HANZOHANZO is the alter ego of Hans-Christoph Schultheiss – writer, designer and director of commercial films and branded entertainment content.

Hans has been drawing, painting and creating for as long as he can remember. He’s always used these outlets as a way of telling the stories he’d dreamt up. Strongly influenced by Manga and Anime like Akira, Ghost in the Shell or Appleseed, Hans took his first steps towards design and filmmaking by working on traditional cel animation projects at the age of 16. After graduating from school, he decided to succumb to professional insanity and indulge his passion for working late. This made it possible to obtain a design diploma with honors whilst simultaneously working full-time and freelancing for a number of animation studios and production companies around Germany.

He draws inspiration from the universes of hyperrealism, surrealism and sci-fi. He loves stories about alternative realities, well-timed animation and exotic frogs. ( Yet, he hates tomatoes. )

Utilizing the alter ego HANZOHANZO not only allows Hans to switch between a multitude of different roles in his daily work, but also to express his diverse taste for visual storytelling.

Hans considers himself fortunate to be a designer and director of films for international brands such as Riot Games, Oakley, Puma, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros, Mars and WWF many of which have gone on to receive countless awards at D&AD, Cannes Lions, Festival d’Animation Annecy, LIA, ADC, Effie Awards, New York Festivals and many more.