Tag Archives: panda kindergarten

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

10 Replies

With news of a state dinner for the folks from Canada at the White House, following quickly on the heels of the photograph of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with two adorable panda cubs on his lap, It’s anyone’s guess who’s coming for dinner!

Are Pinky and Bubba invited as well? I mean, now that the PM and the Toronto Twinkies are such good buds, I can’t believe he’d leave them at home! and will Mei Xiang and Tian Tian be invited as well? Seems like the PM might be the sort who has permissive attitudes towards pandas and would let them get up to any number of hijinks, and where Pinky is concerned, well, you just can’t be too careful!

The long, dark tea time of the soul....

The long, dark tea time of the soul….

You can lead a bear to culture, but....

You can lead a bear to culture, but….

And this would not be the first time that pandas attended state dinners at the White House…

I am only making some of this up. copyright 2012 -A. Belov

I am only making some of this up. copyright 2012 -A. Belov

And if you are not aware, this weekend we leave Daylight losing time behind, and get up one or earlier…or is it we go to bed later…Fall forward…spring back…heck…I don’t know. Let’s just have a pajama day and sleep in!

Bob explains daylight savings time to the panda kindergarten

spring back, fall forward?

And if you haven’t bought any stuff with pandas on it lately, now is a good as time as any!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Hey Why Not Vote 4 Bob Panda

Kung Fu Panda revisited

9 Replies

Oh me, oh my, Friday night I went to see Kung Fu Panda 3 and the bears did not disappoint! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, (and I strongly urge you to go right this minute) and you don’t want to read any spoilers, I suggest you skip this section and head on down to today’s ‘toon, so I don’t ruin the experience for you.

I have to admit, I was a fledgling Pandaholic when the first Kung Fu Panda movie came out, and to put it mildly, I was skeptical, if not downright dismissive of the idea. Then I went to see it and all I can say is WOW! Goofy, but lovable Panda Po aside, the movie is a visual treat and movie 3 was no exception.

The film team even visited the panda kindergarten and went to the Chimelong Panda reserve to meet the worlds first surviving panda triplets, Mengmeng, Shuaishuai and Kuku (also known as Pinky’s minions) and gave them a cameo role in the movie.

Po travels to his long lost, unremembered home with his real panda dad to gain the vital panda knowledge needed to fight this movies’ supremely evil villain, and in the process discovers his roots and a whole lot of (wait for it) adorable baby pandas, not to mention a female panda that appears to have studied at Babette de Panda’s charm academy for young pandas ladies.

I laughed, I cried, I gasped with amazement. I can’t end this review without mentioning the incredible lushness and visual excitement of this movie. As a fine artist (besides being a panda satirist) I love movies that capitalize on relevant art styles and references. Nods to traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, not to mention amazing color combinations and dynamic compositions make this movie an aesthetic, as well as a pandarific experience. If you can see it on a big screen, do it. Do it now.

And now, on with our Sunday feature ‘toon…

Huzzah! Pandas save the day!

Huzzah! Pandas save the day!

Hope you enjoyed today’s cartoon, and do go see Kung Fu Panda 3. Heck. see all of them again! I know that I will! and I bet Po will get an Oscar tonight for best panda in a dramatic role, don’t you think?

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Be the Bear

6 Replies

I just listened to an interview with the guy who played the grizzly in the movie The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and ahem…THE BEAR!!!!! Let me say right here that no matter how many well deserved Academy Awards this movie wins this weekend, I have no intention whatsoever of seeing this movie. This guy studied a lot of bear attacks, so he could…um…be the bear.

It was really interesting to hear about all of the preparation and mechanics/ technological magic that went in to making the scenes with the bear attack so realistic. If you’re interested, you might be able to catch the podcast on CBC’s Day Six.

However, I would never dream of boycotting movies containing …pandas. Um…KUNG FU PANDA 3!!! (which I have plans to see tonight!) 

So, in honor of both the bear (yay!!!!!) from The Revenant and the Kung Fu Pandas, here are some being the bear related cartoons for your Fabulous Furry Friday Fun!

"Is it a documentary?"

“Is it a documentary?”

Being the bears!

Being the bears!

Huzzah! Bring pandas to Washington State!

Huzzah! Bring pandas to Washington State!

Speaking of being mauled by bears...

Speaking of being mauled by bears…

Thanks again to Henry Nicholls for alerting me to this story

Thanks again to Henry Nicholls for alerting me to this story

And I’ll be sure to let you know what I thought of Kung Fu Panda 3 after I see it tonight. I bet is going to get an Oscar for best panda in a dramatic role!

Be the BEAR,
Bob T Panda

 

And Speaking of Baby Pandas…

4 Replies

What? Weren’t we speaking of baby pandas…? Well, with all these incredibly cute pictures of the adorable baby Bubba (aka Bei Bei) at the national Zoo this week, it is most difficult NOT to have baby pandas on the brain.

THIS is your brain on pandas. Any questions?

THIS is your brain on pandas. Any questions?

If there was a cute-o-meter installed at the exit to the panda house at The National Zoo in Washington DC, it would have broken under the strain of so much cuteness.

But Bubba is not the only American Panda to have ever trod the trail towards the bright lights of stardom. This week, Fabulous Furry Friday brings you highlights of some of our other favorite panda cubs!

"Howdy do! I'm Mr. Wu! Who are you?"

“Howdy do! I’m Mr. Wu! Who are you?”

For some reason, panda cubs are fascinated by fallen leaves…

"Wu calls his dance, 'Ode to a Weaf' "

“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “

And Pinky became her…um…pinkitudinal self very early…

Such a little darling! How could her big brother resist spoiling her?

Such a little darling! How could her big brother resist spoiling her?

And then there was the gender reclassification of the Meihem twins of Cublanta…

downloadable paper panda upgrade

downloadable paper panda upgrade

school uniforms for pandas

Ready for panda kindergarten!

So remember to check in with us on Sunday, when we bring you live coverage of Bubba’s debut to the public, which will actually be occurring the day before. Okay, okay, so it’s really not live. What can I say? We are a low budget operation here.

Keep being the bear, and buy stuff with pandas on it!
Bob T Panda

Happy New Year …

4 Replies

Happy New Year from The Institute of Contemporary Panda Satire!

Princess Pinky helps with new years resolutions

You say you want a resolution, well, you know, it is hard to change a bear….

Are you one of the resolution people?

Bob still likes to get out in the field once in a while.

Bob still likes to get out in the field once in a while.

…Or are you more the polar bear plunge type?

Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

See you on Sunday with a brand new ‘toon, when Pinky takes on the new zoo opening times!!!!!!!!

Day 31: The Ultimate 31 Days of Pandas Post

12 Replies

It has finally arrived! Day 31 of 31 Days of Pandas. As ever, I am grateful to all who have stuck it out, all who have commented, all who have embraced these pandas and welcomed them onto your screen. I am especially grateful to those of you who have bought my books and goodies from my Pandyland Cafe Press store! But mostly, I am grateful that you enjoy what I do here, and have chosen to return.

The life of a creative professional ( a term I am not entirely comfortable with, but it is the closest I can come to what it is I do) is a very uncertain one. Will anyone respond to my work? Will I make enough money to live? Should I have married a dentist, like my parents wanted? Will I have to endure one more family dinner with great Aunt Mildred telling me how successful her daughter is, and how she just bought a vacation home in Hawaii? And what was it you do, again?

I was reminded recently of Neil Gaiman’s commencement speech that he gave at MY alma mater, The University of the Arts,  in 2012.  It’s referred to as “the make good art” speech, and that sums it up. All I want to do is make good art, and maybe tell some good stories along with it. The video is about 20 minutes long, but well worth it. It’s inspiring as all get out! Go watch it. We’ll wait right here…

Meanwhile, it’s New Year’s eve at the panda kindergarten…

new years eve party, panda kindergarten

The panda kindergarten at their best…or is that worst?

And we still have to finish the 12 Days of Crispmoss…

On the twelfth day of Crisp-Moss, My Panda cam Did See....

On the twelfth day of Crisp-Moss, My Panda cam Did See….

MX: no, Pinky, you may NOT have a Bamboo-tini!

MX: no, Pinky, you may NOT have a Bamboo-tini!

I can't hear you....

I can’t hear you….

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

whew!

Everybody sing!

Everybody sing!

Be the Bear everyone, and let’s be careful out there!
Bob T. Panda

 

 

Day 30: Oh My Gosh We are Almost …

8 Replies

We are almost at the end of 31 Days of Pandas! I hope you had as much fun as I did traveling down memory lane and are looking forward to our regular schedule of new ‘toons every Sunday and Wednesday, and an encore presentation on Fabulous Furry Fridays! I can hardly wait!

OOOOO! Pinky is a star!

OOOOO! Pinky is a star!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

Almost done!

I, for one, am looking forward to a…um…backbreaking schedule of pandas, pandas, pandas in 2016, and I hope it is enough to save me from the debacle that the 2016 presidential election is sure to be. Whatever happens on the political front, you can be sure that princess Pinky, the Meihems, little Bubba, and all the other pandas will up the ante. Of course with the level of absurdity, (or as brilliant writer Jasper Fforde refers to it: The Stupidity Surplus) reality will be difficult to top.

well, until tomorrow,
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

 

Day 28: Will These Pandas Ever Go Away?

3 Replies

Gosh, we hope not! In fact, we are hoping for even more pandas to grace our fair shores.  As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, there are high level panda procurement talks happening between China and Washington state. All pseudo thumbs crossed for a panda invasion to my home sweet home state!

Meanwhile, pandas are waiting to sing the next verse of…

The Twelve Days of Crispmoss!

Oh no! Not again!

Oh no! Not again!

FIIIIIVE cuppycakes!

FIIIIIVE cuppycakes!

whew!

whew!

Keep Being the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Day 27: Countdown to the New Year Begins

16 Replies

Could it really be true? Could we be starting the countdown to the new year already?

Well, yes we could. In some ways the year flew by, and in other ways it was excruciatingly long. We have a new panda cub in Washington DC, twins in Toronto, and now the faintest glimmer of the possibility of pandas in the Pandacific Northwest. Huzzah!

And now, for the last new cartoon of the new year, I offer this, as my wish for the new year, probably guaranteed to delight and annoy, in equal measure. Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments, but I won’t post anything really mean or abusive. Other than  that, have at it!

Consider this my Werld Peez Pandifesto

Consider this my Werld Peez Pandifesto

No fairs unka bob, indeed!

Well, why the heck not?

Well, why the heck not?

Isn't that just the cutest thing?

Isn’t that just the cutest thing?

Vote for Pinky. Do YOU want to explain why you didn't?

Vote for Pinky. Do YOU want to explain why you didn’t?

Hey! Why NOT vote for Bob? Peace, prosperity, and buy stuff with pandas!
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Day 26: 31 Days of Pandas Continues

4 Replies

So did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

No, me neither. But right around the corner is a brand new year, all shiny and untouched by tragedy and meanness. A new year full of hope and possibility.

I had hoped to have some early sketches of my new work in progress, but I am not that far along yet. You can be sure that when I get there, I will be sharing it right here!

On January 3rd, I will go back to my regular schedule, so no more pandas every day, (boo! hiss!) BUT, two new ‘toons per week, plus encore presentations for Fabulous Furry Fridays (yay! Huzzah!) There’s something to be said for that, right?

So sit back and have some leftover fruitcake and get ready to sing along as 31 Days of Pandas brings you day 6 of the 12 Days of Crispmoss!

Oh…could you not sing while eating leftover fruitcake? Especially not with your computer’s webcam turned on… Ick!

HOW many more days are there?

HOW many more days are there?

whew!

Are you singing?

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for a brand new cartoon, starring all of your favorite pandas!  While this will be the last NEW ‘toon of the year,  I am already hard at work writing and drawing new cartoons starring all of you favorite pandas!  I hope I will see you all then!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda