Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.

Book 6 Cover Reveal!

It has been a longer time than usual between new editions of The Panda Chronicles collections, since Book 5: Pandapocalypse Now!!! came out about this time last year. I published the first book, Your Brain on Pandas, in the fall of 2012, and had enough cartoons in reserve to put out a book about every six months. Eventually I used up my reserve cartoons, and now I write/draw enough new ‘toons so that I can put out one book a year, in addition to other projects I am working on. More about that later!

But now, the moment that you have all been waiting for, (unless of course you supported one of my earlier Kickstarter campaigns and have received an update!) The title and cover reveal of the latest book, without further folderol:

The Panda Chronicles Book 6: We R Endangered

Note the serious black cover!

Note the serious black cover!

And obviously, with the way pandas drive and that they stand up in an open car with no seat belts, it’s no wonder that they are endangered!

Fans of Pinky will be delighted to know that she has managed to hog commandeer around 75% of the stories in this book. Her rise to fame and presidential campaign thus far are included in this book, so get ready for Pinky, Pinky, Pinky.

Thank you for being the bears and coming along on this panda palooza! I wouldn’t be here without you all! The book will be available sometime in October. I am now awaiting my proof so that I can be responsible and make sure all the pages are turned in the right direction! Huzzah! Meanwhile, do peruse the other books in the collection, if you don’t already have the full set, which you can do on the Panda Chronicles: The Books page of this website. Huzzah!

And don’t forget, lots of stuff with pandas on it is available at the Pandyland store on Cafe Press, including lots of Pinky for President goodies! I hope to get some Hey, Why not vote for Bob? things up later this month. Pinky can’t have all the attention, can she?

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Update: Once again, the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grants committee overlooked the field of Panda Satire. Sigh… Maybe next year.

And lest we forget that there STILL is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire....

And lest we forget that there STILL is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire….

A Halloween Carol, Part 2

As with most of the panda adventures, I have no idea how many episodes this one will have, as they are written…um…somewhat on the fly, maybe 2-4 episodes at a time. But A Christmas Carol just called out to me, because of its themes of self interest and redemption. (What? a panda with extreme self interest? Who could you be talking about?)

So, join us for this next episode of A Halloween Carol, ‘kay?

you...is...not...da...yawn...boss of...pinky...

you…is…not…da…yawn…boss of…pinky…

And isn’t Bubba doing well in his first cartoon adventure? In case you noticed that I just slipped a name in there for our nation’s youngest panda, it’s true! I have. I had been struggling with a name for him and nothing was coming to mind. He has been growing quickly from his butterstick origins, already reaching three pounds, ahead of his older siblings at this age.

Alert and faithful Panda Chronicles reader and panda watcher Anne Lane Witt started calling him Bubba a few weeks ago, and I think the name fits, especially in light of his…um…girth. So congratulations for being the first to name that panda (at least with a name that will stand the test of time! He won’t be “little” anything for long!) Hmmm… wouldn’t Name that Panda! be a great game show on the Panda Channel/ZooNooZ network? The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire salutes you, Anne!

Be sure to tune in to Fabulous Furry Friday, when we reveal our cover and title for Book 6 of The Panda Chronicles! And don’t forget to come back next Sunday for Episode 3 of A Halloween Carol!

Huzzah!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

 

A Halloween Carol*

With profuse apologies to Charles Dickens. *
Yes, it is time for a new adventure/ fractured (some might say bamboozled) literary classic! Princess Pinky stars in her first feature length adventure,

A Halloween Carol*

Has Pinky been a naughty panda? I think that goes without saying!
The dramatis personae (pandasonae?) is as follows:
Pinky as, well, as Pinky
Mr Wu as the ghost of the panda kindergarten
Mei Xiang as herself
Bubba as Tiny Panda (his first role!)

and more to come!

Bubba's first feature role!

Bubba’s first feature role!

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday Returns!

Yes, it is Fabulous Furry Friday once again! Huzzah! This week we look back on some of our favorite moment with the panda kindergarten.

Let’s start with one of the most important events in a young panda’s life, the Bear Mitzvah!

Today, you are a bear.

Today, you are a bear.

...if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can't stop!!!!!

…if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can’t stop!!!!!

And what would you get if you put an infinite number of pandas (highly unlikely, We ARE endangered, after all!) in a room with an infinite number of typewriters?

After all, the playings the thing....

After all, the playings the thing….

And what happens in the panda kindergarten, stays in the panda kindergarten….

The panda kindergarten in las vegas hotel room

What? Pandas are ALWAYS naked.

Bob, Bob, Bob...when will you ever learn?

Bob, Bob, Bob…when will you ever learn?

Is it any wonder that Princess Pinky was a first round draft pick for the panda kindergarten?

Bao bao changes panda cub gender

Pinky is VERY powerful. Be afraid, be very afraid, Mr Wu.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, and remember, it’s never too late to have some cake! And…um… you could read ALL of these cartoons, any time you wanted to, by buying all of the Panda Chronicles Books! Book 6 coming soon! Just Sayin.’

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Loyalty is Required!

You know, it just doesn’t pay to mess with Pinky. Unless of course, you are Pinky’s mom.

And don't even THINK about talking back to Bai Yun!

And don’t even THINK about talking back to Bai Yun!

Did you see? Pinky’s little brother made an appearance. Will he be a good panda, or will he succumb to the siren song of Pinky Power and a cabinet post? Hmmm…which would be more fun?

Sorree, mommee…..

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

More Loyalty Oafs

As I sit here, trying to type with big furry paws, it has come to my attention that that some of the human candidates are having a debate tonight. I am not looking forward to debating Princess Pinky. I think she will fight dirty. and then there is the matter of the “leftover Christmas decoration” in the back of my closet. I am sure I did not decorate there last year. Pretty sure, anyway. Could this have something to do with why she knows everything I have been planning?

Meanwhile, I think I am beginning to see why the Two Timing Political Consulting Agency has not finished my video.

Hmmph!

Pinky: I will build a really, really big wall around your zoos if you don't sign my oaf.

Pinky: I will build a really, really big wall around your zoos if you don’t sign my oaf.

Meanwhile, I am making progress on compiling Book 6 (!!!!!!!) of the Panda Chronicles! Stay tuned to find out the title and see the cover! I hope to have it available no later than the end of October!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Talk Like a Pirate Day Returns!

Yes, It’s back! Actually tomorrow has TWO festive celebrations! Not only is it International Talk Like a Pirate Day, it is also Red Panda Day! Huzzah!

So Fabulous Furry Friday is thrilled to rerun Mr Wu’s pirate adventure with the pandy kindy! Huzzah!

Yo ho ho and a bottle of BooBeer!

Yo ho ho and a bottle of BooBeer!

Can you say "Yaaaar!!!"?

Can you say “Yaaaar!!!”?

uh oh!

uh oh!

The penguins save the day!

The penguins save the day!

I promise i will always be a good panda....

I promise i will always be a good panda….

Huzzah! Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day to everyone! You can find this adventure (as well as all of Mr. Wu’s other adventures) in Book 4 of the Panda Chronicles: The Book of Wu!

And of course, we don’t want to forget International Red Panda Day!

"They'll never catch me!"

“They’ll never catch me!”

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Loyalty Oaths

Omniscient Editor’s Note: It was bound to happen sooner or later…Princess Pinky would demand to know where Wu and the Meihems stand. Of course, this puts the Meihems in a very difficult position, vis a vis Bob and their political consulting firm. They are supposed to be working on Bob’s campaign video, not signing loyalty oaths for Pinky.

And they say politics makes strange bedfellows. very strange, indeed!

You can't make me....

You can’t make me….

How will this all end?

Meanwhile back at the panda ranch, Pinky’s real life brother turned three weeks old on Saturday, and is doing well. I think Pinky has plans for him….

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

BTW, did you know it is National Cup(py)cake Week this week? I’m ready to celabrate! Huzzah! I happy to report that my favorite London Cuppycake establishment got a mention as one of the 10 best cuppycakes in London.

 

 

 

Pandas Go Viral Part 2

The other day on Fezbook, Pinky’s Secretary for Saying Nice Things About Pinky reprimanded me for saying that it shouldn’t always be all about Pinky. Sigh. Is this fair? I mean the election is more than a year away and she already has been appointing cabinet members? I mean, who ever heard of that cabinet post? and Secretary of Interior Decorating! Is that really a thing?

Meanwhile, I am trying to reach my political consultants who are not answering their mePhones. Where is MY campaign video? I need it so that my campaign can go viral, for crying out loud.

It's just not FAIR!

It’s just not FAIR!

Meanwhile, in the world of real pandas, the newest panda at the National Zoo in Washington DC has turned 3 weeks old! He’s getting fat and sassy, and I’m pretty sure he is going to make his debut here very soon.

Keep being the bear!
Bob T. Panda

Happy Birthday To You!

Well, this may be a first for The Panda Chronicles.

You know how people who are born on holidays like Christmas or 4th of July always complain that no one ever really celebrates their birthday because..um…MAJOR HOLIDAY!!!!!DUH!!!!

So, think about what it means to be born on what is probably the most infamous day in recent American history (and I don’t mean the day that the Supremes appointed George W. President) Yeah, I am talking about the ultimate conversation stopper. What if your birthday is on September 11th? Let me put that another way, in case you missed the reference.

What if your birthday was on 9/11?

Well, that just happens to be the case for one of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire’s most faithful followers, a young woman from my home town of Phillie PA. so in honor of your birthday, we bring you….

A Salute to Cake! Happy Birthday, Cami Taylor!!!!!

Bob T. Portrait with cuppycake

yoga for pandas

All salute the sacred cuppycake!

Thanks again to Henry Nicholls for alerting me to this story

Thanks again to Henry Nicholls for alerting me to this story

Legalize cake today! Prevent illicit cuppycake activities.

Legalize cake today! Prevent illicit cuppycake activities.

Escape! Come with me, little cake, so we can be alone together.

Escape! Come with me, little cake, so we can be alone together.

Bee-lieve!

Bee-lieve!

One panda's disaster is another panda's delight!

One panda’s disaster is another panda’s delight!

Mini Bob Contemplates some cuppycakes from the famous London Bakery, Peggy Porschens

Mini Bob Contemplates some cuppycakes from the famous London Bakery, Peggy Porschen Cakes

Well, apparently, much to my surprise, I could go on and on with cartoons of pandas and cakes, but I won’t!

Happy birthday, once again Cami….be sure to…um…have some cake. How did I know about this? Let’s just say that small pandas have big mouths. I’m looking at YOU, Emperor Pew! ( see article: When good pandas go bad!) Thanks for alerting me to the news that there is something to celebrate about 9/11. That Bamboo Psychic network is really something!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda