Mark Fiore ’91 created this illustration of CC then and now. Fiore, whose animated political cartoons appear on SFGate.com, the website of the San Francisco Chronicle, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for editorial cartooning. Fiore was a political science major at Colorado College.

It was the first time since the category of editorial cartooning was created in 1922 that the Pulitzer went to an artist whose work does not appear in print. The Pulitzer jury said Fiore’s “biting wit, extensive research, and ability to distill complex issues set a high standard for an emerging form of commentary” — online video cartooning. Like traditional editorial cartoons, his work pokes fun at politicians and societal hypocrisy, but Fiore delivers his messages in animated videos that last between 45 seconds and two minutes.

Fiore’s winning entry included “Science-gate,” which adopts the voice-over tone of a mudslinging political ad to lampoon skeptics of global warming. “Obama Interruptus” portrays the president as a focused orator despite the distracting realities of the world around him. “Credit Card Reform in Action” spoofs new credit-card regulations that are as confusing and loophole-laden as any credit card company’s signup brochure.

“What I really try to do is make it accessible, avoid the wonky, and have something to say,” Fiore said. “I’d rather get people thinking a little bit (first), then laughing. But ideally, do both.” See more here.

Fiore will deliver the Commencement address at Colorado College’s Commencement ceremony on May 23, 2011.