We had to do one more earthquake related cartoon and this one plumbs the depths of bad taste. Hope you like it.
Like many who grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s, I had a Barbie Doll and her friend Midge, and her dog fido. I always wanted Barbie’s dream car, but I never got one. I guess this cartoon is a reaction to that childhood depridation. Or something like that. Or just another excuse to make fun of stuff.
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda.
We had to do one more earthquake related cartoon and this one plumbs the depths of bad taste. Hope you like it.
Like many who grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s, I had a Barbie Doll and her friend Midge, and her dog fido. I always wanted Barbie’s dream car, but I never got one. I guess this cartoon is a reaction to that childhood depridation. Or something like that. Or just another excuse to make fun of stuff.
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda.
I know, I know. This was extremely tragic, horrific, and a whole lot of other bad things. However, we at the Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire firmly believe in the healing power of laughter and hope you do too. Because when it was all over and we had all seen the pictures of pandas being rescued and the devastation that the earthquake caused, the American pandas need to relieve the tension with a few cartoons.
Mehitabel would like to point out that she is NOT as insensitive as she is sometimes made out to be here.
The reference to a panda having a gun is from a earlier cartoon based on, you guessed it, the right to arm bears.
Here at the Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire we pride ourselves on the fact that there is no joke too lame for us to find a way to relate it to pandas.
Be the Bear!
During my initial period of obsession (I like to call it research) I looked at as much information on pandas as I could find. My local library had a copy of an old National Geographic video called Secrets of the Wild Panda. I thought, “oh boy! gossip and innuendo!” But it turned out to be fairly factual (read: boring,- as if anything about pandas could be boring!) So I thought I should make my own version of Secrets of Pandas:
I also began to think about various news items I would hear about on the radio and think, “How would this relate to pandas?”
Personally, I don’t think I was so far off.
Tomorrow (and I swear I’m working on new cartoons…) The 2008 earthquake in China.
Be the Bear!
So, as we return to our story, after discovering panda videos on youtube, where else was there to go? The Zoo websites, of course! The San Diego Zoo has a wonderful website with a little section called “Meet the Pandas”. I started to notice that pandas don’t all look the same. In fact, one of the pandas pictured look like a real party animal. He seemed to be saying, “Where’s the beer, eh?” even though he isn’t Canadian. This led me to make my own “Meet the Pandas” cartoon.
So that got me thinking, “well, just what do pandas do when they have a potluck dinner party?
Tomorrow! Secrets of the Wild Panda Revealed!
Be the Bear!
As we continue our journey into advanced stages of Pandaphilia, something really exciting (if you have a kind of boring life, it was exciting) happened. I got a comment from a writer who was working on a book about pandas. He wanted to know how I started doing “panda satire” and whether I knew of other examples of pandas as humor material. Of course I had to look up his blog, to make sure he wasn’t some nut job, (or at least a harmless one, hopefully). He turned out to be Henry Nicholls, a serious writer of popular science with many magazine articles and a previous book to his credit. One thing led to another, and I offered to let him use one of my cartoons to appear in his book. Yay! It certainly was one of my proudest moments when I got my copy of The Way of the Panda hot off the press, with my very own cartoon in it. Attention Panda Shoppers! If you haven’t read this book, get it now! (available through Amazon and maybe your local bookstore.) Pandas, of course have written some of their own books as well:
But of course, sometimes when pandas write books, their um…fact thingies are not always um…welll…correct.
Well, till next time,
Be the Bear!
As we continue our journey into advanced stages of Pandaphilia, something really exciting (if you have a kind of boring life, it was exciting) happened. I got a comment from a writer who was working on a book about pandas. He wanted to know how I started doing “panda satire” and whether I knew of other examples of pandas as humor material. Of course I had to look up his blog, to make sure he wasn’t some nut job, (or at least a harmless one, hopefully). He turned out to be Henry Nicholls, a serious writer of popular science with many magazine articles and a previous book to his credit. One thing led to another, and I offered to let him use one of my cartoons to appear in his book. Yay! It certainly was one of my proudest moments when I got my copy of The Way of the Panda hot off the press, with my very own cartoon in it. Attention Panda Shoppers! If you haven’t read this book, get it now! (available through Amazon and maybe your local bookstore.) Pandas, of course have written some of their own books as well:
But of course, sometimes when pandas write books, their um…fact thingies are not always um…welll…correct.
Well, till next time,
Be the Bear!
If you think that this is my sleazy attempt to foist off a bunch of old cartoons as new material, well you just might be right. However, we have recently acquired some new fans, who may not have had the patience to delve through all the old material to learn about the history of pandas. Or at least the history of pandas as represented by the Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. So, while you explore the road to my pandapiphany, I will have a little time to work on some new cartoons. Pretty neat, Huh?
It all started innocently enough. I was reading the Atlantic Monthly magazine, and there was an article by James Fallows, who, at the time, was on a long term assignment to China. This part is absolutely true. He wrote an article about the research and breeding programs in China, and the article included pictures of many panda toddlers, doing adorable things like standing on their back legs and smiling at their attendants as they searched their pockets for treats. I was intrigued. Then, I happened (!) on youtube videos of little pandas playing in their playgrounds. Uh oh…. I was hooked.
Meanwhile, my cat Mehitabel was starting to get annoyed.
But there was no turning back.
We’ll return with further installment of the “Pandadelphia Story” in a day or two!
Be the Bear!
Every once in a while, a story about pandas or a panda video makes us, here at the Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire, want to create a cartoon commemorating the moment. A few days ago we watched a video of a woman being overwhelmed by the panda kindergarten while having a “cuddle time with pandas”. Here is our interpretation of the event. I’m sure this has never actually happened. OK we’re pretty sure.
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda
Since no one has caught us yet, we will continue to publish personal emails that we have …um… hacked into through the Panda Network. (you didn’t know there was a Panda Network, did you.) Here are the next group of emails that we have managed to transcribe:
firstpanda@nationalzoo.bear to taibaby@pandaranch.boo : Yes I know you wanted a little brother or sister, but I still don’t think they would have let you come home. Have you made any friends yet?
taibaby@pandaranch.boo to firstpanda@nationalzoo.bear: Aw mom, the other pandas talk with an accent and I can’t understand them half the time. Last night they short-sheeted my bed and hid my toothbrush. So, in answer to your question, I have most definitely NOT made friends.
gracelandpanda@memphiszoo.cute to firstpanda@nationalzoo.bear Hey I just talked to Elvis and he said not to worry, there’s going to be a whole lot-a shakin’ goin’ on and we will both have our little cubbies. And just ignore Lun Lun when she asks if you started packing yet.
Firstpanda@nationalzoo.bear to surferbear@sandiegozoo.beach : That was a really sweet offer, Gao Gao, but I think Bai Yun would rip my ears off if I even looked at you sideways. Not to mention Tian’s feelings would be really hurt.
surfermama@sandiegozoo.beach to Firstpanda@nationalzoo.bear : You better believe it, BooBoo.