How to draw cartoon strips• Features of comic strips• Character and perspective• Cartoon strips as stories• Types of cartoon strips• Punchlines• Facial expressions and cartoons• Steps in doing cartoon strips

Features of a comic stripSequence of drawings arranged in

interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative

Some characteristics include:1. Serialization. E.g. 1,2,3,42. Text in balloons3. Captions

Understanding cartoon strips: Character and perspectives

StoriesMain characteristics of history-based comic strips includeBackground: E.g. Piracy in the Caribbean. Attack shipMain Character: E.g. BlackbeardProblem: E.g. Blackbeard worked at being bad.Resolution: E.g. Give example of him being bad.Closure: E.g. Cut off fingers of someone for

psychological impact. Play mind games with victims Perspective of cartoonist: (E.g. First person or 3rd

person narrative): E.g. Historian telling story from 3rd person.

Pick out an interesting snippet of history that you find interesting

Types of cartoon stripsHumorous with punchlineInformation giving/ Story line

Thinking of punchlinesKinds of punchlines:1. The Hidden Element: The reader can see what the

character can’t. (Hock Lee Bus Riots/ NS Riots)2. The Reversal: Character says something

unexpected. (The Merger cartoon)3. The Understatement or Underreaction 4. The Exaggeration or Overreaction 5. Misunderstandings of words and intentions6. Illogical consequences (Reader or character did

not expect something to happen) or the logical consequence

Source: http://ersby.blogspot.sg/2013/01/a-list-of-punchlines.html

Where is the hidden element?

Where is the reversal? E.g. Character says something unexpected? Understatement?

Where is the exaggeration?

Where is the misunderstanding of words/ reactions?

Where is the logical sequence? Or illogical one?

Historical authenticity: What do you think?1 21

3 4 5

Thinking about your cartoon strip Main character:

name, race, occupation, leisure

Background / Setting

Problem

Resolution

Any other characters?

Thinking of cartoon facial expressions and actionsHappiness: Smile with

wide eyesSadness: Frown with

small eyesAnger: Frown with

slanted eyes and red face

Mischief: Grin and slanted eyes

Shock: Gaping mouth, wide eyes and several lines near characters’ forehead

Use of digital cartoonsClothes changes to show time change

Double images and setting to show movement