A new wave of children’s hobbies: quadrobing, therianthropy and furies as an escape from reality

The world of hobbies is changing at breakneck speed, and with it new trends that absorb teenagers. Those times when children dreamed of becoming astronauts or reincarnated into the hero of their favorite movie or book are long gone. Today, children actually become them – jump on all fours, feel like wolves or dragons, hide behind the masks of fantastic creatures.

This is not just a game of imagination. Quadrobing, therianthropy and fury culture are three phenomena that are gaining momentum among children and teenagers. More and more teenagers are diving into these unusual worlds, looking for an escape from a reality that is becoming too difficult for them. Are these hobbies just innocent games, or are they perhaps a reflection of deeper problems in modern society? Why do modern children choose these whimsical forms of self-expression? And what really lies behind the desire to be someone who is not human?

New ways of self-expression

Recently, children in animal masks and with ponytails began to appear on the streets of cities. Perhaps it will be a children’s play somewhere, and the young actors will rush there, you think. But, in fact, everything is not like that at all.

As it always happens, the Internet and social networks have become key drivers of the development and spread of new subcultures, giving young people a space to express themselves and share a passion for the world of animals and fantasy. This is how quadrobing, therianthropy and fury culture arose.  In the world, the popularity of these phenomena is increasing due to globalization and access to the Internet. This is especially true of furi culture, which receives the most support and attention compared to quadrobing and therianthropy. In Ukraine, these subcultures still remain mainly part of youth Internet groups and are not as widespread as in the USA or Europe. However, with the development of social networks and interest in global trends, their popularity may grow.

Currently, there are no detailed official statistics on the spread of such subcultures as quadrobing, therianthropy and furies, due to their relatively small popularity and specificity. However, some trends can be gauged through social media activity, forums, specialized events, and research.

Quadrobing is a new sports trend that combines elements of parkour and imitation of the movements of four-legged animals. People on all fours overcome obstacles, jump over barriers and climb trees. Quadrobing has gained popularity thanks to social networks and videos on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. This trend is especially spreading in the USA, where there are even specialized training and groups for quad biking. It is also gaining momentum in European countries such as Germany, France, and Great Britain.

In Ukraine, quad biking is just beginning to gain popularity, mainly among teenagers who actively follow trends from abroad. It can be seen as part of subcultural movements in big cities

Another, more mysterious phenomenon related to quadrobing is therianthropy. This is the belief that a person has an “animal spirit” inside him or is even able to transform into it in an imaginary plane. Communities are popping up on social media where teenagers discuss their “inner animals,” describing how they feel like wolves, foxes, or even dragons. According to studies conducted in the US and Europe, the number of people who identify as therianthropes is relatively small – a few thousand people worldwide. Most of them join online communities on Reddit, Discord, or specialized forums.

In Ukraine, therianthropy is not a mass phenomenon, but there are several small communities in social networks where Ukrainian teenagers and young people discuss this phenomenon. Basically, this is an adaptation to the global trend through Western resources.

Fury culture is another popular hobby among teenagers that arose at the intersection of cosplay, anime and imaginary worlds. Furies are people who create costumes and transform into characters with both human and animal traits. Colorful costumes, invented folklore, communities of like-minded people – all this creates the illusion of a safe, creative space for self-expression. Fury culture is the most widespread phenomenon in countries such as the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Australia. According to research, about 1.5 million people in the world identify as Furies. The US hosts major fury conventions every year, including Anthrocon, which attracts thousands of attendees. Large meetings are also held in Europe, for example, Eurofurence in Germany.

In Ukraine, furi culture has a relatively small community, but it is actively developing. Ukrainian truckers unite in online communities on Facebook, Telegram and specialized forums. According to the latest data, several hundred Ukrainians are interested in fury culture, and there have even been attempts to organize local meetings or festivals, although they are much smaller than international counterparts.

How it all began

Each of these phenomena has its own unique history of development and influence on youth subcultures.

Quadrobing arose as part of the movement for naturalness and naturalness of physical exercises. He was inspired by the idea of ​​natural movement, similar to parkour, but focused on the biomechanics of animals. A Japanese named Kenichi Ito gave us a quadrobing.

“When I was 12, I visited the zoo and noticed how fast the long-tailed Patas monkeys were. I thought I wanted to run as fast as them. Went to the park, tried it, and it came out really pretty fast. I love monkeys – that’s why I run like them”, – says the founder of the now popular quad bike movement.

Ito spent 9 years studying the musculoskeletal system of monkeys and trying to adapt existing functions to the human body. The Tokyo athlete became a record holder, impressing with his successes:

• In 2008, he ran the 100-meter dash in 18.58 seconds;
• in 2013 – in 16.87 seconds;
• in 2015 – in 15.71 seconds.

The new running technique has attracted the attention of American fitness trainers. Soon, a type of training called “animal flow” appeared in the USA – “free movements in the style of an animal”, combining yoga, Pilates, stretching, capoeira and break dancing.

Today, quad biking has turned from a category of physical activity into a non-standard subculture.

Fury culture (from the English “furry” – furry) unites people who admire anthropomorphic animals, that is, animals that have human features – the ability to speak, dress, think and behave like humans.

The origins of fury culture can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s, when a fan culture of animated films and comics began to develop in the United States. Early works, such as Disney films such as Robin Hood and Bambi, featured anthropomorphic animals that became the prototypes of today’s fury characters.

The real development of fury culture came in the 1980s, when separate groups of fans of anthropomorphic characters began to appear at science fiction and comic conventions. In 1989, the first independent fury convention was held – “Confurence” in California, which is considered the beginning of the organized fury movement.  The Internet became a key factor in the growth of fury culture in the 1990s and 2000s. Forum communities and art sites (such as FurAffinity) have become venues for creating and sharing characters, artwork, and stories. The popularity of cosplay and online conventions has helped make fury culture a global phenomenon.

But the most ancient origin is therianthropy. Many cultures have myths about werewolves, people who could transform into animals such as wolves, bears or birds. Similar myths were common among the ancient Greeks, North American Indians and Vikings. In today’s world, therianthropy as a subculture began to take shape in the 1990s thanks to the Internet. People who felt a close connection with animals on a spiritual level or identified themselves as animals began to join together in online communities. One of the first such groups was the Usenet community in 1992.

Attitudes towards new subcultures in foreign countries

In different countries of the world, the attitude towards quadrobing, therianthropy and fury culture varies from open perception to conservative criticism. In general, these phenomena are best developed in liberal societies, where unusual forms of self-expression are not condemned. At the same time, in conservative societies, these subcultures face misunderstanding and even rejection. However, the Internet plays a key role in the globalization of these trends, allowing young people from all over the world to find like-minded people and feel part of something bigger, no matter where they are.

The US is undoubtedly the epicenter of modern subcultures, including quadrobing, fury culture and therianthropy. A restrained or even encouraging attitude towards various forms of self-expression contributes to the fact that these phenomena find many supporters among American youth.

Fury culture in the US is extremely popular, especially in the context of large conventions (such as Anthrocon in Pittsburgh). Here, fury is seen as a form of cosplay and a creative community where people can explore their identity through character creation.

Therianthropy also finds a place in American society. Although not as popular a phenomenon as furries, there are communities where people discuss their experiences of identifying with animals. These are mostly online groups that consider it an individual practice of finding one’s “true nature”. Quadrobing in the USA has a more sporting nature and is perceived as a new form of parkour. In many cases, it is supported as a form of physical activity that helps teenagers keep fit.

In Western Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, France and Great Britain, the attitude towards these phenomena is mostly positive, albeit with some caution.

Fury culture has also found a following here, and although the communities are not as large as in the US, annual fury conventions are held in many European cities. They are perceived as a place for creative and free-thinking people.

Therianthropy is less widely accepted in Europe, but has its own groups on the Internet where people share their ideas about the animal essence. European rationality inclines society to consider this phenomenon as a psychological search for self, although many are skeptical.

In Europe, quad biking is mostly perceived as a physical activity. In many countries, it began to gain popularity, especially among young people who are interested in parkour or martial arts.

In Japan, these phenomena have acquired a special form, since the country has its own deep traditions regarding animal symbolism and mascult. Furi culture in Japan has integrated with the traditional love of anime and manga characters, where anthropomorphic creatures are commonplace. While furi culture is not as widespread in Japan as, say, the US, it can be seen in large cities such as Tokyo in the context of events such as Comic Market.

Therianthropy has its parallels with Japanese folklore, in particular with images of yokai and werewolves (such as fox-kitsuni). Although this phenomenon is not so actively discussed, it naturally fits into Japanese cultural traditions.

Quadrobing in Japan has not yet become widespread, but similar activities related to nature and the physical movements of animals are finding their supporters.

An escape from reality that causes anxiety

Quadrobing, therianthropy and fury culture may seem like innocent games or new forms of self-expression, but what is behind their popularity? Society is becoming increasingly complex, social networks and information flows are increasingly difficult to perceive, and expectations from the younger generation are growing. Children are looking for a way out of this chaos, and diving into alternate realities is often the answer to these challenges. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Self-expression through animal metaphors can help to understand yourself, to find a way to communicate with the world. But it is also important not to ignore when it turns into an escape from reality, a loss of connection with one’s own identity and society. Instead of condemning new trends, parents and teachers should seek dialogue with children, understand their interests and help find a balance between the fictional world and real life. Some psychologists see this as a desire to escape from the stress of modern life. Training under pressure, social networks, constant competition – all this can lead to the search for simpler, more natural forms of existence. Embodying animals, children avoid complex social expectations and immerse themselves in instinctive freedom.

It is also worth noting that such hobbies can harm not only the mental state, but also the physical health of children. Given the different biomechanics of humans and animals, such exercise poses an increased risk of injury and damage, such as upper and lower extremity injuries, concussions, scratches, craniofacial and facial injuries.

“Humans are so-called bipedals, and animals that walk on four are quadripedals. The same cats or dogs are very different in biomechanics of gait from us. Carrying out their specific patterns of jumps and gaits can lead to increased injuries, especially at the stage when quadrobers are just starting their training,” – warns orthopedic traumatologist Dmytro Yershov.

Therianthropy can be a way of overcoming alienation from society or a search for a special identity. Children who cannot find themselves in the human environment find refuge in the world of imaginary transformations. They identify with animals because they have no social roles, expectations, or limitations. At the same time, it is an alarm signal indicating a loss of contact with reality and an escape into the imaginary world.

Fury culture often becomes a way to hide one’s own insecurities or social fears. By transforming into a fantasy creature, children find the opportunity to be someone else, someone who does not have the flaws or problems of real life. It can be both self-expression and escape from a world in which they cannot find a place for themselves.

The world that children are immersed in through quadrobing, therianthropy and fury culture may seem fabulous and exciting, but behind these excitements are hidden deep questions. They don’t just escape into fantasy, but look for an alternative to reality, which sometimes seems too complicated, too demanding and incomprehensible to them. Should I be worried? Perhaps. After all, these passions show that children strive to find themselves in a world where they are often not heard. It’s not just a game – it’s a cry that they need space to express themselves, safety for their soul and understanding from others. And instead of condemning these new forms of self-expression, we should find a way to hear them and help them feel not alien in this complex world, but important and needed.