Behind the Hanoonies: The Creator’s Story
A Childhood Filled with Creativity
Hi, I’m Wayne, the creator of Hanoonies. I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, with a deep passion for illustration and drawing that started at a young age. Encouraged by my parents, I spent countless hours sketching everything that caught my interest—comic book heroes, cartoons, and my favourite characters like Batman, Sonic, and The Simpsons. For years, art was my escape, but as life moved on, it became more of a casual doodle habit rather than a serious pursuit.
A New Beginning Through Fatherhood
Everything changed in 2021 when my daughter was born. Wanting to create something unique for her, I picked up my pencils again and designed original characters for her bedroom walls—choosing my own creations over mainstream options like Peppa Pig. What started as a simple personal project reignited my love for illustration. Around the same time, I was made redundant during my paternity leave, which unexpectedly gave me more time to create. I even put together a “learn to write” book featuring my characters. It sold exactly one copy—to a friend :). But despite that, I loved the creative process and knew I wanted to keep going.
Balancing Passion and Career
When I returned to work as a Senior Project Manager, my passion project took a backseat. The job was demanding, and while I was good at it, it brought me more stress than fulfillment. By the end of 2023, I had reached a breaking point—frustrated, burnt out, and unhappy. Leaving that job was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but I knew I needed to find joy in what I did. And so, with no clear plan in sight, I turned back to my pencils.
The Birth of Hanoonies
For the first time ever, I was excited about a project that felt entirely my own. I wanted to build something bigger than just illustrations—I wanted to create a universe of characters that people could connect with. That’s how Hanoonies was born.
The Birth of Hanoonies
Even as I write this, doubts creep in. Will this ever become something real? The journey is filled with obstacles, and I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. But I take it one day at a time, learning as I go. I’m doing this alone, but with the incredible support of my amazing partner and daughter.
This is just chapter one of the Hanoonies story. Stick around—there’s so much more to come.