a Recording Studio, by Gary Akins, Jr. Fauxpaw Productions, July 2002.
 * 2) A Search for Meaning: The Story of Rex, color edition, by Michel Gagne. Gagne International Press, May 2002. (Children's picture book.)
 * 3) Three Fingers, by Rich Koslowski. Top Shelf Productions, July 2002. (Cartoon art novel)
 * 4) Ozy and Millie IV: Authentic Banana Dye, by David Simpson. Plan Nine Publishing, November 2002. (Comic strip collection)
 * 5) Breaking the Ice: Stories from New Tibet, edited by Tim Susman. Sofawolf Press, January 2002. (Collection of short stories)

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Other Literary Works

 * The Alley Cat's Meow, by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Jon Goodell. Harcourt, Inc., October 2002. (Children's picture book)
 * The Founding of the Commonwealth, by Alan Dean Foster. Science Fiction Book Club, February 2002. (Collection of three novels)
 * Zed. Vol. 1, by Michel Gagne. Gagne International Press, May 2002. (Comic book collection)
 * Howard the Duck (Volume 2), by Steve Gerber (story), Phil Winslade & Glenn Fabry w/Garry Leach (art). Marvel Comics, September 2002. (Comic book collection)
 * The Collected Skunkworks, by James M. Hardiman. Radio Comix, September 2002. (Comic book collection)
 * Tank Vixens: Divine Collection, by Paul Kidd (story) & Mike Sagara (art). United Publications, October 2002. (Comic book collection)
 * Micawber, by John Lithgow, illustrated by C. F. Payne. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children, October 2002. (Children's picture book)

Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book or Strip

 * 1) Under the Lemon Tree, by Ralph E. Hayes, Jr. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January 2 to December 30)
 * 2) Kevin & Kell, by Bill Holbrook. (Comic strip, Internet, daily, 2002 strips from January 1 to December 31)
 * 3) Scrued, by Melissa Jewel. (Comic strip, Internet, irregular, 2002 strips from March 13 to December 23)
 * 4) Herobear and the Kid, by Mike Kunkel. (Comic book, Astonish Comics, irregular, 2002 issues from #4, undated but published in January, to #5, undated but published in November)
 * 5) Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai. (Comic book, Dark Horse, monthly, 2002 issues from v. III #54, January to #62, November)

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Comic Books

 * Animal Farm in Fables, by Bill Willingham (story), Mark Buckingham (pencils) & Steve Leialoha (inks). (Comic book, DC Comics/Vertigo, five-issue story arc in Fables #6-#10, monthly, 2002 issues Animal Farm, Part 1/Fables #6, December 2002)
 * Anubis: Dark Desire, by various. (Comic book, Sin Factory, one-shot(?), 2002 issues starting with #1, June)
 * Bureau of Mana Investigation, by Smudge (Christina Hanson) & Ed Garcia. (Comic book, Radio Comix, bi-monthly, 2002 issues starting with #1, January)
 * Circles, by Andrew French, Steve Domanski and Scott Fabianek. (Comic book, RABCO Publishing, irregular, 2002 issues starting with #2 (dated Summer 2001 but not released until March 15, 2002))
 * De Cape et de Crocs, by Alain Ayroles & Jean-Luc Masbou. (Comic book, Delcourt, annual, volume 5, Jean sans Lune, published September 13, 2002)
 * Furrlough, by various. (Comic book, Radio Comix, monthly, 2002 issues starting with #113, January)
 * Genus Male, by Daria McGrain, Miu & Richard Moore. (Comic book, Sin Factory, annual(?), 2002 issues include #1, January 2002)
 * Howard the Duck (Volume 2), by Steve Gerber (story), Phil Winslade & Glenn Fabry w/Garry Leach (art). (Comic book, Marvel Comics' MAX imprint, monthly, 2002 issues #1 (March) through #6 (August))
 * Kitty Meets the Furries, by Jen Collins. (Comic book, Kitty Bukkake Productions, one-shot, 2002, published in September)
 * Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red, by Paul Dini (story) and J. Bone (art). (Comic book, Oni Press, bi-monthly, 2002 issues starting with #1, May)
 * My Monkey's Name is Jennifer, by Ken Knudtsen. (Comic book, Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics, bi-monthly, 2002 issues starting with #1, March)
 * Skunkworks Reflections, by various. (Comic book, Sin Factory, one-shot(?), 2002 issues starting with #1, July)
 * Stan Winston's Realm of the Claw, by Francis Takenaga (story), Gabriel Rearte (#1-#2) & Liam M. Sharp (#3) (art). (Comic book published combined with Stan Winston's Mutant Earth, Image Comics, bi-monthly, 2002 issues starting with #1, April)
 * Tea Club, by "PMBQ" (Phuong-Mai Bui-Quang). (Comic book, Icarus Publishing, bi-monthly, 2002 issues starting with #1, September)
 * ThunderCats, by J. Scott Campbell (#0), Ford Lytle Gilmore (#0-#5) (story), Ed McGuinness & Jason Martin (art). (Comic book, DC Comics/WildStorm, monthly, 2002 issues starting with #0, October)
 * Woof, by Louie FurryWolfy. (Comic book, self-published, 2002, first issue (unnumbered) published in June)

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Comic Strips

 * 1/0, by Tailsteak (Mason Williams). (Comic strip, Internet, daily, 2002 strips from January through current)
 * The Adventures of Fifine, by Henbe (Normand Bilodeau). (Comic strip, Internet, irregular but about monthly, 2002 strips from February or March through current)
 * The Class Menagerie, by Vince Suzukawa. (Comic strip, Internet, daily, 2002 strips from January 1 through November 16/final)
 * CoyoteVille, by Steven Graziano. (Comic strip, Internet, daily, 2002 strips from January 1 through current)
 * A Doemain of Our Own, by Susan M. Parkin. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January 4 through current
 * Faux Pas, by Robert & Margaret Carspecken. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January through current
 * Freefall, by Mark Stanley. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January 2 through current)
 * Latex Blue, by Dragonfly. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January 11 through current)
 * Master Zen-Dao Meow: The Spiraling Heart, by Patrick Schaefer & Bret Ward. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from March(?) through current)
 * Modem Problems, by Matthew McAndrews. (Comic strip, Internet, weekly, 2002 strips from January 7 through current)
 * Ozy and Millie, by David Simpson. (Comic strip, Internet, daily, 2002 strips from January 2 through current)
 * SpellShocked, by Benjamin Yackley, Charles Caffrey and Mark Freid. (Comic strip, Internet, semi-monthly, 2002 strips from January through current)
 * The Suburban Jungle, starring Tiffany Tiger, by John Robey. (Comic strip, Internet, tri-weekly, 2002 strips from January 2 through current)<
 * Tales of the Questor, by Ralph E. Hayes, Jr. (Comic strip, Internet, weekly, 2002 strips from January 6 through current)
 * Unicornography, by Tanamin! (Comic strip, Internet, weekly, 2002 strips from July 28 through current)
 * Wild Angels, by G. Raymond Eddy. (Comic strip, Internet, approx. weekly, 2002 strips from August 16 through current)
 * The World of Vicki Fox, by Laura Howell & Michael Russell. (Comic strip, Internet, semi-monthly, 2002 strips from January 6 (#38) through current)

Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine

 * 1) Anthrolations (2002 issues from #5, July, to #6, November)
 * 2) Huzzah! (2002 issues from #45, February, to #48, November)
 * 3) South Fur Lands (2002 issues from #24, March, to #27, December)
 * 4) Tales of the Tai-Pan Universe (2002 issues from #29, March, to #31, December)
 * 5) Yarf! (2002 issues from #63, January, to #65, July)

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Fanzines

 * Fang, Claw & Steel (2002 issues from #12, Winter, to #15, Autumn)
 * Fur Plus (2002 issues from #13, January, to #16, October)
 * Fur Visions (2002 issues from #23, January, to #26, October)

Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration

 * 1) Heather Bruton. Cover painting for Anubis: Dark Desire #1, June 2002.
 * 2) Heather Bruton. Cover painting for Furrlough #112, April 2002.
 * 3) Odis Holcomb. Cover painting for Breaking the Ice: Stories from New Tibet, edited by Tim Susman, January 2002.
 * 4) Chuck Melville. Cover painting for Wild Kingdom #13, April 2002.
 * 5) Natasha "Dark Natasha" Mleynek. Cover of Furrlough #109, January 2002.

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Published Illustrations

 * Arnorsson, Kjartan. Cover painting for Huzzah! #45, February 2002.
 * Crane, Walter. Cover painting for Sheba v.3 #2, June 2002.
 * "Dr. Comet". Cover painting for Hit the Beach (2002) #9, July 2002.
 * Goodwin, Chris. Cover painting for Circles #2, Summer 2001 [March 2002].
 * Howell, Troy. Cover painting for Triss, by Brian Jacques, September 2002 (U.S. edition).
 * Luce, Mike "'T". Back cover of Circles #3, Fall 2001 [July 2002].
 * Luce, Mike "'T". Front cover of Circles #3, Fall 2001 [July 2002].
 * McPherson, Brian. Cover painting for Fornax: Remix 1.1, by Matt J. McCullar, January 2002.
 * Smith, Brenden. Cover of South Fur Lands #26, September 2002.
 * Tweddell, Kevin. Cover painting for Vampire Voles: A Welkin Weasels Adventure, by Garry Kilworth, May 2002.

Best Anthropomorphic Game

 * 1) JADECLAW: The Anthropomorphic Fantasy Role-Playing Game! Developer & Publisher: Sanguine Productions, Ltd., January 2002.
 * 2) Kingdom Hearts. Developer: SquareSoft; Publisher: Square Electronic Arts, September 17, 2002.
 * 3) Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Developer: Sucker Punch; Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment, September 24, 2002.
 * 4) Star Fox Adventures. Designer: Rare, Ltd.; Publisher: Nintendo, September 23, 2002.
 * 5) Tank Vixens: The Card Game, by Paul Kidd (writer) & Greg Panovich (artist). United Publications, November 2002.

Other works listed in the ARR/VL for Games

 * Animal Crossing. Developer: Nintendo (Takashi Tezuka, project leader); Publisher: Nintendo, September 16, 2002.
 * Blinx: The Time Sweeper. Developer: Artoon; Publisher: Microsoft Corp., October 8, 2002.
 * Ratchet and Clank. Developer: Insomniac Games; Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment, scheduled for November 15, 2002.