Martin Handford
Encyclopedia
Martin Handford is an English children's author
and illustrator
who gained worldwide fame in the mid-1980s with his Where's Wally?
creation (known as Where's Waldo? in North America).
Handford began drawing as a child, making stick figures on paper. His inspiration to draw such figures came from classic films and the toy soldiers he played with during that era.
As an adult, Handford worked for three years in an insurance office to pay for his degree at art college. After graduating, Martin worked as a freelance illustrator specialising in drawing crowd scenes for numerous clients.
In 1986, Handford was asked by his art director at Walker Books to draw a character with peculiar features so that his pictures of crowd had a focal point. After much thinking, he came up with the idea of "Wally", a world traveller and time travel aficionado who always dresses in red and white. Wally was joined on most of his travels by a girlfriend who wore clothes with the same colours as Wally's, and by an evil character named Odlaw (Waldo spelled backwards) who dresses in yellow and black.
Handford became a minor celebrity with the success of Where's Wally?. The Where's Wally? trademark sold in 28 different countries. Beginning in 1987, Handford produced a total of six "classic" Where's Wally? books, but his character was branched out into other products, such as notebook
s, pillow
s, poster
s, video games and many others. There was even a syndicated comic strip as well as an animated TV series.
Handford is a methodical and diligent worker. Sometimes it would take him up to eight weeks to draw a two-page sketch of the equally reclusive "Wally" and the characters surrounding him.
The Where's Wally? books were published in the UK by Walker Books
and in the US under the title Where's Waldo? first by Little, Brown and Company
before being taken on by Candlewick Press
(Walker Books' American subsidiary publishing company). The first four titles were originally printed in Italy, but later reprinted in China.
A film based on the Where's Wally? series of books was planned for filming in 2005 by Nickelodeon Movies
but was cancelled due to a management change at Paramount Pictures
.
In 2007, Handford sold the rights to Where's Wally? to the Entertainment Rights Group
, the world's biggest independent owner of children's brands.
The style of art executed by Handford is probably the most famous example of "WimmelBilderBuch
" drawings, originally popularised by Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Brueghel the Elder
and Hans Jürgen Press
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
who gained worldwide fame in the mid-1980s with his Where's Wally?
Where's Wally?
Where's Wally?, published in the United States and Canada as Where's Waldo?, is a series of children's books created by British illustrator Martin Handford. The books consist of a series of detailed double-page spread illustrations depicting dozens or more people doing a variety of amusing things...
creation (known as Where's Waldo? in North America).
Handford began drawing as a child, making stick figures on paper. His inspiration to draw such figures came from classic films and the toy soldiers he played with during that era.
As an adult, Handford worked for three years in an insurance office to pay for his degree at art college. After graduating, Martin worked as a freelance illustrator specialising in drawing crowd scenes for numerous clients.
In 1986, Handford was asked by his art director at Walker Books to draw a character with peculiar features so that his pictures of crowd had a focal point. After much thinking, he came up with the idea of "Wally", a world traveller and time travel aficionado who always dresses in red and white. Wally was joined on most of his travels by a girlfriend who wore clothes with the same colours as Wally's, and by an evil character named Odlaw (Waldo spelled backwards) who dresses in yellow and black.
Handford became a minor celebrity with the success of Where's Wally?. The Where's Wally? trademark sold in 28 different countries. Beginning in 1987, Handford produced a total of six "classic" Where's Wally? books, but his character was branched out into other products, such as notebook
Notebook
A notebook is a book or binder composed of pages of notes, often ruled, made out of paper, used for purposes including recording notes or memoranda, writing, drawing, and scrapbooking....
s, pillow
Pillow
A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows , which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort...
s, poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
s, video games and many others. There was even a syndicated comic strip as well as an animated TV series.
Handford is a methodical and diligent worker. Sometimes it would take him up to eight weeks to draw a two-page sketch of the equally reclusive "Wally" and the characters surrounding him.
The Where's Wally? books were published in the UK by Walker Books
Walker Books
Walker Books is an independent British publisher of children's books, founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker.The success of their Where's Wally? series enabled them to expand into the American market, starting a sister company called Candlewick Press in 1991.Amelia Edwards, co-founder of Walker Books,...
and in the US under the title Where's Waldo? first by Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
before being taken on by Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press, established in 1991 and located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is the American division of the British publisher Walker Books Ltd....
(Walker Books' American subsidiary publishing company). The first four titles were originally printed in Italy, but later reprinted in China.
A film based on the Where's Wally? series of books was planned for filming in 2005 by Nickelodeon Movies
Nickelodeon Movies
Nickelodeon Movies is the motion picture production arm of children's cable channel Nickelodeon, originally launched in 1995. Its first film was Harriet the Spy. It has produced films based on Nickelodeon programs, as well as other adaptations and original projects...
but was cancelled due to a management change at Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
In 2007, Handford sold the rights to Where's Wally? to the Entertainment Rights Group
Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights Plc was a global media company. Its main role was in children and family television programming.The group was established in 1989 as Sleepykids. In 1999 it become entertainment rights and was focused on the creation and exploitation of major children's characters and brands...
, the world's biggest independent owner of children's brands.
The style of art executed by Handford is probably the most famous example of "WimmelBilderBuch
WimmelBilderBuch
A Wimmelbilderbuch is a special kind of picture book, distinct from other large format picture books. It usually has "fold-out" pages and abundant images of richly detailed humans, animals and things, from which the name of "Bilderbuchart" results. Typically several everyday scenes such as a zoo,...
" drawings, originally popularised by Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Brueghel the Elder
Pieter Brueghel the Elder
Pieter Bruegel the Elder was a Flemish renaissance painter and printmaker known for his landscapes and peasant scenes . He is sometimes referred to as the "Peasant Bruegel" to distinguish him from other members of the Brueghel dynasty, but he is also the one generally meant when the context does...
and Hans Jürgen Press
Hans Jürgen Press
Hans Jürgen Press was a German illustrator and writer of children's books. Many of his books contain stories and puzzles in which the reader searches the illustrations for clues to the mystery....
.