HOW THE MASCOTS OF ANE CAME TO BE.
When we started ANE, we wanted to represent New England with animals local to the area. We wanted a main mascot along with a variety of others to use in convention artwork.
When choosing a main mascot, we knew we wanted a unique and striking character that would stand out in both simple vector logos and detailed illustrations.
So of course, choosing a white-tailed deer just made sense! He could be cute and silly or rugged and tough — so as we used him more we knew we’d be able to define his character even further.
For our first year event, The American Revolution: Boston Strong!, Copley was our strong lead character. We quickly established his mascot friends with a raccoon and cardinal as the most prominent secondary characters. Next came a blue jay, coyote, otter, mountain lion, and bobcat as more background characters when needed.
Our next three conventions — Sportsball!, For Science!, and To the Sea! — allowed us to focus more on Copley’s personality and individuality. Copley just loved to try new things — maybe he wasn’t great at everything he tried but he was always willing to try!
The raccoon, who would become known as Sumner, became Copley’s best friend and, despite being older than Copley, was always ready to follow along with Copley’s wild adventures and antics. The other characters we were using as background characters played many different roles through the years and tended to change designs frequently to suit their role, but weren’t fleshed out further quite yet.
In our fifth year, The Roaring Twenties!, we made a big and special kind of shift: we established the cougar character as Quincy, Copley’s elegant love interest, and were able to bring a character to life to specifically celebrate the youth that attend our convention: our rascally little cougar cub, Alcott.
As ANE has continued, we’ve added even more wonderful animal characters to help give our attendees someone to relate to. Now, we’re happy to say that we have a stunning roster of fleshed out characters to act as our mascots and champion different departments and events at Anthro New England. Our beautiful crew of characters also helps us represent the diversity of the fandom, celebrating individual identity and queerness, things that have always been integral to ANE alongside our passion for animals.
We hope you love them as much as we do!
THE MASCOTS.
COPLEY.
Meet Copley, the big, lovable deer! This kind-hearted soul can be a total doofus, bringing smiles and a touch of clumsiness wherever he goes. But don’t let his goofy nature fool you! Copley can clean up remarkably well when he needs to and has been known to don a sharp tux, surprising those around with his dapper appearance.
As ANE’s primary mascot, Copley has truly come into his own over the years. He’s an avid explorer with boundless enthusiasm and he’s always eager to dive headfirst into new experiences. While he might not always be the most skilled at every endeavor, his unwavering willingness to try anything and everything has made him who he is. Copley is great friends with Sumner the raccoon and Roxy the cardinal in particular — you’ll often see him with those two and with his girlfriend, Quincy the cougar!
Species:
White-tailed Deer
Gender Identity:
Male, he/him
ROXBURY.
Meet Roxbury, the vibrant cardinal! Often affectionally nicknamed “Roxy,” they boast a striking split design, with heterochromic eyes, plumage that splits into a cream and deep red color, and tan and black accents.
As one of ANE’s longest running characters — Roxy has evolved over time, transitioning from a classic and simple red and black cardinal into their distinctive and nonbinary design they carry today! Roxbury has quickly become a fan favorite of our attendees, and not just because everyone loves to yell “Bird!”.
Roxy loves to dig into a good book, people watch at the local coffee shop, and meet up with friends – both new and old!
Species:
Northern Cardinal
Gender Identity:
Non-Binary, they/them
QUINCY.
Meet Quincy! She’s a sophisticated cougar who cemented her status as a refined and elegant lady during her debut for our Roaring Twenties themed year, where she effortlessly caught the attention of our charming and goofy deer.
Quincy brings a touch of grace to our cast of characters, often helps to tame Copley’s gooberish nature, and keeps him out of trouble. She’s also the devoted mother of Alcott, the adorable little cougar who represents our younger attendees! As a proud parent, she’s happy to enjoy a weekend among friends and relax a bit, but only if she has someone else to keep an eye on her kid.
Species:
Mountain Lion
Gender Identity:
Female, she/her
ALCOTT.
Say hello to Alcott, the pint-sized ‘lil cougar cub who serves as representation for Anthro New England’s younger attendees! Often featuring on our Minor attendee badges, Alcott is all about fun and being goofy, bringing an extra heaping dose of cuteness and lightheartedness to our cast of animals.
Alcott is Quincy’s child and will often be seen alongside her! Keep an eye out for this energetic little scamp, spreading smiles and representing the next generation of the fandom!Â
Species:
Mountain Lion
Gender Identity:
Male, he/him
SUMNER.
Meet Sumner! He’s one of ANE’s longest running mascots alongside Copley, although he wasn’t officially named until 2024. He’s often found in the company of his good friends Copley and Gardner as the quiet observer, content to simply soak in the vibrant atmosphere and camaraderie of the community and his friends from the sidelines. Sometimes, he can be get a little more playful and mischievous, since he’s not one to shy away from a bit of lighthearted goofing around — he just enjoys engaging with others in his own unique way.Â
Having been a staple of ANE for years, Sumner’s bond with Copley has only deepened with time, solidifying their endearing friendship. Beyond ANE’s weekend, Sumner is an avid adventurer with a penchant for exploring both the urban landscape of Boston and natural beauty of greater New England. Wherever you might find him, he’ll often have his two best friends in tow, embracing the thrill of discovery and exploration!
Species:
Raccoon
Gender Identity:
Male, he/him
EMERSON.
Meet Emerson, affectionally nicknamed “Emmy,” the captivating otter who reigns as the representative of ANE’s night market-style event: The Outer Limits! Emmy is our more adult-oriented character, embodying a confident, sensual, and alluring presence. She loves everything that the nighttime offers, whether its the fabulous performances, thrilling demos, or bustling marketplace – she always knows she’ll feel right at home at The Outer Limits! With her sultry and graceful energy, she’s eager to take center stage and live in the limelight!Â
Species:
River Otter
Gender Identity:
Female, she/her
GARDNER.
Species:
Eastern Coyote
Gender Identity:
Non-Binary, they/them
ZAKIM.
Species:
Atlantic Harbor Seal
Gender Identity:
Male, he/him
FANEUIL.
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Species:
Blue Jay
Gender Identity:
Female, she/her
OTIS.
Species:
American Black Bear
Gender Identity:
Male, he/him
Credits for all artwork are provided alongside the respective images. The cast of Anthro New England’s mascots are a work of love and dedication by various members of ANE’s staff both past and present. Special thanks to Gale Frostbane for contributing historical information about the creation of Copley and the original crew of characters, and to Slumberyote for creating most of the official designs of the later cast. Thank you.♡
