Heikki Paakkanen studied at the University of Arts and Design in Helsinki and became a freelance illustrator, comic artist, scriptwriter, director and animator. His cartoons have appeared in Ilta-Sanomat and Paikallislehti Somero. He is best known for his series of five satirical graphic novels about a WWII soldier and a contemporary conscientious objector and their travels through Finland, Sweden, France, Russia and the USA.
His books include 'Wiipuri palaa' (1989), 'Sissi ja siviilipalvelushenkilö' (1998), 'Pariisiin!...ei kai taas' (2000), 'Tukholma-syndrooma' (2002), 'Marssiopas Venäjälle' (2004) and 'Amerikka' (2010). He made animated films like '19084' (1985), 'The Last Channel' (1987), 'The Big Deal' (1989), 'Meanwhile Elsewhere' (1990), 'Not Guilty' (1992) and 'Ageman' (1994).
