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.

While we wait…

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While we wait for me to do a new ‘toon celebrating the birth of our latest cubby, heart of our hearts, the miracle panda, born in the midst of a pandemic and in the perils we face as a nation, an event that signifies hope.

In one of her fabulous stories (in which all the panda cubbies are much better behaved and respectful to their elders than the cubbies in these pages) Aunty Lucilla points out that our newest cub shares his/her birthday with Hua Mei, born in San Diego to Bai Yun and Shi Shi. Hua Mei was the first surviving cub born in the US and has become quite the hero mom herself. But this newest miracle cub, will be the last born to the current group of pandas who reside in the US. There were questions as to whether Mei Xiang was too old to have another cub. (Mei Xiang: I knew I could do it. Have a little faith)

It is the end of an era, although I hope not the end of having panda families in the US. They bring so much joy to us all. Because this is my world, and I get to make the rules of this world, I get to keep Pinky, Bubba, the Meihems and Mr. Wu all here to inhabit my stories.

Welcome to the world, little XT-4 (aka Four, aka Qi Ji) Start your engines!

And now, back to the Panda-demic…

Mommee Mei has an eagle eye!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

I promise this week I’ll get the new felties photographed and posted!

Today is Pinky’s Birthday…oh, and some other stuff happened too

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What week we had! We could almost (almost) ignore the rantings of HWMNBN while we basked in the good feeling glow of the Democratic National Convention. And if that was not enough…

We…have…a…new…baby PANDA!!!!!

Pinky: ahem…

Yes, Pinky, we KNOW today is your birthday.

While we wait until I have a chance to create the introductory ‘toon to welcome our new arrival, we do have one or two (ahem!) more ‘toons to celebrate the birthdays of Pinky and Bubba. Mei Xiang, panda mom extraordinaire, had her fourth surviving cub* on Friday, August 21st at 6:35 PM. Do you think she planned so that these 3 siblings would have their birthdays on three consecutive days?

Happy Birthday Pinky and Bubba! Happy Birth day XT4!!!!

The Spirit of Halloweens yet to come is not a spirit to be messed with, right?

What the well dressed panda cub is wearing this season!

How IS this different from Pinky’s normal bossiness?

Bubba is having so much fun with his new friends!

Hey! Where did Bubba and Mr. Bun go?

Pinky is just so sensitive….

Oh, Mr. Bun! Where have you been?

Did Unka Justin write this letter?

What goes around, comes around…

Pinky, do you really think that Bubba will fall for this?

Mommee Mei puts her foot down.

Oh those red pandas! They are such characters!

The following group of ‘toons were written more than one and a half years ago. They don’t seem quite so far fetched NOW, do they?

Who would ever imagine Pinky would do something to offend someone? #ClapLouder

Mebbee Bubba and Ping Ping can help…

Mittens can’t really do that, can he?

Mittens did WHAT??????!!!!????

Dis. Will Not. STAND!!!!!

I don’t want to end on this somewhat depressing note…off to look for one more ‘toon about Pinky and Bubba!

Watch out, Bubba! Pinky is on the loose!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Mei Xiang had a cub that only survived a few hours in 2012, a still born twin to Pinky (Pinky: it was NOT my fault!) and a twin to Bubba who lived 4 days.

We just don’t know, dude!

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As I write this, on Wednesday night, Mei is still pacing and lounging in her den, occasionally munching on some bamboo, but not yet popping out a cubby (or two). Sigh…She will do what she is going to do in her own sweet time, so no point in obsessing and…checking the panda cam…just…one…more …time.

But meanwhile, it’s Thursday!Gateway to the weekend and you know what THAT means!!!

It’s Pinky and Bubba’s birthday weekend!!!!

You say it’s your birthday!!!

By the time this posts, Mei Xiang may have had her cubby. Or not.
Sigh…Stay tuned!

Panda on!
Bob T Kamala for Vice President Panda

The Great Race Grand Finale!!!

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The week of torturing you till the winner of the race was revealed is finally OVER! (Not to mention for those of you who were wondering what Six poured onto the track!)

HUZZAH!

There is news from the DC Panda House, but I’ll save it till after today’s ‘toon. If I make you wait any longer, you’ll show up at my house with burning pitchforks!

As they race toward the finish line…

That’s one heck of a lot of ear wax!!!

Hee hee! Ear wax! I bet no one thought of that!!!!

Now, on to the panda den!

So far so good. It’s possible that by the time this publishes, there will be a new baby panda in the cubby den. The latest report from the folks with their eyes on the ultrasound sounds very hopeful. Pseudo thumbs crossed!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

This series was in honor of Jayelle. Gone, but never forgotten.

Daring to Hope

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It is still Pinky (Bubba: an’ BUBBA’S!!!) Birthday Season, so we have still more ‘toons starring this dynamic duo! (Bubba: don’ forget ping!) Yes, you too, Ping.

But first…some things that inspire…

Hope

Yes. I said it. Hope.

Seriously, there has been so little hope available lately. HWMNBN is now trying to disrupt the USPS with his hand picked handmaiden, with mail in voting the target of his malevolence.

But let’s put that aside for one day (after you call or email your Rep and Senators, and maybe your state’s AG while you’re at it.) while we acknowledge we have not one, but TWO things to be hopeful about. I’m not sure which one is more momentous…

Okay, since I got this news first, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris to be his VP. That news alone made my heart soar, and made the sick feeling in my stomach recede for just a moment. ( Read Connie Schultz’s lovely post on hope here) Hearing their joint announcement helped me believe again that a future is possible. But then…

VETERINARY STAFF FROM DA ZOO SAID THEY SAW A POSSIBLE CUBBY ON MEI XIANG’S ULTRASOUND!!!!!!!

Now, we know from past experience that it’s not a done deal till a cubby (or two) pops out, and even then, success is not guaranteed. But for the moment…

Let’s choose HOPE!

So with no further ado, let’s get on to the celebration of all things Pinky! (Bubba: an’ bubba!!!!!)

Really, Pinky….It’s not nice to tease your little brother.

These paws are made for walking….eventually.

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

You better watch out….

And then there was the day he had to figure out what to wear for his debut…

I’m ready for my close up!

I didn’t THINK that Pinky knew the “share” word.

That Pinky is too clever for her own good!

What’s that blinking red light over there?

I has no sekrets!!!!

You can’t just DO stuff. You need instruction from an expert!

Well, I could go on all day, but I’ll save some for next week, next weekend being Pinky ” Bubba’s actually birthday weekend! Until then, we’ll be keeping our pseudo thumbs crossed for a new cubby (or two!) in DC and for democracy to continue standing!

Don’t forget to tune in on Tuesday for the final installment about Six and Sebben’s great race! What was that stuff Six dumped on the track??? Any guesses? Here’s episode One and episode Two, in case you missed them!

Panda on
Call your Reps
Bob T Panda

Bears on the Run, Bears on the Run!

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Here we are, back again for the second episode of our panda tribute to our departed friend! I think that Six is gonna be in a lot of trouble when this is all over!

And we’re off to the races!!!!

What WAS that stuff Six dumped in front of Sebben’s car?

Be the Bear!
Bob T #BidenHarris2020 Panda

A Tribute in Pandas

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You may recall that a few weeks ago, we lost one of our dear members of the panda community. Jayelle was a fierce defender of her family, her friends, all animals (especially pandas) and her beloved NASCAR races. One of the panda fam suggested I do something incorporating her avatar (a panda with a checkered racing flag) into a ‘toon.

Never one to resist taking a simple idea and loading it up with a bunch of other stuff, I share with you now, this 3 part series that celebrates at least some of the things she loved.

Pandas go to the races!!!

Who will win? Six and Sebben battle it out on the track!

be the bear, everyone!

Panda On !
Bob T Panda

It is Still Pinky’s (And Bubba’s!!!!) Birthday Season!

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It is Sunday, here in these United States, (or more accurately, Untied States) and we are going to attempt to ignore reality for however long it takes to read these ‘toons, celebrating Pinky and Bubba’s birthday season. It is hard to believe that in the real world, Bubba turns 5 this year, and Pinky is Seven! (Sebben: no! i is sebben. shee is pinky!!!)

So, let’s take a deep breath and practice our happiest delusional techniques while we celebrate…

A Star is Born and Who Broke the Cute-O-Meter?

If you think that maybe elephants never forget, they have nothing on pandas.

Is this any way to treat our Nation’s most adorable icon?

The forces of Meihem are only barely in check.

Pinky needs stuff and she needs it now!

Mei puts her paw down…

And this hacking into my title imagery has got to stop!

Cue the menacing music…

Bubba’s first appearance…

PP: um, dis is not going to interrupt my presidential campaign, is it?

Mr Bun has a question, daddee.

He’s small for now, but Bubba Bei Bei is shaping up to be a whole lot of panda!

See? I told you it was broken!

More to come next week! Till then…

Don’t flunk cake, ebbryone!

Wands Up!
Bob T Panda

Death Cult Boopsie

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Ya kind of have to wonder. Are they all smoking weed at the WH? I mean, where do they come up with the things they tell people at press conferences and interviews? Is it really necessary to attack scientists and other experts who are trying too…IDK…keep us all from dying in the streets?

What will they try to convince us of next?

DC Boopsie’s name has been changed to protect the innocent (me) from the wrath of large toy companies you know who I mean.

Vocabulary enhancement of the week: “Protracted criminal conduct” (See: District Atty NYC)

Hang in there and wear a mask, everyone!

Masks made from Spoonflower fabrics by PandaChronicle

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Unka Justin is just being sensible.

Blame Canada! (Our Neighbors to the North!)

Please, please PLEASE, Canada! Won’t you annex Whidbey Island? Please?

*Now over 4.5 million cases and over 156,000 deaths, and I only wrote this cartoon about 2 weeks ago.

Hey, head over to the Buy Stuff with Pandas page and see the new layout and new felties! There were starting to be too many felties for everyone to have their own picture. All the other info is the same!

And for those who sew (and even those who don’t) both cotton material and ready made masks are available over at my new page on Spoonflower! They are more substantial than the masks available on Redbubble. I like the Redbubble ones when it is warm, because they are so light weight, but if you prefer cotton and wan’t a little more coverage, these might be just the thing!

Masks made from Spoonflower fabrics by PandaChronicle

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda