Carlos Latuff: A controversial cartoonist

Carlos Latuff is a well known Brazilian freelance cartoonist. Carlos Latuff has been recognized as a supporter of socialism, peace, secularism. Carlos Latuff has always condemned capitalist economic reforms, American intervention and has also contributed many cartoons on the Isareli-Palestinian issue. Many of his cartoons created controversies and provoked debates.

Carlos Latuff's latest cartoon commenting on US and Russia agreement on Syria issue. Courtesy Carlos Latuff's personal blog

Carlos Latuff 

Carlos Latuff is an anti establishment cartoonist. He has attacked imperialistic powers with his strokes and words. Latuff often criticizes Israel for its stand on Palestine; he refers Israeli government as the Neo-Nazi which focuses on finishing up their enemy violently and brutally. Latuff visited the Israel Palestine area in late 90’s which changed his view about the issue. Latuff drew many cartoons in his `We are all Palestinians’ cartoon strip series. In this series Latuff even criticized and exposed foreign interests of many leaders such as USA president George Bush, Birtish PM Tony Bliar, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Latuff got support from many freedom loving groups for this movement. For his criticism on Israel, Latuff has been criticized as an anti Jew.

Carlos Latuff has also worked extensively on the US-Iraq war issue. He ran ‘Tales of Iraq War` cartoon series in the newspapers, magazines and on his online blog. Latuff condemned how western powers are dominating their policies on Middle East.

Carlos publishes his cartoons on the independent media website and on his blog. His work also been picked by Brazilian publications like Mad, Le Monde Diplomatique and the The Toronto Star. Some Arab websites and publication such as Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (JAMI) magazine, the Saudi magazine Character, the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar also prints Carlo’s cartoons.

Mustafa Hussein: An artist from Egypt

Mustafa Hussein is an Egyptian cartoonist. After receiving a degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Mustafa Hussein decided to pursue his career in cartooning.  Not only concluding his career option on cartooning, Mustafa went to become painter, artist, and journalist. Mstafa’s work is so flawless that universities like Oxford and Cambridge have felicitated him with certificate of appreciation.

Mustafa Hussein published Caricature, a cartoon magazine with the help of his cartoonist friend Ahmed Toughan. Together, they worked on many issues. Working in a hardcore Islamic country like Egypt often caused him trouble. Recently, in his editorial cartoon in local Akhbar al-Youm, Mustafa Hussein made satirical comment on Salafi movement amongst Sunni Muslims. Local volunteers working for Salafi movement openly hacked publications website and threaten not to publish such comments and cartoons again.

Unemployment, Al Akhbar newspaper, 2007

Mustafa Hussein is least bothered about such reactions and working as per his capacity and creativity. Hussein has bagged many prestigious awards for his works, the Gold Award for Duke of Edinburgh, The Order of Distinction, First Class as well as the State Incentive Award.  Hussein has always received certificate of excellence by an award given by International Festival of Cinema.

Alan Moir: A visionary Australian cartoonist

 Alan Moir is a famous Australian cartoonist. Alan Moir born in 1945, in a small village in New Zealand made his way to Australia in early 70’s to get better career opportunities. Alan Moir worked for The Bulletein, Courier Mail publications and since year 1984 he has been the Chief Editorial Cartoonists for the Sydney Morning.

Alan Moir's cartoon on oil price hike in Australia using Popeye cartoon

Alan Moir has won many awards for his enormous contribution to the art cartooning. Moir has conquered "Australian Editorial Cartoonist of the Year" six times and ", a Churchill Fellowship in 1999, Walkley award for Political Cartooning in 2000 and 2006 and the UN Award for Political Cartooning in 2004. Moir has several times used Popeye cartoon in his editorial cartoons for central figure to convey message.

Alan Moir

 Alan Moir has been taking secular and liberal stands with his cartoons by which is got international fame.  His cartoons now are in private collection of UN former Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Moir has also written many novels. Currently, Alan Moir is living a peaceful life with his family in Sydney. 

Master of all arts: Antonio Mingote

It is said that a picture speaks more than thousand words. It simply states that through a picture one can give more effective message but what happens when words and picture are equally effective?  Answer is magic. Mingote created such magic through his art. Antonio Mingote was a cartoonist, a journalist, an author, a theater person, and director of an animation film, an actor and what not.  Antonio Mingote like bigwig artist has contributed to Spanish artworks by all means.

Don Antonio Mingote Barrachina took birth on 17 January 1919. Antonio Mingote, popularly known as Mingote spent his childhood days in Daroca, Catalayud, Teruel and Zaragoza. Antonio Mingote took admission to study Philosophy and Arts at the University of Zaragoza, which he left in 1944 to settle in Madrid.

 In 1946, Antonio Mingote began his professional career with the then most popular weekly graphic humor magazine “La Codorniz”. After joining Antonio Mingote soon published his first novel, “Las palmeras de carton”. Antonio Mingote also edited the humorous magazine called “Don José”. In 1953, Antonio Mingote started working in “ABC news” the oldest and third largest (in Spain) Spanish newspaper. He was famous for his satirical and ironic stands which reflected from his cartoons.

Antonio Mingote designed sets and costumes for the musical comedy show “Ven y ven Eslava”; he did not stop here, he was also the artistic director for the 2002 animated film “Puerta del tiempo”.  “La Venganza de don Mendo” was very famous show in Spain, scenery and costumes of the show were brainchilds of Antonio Mingote.

Cartoon related to the 1962 NASA expeditions By Antonio Mingote

Antonio Mingote art work beautifully captured centuries of change in Spanish society, living habits. His cartoons were critical but they were not skeptical. Antonio Mingote used more ink and stronger lines in his cartoons to give kind of impact the message demanded as noted down by his art critics. Antonio Mingote employed sharper outlines with clearer strokes to portray exact character. Antonio Mingote was master of words as well as lines. Throughout his lifetime he achieved numerous awards like Gold Medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, Knight's Cross of the Order of Isabella la Católica, National Journalism Award, Gold Medal for Merit in Work, Quevedos Spanish-American Prize for graphic humour Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts.   Antonio Mingote passed away in 2012 leaving legacy of not only cartoons but creative artwork.

Kari Soumalainen: A fine Finnish cartoonist

 If a person has very good experience, in depth knowledge and knows the art of convincing his opinions then that person most likely to be taken seriously than others.  Power centers seek comfort level to that person and avoid conflict; if power centers fail to do this then they just try to shut him/her up.  When Finish cartoonist Kari Soumalainen, exposed The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics then USSR did every possible thing to silence his art.

Kari Soumalainen started to work for the newspaper called Helsingin Sanomat in 1951. This newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat was under political censorship by the Russian authorities, prompted by the paper's strong advocacy of greater Finnish freedoms and even outright independence. Kari Soumalainen was famous for comments on the social happenings by skillfully using stereotypes and letting people feel mighty things as common by his cartoons. He tried to reduce power distance by cartoons. For an example USSR who was dominant world power, considered as the second world that used to bully Finland in her policies. Kari Soumalainen in many of his cartoons showed fallacy in USSR approach toward small region like Finland.  TIME magazine praised this Kari Soumalainen‘s effort by commenting following thing for an article dedicated to his work,`( Kari Soumalainen ‘s cartoons) set Finland's political leaders to quaking in their boots, and delighted his countrymen by seeing Red with a sharp satiric eye.’ . Kari Soumalainen when got commended for this work he said that it was his duty to be an anti-communist.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Finland was beginning a new era in its history without any restrictions from the east specially USSR.  Kari criticized very strongly on the decision to open doors to immigrants and war refugees, Somalis in particular (he drew them in a fashion that left little doubt of his opinions concerning blacks in general and Somalis in particular).

Kari Soumalainen‘s cartoons changed the way people looked at the political parties in Finland. Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland; was his favorite model to draw cartoon on.  Kari Soumalainen man of principles stopped drawing cartoons on him when Urho Kaleva Kekkonen became president in 1956 by abiding "unwritten law" forbidding caricaturing the president.

(translation)You can no longer travel safely in this city. Context is missing. You can spot two of Kari's signature cartoons right corner, walking on the street.

In his professional career, Kari Soumalainen left the main stream publication for ideological difference with their editorial line. Kari Soumalainen started working for local publication. Kari Suomalainen also wrote crime stories. He authored a book which features three short stories about inspector Wilson that were published in the Finnish pulp magazine, Lukemista Kaikille. Later Kari Suomalainen’s cartoons became monotonous and old fashioned as per his critics. However Kari Suomalainen was brilliant in peak professional time, he has set moral, ideological guidelines for future Finnish artists. Not only Finland but world will remember his contribution to Finnish patriotism. 

Jean Plantureux: A Peace Loving Cartoonist

Decision making plays very important role in a life. Many eminent personalities in the world took different profession in their early phase and changed it after realizing their talent and achieved remarkable position.  Jean Plantureux famous cartoonists from France also chose medical line on his parent’s advice. Later he changed by recognizing an art within him; he became a cartoonist.  Now today he has 3 postal stamps designed for charity, PhD theses on his work done, cartoons published by UNESCO and number of exhibitions around the world.

Jean Plantureux working on cartoons

Jean Plantureux after leaving the medical course, took admission in `Institut Saint-Luc’ an arts school in Brussels, Belgium for a drawing course. Jean Plantureux , also known by professional name 'Plantu', took a course of three years in the art school but could complete only three months due to money problem. Jean Plantureux (Plantu) discovered his passion and liking for political satirical cartoons in this period. Plantu approached several papers to give him a job, finally he got job in `Le Monde’, a French newspaper.  

Jean Plantureux's first cartoon

Jean Plantureux’s (Plantu) first professional published drawing was a peace dove having a question make in its beak. That picture was in the context of Vietnam War and peace talks that were on hold at the time. Jean Plantureux always advocated peace through his cartoons.  Mr. Plantu is a strong advocate of the freedom of speech but he says when my cartoon might led to burning places and danger to many lives then I must think before publishing.

1991 was the peak point of Jean Plantureux’s career when he did which many cartoonists can only dream of.  Mostly editorial cartoons create controversies and fights, but by Jean Plantureux’s cartoon, commenting and advocating peace for Israel and Lebanon, created history.  Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli foreign affairs minister Shimon Peres both signed on cartoon drew by Jean Plantureux. From then peace talks began smoothly.

‘The Political Significance of the Cartoons of Plantu (1972-2000)’ is a French thesis paper written on Jean Plantureux cartoons.  French postal service came up with 3 postal stamps designed by Jean Plantureux. French postal department wanted to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières, an international humanitarian organization; so they published 3 stamps designed by Jean Plantureux.  It worked well.

Now after achieving so much in cartooning, Jean Plantureux wants to take his art to the every loop and corner of the world.  Jean Plantureux took an initiative to arrange first international conference of news cartoonists to help cartoonists all over the world to work better.

Man can be understood by his beliefs.  Jean Plantureux said in one of his interviews that we cartoonists should show the reader that we respect their beliefs. I think cartoonists should stop thinking they can be anarchists - they should think of themselves as drawing journalists and be aware of their responsibilities.  I admire provocateurs but you've got to be clever and know how far you can go. This is enough to know the greatness of Jean Plantureux.

Chris Slane: A New Age Cartoonists

Till now, we have seen old school cartoonist who only used to draw cartoons and in magazines, newspapers but today we are going read about new age cartoonists who is not only a editorial cartoonist but also an author, a storyboard artist, a puppet artist, an illustration artist and a comic creator. I am talking about Chris Slane, a cartoonist from New Zealand.

Christ Slane

Chris took Bachelor of Town Planning degree from the University of Auckland. He used to contribute for the student magazine ‘Craccum’. Mr. Slane was fascinated by the War Picture Library and the Disney artwork by Mr. Bark. Slane used to visit his classmates house which was full on British War comics, his friend got bored but Slane continued to visit and enjoyed the art. Slane was so mesmerized by the artwork; he said in his one of interview that, “I spent hours in there looking at the great detailed art”.

Slane’s cartoons have been appearing in the NZ Listener magazine since 1991. He worked for many comic books like 'Maui: Legends Of The Outcast’, which tells a story of a mythological character popular in New Zealand ', 'Nice Day For A War: Adventures of A Kiwi Soldier in WW1’ which tells the war story in comical and interesting way

Nice day for a war comic by Slane and Elliott

, Maori history, legends and a contribution to Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars Tales. Slane also co-creator of the puppet troupe 'Hands Up', Slane wrote, constructed and performed satirical items for Television New Zealand's 'Tonight Show', designed and performed puppet characters for the children's series 'Space Knights' as mentioned on his website, www.slane.co.nz.  Slane has also contributed to the field by writing an essay named, "The Role of Cartoons in Town Planning". Slane first did cartoons for New Zealand Privacy Commissioner where his father was working; he now also draws for big corporations like Microsoft who are very keen about privacy policies.

When someone questions him about relativity of his cartoons he answers,’ People enjoy the act of recognition. It's about simplifying reality, taking out the essential elements and reproducing them. I think that's in all art – something we recognize that we're hard-wired to appreciate’. Slane who credits his experience in the field for the successful survival over the years in different areas related to media, frankly tells, he started his career in New Zealand when change was happening in the media. This boosted his career. Now Slane presents his cartoon to millions virtual viewers online, he has separate Facebook Page for all his major works in comics,he communicates via twitter(@Slanecartoons), a website and a blog. He even gives opportunity to purchase his art work online. These all things surely make him a new age cartoonist.

Chris Slane Cartoon on Whistle -Blower Act

Do you think presence on all the media is major factor of Slane's success?