Considering only Internet, you could find TF related content as far as the beginning of the 2000's. For example, the Blar's hub. And one of the first sites with a large set of gathered images and references was Werekatt's one... it was harder to find the movies referenced by the website, by the way

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But the no-turning point was maybe Transfur site. Many of the oldest artist currently in active started to post their works there, even though it was extremely furry-oriented. And DA, of course :P.