2015 in cartoons

Before we leave 2015 behind here is my wistful look back at my favourite topical/silly cartoons of the year.

1. If at first you don't succeed (January)
Some ancient Scottish history to start the year coupled with a familiar tablet gag.



2. Broadchurch and the Gingerbread man (January)
After lemmings gingerbread men are one of my favourite things to draw in cartoons.
3. Terrible Tory tales about the SNP (April)
I must have drawn half a dozen or more cartoons around the UK General Election and this is the only one I thought hit the mark.

4. Father Ted caricature
I drew quite a few celebrity caricatures this year from Thor to Greg Wallace but since I had to select just one it would be this.

5. Overreacting
A chemistry cartoon for the competition.

6. OK Corral Bake-off
Talking of competitions this is the one cartoon that won this year in CCGB public forum competitions.

7. Greece - the end is Nigh
Before the refugee crisis and terrorism atrocities Greece was the big story at the start of the year with every week deemed to be the end of the the Greek economy/the EU until all of a sudden it dropped out the news when it was sort of resolved.

8. Star Wars VII
The big entertainment news of the year was J J Abrams Star Wars The Force Awakens and whether he would be take it in another direction or not.

9. Davis Cup
With Team GB's run to the final via Glasgow I found myself doing lots of tennis cartoons and caricatures.   While I was pleased with the likenesses of the team I captured (which I shared alot) I quite like this post tournament comment about how the legacy needs to be managed.  Thankfully recently the LTA has been making the right sort of noises about the future.

10. Drone Santa
And to round us off a Christmas cartoon with drones.

So Happy New Year and we'll see what 2016 throws up.

Mutiny on the Board Game

Like many families we have a Christmas holiday board game tradition and like many families it is not always the non-digital nirvana it promises to be especially with more complicated games.  The trick is not exhausting everyone's patience before you even begin the game and if you discover you didn't entirely understand the rules in the middle of the game keep quiet until the end.

Boxing Day Bins

Apart from turkeys, bins must suffer the most at Christmas.  Never in their history are glass bins so full or is there quite so much cardboard with a whole week before they collect it but the good old gardening waste bin feels fine.

Shepherd Spoilers

A new Christmas cartoon referencing the recent obsession with not giving away any plot details of certain record breaking blockbuster releases that I haven't seen yet (don't tell me anything).

Also as an extra special Christmas treat I clumsily hacked together a Youtube video of how I made this image in Manga Studio which you can see below


Of course there are plenty of other shepherd cartoons of mine you could view including this one about Shepherds watching facebook by night.

Tim Peake Christmas

When I was a boy I wanted to be an astronaut but always thought it was impossible because only Americans and Russians were astronauts.  Now Tim Peake, former Army Air Corps pilot, is orbiting the earth as an ESA astronaut representing the UK and inspiring a new generation of kids that space isn't beyond them.

Here is Tim Peake and my three wise men.

Amazon is the new Santa

This one is based one a true story told to me by a work colleague but it rings true with anyone trying to maintain the mystery of Santa while ordering online.

Strangely enough this is not my first Amazon and Santa cartoon there have been several:

• Santa vs Amazon based on Roy Lichtenstein's Whaam painting.
• Super Saver Christmas
• Lazy Santa
• and the latest Drone Santa has Amazon-ish drones

Drone Santa

Another advent drone Santa cartoon - if you can't beat them join them (except the reindeers might not be happy!).  Here was my previous Lichtenstein inspired Santa vs Drones

Davis Cup GB Legacy

A day after the historic GB Davis Cup victory Andy Murray had some fairly strong words for the LTA about not squandering all the goodwill from the Davis Cup victory and saying 'I don't like wasting my time' in talking to the LTA.

Davis Cup Final Magnificent Seven

And so it came to pass in a thrilling three set match against David Goffin Andy Murray did win the Davis Cup for Team GB and there was much rejoicing and rewatching of that final point/fantastic lob and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon did declare the next day to be St Andy's day.

However in addition to the ever impressive Andy Murray there were of course the rest of the team Jamie Murray, Kyle Edmund, James Ward, Dom Inglot and Dan Evans.  Also everything I have read about Leon Smith this week has convinced me that he should SPOTY coach of the year.

Here was my winner montage.  I also did a picture of players lifting the huge dalek trophy which they never did (they just lifted the cup).

So thats our tennis for 2015 then.

Davis Cup Movie Posters

Here is a spoof High Noon poster I did for the opening match of the 2015 Davis Cup singles match between Kyle Edmund and David Goffin.  As it was Kyle Edmund got off to an unbelievable debut start winning the first two sets before Goffin gained control of the match took it to 5 sets and delivered the point for Belguim.

Then tonight I reworked my Andy and Jamie Murray caricatures into a spoof Double Impact poster for tomorrow's critical showdown.  When I saw them in Glasgow they were awesome.

After I did it I realised Jean-Claude van Damme was the Mussels from Brussels.

Davis Cup Final

With the end of season Davis Cup final between Belgium and Great Britain due to begin this Friday here is my caricature of Steven Darvis and Andy Murray to get us all ready for a brilliant atmosphere and lots of yelling.  It will have to go some way to beat the atmosphere I witnessed in the Glasgow semi-final but even with it effectively being an away tie it should be a good spectacle to watch and like all tennis ties I'm sure it will be a roller coaster as well.

For more tennis cartoons you can see Team GB's semi final portrait here and a really old Wimbledon Andy Murray 2013 joke here.

Turkey Advent

Christmas is coming and Turkeys are thinking of advent calendars!

Of course Cartoonsidrew has a history of turkey cartoons including last years Jurassic Turkey and Funny Thanksgiving Turkey.  I also like Advent calendar cartoons like my No Self Control Advent Calendar.

iPad Pro For Christmas

For the CCGB competition.  Heres what I would love for Christmas an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil.

Windows 10

Windows 10 cartoon which to be fair could be about any new release of Windows when you can’t get compatible drivers.  Remember a scanner is for life not just for Vista

Bond and the Investigatory Powers Bill

I watched Spectre today which is a good if slightly familiar Bond movie with an evil plot to monitor all internet traffic at the same time as Teresa May's is trying to introduce the Investigatory Powers Bill a piece of terrible, ill-thought out, technologically illiterate legislation.
  Under the guise of preventing terrorism there have been proposals to store all browsing history for the UK intelligence agencies to peruse and measures to try and circumvent encryption used by many programs including iMessage and WhatsApp.  The central premise seems to be that terrorists won't be tech savvy enough to find other ways of encrypting any computer message and the UK government can police the entire tech sector into complying with its demands.  It places an additional burden on technology companies to introduce back doors that while intended for only good guys to look at could be exploited by criminals or hackers.
  Still at least Bond will know what Blofeld watches on Youtube.

That's no Twitter Star

Earlier this week Twitter changed it's star favouriting to a heart so I drew this Star War themed cartoon.

Bonfire Night Infinite Loop

Bonfire Night infinite loop as it occurred in our house tonight.

Star Wars vs Star Trek

As CBS announce a new Star Trek series for 2017 we can all get ready for a Star Wars vs Star Trek battle for whose fans are most excited about the future.

If you're into Star Wars I should recommend the previous cartoon about George Lucas and Star Wars VII and if you're more into Star Trek there is this Star Trek Apprentice parody.

Star Wars VII The Final Battle

As Star Wars VII (The Force Awakens) is readied to be released I imagine J J Abrams patrols the corridors trying to stop this sort of scenario where a rogue Jar Jar Binks may be added or other unnecessary CGI.  I do have hope for Star Wars VII but anyone who lived through the Phantom Menace has been scarred and is just holding back until we see it.

I have done other cartoons about Star Wars VII including the Spheros BB8 toy and the state of the corridors in the mucky Millenium Falcon.

The Terrifying Tale of the Costume and the Artist Dad

Here is the scariest tale I could imagine as a creative based on my experience of trying to steer my children towards what I would like to make so I can share it on social media.

If you liked this story you may like Kitchen Ronin the story of Samurai kitchenware.

Back To The Future Day Part Two

Here comes the sequel to my Back To The Future Day cartoon for the CCGB competition.  I'm hoping BTTF buffs get the references and it gave me a chance to sketch the current state of the art hover boards which don't hover (the ones that do actually hover need a certain surface to hover over).

Back To The Future Day

21st October 2015 is Back To The Future day the day in Back To The Future II that Marty McFly and 'Doc' Brown  go to in the future from 1985 in their 88mph DeLorean.
  It's also a day the media and Internet care about as they can run stories about how the predicted future doesn't quite marry up to reality (except in Kickstarter).
  I was 16 (only one year behind the age Marty McFly was meant to be) when BTTF2 came out and so I take future they painted as a sort of promise to my generation.  Where are our hoverboards that fly anywhere?  Where are our flying cars and hydrating pizzas.  Back in the 1980s I had a watch with a computer in it a Casio calculator watch which I accidentally took into my Arithmetic O-Grade exam so I can hardly imagine that Apple iWatch is the pinnacle of what we can achieve as a technological society.  Back in 1985 the seminal Super Mario Bros was released and 30 years on I'm still playing 8-bit retro games like Crossy Road, Terraria and now they've released Mario Maker.  At least in the 1980s we were coming out of a Cold War with Glasnost and the Berlin Wall coming down now we've heading in the opposite direction.
  Still I enjoyed Back To The Future and unlike most people I've spoken to I even enjoyed Back To The Future III perhaps because I saw it with three generations of Frasers.
  Happy Back To The Future day when the right Pacific time zone rolls around.

Great British Bake Off Final

I know it's finished now but I wanted to post my GBBO final caricature here with Dr Tamal, deserved winner Nadiya and "new man" Ian who has the same hair style as me.

13.4 million viewers watched it making it the most watched TV programme of 2015 so far.

Modern Holidays

Holidays in the 21st century invariably lead to complaints of lack of Wi-fi, TVs with too few channels and a general lack of home comforts when we arrive at our destinations.  Me I like buckets and spades as much as I love tablets and computers.

Curiosity and water on Mars

Last Monday NASA announced they had found evidence of liquid water flows on Mars today and being a lazy topical cartoonist I have drawn something nearly a week later.

What NASA announced after teasing a "major mystery" of Mars had been solved is strong evidence that dark streaks on the surface are likely caused by seasonal flows of water.

This was discovered by studying dark streaks on slopes (known as "recurring slope lineaeae" or RSL) that were seen to come and go in the Martian summer.  The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter used its Crism instrument to analyse the chemistry of these streaks using spectroscopy and detected hydrated salts.  So not direct detection of water but a strong indication that salty water is flowing on Mars.

However NASA's Curiosity Rover won't be heading over to investigate because even if it could climb the steep slopes it has not been sterilised to the correct degree to be allowed into any areas where life could exist for fear of contamination.  So the scenario painted in this cartoon will probably not be allowed if there was deep water, aliens and a supply of swimming aids on Mars.

If you liked this cartoon I have had other space toons on the reality show that is Mars One, Voyager 1 not leaving the Solar System and the future of NASA's manned spaceflight.

Davis Cup Aftermath

After a weekend of TeamGB Davis Cup action against Australia its back to normal on Monday with a thump!  On Saturday we were incredibly lucky to have tickets to see the doubles match of Andy and Jamie Murray vs Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth.  It was a five set roller-coaster ride of raw nerves which was so much more intense for being in the Emirate stadium and seeing the sheer relief and joy of the GB players and crowd at the final result.  It must rank as one of the best tennis matches I've ever watched and certainly the best doubles match I've witnessed.

Afterwards I did feel a little sorry for Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth who gave it their all in what was a pretty even fight.  It is likely to be Lleyton's last Davis Cup tie before he retires after the Australian Open in 2016 but given the way he played you never know.  It's a bit sketchy but here's a wee doodle  I did of them after the match

On the Sunday Andy Murray despite playing the previous two days wrapped up the tie with a reverse singles victory over Tomic and everyone could start thinking about Belgium in November.  Yet before then we have to come down from our sporting high and work through the intricacies of normal working life.

I experienced it before in Glasgow after the Commonwealth games when the closing ceremony finished and the Commonwealth banners, cars and statues disappeared (some stolen) it felt like the day after the Christmas holidays when you know its January and its a long long time til Santa visits again.  Here is the cartoon I did last July called Commonwealth Legacies.

ps. This was more first live Tennis event (I've been to plenty other sports) and an hour or so in I felt very middle class tut-tutting at the inconsiderate types shuffling around when it wasn't the appropriate time to do so (and in Andy Murray's eye line as well!).

GB Davis Cup Team

I gave myself a challenge to digitally draw/paint all the members of the GB Davis Cup team ahead of the Semi Final vs Australia in my home city of Glasgow.  It isn't the first time I've drawn Andy Murray (see here from 2013) but its the first time I've attempted Jamie Murray, Dom Inglot and Dan Evans the other GB players.

New Apple TV

Watched today's September Apple special event streamed from San Francisco.  Afterwards I drew this cartoon about the new Apple TV with Siri support and apps to with some suggestions from my wife.

Overall I thought:

• Apple thinks alot of doctors use their products
• Apple Watch still very much a luxury purchase
• Bigger iPad Pro looks very nice but expensive (surely it can't get bigger than bigger)
• Microsoft are going to be miffed if iPad Pro is a success and Surface bombs given they had external keyboards, pressure sensitive stylus and big price tag first.
• Apple still thinks 10 hours is a day (see previous Apple watch cartoon)
• Apple Pencil could be good or could be like all those other stylus I have thought were going to be great that ended up in my drawer unused.  Wacom may be worried this is muscling in on their Cintiq territory but desktop software is still better than what iOS apps offer at the moment IMHO.
• Apple TV is trying to become a console with its app store offering games.
• I don't know anyone who will want to shop for luxury clothes on an Apple TV
• Talking to your TV is going to feel stupid for a while and chaotic when the whole family can do it.
• If 3D touch on Apple Phone 6S is revolutionary Android will soon do something similar for less.  Also everyone is going to call it Force Touch because its way funnier and you can use it for Star Wars references.
• Nobody needs an emergency selfie unless they are being murdered and want to be avenged.
• I'm glad U2 didn't show up although the audience didn't look like they were the sort to get up and boogie to a rock band anyway.
• Jonathan Ive thinks everything Apple produces is revolutionary.

New Star Wars Toy (Sphero BB-8)

Friday say the release of the Sphero BB-8 droid toy to coincide with the new Star Wars film coming at Christmas.  Many boys, men and men-boys will be looking for this awesome robo-gadget in their stocking.

ps. If anyone wants to send me one for free for evaluation or to make an unboxing Youtube video that would be fine I can guarantee at least 10 views (I think).

Elephants Never Forget

Cartoons about a well know saying "An elephant never forgets".  Elephants do have impressive memory particularly the matriarchs who can recall old friends and enemies as well as places they have been.

Kitchen Ronin

This is the sort of cartoon strip you draw when you are reading James Clavell's Shogun while wondering about Tupperware.

Sisyphus and the Fitness Tracker

A bit of Greek mythology for all those who have fitness trackers.  Sisyphus is of course the legendary king of Ephyra whose eternal punishment was to constantly roll a boulder up a hill and watch it roll down again in some sort of infinite loop.

For other modern takes on mythological characters check out my police siren cartoon.

Five Stages of Davis Cup Ticket Buying

I drew this while (unsuccessfully) trying to buy Davis Cup Semi Final tickets for Glasgow on the TicketFactory website.  The Mission Impossible/Bomb countdown would be quite exciting if it wasn't for the fact that when you fail you loose whatever tickets you had reserved and have to go back and compete for worse ones.

Computer Dating Disaster

Siri Says

Was trying Siri on the iPad last night and thinking about how much trust we play in omniscient digital assistants.  Soon children (and parents) will consider Siri/Cortana/Google such an authority that it will be a factor in family decisions or so Siri reckons.  Anyway have to go Siri's reminding me of something she needs me to do...

For more examples on how new technology shapes our lives heres an older cartoon on predictive texting.

Steve Coogan

Caricature of the great Steve Coogan.  Like another of my TV comedian caricatures (Dermot Morgan) I ended up with a slightly pensive/sad expression.

Google Alphabet

Today Google announced a surprise restructure with a new company Alphabet a holding company that will own subsidiaries including Google, Nest, Fiber and others.  Aside from the financial/business concerns you have to worry about Google taking over the word Alphabet given the way it used as a global repository of knowledge.

Zombies

This is my first Zombie cartoon but not my first about people staring at phones which is becoming a new popular modern cartoon subject.