Cartoon Called Life is a unique and entertaining universe whose main hero is Bunny, a fun-loving, cute and sarcastic little character, sometimes goofy or a little naughty, obsessed with pizza and athletic bearded guys, and looking for the perfect boyfriend.
It all started back in 2013. And back then, everything was kept almost like a secret in a notebook. My boyfriend called me "my little bunny" and that's how I started to draw from time to time cartoons about him, my friends and our daily lives. They loved it, posted one sometimes on their Facebook profile, and even used it as their new profile picture. They were my only audience but we had a lot of fun.
Bunny became public on October 22nd, 2014, when Cartoon Called Life appeared for the first time on Instagram. I was not on Facebook so I thought Instagram was a nice way to share my work with friends, but also to a larger audience, people I don't know but who might like what I do.
It's in 2017 that the serious part started. What was just a fun activity on a rainy day took more and more space in my life. One of my friend who loved my work pushed me to give life to my hero and to publish a book with some of my favorite cartoons. After a long reflection and months of work, the first book of Cartoon Called Life was published in October 2017, then two years later a second book in October 2019, and now a third book, "Bunny's Cookbook", in December 2021. We have also launched CCL, a one-of-a-kind fashion brand, and I designed many other products, available in the e-shop. Everything is produced with high quality materials and in limited quantities to make sure every product remains unique.
In a few years, Cartoon Called Life had nine solo exhibitions in Lisbon (Portugal), Berlin (Germany), Paris (France), Antwerp and Brussels (Belgium), released hundreds of products I designed and made my art available to everyone.
I put a lot of time, passion, and fun in my work. I really hope you will enjoy Cartoon Called Life as much as I do.
Juraj STRAKA
the books
volume 3: bunny's cookbook
For this third book, the artist, designer and comic author Juraj Straka has decided to explore new horizons to offer something unique to Cartoon Called Life fans and the public. To do that, he teamed up with the Antwerp chef and food designer Alexander Sebregts. They worked together for months to create a unique cookbook, mixing delicious and original recipes with the fun, subtle and sometimes naughty humor of Cartoon Called Life.
BUNNY'S COOKBOOK is a beautiful, 324-page, full-color, square-bound, 17 x 17 cm, hardcover book. The book, available in English, features 21 menus covering almost every occasion of the year, with over 110 recipes, and 100 drawings and illustrations. Whether it's for a picnic or a date, a gay brunch or a cheat meal, or to celebrate Christmas or the Gay Pride, there is a menu for every occasion and recipes for all tastes.
volume 4: the rainbow year
Join Bunny on an unforgettable rollercoaster of emotions as he navigates through one year in his furry, fabulous life full of sarcasm, pizza, and bearded guys. This colorful retrospective of 10 years of Cartoon Called Life offers a glimpse into the comical quirks, relatable mishaps, and heartwarming celebrations of gay life that define each month, from painful spring dieting, through summer pride celebrations to the cozy chaos of the holiday season. Whether you are flipping through the pages to relive your year or simply looking for a good laugh, this book is sure to brighten every day of the rainbow year.
THE RAINBOW YEAR is the fourth book of Cartoon Called Life and will be published on 10 December 2023. It's a hardcover, 288-page book, with over 250 illustrations in full colors. The book is printed in Belgium on high quality shiny paper and is certified 'carbon neutral'.
volume 1: cartoon called life
CARTOON CALLED LIFE is the first book and was published in October 2017. It tells the life of a single bunny, obsessed with athletic bearded guys, and looking for his perfect boyfriend. The book depicts in a cheerful way moments, thoughts and feelings that enlivens our daily lives. Bunny is a funny and endearing, sarcastic and ironic, a little goofy, yet ultimately very “human” character that everybody can easily relate to.
After 4 years of increasing presence on social media and growing success online, it's the artist's first attempt to publish the adventures in a book. The successful outcome is a 252-page, hardcover book in a golden dust jacket, bringing together more than 200 illustrations created over the past four years, along with a series of new, unpublished artworks. The book is printed and bound in Belgium and holds the 100% climate-friendly label.
volume 2: bunny's new adventures
Bunny is back with brand new hilarious adventures based on his life in the gay world. This time, Bunny invites us into his unique universe and let you discover his fun and wonderful world through the most important themes in his life. Divided in 10 different chapters, such as "About Love", "About Art" or "About Daddies", you will know more about Bunny and his sexy friends. The book also includes Bunny's unique "Dick-tionary" in the chapter "About Reading".
BUNNY'S NEW ADVENTURES is the second book of Cartoon Called Life and was published in October 2019. It's a hardcover book with 288 pages of fun, over 200 illustrations in full colors, of which over half are new, never published creations. The book is printed in Belgium on high quality shiny paper and is certified 'carbon neutral'.
