Cartoon camp from down under returns to Edmonton after COVID-19 hiatus

An Australian company is back in Edmonton teaching kids how to draw cartoons for the first time since COVID-19. CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson reports.

Danny Cohen feels drawn to the northern hemisphere every summer.

COVID-19 kept the cartoonist in Sydney, Australia for years before he could return with his day camp for kids, Cartoon Kingdom.

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He’s the cartoon camp director currently on what he calls a “mini world tour,” bringing his artistic programs to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and then hopping across the pond to London.

From now until July 25, Cohen is teaching 20 kids out of Crestwood Community hall.

“My job is to take [the kids] away from all the electronic stuff and go back to the old school style of art and drawing,” he said. “And you know what? It’s good.”

It’s winter back home in Australia and all the kids are in school, which makes the northern hemisphere the perfect location for Cohen for running his camps year-round.

Cohen was the self-proclaimed “naughty” kid in school who made a career out of his artwork. He does cartoons, caricatures, works parties and events. When he’s not doing that, he’s right here, teaching kids how to unlock their creativity.

“[I] show kids how to become creative and convert their ideas … they’re drawing cartoons, they’re doing treasure hunts, they’re doing shaving cream battles,” he said.

The camp in Edmonton is running for five days for the first time since it was shut down in 2020. In that time, his students will throw boomerangs, draw Australian animals, have teddy bear picnics and more.

And while numbers are down because of the hiatus, Cohen still remembers the parents and kids who came before the pandemic.

“I come by myself, I’m leaving at home, my wife and my children … and when I see familiar faces, my heart melts,” he said.

“That makes me want to come back again and again. It’s the kids that make me come back.”

One of those pre-COVID kids is 13 now. It’s her second time coming to the camp in six years.

“It’s fun to make new friends … you get to just have fun,” she told CTV News Edmonton.

She appreciates the cartooning style as somebody who doesn’t draw a lot.

It’s Samina Kholmatova’s first time at camp. The nine-year-old had friends who helped her decide to “give it a go.”

“I learned lots of skills from Danny’s teaching,” she said.

Cohen has faith that word will get around and numbers will go back to normal as the camp starts running annually once again.

“I do these camps in 11 countries around the world, but I think Canada is my favourite,” he said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson