Since I seem to be be on strike or something like that…unmotivated? tired? uninspired? I thought I’d take this opportunity to have a Delightful Encore Presentation™️ of everyone’s favorite bear (WU BEAR!!!) and his ode to Pirates, just in time for International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
I hope you enjoyed this Encore Presentation of Mr Wu’s Pirate Adventure. I’m sure I’ll do some new ‘toons…eventually.
Be the bear!
Bob T Ahoy Matey! Panda
Okay, it is also Princess Pinky Jr.’s birthday, but Wu Bear had it first, so let’s just palm off the day AFTER on PPJ. Let’s pop in partway on our story when young Wu Self joins the circus…
I guess we might as well see the epilogue!
Can you believe the Great Wu Self is turning 14? Happy Birthday Wu Bear!
Be the Bear!
Bob T I miss the Wu Self Panda
Sorry, it’s been another crazy busy week, but I’m making progress on exhibition stuff, and hopefully I’ll have a bit more relaxed week next week. Hahahahahahahahaha!
Since we are coming up on Mr. Wu’s birthday season next month, I thought I’d share one of the Mr. Wu Stories, with more coming in the next couple of weeks. I can’t believe he’s going to turn 14 this July!!!! That does not seem possible.
Here is one of Mr Wu’s early encounter with the Panda Kindergarten…
Well, I hope you enjoyed Mr Wu’s big adventure!
More to come next week!
Be the Bear
Bob T Wu Bear’s biggest fan Panda
Once again, time slipped away from me and there is no new ‘toon for today, but I am working on a new Thanksgiving ‘toon and I’ll have it here next week. What’s time to a panda?
Nooz reached me this morning of the passing to the great beyond of Gao Gao, paterfamilias of the PanDiego Zoo for some 20 something years. Gao Gao was one of the great pandas. Wild born, he was brought to the Wolong base as an injured cub, rehabilitated and set free. I don’t know if he had already lost a chunk of his ear by then. Anyway, as the story goes, after being released, he must have figured what a sweet deal it was at the panda base, and he turned himself back in. Sometime later, he was assigned to PanDiego, to be the mate of the enchanting Bai Yun, who was not getting on with the older panda they had paired her with.
They went on to populate the first great panda dynasty in the US. Their grandson, by way of the effervescent Zhen Zhen, Yun Chuan is now in his grandfather’s seat in PanDiego.
Gao Gao was considered something of a stud muffin by his friends and nannies, as well as a very sweet tempered panda by his caregivers. We were all sorry to see him leave to return to China, but by all reports and pictures, he continued to charm his nannies and was given stellar care.
His last cub in PanDiego was the one and only Wu Self, Xiao Li Wu, or Mr. Wu to his friends and fans. Somewhere along the way, I started drawing him with his ear taped down, as a tribute to his dad, with his half gone ear. To hear Gao Gao tell it, he lost it in a bar fight defending Bai Yun’s honor.
In my as yet unpublished graphic novel, The Pandyland Mysteries: The Case of the Picturesque Panda, Wu loses his ear tape to the dastardly Babette De Panda, who holds it for ransom.
I think you all know things to be grateful for are a little scarce on the ground right now, but there is still much for which to give thanks. I am inordinately thankful that you all are still here. I am thankful for pandas, and the community of people who love them. I am thankful for those who are no longer here, for the friendship and support they gave me when I needed it most. I am grateful for that strange place in my brain that spills these stories out. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that pandas saved me. At a time when optimism disappeared along with most of my income, the pandas arose and said, “Hey look! Over here! We are cute and we have cuppycakes!“
And so here we are.
I hope you are spending the day as you choose, and with whom you choose, and if you’re not, well, there is always third helpings of pie.
Be the Bear,
Bob T the T stands for Thankful,* today, Panda
*Usually it stands for “the”
Well, I didn’t get a new ‘toon done for today, but fortunately, the deep archives of the Panda Chronicles has something for everyone! Since I carelessly forgot Mr. Wu’s birthday last week (is it a sign of encroaching senility? Or maybe too much insane NooZ about you know who!!!!)we’ll instead have the ENTIRE story of Mr Wu’s adventure at the circus with the Panda Kindergarten!
Anyway, Here is one of my favorite Wu Self stories for your enjoyment!
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with the one, the only Real Wu Self!
Till next time…
Be the Bear
Bob T guess whose Birthday is coming up soon & if you didn’t guess Pinky, you’re wrong Panda
…and I can’t believe I forgot Mr. Wu’s birthday on the 29th! I am so ashamed! He turns 13 this year and you know what that means!
And now for today’s ‘toon…
In penance for missing Mr. Wu’s birthday, I shall forgo the cake, and just eat a bowl of frosting! Happy birthday, Wu Bear! You are still the best. Sorry that those other pandas stole your birthday for themselves!
Be the Bear
Bob T I can’t remember everything Panda
Xiao LiWu the little gift that keeps on giving, Mr. Wu to his nannies and his friends has completed 12 trips around the sun today! Mr. Wu was the first panda I watched from the time he was a tiny cubby. While I was already a committed panda fan by then, he was the first real panda that I incorporated in to the stories here at The Panda Chronicles.
In honor of his birthday on Monday, July 29th, today’s presentation will be a little panda palooza of early Wu-toons! Pandarella will resume on Thursday!
I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with Mr. Wu! Of course, around this time Pinky and the Meihems had appeared on the scene, and Pinky’s quest for world domination had begun.
By the way, it is also the birthdays of the only surviving triplets, who served as Pinky’s minions during her first run for the White House in 2016.
Till next time!
Be the Bear
Bob T pass the cuppycakes Panda
The newest residents of Panda Canyon have gotten their golden tickets to their new home! We don’t know exactly when they will arrive, but reports are for sometime this summer. Like the Three Chipmunks sang, “Wee can hardly stand the wait…“
The San Diego Panda Dynasty continues!
For explanations about Yun Chuan’s vocal stylings, and reports on Xin Bao’s witticisms, do visit the San Diego Zoo’s write up of the new cubbies!
Be the Bear
Bob T I’m excited! Are you? Panda
Don’t think this means I’m going to let you weenies off the hook from our incredibly suspenseful and slightly scary story, but first…
Meanwhile, the Mittens is a Sleeze and financial/election cheat trial continues, with Eric getting the short straw in the “Take your Daddy to Court Day” competition between his family members.
Get ready to meet in Pandiego!!!
Be the Bear
Bob T I am counting the days Panda
We are still celebrating the impending arrival later this year, of a new generation of pandas in Panda Canyon! We *might* need to distract ourselves from current events.
Of course, Pinky has inserted herself into the process of welcoming the next California pandas!
Be the Bear!
Bob T will we never be free of Mittens? Panda