Justin Tan’s Journey: From Autism to Published Artist in Hong Kong

Sometimes it is the most insignificant details that end up having the biggest impact on a life. After Justin Tan, 22, was diagnosed with autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age three, his parents, Annie and Eric (who uses the surname Tam), and his occupational therapist encouraged him to practise drawing circles in pencil to train his fine motor skills. From there, he progressed to drawing a rounded character called Kirby, which gradually morphed into a whole cast of cartoon characters, complete with colour, dialogue, and eventually storylines. He created his first comic book when he was about seven.

“He drew a lot and filled so many sketchbooks that we couldn’t keep them all,” recalls Justin’s father Eric. “We had no idea who these characters were but they all related to each other and were deeply personal. I don’t officially know how many characters he has created because there are too many to keep track of. Justin remembers them all though. He often goes back to an old sketchbook and adds more details to a specific drawing. He has his own universe in his head.”

Supporting Neurodivergent Talent:  Family and Community Efforts

Parental support was key. Justin’s mother Annie put her career on hold to be his full-time carer and encouraged his passion for drawing comics, sensing that it might be a pathway to his future. Justin received help from therapists, private art tutors, and community resources that guided him with story structure, techniques, and the comic format. He was later introduced to digital illustration and drawing tools, and has since created hundreds of brightly coloured characters on his iPad, each with their own name, distinctive personality, and traits.

“Watching cartoons and reading comics give me inspiration,” says Justin. “I started drawing lessons with Mr Ben, a drawing class for children close to where I live. Through the years, I’ve had a lot of very good drawing teachers like Ms Desiree, Ms Stephanie, and my art tutor Ms Serene, who taught me other ways of illustrating. Designing characters is my favourite part. I draw the character and then give it a name. Originally, I only used pencil and paper to draw but now I mostly use iPad and Apple Pen. Dav Pilkey’s illustrations [award-winning American author of Dog Man and Captain Underpants series] influenced my style.”

Turning Grief into Art: Finding Solace Through Drawing

School life was hard. Justin was frequently bullied and ostracised, and when he was 15, his mother passed away from cancer. Drawing became a lifeline. For Justin, it was more than just a creative outlet—it became a form of art therapy, helping him channel his grief into his illustrations and stories. One result was his book The Misunderstood Monster, which features one of Justin’s favourite characters, Hotdog Hutchins. Hotdog is afraid of monsters and is bullied at school… until he helps a monster in distress and they become best friends.

“After I drew my characters Hotdog Hutchins and Mr Huggypants, I got an idea and made a story about how they would meet for the first time,” says Justin. “I made this story as a message about kindness and not judging others on their looks.”

Becoming a Published Author: Justin's Journey From Sketches to Success

A chance conversation between Eric’s second wife, Donna Yau, and her friend Rosalind Lee about Justin’s work so moved Rosalind, who has a son with ADHD, that she decided to help him publish his book. The result is a glossy, hardback edition of The Misunderstood Monster, published by 404 Not Found, a social enterprise in Hong Kong that advocates for underprivileged communities, minority groups, and students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The organisation gives these individuals a voice by helping them publish their stories and ideas.

In addition to being a published cartoonist, Justin has earned a higher diploma in illustration from the Hong Kong Design Institute, a degree in illustration from the University of the West of England in Bristol, UK, and is currently extending his skills by studying product design at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong.

“I never thought he would be able to do a degree course,” says Eric.

From Comics to Animation: Expanding Creative Possibilities

Yet cartoon drawing remains Justin’s true passion. He has countless ideas for new adventures for Hotdog Hutchins and hopes to publish in other languages, including Chinese and German. He is also learning to turn his illustrations into animated content, a natural next step for his stories. His animated adaptation of The Misunderstood Monster is already remarkably clever, with Justin voicing every character himself. Even at this early stage, it clearly speaks to his target audience of six- to 13-year-olds.

Encouragement for Families of Neurodivergent Children

For Justin’s family, openness has been an important part of their journey—something many neurodivergent families in Hong Kong may struggle with.

“I always tell people that Justin is autistic and I don’t want to hide him,” says Eric. “Asian people often feel uncomfortable sharing details like that, but if you open up, you get more help and information. We understand neurodivergent children and young adults might have limitations, but we should accept them and let them explore the world their way. A lot of parents of autistic children might be too focused on academic achievements and studies, but I believe you shouldn’t box them in and instead let them do what they like doing. We never thought Justin would be an artist or publish a book, so we want his story to give hope to others.”

The Misunderstood Monster by Justin Tan Haozhi is published by 404 Not Found Ltd and is priced at HK$100 a copy from 404notfound.com.hk. Instagram: @hotdog.hutchins