Category Archives: All hail the Princess!

Pinky Money, Part 2

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Pinky’s campaign to be President is rocketing on, despite the little set back of not being able to sell Tiger selfies at the Zoo. Some people are so unreasonable!!!!

In concert with Pinky’s recently discovered popularity, her plan to print her own money is working out nicely, at least for Pinky.

For Bob T., not so much.

Butter wouldn't melt in her adorable little mouth....

Butter wouldn’t melt in her adorable little mouth….

And yes, there really is Pinky Money.Don’t spend it all in one place.

I wanted to add a special thanks thanks to writer Jane Steen, who gave me a lovely write up in her newsletter this week. A few weeks ago, she wrote a post about how she had written a chapter that contained references to some early John Singer Sargent paintings that didn’t exist. Being a huge Sargent fan, I wrote to her, telling her of my…um…penchant for forging Sargent.  Thanks again for your kind and complimentary words, Jane. Not to mention the plug for pandas. Did I mention I have books for sale?

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

It’s Official! Pinky is More Popular Than…

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We now have absolute proof that Pinky is more popular than…

Any. Other. Animal. At. The. Smithsonian. Zoo. I bet you thought I was going to quote John Lennon.

At least any that have their own animal cam. The elephants were the closest contenders, with over 600,000 views. Pah! Chicken feed!!!! Do you want to guess how many views the panda cam had in 2014? Oh…you already looked. Well, if you were waiting for me to tell you, the panda cam had in excess of 38,000,000 views. Rumor has it, the panda cam takes more than 60% of the zoo’s bandwidth (whatever that is). Well… do you really want to watch anyone other than Pinky?

editors note: We just received a clarification from a reader who actually knows this for a fact (because she works for the Smithsonian) that the panda cam actually takes up 60% of the ENTIRE SMITHSONIAN bandwidth (19 museums and 9 research centers), not just the Zoo. Ahem.  Pinky IS an icon. Just sayin’

I thought not.

Proof positive of Pinky's persuasive popularity!

Proof positive of Pinky’s persuasive popularity!

Which leads to me to my other “truth is weirder than fiction but provides great inspiration for panda satire” news story: Pinky Money! Okay, it’s really just a commemorative coin, but a small bear can dream, can’t she? (Note: this is NOT an endorsement for Pinky Money.)

BTW, we apologize for not adding any more of the WeREndangered mug series that we promised. We were “away” (no, not in prison!) for a few weeks and then got sick on our return, so the new mug program is set back a bit. I’m going to get right on it though! Bee the Bear and Mr. Wu are not waiting very patiently, and neither are the Meihems. Stay tuned to the Panda Channel and we will let you know when they are on the shelf.

Be the Bear and vote Pinky Pinky Pinky in 2016!
Bob T Panda

I’m Just Drawn That Way

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Poor, poor, adorable little Pinky. She is so misunderstood. What is a small panda with visions of grandeur to do, but to run for president? And what can that poor panda do when her mommee thwarts her at every turn?

As Pinky likes to remind me, I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.

Mei Xiang and the Zoo Director have gotten their panties in a knot, it seems.

Mei Xiang and the Zoo Director have gotten their panties in a knot, it seems.

Ha ha! Sorree, mommee.

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Money for Pinky!

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I know you want to just cut to the chase and go see what Pinky has up her paws to raise money for Pinky and her presidential campaign, but just bear with me a minute.

Oh. You can’t wait…read a few of my thoughts, it’s just but what is Pinky up to NOW, you want to know!

Oh, all right. Go ahead a look. I’ll be right here.

Are you back?
Good.
So I was listening the National Panda Radio the other day, and I heard a story about how paper is making a comeback. And it’s not just about books. There are recent studies that suggest that students retain more relevant information by writing, rather than typing on a laptop or tablet. Artist and writer Lynda Barry (now Dr. Lynda, thanks to a honorary doctorate from my alma mater The University of the Arts in Philadelphia) suggests that ideas and memories can be triggered and stimulated by the actual act of putting pencil to paper.

This is encouraging and validating for a luddite such as myself, who refuses to get a Waccom tablet to draw and paint digitally, and insists on drawing with pencil and india ink with a dip pen (a dip pen, for crying out loud!!!!) to bring you all the panda satire you can stand. Many is the day when  I started a cartoon without an idea, but I would draw a nose, and then some ears, and before I knew it, pandas were doing stuff and it was funny!

Okay… Well, I thought it was funny.

Just in case you were wondering how Pinky came up with the idea to do this:

I really had no idea what she was up to.

I really had no idea what she was up to.

I’m sure there will be some consequences both for Pinky and myself.
See you next time!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

The Great DC Blackout 1

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A few weeks ago, there was a power outage in Washington DC (which we like to call “the OTHER Washington” out my way) but has it ever been shown what caused the DC Blackout?

Hmmmm….I wonder….

What are Pinky and her minions getting up to?

What are Pinky and her minions getting up to?

Oh my….get ready for more Triple Trouble!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

More Email Scandals

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It was bad enough when Bob used his private email account for his official campaign communications, but I had no idea (I’m shocked, I tell you!) that Princess Pinky was doing the same thing. Who knew that zoo panda communications were considered official documents?

What could Pinky be up to...?

What could Pinky be up to…?

Who would have thought that this would cause more email scandals ….

Triple Trouble Part the Second

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All I can say is, Pinky had best adjust her attitude and make peace with the smaller pandas, because the pitter patter of little paws may happen even closer to home, if you get my drift.

Triple Trouble indeed!

Triple Trouble indeed!

Meanwhile, the Panda Season of Love is in full swing, and you know what that means. Even more little pandas on the horizon. Wow.

Huzzah!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Here, Kitty Kitty…

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Ooopsie! Here, kitty, kitty! Where are you?

Where does one go when one gets poofed by Pinky? I’m afraid I must admit to a certain amount of irresponsibility. I mean, this is fiction, right? Do I have to have an answer for everything???? Meanwhile, Pinky has to answer to a higher authority for her actions.

Yes: her mom. Just because she is now living on her own in real life, doesn’t mean the same rules apply here.

Now where did that cat go?

Now where did that cat go?

Small bears will get into trouble, won’t they?

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

 

The Panda Voice

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In my attempt to be not just a visual artist, but also a writer, one of the crucial concepts I have learned about, whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction, is that of voice. Everybody has one, apparently. I think maybe it’s a little like listening to your own outgoing message on your answering machine. Is that me? Boy do I sound dorky!

In these pages and in my cartoons, I strive for the panda voice, of each individual panda (and cat!) character that I invent as I sit in my studio, drawing and chortling to myself, (quietly, or sometimes not so quietly.) I think I should give myself a big, furry paw pat on the back for achieving this goal, because of some of the comments that people share with me here and on Fezbook. You get me! You really get me!

Huzzah!

Mehitabel did NOT approve this cartoon.

Mehitabel did NOT approve this cartoon. I really did hear the story on Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me

Let me also add that some of my faithful readers must be looking into their crystal binky balls, because some of their suggestions, fears, and suppositions are not far from some of the upcoming cartoons, which I have been working on ahead of my usual last minute schedule! You have been paying attention, so give yourselves a big, furry paw pat on the back, and then go have a cuppycake. You have embraced your inner panda!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda!

BTW I don’t want anyone to forget that today ends daylight losing time, and so I must include the panda kindergarten salute to Daylight savings time!

Fabulous Furry Friday KNOWS that this is one of your favorites!

Fabulous Furry Friday KNOWS that this is one of your favorites!

The Giant Panda Zoo Awards Part 2

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We couldn’t just leave poor Princess Dumpling with Pinky on top of her wrestling, (or trying to, anyway,) trying to wrestle the award for Panda personality of the year away from Princess Dumpling, the rightful owner. Apparently winning the silver medal was not good enough for Pinky, and she..um…tried to redistribute the awards. Actually, she probably wanted all three awards for Panda Personality and who can blame her?

Princess Dumpling is no dope, however, and she seems to have the lowdown on Pinky and her methods for world domination. Meanwhile, Mr. Wu is probably laughing up the sleeve of his trench coat as Pinky comes face to face with this years terrible trio of interlopers.

Wait a minute...triplets??????

Wait a minute…triplets??????

I’m sure the voting system for the Giant Panda Zoo Awards is quite secure and impervious to devious panda perpetrators, isn’t it?

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda