Tag Archives: satire

And Now for Something Completely Different

A couple weeks ago I attended an illustrator retreat/workshop, jointly put on by the Western Washington chapter of SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and our compadres in the Portland Oregon group. Putting on an event like this is not a small feat, and the organizers did an excellent job.

We had two wonderful instructors form the world of children’s literature, Kelly Murphy and Sergio Ruzzier. I learned a bunch of great techniques, as well as some strategies for getting a story moving, which I am absolutely going to put into practice…um…really soon. The following drawing (no pandas!) was the result of one of our exercises that we completed in Sergio’s class.

I think I was trying to channel Bill Watterson’s snowman cartoons in Calvin and Hobbes when I did this one.

I don’t want to leave you without any pandas, so…

Always read the directions…

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Fall Back, Fall Forward…

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Wait…is that right? Daylight losing time is almost here!!!

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

And while we’re at it, here’s another one of my favorites!

Just because….

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday!
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

What Does a Panda Wear for Halloween?

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I mean, do they dress up as a red panda? or maybe a tiger? This is serious, people! Pandas need to know what might be the best costume so that people give them the most stuff. Halloween is important to panda culture. who knew?

Princess Pinky really needs to know!

Darn those Meihems!!!!

I do want to mention that I drew this cartoon before I read the Cub Confidential post from Zoo Atlanta suggested that the twins were going to dress up as the other twin. Just saying. The Institute of Contemporary Panda Satire has their finger…er…paw on the pulse of the panda community.

And Pinky has asked me to mention that her book is out, and you could just flip really fast through all the cartoons about the Meihems, so that you could just read the ones about Pinky. Hey, I just do what Pinky tells me to. Word to the wise, and all, Pinky must be obeyed.

It’s Pink, but still kinda, um…dangerous!

Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

Friday already?

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Fabulous Furry Friday seems to roll around faster and faster, doesn’t it? Hmmmm. we seem to be in a Pinky and Meihem twins mode this week, so lets just continue with that line of thought.

This cartoon was inspired by one of my friends (now in real life) Judy Young, of the infamous Pinky fan club, who gather sometimes daily at the National Zoo to observe the actual Bao Bao Princess Pinky panda, mostly climbing up the dreaded hemlock, but sometimes frolicking for the pandarazzi. The photo that inspired this was not of Pinky, playing with bubbles, but a group of children having a blast blowing gigantic bubbles and chasing them over the grass. I though Pinky would enjoy this activity.

Oh dear….are you going to leave her there?

The next cartoon was inspired by an internet quiz, “What Kind of Cuppycake are You?” That’s easy. One that’s got lots of …um…frosting.

I have extra frosting!

Pinky will be back on Sunday! Don’t keep her waiting!

Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

But who WOULDN’T want a picture with a panda?

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I love my readers.

They send me links to stories about pandas, or about bears, or about totally unrelated things that might need to be addressed by panda satire. For instance, the woman who was stopped going through airport security because the frosting on her cuppycake weighed more than 3 ounces. I mean…wasn’t I OBLIGATED to write a cartoon about that?

well, if I can’t carry it through security, can I eat it now?

The other day, my friend and partner in cuppycake obsession, Vicky Vladic, sent me this story about tourism in Australia. The funny thing is, the TV spot was generated in China. You know I had to do this cartoon:

Is this a film of the pandy kindy?

:o)

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday is Back!

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Oh yeah…I can’t figure it out…just a week and a half ago I was ahead on my cartoon schedule, and now I am behind and playing catch-up. or is that Ketchup?

Whatever.

Well, as I am now starting to prepare for This year’s 31 Days of Pandas in December, I may…um…have to post a few encore presentations in the meantime, so I can get ahead again. If that makes any sense. It’s no wonder we are endangered.

Never fear, however! This Sunday will have a brand new cartoon, about a news story that was first brought to my attention by astute reader and noted cuppycake baker, Vicky Vladic. Several others have sent me the link as well, for which I thank you. It is always appropriate to bring any such news stories to my attention, as one never knows if someone already did or not, and this one would have been a shame to miss. And just to whet your appetite for The Panda Chronicles take on this story, here is the link to the actual story. Stay tuned for a ZooNooz exclusive on Sunday!

But now, of course it’s time for our fabulous Furry Friday Encore presentations!

another cartoon inspired by real news!

Much better to take a selfie with pandas! (as was this!)

not to mention…

Who says real life can’t be funny?

Have a happy Fabulous Furry Friday!
Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

It IS all about Pinky, Isn’t It?

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Oh yes, Princess Pinky’s new book Pandapocalypse Now! is now out in the world, and it has got me thinking about all things bookish, as these events tend to do. I recently read a book by one of my favorite bloggers, Allie Brosh, whose book, Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened, was one I have been wanting to read. As you can tell from the title, this is a person whose life does not run especially smoothly.

She turns emotional insecurity and mental distress into an art form, and while I wish her a life with a lot less pain than she has had, we wouldn’t get to read her outrageously funny take on life, her dogs, and…um…cake. Especially the story about cake. Check it out! “Darkly comic” is an understatement. Her drawings are simple and a little funky, but they perfectly capture the emotional angst of her existence. She hooks you in from the first story, and doesn’t let go.

But meanwhile, Princess Pinky has a few things to say about HER book…oh yeah, and there might be one or two other pandas in it.

“Oh yeah…dere MIGHT be one or two other pandas in it, but I can’t remember who.”

Pandapocalypse Now! Is here! Tell your friends!

It’s Pink, but still kinda, um…dangerous!

Just in case you weren’t paying attention!

Stay tuned for the return of Inspector Panda this week.

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Inspector Panda Returns

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Well, actually, we haven’t actually seen Inspector Panda, his very own self, since Mr. Wu went roaring off with the panda kindergarten. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere…he’s probably hot on Babette’s trail, with the purloined tape in his sights…yeah…that’s it!

Meanwhile, Mr Wu is learning more about the scholarly activities of the panda kindergarten. Art Historians! Who knew????

I didn’t get a decoder watch when I graduated from art school!

Why that Babette is nothing but a scoundrel!

And, not to belabor the point, but this Friday marks the release of Book 5 of the Panda Chronicles: Pandapocalypse Now! Huzzah! Inspector Panda would like to point out that he has a cameo appearance or two in Book 5, just in case you were interested!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday Salutes NPR

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…and by that we mean National Panda Radio, of course. Princess Pinky has taken over the station, as you will see if you tune in on Sunday, but we thought you might enjoy a glimpse of the early days of National Panda Radio! (Starring Bob as a very young panda!)

One of Bob’s earliest appearances on our show!

Panda Talk! My favorite show!

Don’t forget to come back on Sunday….Pinky Promise, okay?

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Panda Art History…Who Knew?

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I would hate to think that all those years of ~~sleeping through~~ paying rapt attention in Art History classes had gone to waste. Inspector Panda’s current case has therefore taken an extremely art historical turn, as if it hadn’t been traveling those roads already.

The panda kindergarten has more facets than a dodecahedron, and it turns out that they all have degrees in panda art history. Who knew? And if you are just tuning in, don’t forget to check out all the previous episodes here:

What you don’t know about your favorite art museum….

And look at those stacks of paintings! Did you realize there were so many fine art pandas in existence?

Next time you are at the National Gallery, go and ask at the information desk if you can be taken to see the secret stash of paintings of pandas by all the greats of the 16th through 20th centuries. The National Gallery has a lovely Mary Cassatt that Minette modeled for. And the “Little Panda Dancer” by Edgar Degas is exquisite! Just ask at the front desk, and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. They’re just being modest.

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda