Fursuit meme!
(Okay... I gave in!)
1) What name do you go by when suiting?
Kijani, or Kato
2) What is the name of your suit(s)?
Kijani, and Kato. What a coincidence!
3) Do you have a full or a partial suit?
Both full
4) What animal is your fursuit?
Lion! What else? ;)
5) What color is most of your suit?
Kijani is darker orangey brown long pile, Kato is lighter brown and short pile fur. Both have light gray muzzles and bellies.
6) Does it have any special designs?
Kijani doesn't really, but Kato has green streaks throughout his mane due to a genetic mutation.
7) If yes, is it airbrushed or sewn specially?
Yes,Kato's mane is done by sewing alternating-colored triangles of fur in to achieve a "blend" effect.
8) Does your suit have any accessories? (piercings, weapons, etc.)
Not at the moment, but I am having a shield and sword combination made for Kijani, the "Warrior Lion".
9) How long have you been fursuiting?
Since about August of 2008.
10) How long have you had your current suit?
I have had Kijani since August of 2008 and Kato since September of 2009. Rainfurrest of both years was pretty much the debut for both suits.
11) Is the suit you have now your first fursuit?
Well I have two and use them both fairly regularly...
12) If no, is the suit you have now an updated version of your old fursuit?
Nope, Kato is entirely a different character.
13) Who made your fursuit?
Kijani was created by The Furducers semjay and taren_ (who no longer take suit commissions), and Kato was made by Snap E. Tiger of By Cats 4 Cats.
14) Synthetic fur, or real fur?
Ooh... real fur would be quite frowned upon in the fandom! Synthetic, of course.
15) Do you have a moving jaw?
Kijani has a moving jaw (that doesn't work as well as most, but to have a really good one you need to make the jaw a separate piece) and Kato has a static jaw.
16) If yes, how many teeth?
Kijani has row of teeth on the bottom + 2 fangs, and Kato is toothless.
17) Furthermore, does your mouth have a tongue?
Yep, both of my suits have tongues.
18) Follow-me eyes, yes or no?
Neither. I wish!
19) Where did your suit make its debut?
Kijani appeared in a public setting for the first time here: Fursuiting at the Ballard Locks and at a con several weeks later at Rainfurrest 2008. Kato arrived just in time for Rainfurrest 2009 and made his debut there.
20) What was the first convention (include year of con) you went to in suit?
RF 2008. My first con ever!
21) Digigrade legs, furry pants, other?
Both my suits feature digigrade legs but they way they are done is extremely different. Kijani was the Furducers' first serious attempt at digilegs and they are done my wearing a special set of pants with foam blocks attached to the back of the shin and front of the thigh to achieve the desired effect. Kato, on the other paw, has foam sewn directly into the body suit which is more convenient, but the effect is not as pronounced.
22) What do you do (if anything) to keep your suit clean and nice smelling/looking?
After every outing I make sure to put it on a fan ASAP to air it out and spray with Febreze Antimicrobial to prevent mold/bacteria from forming. I wash the suit in cold water every several months and hang dry on a fan while brushing the fur out. When transporting or storing the suit I found that packing in dryer sheets does help the suit smell fresh and clean.
23) Is there anything special about your suit that sets it apart from others?
Hehe... other then being a unique character of my own? Kato's mane is very unique and I've gotten many comments/compliments on it.
24) What do you normally wear under your suit?
I always wear a long-sleeve Under armour compression shirt that wicks sweat and keeps me cool. I also wear compression shorts, and a skullcap to keep the sweat from dripping down into my eyes. Other than that, normal socks, and I do wear my glasses which isn't a problem using Parker's Perfect anti-fog solution before suiting up.
25) How much would you say your suit has cost you financially?
Kijani cost $800, and Kato $1200. And Snap recently lowered his prices, haha! But I think I got a great deal on both suits :)
26) What's the most damage your suit (any of them) has ever suffered?
The worst was just before Rainfurrest 2008. I had gone bowling in suit before Rainfurrest and somehow I had gotten moisture damage in Kijani's right eye which softened the mesh (luckily it didn't break) and discolored the eye slightly.
I re-painted the orange around the eye, and frequently touch up the black with a Sharpie so the only way you can tell is to look at it really close up, but this was quite disappointing.
27) What is the core of your tail?
Foam, on both.
28) How does your suit's various parts stay attached to your body?
Well... um... the only part in question here would be a tail, and Kijani's is sewn into the body suit while Kato's is separate (worn through belt loop).
29) Does your fursuit head have eyelids?
Nope
30) What does your suit smell like?
Before an outing, a bouquet of roses (or whatever Bounce scent I'm using). After an outing... well let's not go there >_<
31) If you've got'em, how long are your suit's ears (inches please)?
Both of my sets of ears are typical round lion ears, about 4 inches from base to tip.
32) What do you store your suit in?
I move it around in big blue Rubbermaid tote boxes, and store them hanging in the house "Fursuit closet," with all the accessories in there too. Kato's tail I wear occassionally going out so that stays in my bedroomcloset.
33) What's the story behind your suit (try to be brief):
Kijani is my fursona suit, he's a warrior lion that loves to explore the world and fights to overcome any hardships that life throws at him. Though he may seem fierce, outside of battle he's wise, gentle and caring and loves to make people happy and smile.
Kato is the mutated twin brother of Marf Lion, another one of Snap's suits. Like his brother, he's not the brightest pea in the pod and enjoys making others laugh at his antics. He has green streaks throughout his mane due to a genetic mutation.
34) Do you like giving hugs when in suit?
Yes!!! And cuddles!!!
35) Ever... uh... "yiff" while in suit?
No... (rolls eyes) of course this question would be in a meme...
36) Do you avoid people carrying coffee, soda, things that stain a suit?
Yes, I give them a wide berth if possible. I don't know how I've avoided a major suit stain so far but I have!
37) Do you eat/drink in suit, or do you at least remove the head first?
I can drink almost anything with Kijani, as his moveable jaw allows me to access a normal-length straw or almost any bottle. I don't remove the head in any sort of public setting, but I have eaten in suit before. Usually things that I can put in my muzzle in one go and that are not messy or have sauce/juice dripping from them.
Things I have eaten in suit: Roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, french fries, various snack items.
And I have drank alcohol in suit. Copious amounts. Pics or it didn't happen? Okay!
Kijani drinking in fursuit
38) Do you ever put your suit on, look in the mirror and do sexy poses?
Haha sometimes. Just to help with my fursuit acting and expressions. Honest!
39) How much do you sweat in suit?
I sweat a LOT to begin with, and after long outings I sometimes sweat completely through my under armour. My skullcap gets so wet I can wring it out. That was gross. Sorry.
40) Do you like suiting around kids (under 16yrs)?
They're the main reason I suit. There's nothing better than putting a smile on a child's face by giving them a high-five or hug, something you can't just normally do walking down the street by yourself. Fursuits just make people happy and brighten their day a bit :)
41) Where have you gotten the most attention while in suit?
Usually from our numerous public fursuiting outings because people don't expect us there, unlike a con environment. The craziest are the community festivals like Bothell Riverfest or Issaquah Salmon Days where there are a LOT of people condensed into a relatively small space.
42) Ever been stopped by security/the law for being in suit?
Nope, and this is something I will try to avoid for as long as possible! Unless the cop thinks we are cool and awesome sauce.
43) Ever plays sports while in suit?
I've played basketball (not too terribly successfully) and would like to try other sports. And see #50 ;)
44) Have you ever let somebody else wear your suit?
No, I'm actually pretty anal about this because I don't want to be liable *in case* they damage it in some way. But wait, furries ALWAYS treat other people's stuff with the UTMOST of care! What should I be worried about? /sarcasm
45) Have you ever cried while in suit?
Nope.
46) Does your suit protect you against the force of drama?
Suuuuure... Lions don't deal with drama anyways. They just roar really loud and then everything goes back to normal.
47) Favorite thing to do in suit?
Entertain others and put a smile on their face. Can be anywhere, doing almost anything.
49) Favorite romping grounds in suit?
Pretty much anywhere in public, but after suiting in a park for the first time I must say that was an awesome place to suit.
50) Do you bowl while in suit?
Many times, I have a high game of 123 and average about 100 in suit.
51) Ever make a video of yourself in suit?
Yeah Kijani is more or less known as the "Youtube Lion" because of the sheer number of fursuiting videos I've posted. But it has helped a ton of new furries get interested in the fandom and fursuiting and inspired a lot of people, as others' Youtube videos did for me, so it feels good to contribute back and show how fun, exciting and different our fandom is.
52) When in suit, do you talk?
Only if ABSOLUTELY necessary. If I'm among furries I'm not worried about it too much but in public I am a performing character, and having a human voice come out just doesn't work. And its more fun and challenging to "talk" using gestures and movements anyways!
53) Do you believe in the magic?
I do. I've said I'd rather die in suit than remove my head in public (I was half-kidding, guys) but that's how strongly I feel about not ruining the magic, especially around children. Fursuits bring something magical, a suspension of reality as cartoon animals come to life, that you really can't find anywhere else except theme parks, and it's our duty to uphold that magic.
54) Have you ever held up a sign that reads "THE GAME" (I just lost >_<) or "Free hugs"?
Free Hugs would be fun! But nope.
55) Have you been on/in the news lately?
Nope, but I think I would be a good, positive representative of the furry fandom should the opportunity arise. I work in news media for a living so I know their ways :)
56) Is anybody ever too old or young to be a fursuiter?
I know at least a few fursuiters in their 50s, and they get around just fine. Too old is probably when you're immobile to the point where you can't get around with ease and "perform" a character. And I think anyone in their early teen years or before is simply too young.
57) When you go romping, who do you take with you?
Anyone who wants to go!
58) What's the most wet your suit has ever gotten with you in it?
At the end of the Grass Lawn Park meet, OMG it was pouring down rain. Took over 4 hours for the suit to dry out completely after that outing!
59) Ever lift a leg, just for laughs?
I'm not a dog! Us cats are much more proper in our humor.
60) What's your policy regarding camp fires and fursuits?
I've been reasonably close to a campfire before in suit (the one where I ate a roasted marshmallow) but I approach such situations with caution. Only done it once.
61) Largest thing you ever got stuck to your suit?
A child. But I took it well ;)
62) How do people normally react when they see your suit for the first time?
Besides "JESUS CHRIST ITS A LION GET IN THE CAR!"?
Most people in public think it's cute and then ask for a picture. Or two. Or three.
63) favorite suiting story?
At Bothell Riverfest, Redclaw and I went to watch a live band that was playing classic rock hits (with an Elvis-impersonator type singing) and we started dancing in suit near the stage, and he came off the stage during the song, interacted with us, and started dancing with us in front of everyone!
64) Who are your favorite suiters that you look up to?
I look up to guys that fursuit extensively for charity and get to do something they love while helping others in need, like the Helping Pawz group. This is something I really would like to get involved with eventually. I also have tons of respect for good fursuit dancers like Scrambles, because I know how difficult it is to pull that off moves like that in a self-contained oven!
65) would you get married in suit (or at least with a tail)?
No, not in suit, but if my mate was a furry maybe we'd wear our tails to the reception haha.
1) What name do you go by when suiting?
Kijani, or Kato
2) What is the name of your suit(s)?
Kijani, and Kato. What a coincidence!
3) Do you have a full or a partial suit?
Both full
4) What animal is your fursuit?
Lion! What else? ;)
5) What color is most of your suit?
Kijani is darker orangey brown long pile, Kato is lighter brown and short pile fur. Both have light gray muzzles and bellies.
6) Does it have any special designs?
Kijani doesn't really, but Kato has green streaks throughout his mane due to a genetic mutation.
7) If yes, is it airbrushed or sewn specially?
Yes,Kato's mane is done by sewing alternating-colored triangles of fur in to achieve a "blend" effect.
8) Does your suit have any accessories? (piercings, weapons, etc.)
Not at the moment, but I am having a shield and sword combination made for Kijani, the "Warrior Lion".
9) How long have you been fursuiting?
Since about August of 2008.
10) How long have you had your current suit?
I have had Kijani since August of 2008 and Kato since September of 2009. Rainfurrest of both years was pretty much the debut for both suits.
11) Is the suit you have now your first fursuit?
Well I have two and use them both fairly regularly...
12) If no, is the suit you have now an updated version of your old fursuit?
Nope, Kato is entirely a different character.
13) Who made your fursuit?
Kijani was created by The Furducers semjay and taren_ (who no longer take suit commissions), and Kato was made by Snap E. Tiger of By Cats 4 Cats.
14) Synthetic fur, or real fur?
Ooh... real fur would be quite frowned upon in the fandom! Synthetic, of course.
15) Do you have a moving jaw?
Kijani has a moving jaw (that doesn't work as well as most, but to have a really good one you need to make the jaw a separate piece) and Kato has a static jaw.
16) If yes, how many teeth?
Kijani has row of teeth on the bottom + 2 fangs, and Kato is toothless.
17) Furthermore, does your mouth have a tongue?
Yep, both of my suits have tongues.
18) Follow-me eyes, yes or no?
Neither. I wish!
19) Where did your suit make its debut?
Kijani appeared in a public setting for the first time here: Fursuiting at the Ballard Locks and at a con several weeks later at Rainfurrest 2008. Kato arrived just in time for Rainfurrest 2009 and made his debut there.
20) What was the first convention (include year of con) you went to in suit?
RF 2008. My first con ever!
21) Digigrade legs, furry pants, other?
Both my suits feature digigrade legs but they way they are done is extremely different. Kijani was the Furducers' first serious attempt at digilegs and they are done my wearing a special set of pants with foam blocks attached to the back of the shin and front of the thigh to achieve the desired effect. Kato, on the other paw, has foam sewn directly into the body suit which is more convenient, but the effect is not as pronounced.
22) What do you do (if anything) to keep your suit clean and nice smelling/looking?
After every outing I make sure to put it on a fan ASAP to air it out and spray with Febreze Antimicrobial to prevent mold/bacteria from forming. I wash the suit in cold water every several months and hang dry on a fan while brushing the fur out. When transporting or storing the suit I found that packing in dryer sheets does help the suit smell fresh and clean.
23) Is there anything special about your suit that sets it apart from others?
Hehe... other then being a unique character of my own? Kato's mane is very unique and I've gotten many comments/compliments on it.
24) What do you normally wear under your suit?
I always wear a long-sleeve Under armour compression shirt that wicks sweat and keeps me cool. I also wear compression shorts, and a skullcap to keep the sweat from dripping down into my eyes. Other than that, normal socks, and I do wear my glasses which isn't a problem using Parker's Perfect anti-fog solution before suiting up.
25) How much would you say your suit has cost you financially?
Kijani cost $800, and Kato $1200. And Snap recently lowered his prices, haha! But I think I got a great deal on both suits :)
26) What's the most damage your suit (any of them) has ever suffered?
The worst was just before Rainfurrest 2008. I had gone bowling in suit before Rainfurrest and somehow I had gotten moisture damage in Kijani's right eye which softened the mesh (luckily it didn't break) and discolored the eye slightly.
I re-painted the orange around the eye, and frequently touch up the black with a Sharpie so the only way you can tell is to look at it really close up, but this was quite disappointing.
27) What is the core of your tail?
Foam, on both.
28) How does your suit's various parts stay attached to your body?
Well... um... the only part in question here would be a tail, and Kijani's is sewn into the body suit while Kato's is separate (worn through belt loop).
29) Does your fursuit head have eyelids?
Nope
30) What does your suit smell like?
Before an outing, a bouquet of roses (or whatever Bounce scent I'm using). After an outing... well let's not go there >_<
31) If you've got'em, how long are your suit's ears (inches please)?
Both of my sets of ears are typical round lion ears, about 4 inches from base to tip.
32) What do you store your suit in?
I move it around in big blue Rubbermaid tote boxes, and store them hanging in the house "Fursuit closet," with all the accessories in there too. Kato's tail I wear occassionally going out so that stays in my bedroomcloset.
33) What's the story behind your suit (try to be brief):
Kijani is my fursona suit, he's a warrior lion that loves to explore the world and fights to overcome any hardships that life throws at him. Though he may seem fierce, outside of battle he's wise, gentle and caring and loves to make people happy and smile.
Kato is the mutated twin brother of Marf Lion, another one of Snap's suits. Like his brother, he's not the brightest pea in the pod and enjoys making others laugh at his antics. He has green streaks throughout his mane due to a genetic mutation.
34) Do you like giving hugs when in suit?
Yes!!! And cuddles!!!
35) Ever... uh... "yiff" while in suit?
No... (rolls eyes) of course this question would be in a meme...
36) Do you avoid people carrying coffee, soda, things that stain a suit?
Yes, I give them a wide berth if possible. I don't know how I've avoided a major suit stain so far but I have!
37) Do you eat/drink in suit, or do you at least remove the head first?
I can drink almost anything with Kijani, as his moveable jaw allows me to access a normal-length straw or almost any bottle. I don't remove the head in any sort of public setting, but I have eaten in suit before. Usually things that I can put in my muzzle in one go and that are not messy or have sauce/juice dripping from them.
Things I have eaten in suit: Roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, french fries, various snack items.
And I have drank alcohol in suit. Copious amounts. Pics or it didn't happen? Okay!
Kijani drinking in fursuit
38) Do you ever put your suit on, look in the mirror and do sexy poses?
Haha sometimes. Just to help with my fursuit acting and expressions. Honest!
39) How much do you sweat in suit?
I sweat a LOT to begin with, and after long outings I sometimes sweat completely through my under armour. My skullcap gets so wet I can wring it out. That was gross. Sorry.
40) Do you like suiting around kids (under 16yrs)?
They're the main reason I suit. There's nothing better than putting a smile on a child's face by giving them a high-five or hug, something you can't just normally do walking down the street by yourself. Fursuits just make people happy and brighten their day a bit :)
41) Where have you gotten the most attention while in suit?
Usually from our numerous public fursuiting outings because people don't expect us there, unlike a con environment. The craziest are the community festivals like Bothell Riverfest or Issaquah Salmon Days where there are a LOT of people condensed into a relatively small space.
42) Ever been stopped by security/the law for being in suit?
Nope, and this is something I will try to avoid for as long as possible! Unless the cop thinks we are cool and awesome sauce.
43) Ever plays sports while in suit?
I've played basketball (not too terribly successfully) and would like to try other sports. And see #50 ;)
44) Have you ever let somebody else wear your suit?
No, I'm actually pretty anal about this because I don't want to be liable *in case* they damage it in some way. But wait, furries ALWAYS treat other people's stuff with the UTMOST of care! What should I be worried about? /sarcasm
45) Have you ever cried while in suit?
Nope.
46) Does your suit protect you against the force of drama?
Suuuuure... Lions don't deal with drama anyways. They just roar really loud and then everything goes back to normal.
47) Favorite thing to do in suit?
Entertain others and put a smile on their face. Can be anywhere, doing almost anything.
49) Favorite romping grounds in suit?
Pretty much anywhere in public, but after suiting in a park for the first time I must say that was an awesome place to suit.
50) Do you bowl while in suit?
Many times, I have a high game of 123 and average about 100 in suit.
51) Ever make a video of yourself in suit?
Yeah Kijani is more or less known as the "Youtube Lion" because of the sheer number of fursuiting videos I've posted. But it has helped a ton of new furries get interested in the fandom and fursuiting and inspired a lot of people, as others' Youtube videos did for me, so it feels good to contribute back and show how fun, exciting and different our fandom is.
52) When in suit, do you talk?
Only if ABSOLUTELY necessary. If I'm among furries I'm not worried about it too much but in public I am a performing character, and having a human voice come out just doesn't work. And its more fun and challenging to "talk" using gestures and movements anyways!
53) Do you believe in the magic?
I do. I've said I'd rather die in suit than remove my head in public (I was half-kidding, guys) but that's how strongly I feel about not ruining the magic, especially around children. Fursuits bring something magical, a suspension of reality as cartoon animals come to life, that you really can't find anywhere else except theme parks, and it's our duty to uphold that magic.
54) Have you ever held up a sign that reads "THE GAME" (I just lost >_<) or "Free hugs"?
Free Hugs would be fun! But nope.
55) Have you been on/in the news lately?
Nope, but I think I would be a good, positive representative of the furry fandom should the opportunity arise. I work in news media for a living so I know their ways :)
56) Is anybody ever too old or young to be a fursuiter?
I know at least a few fursuiters in their 50s, and they get around just fine. Too old is probably when you're immobile to the point where you can't get around with ease and "perform" a character. And I think anyone in their early teen years or before is simply too young.
57) When you go romping, who do you take with you?
Anyone who wants to go!
58) What's the most wet your suit has ever gotten with you in it?
At the end of the Grass Lawn Park meet, OMG it was pouring down rain. Took over 4 hours for the suit to dry out completely after that outing!
59) Ever lift a leg, just for laughs?
I'm not a dog! Us cats are much more proper in our humor.
60) What's your policy regarding camp fires and fursuits?
I've been reasonably close to a campfire before in suit (the one where I ate a roasted marshmallow) but I approach such situations with caution. Only done it once.
61) Largest thing you ever got stuck to your suit?
A child. But I took it well ;)
62) How do people normally react when they see your suit for the first time?
Besides "JESUS CHRIST ITS A LION GET IN THE CAR!"?
Most people in public think it's cute and then ask for a picture. Or two. Or three.
63) favorite suiting story?
At Bothell Riverfest, Redclaw and I went to watch a live band that was playing classic rock hits (with an Elvis-impersonator type singing) and we started dancing in suit near the stage, and he came off the stage during the song, interacted with us, and started dancing with us in front of everyone!
64) Who are your favorite suiters that you look up to?
I look up to guys that fursuit extensively for charity and get to do something they love while helping others in need, like the Helping Pawz group. This is something I really would like to get involved with eventually. I also have tons of respect for good fursuit dancers like Scrambles, because I know how difficult it is to pull that off moves like that in a self-contained oven!
65) would you get married in suit (or at least with a tail)?
No, not in suit, but if my mate was a furry maybe we'd wear our tails to the reception haha.