Cartoon examples: caricatures, scenes and comics by Hans Esser
This is the work of Hans Esser, the cartoonist behind De Cartoonist: caricatures, custom scene cartoons, comic style and short videos. Every example started as an ordinary photo. Pick a section, find the style you like and go straight from each piece to the page where you order that style.
How this portfolio is organised
The examples are grouped by section: caricatures, scene cartoons and comic style. Each piece tells you which style it is and links to the page for that style. Videos are at the bottom, together with the styles that will get examples soon.
For now Hans Esser is his own model. Client cartoons only appear here with their explicit written permission; new work is added style by style.
Caricatures: exaggerated features with a wink
A caricature enlarges what makes someone recognisable: a smile, a nose, a posture. These two caricatures show Hans at his own workplace, Paleis Soestdijk in Baarn.
Footman serving tea at Paleis Soestdijk
A full-colour self-caricature with a thought bubble: one portrait, one anecdote, instantly recognisable.
The cartoonist at his easel in the palace hallway
Caricature in watercolour and ink with the drawing itself in the picture: a cartoon within a cartoon.
Custom scene cartoons: your photo in a setting of your choice
In a scene cartoon the face is only the start. The story around it matters just as much: a city, a museum, a dream trip.
With a propeller cap above Manhattan
A painted scene in full colour, also available as a ten-second animated video.
Stepping out of a Dutch group portrait
A painterly cartoon that places a portrait inside a classic museum painting.
Satirical cartoons: everyday life with a wink
Busy seek-and-find pictures that turn a familiar place upside down. Click through for the story behind it and a close-up of each half.
Supermarket cartoon: AH and Hoogvliet
The complete poster: hamsters hoard in a blue Albert Heijn, mice gnaw in a red Hoogvliet.
Comic style and comic stories
Bold ink lines, speech balloons and a story told in one panel or across several pages.
Cowboy in the Wild West
A comic panel with a speech balloon: a complete western scene built around one portrait.
Phoning in an old Dutch street
A nostalgic pen-and-wash drawing with a modern twist, ideal as a page in a personal comic book.
Styles with examples coming soon
These styles have no examples online yet. They follow exactly the same process with a proof and a revision round, so your own proof shows how your photo will look.
- anime filter applied by hand to your photo: Big eyes, clean lines, soft shading.
- 3D cartoon avatar with round shapes and soft light: Looks like a frame from an animated film.
- pet cartoon of your dog, cat or rabbit: Your pet with all its quirks.
- memorial cartoon of a pet that passed away: A lasting keepsake with its own character.
- cartoon profile picture as an avatar: Recognisable even in a tiny circle.
- high-resolution cartoon without a watermark: Large enough for poster and canvas.
From example to your own cartoon
Like something? Mention the title of the example in your message so Hans Esser knows the direction straight away. Read how an order goes from photo to final file, check prices per cartoon style, or see every style on the photo to cartoon studio homepage.
Videos: the same cartoons in motion
In the three videos below the illustrations come to life: Hans fills a blank canvas in a palace hallway, flies over the Manhattan skyline and reveals a caricature on his easel with the speech bubble “Prachtig!”, Dutch for “Beautiful!”. Each clip lasts ten seconds and only starts when you press play. Want one of your own? Read about an animated cartoon video made from your photo.
Watch the cartoonist at work
Frequently asked questions
What cartoon examples can I see on De Cartoonist?
The examples page shows six illustrations in three sections: two caricatures, two custom scene cartoons and two pieces in comic style, plus three ten-second videos in which the cartoons come to life.
Why do the cartoon examples feature the cartoonist instead of customers?
Cartoons of customers are personal, so they are only shown with written permission. Hans Esser therefore used himself as the model for the examples, which lets you see the styles without sharing anyone else's photos.
Why is the portfolio split into sections?
So you find the style that suits your idea faster. Each section, caricatures, scene cartoons and comic style, has its own jump link at the top, and every piece links to the page where you order that style.
What is the difference between a caricature and a scene cartoon?
A caricature is about the face: features are exaggerated so the person is instantly recognisable. A scene cartoon places the person in a setting with a story, such as a city, a museum or a dream trip. Both start from a photo.
What does the Manhattan cartoon example show?
The Manhattan example is a painted scene in which the cartoonist flies over the New York skyline wearing a propeller cap while people look up. It shows full colour, depth and movement in a scene cartoon.
Can I order a scene cartoon like the Manhattan or museum example?
Yes, scene cartoons like these are made to order. Describe the place and the situation you have in mind and send photos of the people or animals involved; the scene is then built around them.
Can the cowboy comic panel become a whole comic book?
Yes. A personal comic book is built from several panels like the western scene or the street in pen and wash. You choose one drawing style for the whole story. A comic book starts from €250.
Can a pet be the main character in a scene cartoon?
Yes, a dog, cat or other pet can star in a scene just like a person, for example on a favourite walk or on the sofa. Send a few photos that show the markings and a description of the scene you picture.
What happens in the three cartoon videos on the examples page?
The three ten-second videos show Hans drawing in the palace hallway, flying above Manhattan, and a caricature appearing on the easel with a speech bubble. They only start when you press play.
What does “Prachtig!” mean in the caricature video?
“Prachtig!” is Dutch for “Beautiful!”. It appears in a speech bubble when the caricature is revealed on the easel, a small nod to the Dutch roots of the studio in Baarn.
Which styles will get examples soon?
Examples of the anime filter, the 3D cartoon avatar, pet cartoons, pet memorial cartoons and cartoon profile pictures will follow. They are listed at the bottom of the page with a link to each style.
Will my cartoon be added to the examples page?
Only if you give explicit permission. Cartoons are personal, so none are published as an example without consent, and you can withdraw that consent later.
I scanned the QR code in the magazine. Am I on the right page?
Yes. The QR code in the De Cartoonist magazine takes you straight to the Dutch version of this portfolio; this is the English one. Pick a section, browse the work and send your photo via WhatsApp if you would like a cartoon of your own.
Were the example cartoons made with AI or drawn by hand?
Both. Like every cartoon from De Cartoonist, the examples combine AI tools with drawing and finishing by Hans Esser. The composition, expression and final touches are his own work.
How do I know if a style suits my photo when I only see these examples?
You see it in the proof. You do not have to choose based on someone else's photo: you judge the result with your own face. Unsure between two styles? Send your photo and ask which works best.
Ready to see yourself as a cartoon?
Send one clear photo, tell us the style you like, and the cartoonist gets to work. You see a proof before anything is final.