Caricature is an effective illustration tool that graphic artists, as well as fashion designers, can use in the design of visual communication products such as magazines, posters, billboards, etc.

There are basically five types of cartoons. These are Gag, Comics, Cartoons, Editorials and Illustrative. Each of the types has its different uses in the field of visual communication.

i) Joke Cartoon

‘Gag’ literally means a ‘joke’. Joke cartoons are usually single panel cartoons used to create amusement about people in general. They create humor through the use of exaggeration. They are used as a means of entertainment. They are sometimes used to highlight and make fun of human failings or mistakes. Cartoons may be accompanied by a single sentence caption which may be the spoken words of a character.

ii) Comic strip cartoons

These types of cartoons appear as regular features with well-known or established characters in newspapers. They are portrayed in series to illustrate or tell a story. Each strip includes a series of panels with the words of the characters enclosed in a balloon. They are published together on one or two pages.

iii) Cartoons

This is a short, computer-drawn cartoon made to look as if it were drawn by hand. They are made in series to create the illusion of movement and action. They are used for cinematography and are produced on audio and video screens. To create animation, each successive drawing on a panel differs slightly from the first before it to represent the notion of movement.

iv) Editorial cartoons

This type of caricature is made for publication in newspapers. They appear on the editorial page as unique drawings used to shed more light on a newspaper’s editorial comment. They may appear with or without subtitles. Many editorial cartoons called caricatures make fun of famous people like politicians, musicians, etc. A caricature is a cartoon of someone exaggerating their appearance or behavior in a humorous way to create amusement.

They can also support the main editorial of the day or they can cover some other events in the news of the day. The cartoon below illustrates or supports an editorial on female genital mutilation.

v) Illustrative cartoons

Illustrative cartoons portray specific ideas in a straightforward and straightforward way. They help explain stories, teaching material or advertisements. They further explain the text that accompanies them. Books used in schools often have illustrative cartoons that help explain the topic or content. The following cartoon is an illustrative cartoon that advertises a product.