Hans Jørgen Sandnes

Hans Jørgen Sandnes (born 1979) is an illustrator, animator and cartoonist.

Together with Jørn Lier Horst he created the Detective Agency No. 2 books, which is Norway’s best-selling children’s universe in book form with a print run of over 1.7 million.   

Hans Jørgen has illustrated classics such as Alf Prøysen’s Circus Mikkelikski and Anne-Cath. Vestly’s books The Big Book about Granny and the Eight Children and Twiglet. In 2020, he wrote the critically acclaimed biography Anne-Cath. Vestly alongside author and children’s book researcher Agnes-Margrethe Bjorvand. He has also illustrated the picture books The Most Amazing Thing and The Name Bearer, written by Maja Lunde.           

In the spring of 2020, Hans Jørgen Sandnes debuted as author-cartoonist with Into The Deep, the first book in the Crypto series.   

As a filmmaker he has directed and animated the ten classic cartoons for Alf Prøysen’s children’s universe, produced for NRK Super by Sandnes Media AS, where Hans Jørgen is the creative director. 

Hans Jørgen’s illustrations have been published in over 20 countries. 

FOREIGN SALES

Crypto 1: Into the deep (2020)
Denmark, Gads Forlag
Sweden, Nypon/Vilja
Netherlands, De Vier Windstreken
Spain, Edebé
Catalonia, Edebé
France, Jungle – Steinkis Group
Germany, Loewe Verlag GmbH
Macedonia, Feniks

Crypto 2: The Hurricane (2020)
Denmark, Gads Forlag
Sweden, Nypon/Vilja
Netherlands, De Vier Windstreken
Spain, Edebé
Catalonia, Edebé
Germany, Loewe Verlag GmbH

Crypto 3: Open Ocean (2021)
Denmark, Gads Forlag
Sweden, Nypon/Vilja
Netherland, Die Vier Windstreken
Spain, Edebé
Catalonia, Edebé
Germany, Loewe Verlag GmbH

Crypto 4: Frost Mist (2021)
Denamrk, Gads
Sweden, Nypon Vilja
The Netherlands, Die Vier Windstreken
Spain, Edebé
Catalonia, Edebé

Crypto 5: Deep Freeze (2022)
Denamrk, Gads
Spain, Edebé
Catalonia, Edebé

Hans Jørgen Sandnes High resolution image

Credits: Foto: Atle Holtan

Publications