Category Archives: Babee Bubba Bei Bei

A Very Merry Birthday

24 Replies

One* downside of only doing 2 cartoons a week, is that sometimes events slip through the cracks and I don’t get to them in a timely manner. All of the panda birthday events happen in a very short period of time (not quite as short as the panda season of love, but, you know, those events are connected.) But recent news of the upcoming birthdays of two much loved Pandarazzi of The National Zoo gives me the perfect excuse to post this new ‘toon now!

I am particularly indebted to those regular zoo visitor panda photographers that chronicle the real pandas that fuel my panda satire obsession. I am far from pandas and my opportunities to visit them are limited, so to all who share their photos and videos on Fezbook and Twidder, this one is for you too!

Happy Birthday, Merry and Allen R.  I hope your birthday celebration is everything you hope it will be!

birthday

Bubba flunks “cake”

birthday

Up and away…..

Have a panful day out there, and for goodness sakes, have some CAKE!!!!!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Thanks to  and        my twitter pals that alerted me to Merry and Allen’s birthday! Hope you guys enjoy this birthday surprise!

  • The other downside are the wails of despair when folks realize they have to wait another 4 days for a new ‘toon.

 

It’s Not a Party Unless There’s a Fight

10 Replies

Back in the real world, Pinky had a wonderful time at her birthday party, having her own cake all to herself. Bubba on the other hand, either decided it was too hot, got spooked by the huge crowd, or just decided it was time for a nap, and left his cake for his mom Mei Xiang to have her way with. Fortunately in the world of Panda Satire, the party has just begun!

So it’s one for brawl and brawl for one!

It's not a party till the pandas start a brawl!

It’s not a party till the pandas start a brawl! Fortunately, Bubba has his priorities in order.

And in other panda news, the Toronto Zoo, home of the almost one year old Canadian panda twins (known to the pandaratti as the TTwinkies) Now have a panda cam!!! The cam is only operational from 9 AM – 6:30 PM Toronto time, but it is a welcome addition to people who…um…really, really, REALLY need to watch panda cams for their…um…work. check it out here! (Not during working hours, of course!)

Panda Cam Follies

Panda Cam Follies

Late breaking news update!!!!!

An ultrasound from Zoo Atlanta conforms Lun Lun is carrying twins. I know, I know…it’s almost impossible to tell whether pandas are pregnant or not, but now there are pictures! We are not nearly out of the woods, so let’s all clasp our paws together and wish for a safe delivery and two healthy cubs. BTW, this will put Lun Lun on top of the panda production table for US pandas, as this will be number 6 and 7. (Bai Yun had 6 before she retired after the Wu Self was born; “when you have already produced perfection, why try for more?” said the modest young Wu)

More news when we have it!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

It’s My Birthday Too

16 Replies

Well, yesterday was the big party at the National Zoo, with birthday cakes for Pinky and Bubba…um…make that cakes for Pinky and Mei Xiang, since Bubba decided there was way too much hubbub and went back to his den to take a nap and play with some of his presents. We will have a cartoon eventually about the events of the day, but not just yet, because…

The Cake Party Convention is off to a great start!

Yes, the cake party convention has commenced and Pinky is in rare form!

Pinky, please do not get your brother all wound up!

Pinky, please do not get your brother all wound up!

Well, just between you and me, Pinky is not such a bad sister after all, because when they went home that night (which was Bubba’s Birthday Eve) we witnessed this scene in Bubba’s room….

From Pinky to Bubba...his own bunny!

From Pinky to Bubba…his own bunny!

Fortunately, Bubba’s nanny keepers didn’t let Mei Xiang eat the entire cake, and they brought it inside so that he could enjoy it in his den. Pinky, of course, had a great time with her cake, which she didn’t have to share with anyone!

While I couldn’t be at the party, I’m having a great time seeing everyone’s pictures and videos!

Be the (birthday) Bear!
Bob T Panda

 

Bei Bei Turns One Year Old!

14 Replies

Bei Bei, better known here in these pages as Bubba, Pinky’s beleaguered little brother, turns one year old next week! There is a party for him on Saturday August 20th (two days before his actual birthday on the 22nd). Bei Bei is a much loved panda, as you can read in this article written around the time of his public debut back in January.

But I promised you a slew of Bubba ‘toons to celebrate his birthday season, and around here…

...A Promise is a Pinky Promise!

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

The very first cartoon …Bubba gets his cap!

Now, I know I said these were all going to be about Bubba, but losing his twin was a big part of the story back in August of 2015….

Mr Bun has a question, daddee.

Mr Bun has a question, daddee.

Fortunately, Bubba proved to be strong and healthy and…um….a good eater.

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

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

Feed me, Mama!

Feed me, Mama!

These paws are made for walking....eventually.

These paws are made for walking….eventually.

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

Happy 100th day Birthday! More frosting!

And better than getting his name, there was the day that Bubba got his official Panda Chronicles outfit!!!

What the well dressed panda cub is wearing this season!

What the well dressed panda cub is wearing this season!

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

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

And let’s end with the day that Bubba broke the cute-o-meter!!!!

See? I told you it was broken!

See? I told you it was broken!

Well, that’s all for now, except maybe a message from our sponsor, reminding you that you can have your very own Bubba Mug! Check out all the swell things here at the Pandyland Store of CafePress!

Isn't that just the cutest thing?

Isn’t that just the cutest thing?

Be the bear! And have a fabulous furry Friday! I hope you had as much fun as I did revisiting the ‘toons!
Bob T Panda

As an extra bonus, here is Doxiemom’s video of Bubba and his mom, playing in the tub!

Mr. Bun Returns: Part 2

10 Replies

I think it is a wonderful thing that Mr. Bun has returned to his rightful place, but I’m with Pinky on this one. I don’t think Mr. Bun wrote that letter any more than Pinky does. And the printing is way too neat and tidy for the twins to have written it. Perhaps, Unka Justin, Prime Minister and panda fan No. 1 of Canada wrote it for Mr. Bun. After all, he wants a reasonable panda to be commander in chief in his neighbor to the south.

Did Unka Justin write this letter?

Did Unka Justin write this letter?

I love that Bubba is still a believer in the powers of Mr. Bun. He believes that Mr. Bun could have written this letter and of course, he is in total agreement with the sentiments of being nicer to Bubba (and Unka Bob!)

So, what’s up next? I guess you’ll just have to come by and see. For those of you who follow me via Fezbook, you should be aware that the folks at FB are continually tweaking the algorithms (whatever the heck THEY are) so that posts go to fewer and fewer people who might want to see them. So even if you have signed up to see posts from me, you might not, depending on the whims or casting of animal entrails that they might do over there to determine who sees what.

So the only SURE way to make sure you don’t miss any Pandy Goodness, is to subscribe to this blog to have pandas appear in your inbox 3 times a week. The sign up is at the very top of the right hand column here. It says, Invite Pandas to Your Inbox. The second sign up right below that, is if you want to be on an email list that I may or may not send out additional pandynews on a very irregular basis.  It is headed by Get Even More Pandas and when I have super pandy news, I use this email to let the inner panda circle know. You do want to be in the inner panda circle don’t you?

And for those of you on Twidder, I heard that Mr. Bun now has his own Twidder account. I can hardly keep up with all my characters getting their own Twidder accounts. Sigh…

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Mr. Bun Returns

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I know it has taken a little too long for the return of Mr. Bun but in ‘toon time, it has been no time at all. And isn’t it wonderful  that Pinky is so technologically tuned in? Do we know where Mittens has been poofed to? Do we care? No, all we care about is that Mr. Bun returns to the place he belongs…with Pinky.

Of course,  if Pinky DOES become president, how will it look if she brings her stuffie bunny to the inauguration?

Oh, Mr. Bun! Where have you been?

Oh, Mr. Bun! Where have you been?

As a side note, we’ve been having a few technical difficulties over here, which for the moment seem to have resolved themselves. (That’s how I usually resolve technical difficulties: shut down laptop, go to dinner, have a cuppycake and hope that whatever was wrong no longer is when I turn on the computer again. ) For some reason I was not able to upload today’s new cartoon, and I was afraid I was going to have to figure out some low tech work around – print and deliver personally to hundreds of people around the world, perhaps? But while that might have been lots-o-fun, the time required and the cost of world-wide personal delivery was beyond my resources. So I am happy to report that the problem seems to have gone away by itself. Huzzah!

We will have more from Mr. Bun this Wednesday, and then who knows what I will have prepared for you for next week. The Tour de France is coming up soon, so we will revisit the danger of selfies at the Tour, as well as other selfie hazards in Fabulous Furry Friday’s encore extravaganza!

Don’t forget to…

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

You Can’t Lie to Mom

22 Replies

Poor Bubba. Once again, he suffers the consequences of being Pinky’s younger sibling. If Pinky had been born sooner after Tai Shan, would she have developed as such a little terror? Who knows? We only know that Bubba is made of softer stuff (frosting?) and the least look from mom can send him into a quivering mass. He can’t lie to mom like Pinky can.

So, after Pinky has taken off for another campaign swing to get endorsements from some VIP’s (Very Important Pandas) Bubba is left to face the music…

I'll talk! I'll talk!

I’ll talk! I’ll talk!

Oh Bubba…you are such a pushover!

Be the Bear! (You can do it, Bubba!)
Bob T Panda

Where is Pinky Going?

10 Replies

Poor Bubba. It is so hard to be the younger brother of such a powerhouse of a panda. But where is Pinky going? Does she have permission? Ha! Pinky don’t need no stinking permission! Does she?

Bubba: but why should I be in trubble?

Bubba: but why should I be in trubble?

Sigh…poor Bubba.

Meanwhile, back at the panda ranch, excitement is afoot…(err..apaw?) as I close in on being almost ready for The Pandyland Chronicles book 1 to be ready to send out to publishers. There will be some exciting news to announce soon, but not…quite…yet.

So I am getting back to work after a bit of traveling, being sick, and who knows what all I get up to around here.

Keep being the bear!
Bob T. Panda

 

Trespassers W

14 Replies

One of my favorite books as I was growing up was Winnie the Pooh. (No surprise there, huh?) And although I loved the stories, and still re-read them whenever I need something familiar and comforting to read, what this artist loved best was the drawings. and within those drawings were so many wonderful details that enhanced the story in a way that was not necessarily obvious. It was there for you to find on the many re-readings of this well loved story. And one of my favorite details was the sign outside of Piglet’s house that read, Trespassers W which Piglet claimed was his grandfather, short for Trespassers William.

So along with all the other signs and surveillance paraphernalia that Pinky had installed in “her” tree, is it any wonder that this sign should make it’s way there?

You keep using that word "share", mommee!

You keep using that word “share”, mommee!

What’s not to love about Pinky! That panda has a lot of…um…spunk.

Have a fun Sunday. Now would be an excellent time to eat all of that Easter candy that you have leftover. Run, chocolate bunnies! Run!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Through the Looking Glass

16 Replies

Over the past couple of months, the friends of Bubba (and Pinky! Don’t forget Pinky!!!!!) have been posting many adorable photos of our nation’s littlest panda as he explores the great outdoors. Recently (Linda G?) someone posted at photo of him admiring his reflection in one of the viewing windows, which naturally inspired this ‘toon.

My! You are quite the good looking fellow!

My! You are quite the good looking fellow!

Meanwhile, back at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire Headquarters, I am hard at work on my graphic novel, tentatively titled The PandyLand Chronicles: The Case of the Picturesque Panda. When a mysterious panda enters the office of Inspector Panda, with a tale of late 19th century Parisian pandas, he must rely on his clever assistant Wu to help sort  truth from fiction. Especially when it comes to the wily Babette de Panda. Was her great great great great great great grandmama truly the most sought after painters’ model of the  Paris Impressionists? Or does Babette have a more sinister reason for wanting to find this painting? Think of The Maltese Falcon, except with pandas.

As those who have been following along for a while know, this story started out as a long cartoon with multiple episodes, starring Inspector Panda. As I am now trying to convert it into a graphic novel, geared toward middle grade readers, there have been many changes. The story now focuses more on the junior pandas, it is much longer, and I am doing illustrations in color. I really have no idea how long this will take me to complete, but you can find the news here as its path carries on and the drawings develop. Most enticing is that it gives me the opportunity to do even more panda versions of famous Impressionist paintings, and what could be wrong with that? (Note to Art Historians: please don’t answer this question.)

Till next time,
Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda