A design by Edzell primary seven pupil Robbie Burke has been chosen by V&A Dundee to represent it in this year’s Maggie’s Penguin Parade.

MAGGIE’S: As V&A Dundee reveals Bananaman Penguin, Caroline Lindsay discovers the story behind bringing the iconic character to feathered life

Any Beano fan will know who Bananaman is – a schoolboy called Eric Allan who transforms into a muscled, caped figure when he eats a banana.

Originally starring in the Dandy, the Beano adopted the character and he still appears every week.

Step forward Robbie Burke, a primary seven pupil at Edzell School. When V&A Dundee, one of the sponsors of Maggie’s Penguin Parade, invited pupils from local primary schools to submit their design for their mini-penguin to be used as the inspiration for V&A Dundee’s penguin, Robbie came up with the winning idea of having a Banana Penguin based on DC Thomson’s Bananaman.

The judging panel thought the fun design exemplified V&A Dundee’s support for local design and would be a popular addition to the Penguin Parade.

“I have always loved reading the Beano, especially Dennis the Menace,” says Robbie. “When I was about eight I was given a Beano subscription for Christmas and still receive the Beano annual as part of my Christmas presents.

“I followed the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail and went to the auction where I saw the Dennis the Menace version. So when the opportunity came around to design a penguin I had to do a DC Thomson character, and as Dennis had already been done before, I wanted to make it a Bananaman version, as he is my favourite character.

“I like how a boy, who is the same age as me, can transform into a superhero. I would love to be able to eat a Banana and transform into a superhero.”

The job of turning Robbie’s idea into reality fell to Chris Alexander, head of art, design and performing arts at Dundee and Angus College.

“I thought Robbie’s design was great,” enthuses Chris, whose career has seen him working across art, design, graphic art, model making and television design so he’s no stranger to 3D work.

“I grew up with Bananaman myself and it’s good to see him reimagined. When you spray-paint something with all the relevant areas masked off, you hope it works.”

The competition was also a chance for Robbie and his fellow pupils to learn more about the design process and see how a design evolves from the initial idea. Chris kept the school up to date with progress before they visited his studio earlier this week for the unveiling of the finished design and Robbie was blown away by Bananaman Penguin.

“It was good to be able to give my Bananaman penguin a hug,” he said.

For information, see www.maggies penguinparade.com; www.v&adundee; www.dundeeandangus.ac.uk