Rene A.

Aranda
The Phil. Star Chief Cartoonist
 Tip 1
Read up on current events and news. Being informed
of issues will help you conceptualize editorial
cartoons better.
 Tip 2
Always create Cartoons with readers in mind.
An editorial cartoon should neither be so
shallow that it merely serves as an illustration
of the editorial essay, nor it should be too
complicated that it cannot be understood by
the readers.
 Tip 3
Humor is a great vehicle in conveying your
message.Try to inject funny scenes or
situations as often as possible into your
cartoons.
 Tip 4
Although editorial cartoons are generally
humorous, avoid poking fun at tragic
situations especially those that entail loss of
innocent lives.
• Example: accidents that result in deaths.

• Editorial cartoons for these events should be

subdued and somber
 Tip 5
Political correctness is a must. Avoid
stereotyping along racial, gender and religious
lines.
• Example: Using commercial sex workers
especially women as symbols for HIV-AIDS and
other sexually transmitted diseases.
 Tip 6
Avoid executing editorial cartoons in manga
or anime style. Try to develop your own
distinct style. Remember that editorial
cartooning is a traditional art form and your
style should reflect your own culture.
 Tip 7
Avoid using talk balloons. Let your work speak
for itself. Remember, people who follow the
editorial pages are educated and intelligent
who need not be spoon-fed.
 Tip 8
If balloons can’t be avoided, make sure the
dialogue is witty and will enforce the message
of the cartoon. Don’t use the balloon to
portray the obvious.
• Example: You draw a character who’s in pain
and your balloon says “Ouch!”
 Tip 9
For the same reason, limit labels or captions to a
minimum.
• Example: You draw a caricature of Erap
and you label it “Erap”. It’s as if you
yourself are not convinces that you
drew Erap.
 Tip 10
Watch out for misspelled words or wrong grammar. It
may decide your cartoon’s fate in the judging proper.

 Tip 11
Avoid using oversized captions and labels. They have
the tendency to swallow the artwork itself
 Tip 12
Try using labels and captions by integrating them into
your artworks.
 Tip 13
You may also use graphs, charts and maps as aids in
editorial cartooning.
 Tip 14
Use symbols that have close affinity to the subject
matter being tackled.

 Example: Why use any other object to symbolize the dengue

menace when it could be easily represented by the mosquito?