Category Archives: All hail the Princess!

Money for Pinky!

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

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

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

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…

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

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

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

Pinky’s Snow Day, Part the Second

After the events of last week in the rest of the world, is it any wonder that we sensitive types retreat to something a little kinder, a little gentler, and a little furrier? I am of course referring to Pinky’s first snow day. The joy of seeing this round, furry panda cub rolling down hills and romping with her mom is just what we needed to keep from crawling under the covers and never coming out. You can watch her on youtube here.

I hope that the violence and unrest that is happening in Paris settles down. The world seems to be going mad around us. We need more….

pandas.

Meihem, not Mayhem.

Meihem, not Mayhem.

What could be cuter than pandas in snow suits? Yes, I know I need help.

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Pinky’s Snow Day, Part the First

Oh my, our most favorite panda princess has been all over the news, both in the US, but also in Canada, via a youtube video from The Smithsonian. A columnist in the Washingtonian dared to dis the snow covered panda, to the wrath of panda fans everywhere.  How dare he say those things about Pinky!

I would never make fun of pandas like that.

I would do it like this:

And it was ever thus....

And it was ever thus….

Stay tuned for more snowy-day fun on Wednesday!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

On the 3rd Day of Crisp-moss…

I am completely innocent, I tell you. I spent much of the day working on the next couple installments of The 12 Days of Crisp-Moss, with absolutely no knowledge that Princess Pinky Bao Bao (the actual Princess Pinky Bao Bao) was staging a sit in at the top of her beloved hemlock tree.

Unlike the San Diego Zoo, which is a closed area, the National Zoo is open to a large park (which name escapes me at the moment) and so the animals must be secured in their private behind the scenes enclosures before their attendants can call it a day, and go home and put their very tired feet up.

So, when Princess Pinky decides she does not want to come down….

I think she is trying to beat Tai Shan’s record.

Meanwhile, on with the 12 Days of Crisp-moss:

On the 3rd day of Crisp-moss, my panda cam did see…

I swear, I had nothing to do with Pinky's let night sit in.

I swear, I had nothing to do with Pinky’s late night sit in.

Be the Bear (and come down from there, OK?)
Bob T. Panda