Anthropomorphism, the attribution of human traits, emotions, and cognitive abilities to non-human entities, has appeared in art and storytelling in various cultures throughout history. As a vehicle for the expression of self in three-dimensional form, it comes as no surprise that Second Life has established itself as the most diverse universe for Anthropomorphic Residents to congregate and celebrate their diversity.

Luskwood, a popular treehouse-themed region founded by Eltee Statosky, was one of the first places to become an Anthro hotspot and has inspired many others, as well as the Anthro avatar design company of the same name.

Lincesa Pawpad and her friend Craftish created Sudden Stop Furry Sandbox to provide a friendly place for discussion and recreation, and the low lag makes this a great place to create and share builds. A peaceful environment is maintained by strict rules against griefing and harassment (moderators are on call to step in should a conflict arise) so that Anthropomorphic Residents from all backgrounds can hang out as authentic extensions of themselves.

Don’t worry if you have trouble entering this region: Sudden Stop is a homestead, meaning it can only hold 25 people at once, 5 of which must be premium. However, it is definitely worth a potential wait. Lincesa Pawpad says of Sudden Stop: “I consider and treat Sudden stop like it’s my home, but it is open to the public for people to use and hang out at.”

Also called Furries as an umbrella term for this diverse community, Anthro personas can appear as real life animals, extant or extinct, or take a cue from mythology or imagination. Just like human avatars, their personal style can adopt themes from other role-playing communities, like Goth or Fantasy. Ritzu Clawtooth aptly calls them “walking art,” and Sudden Stop is proud to bring people together in the liberated form of non-traditional representations.

Check out the awesome Anthro Avatars available today if you’d like to visit a Furry friendly region, although everyone is welcome.