So apparently, I created the wonderful Hairy Binkle… 10 years ago! Which is insane. It doesn’t feel like 10 years have gone by, but it really is the year 2026 now. (Take a look at a calendar!)
So why is Hairy Binkle important? Hairy Binkle is the first fully developed character I have created, showcasing the depth of character development in my work. He’s not like Cherry or Averie, who only exist as kids or teenage characters. Hairy exists from the ages of 0 to 55 years old, with a fully developed life story that explains why he is who he is. You can see and understand him, just like you can see and understand yourself.
We first learn about Hairy in the story, Hairy Halloween, where he is described as a crazy, mad scientist. He is known as the “man who eats his own hair.” We begin to learn about Hairy Binkle from the perspective of another character named Muffy, a very future daughter of The Friendly Man and The Bitter Woman. It becomes quite clear that Hairy is a truly strange person… but how did he become this way?
Hairy’s Story completely breaks down how Hairy became the eccentric Hairy Binkle in Hairy Halloween. This is what makes this character so well done and so different from any other character I have created before. Hairy’s real name is Harold Binkle. He was born in a normal household with very normal parents and siblings. The only difference was that Hairy was a very intelligent child, growing up being praised for his great potential in math and science.
In Hairy’s Story, we can understand how Hairy felt growing up, feeling different, misunderstood, failing, making mistakes, and picking himself back up again. He feels like a real person who you can possibly find in yourself, showcasing the power of animated storytelling in bringing characters to life.
Hairy Binkle's great potential shined throughout his childhood and elementary years, when teachers began to notice his impressive math ability. This early success laid the groundwork for his character development in animated storytelling.
In his teenage years, we witness how the failure of creating a robot dog, Icky Poo Poo (originally named Max), challenged him and ultimately transformed him for the better. The unsuccessful robot dog project led Hairy into a period of depression, withdrawal, and academic failure, during which he faced ridicule from family, friends, and peers.
As a young adult, Hairy moved out of his parents’ house and into the most affordable home he could find, where he stumbled upon a laboratory in the basement. There, he discovered The Friendly Man’s failed hair inventions. Motivated by his past, Hairy worked diligently on his own hair inventions and achieved remarkable success.
Through this journey, we come to understand that Hairy Binkle isn’t really a crazy person; rather, he had to embrace that persona to succeed. And that is the beauty of the wonderful Hairy Binkle.
Hairy Binkle Character Development: Celebrating 10 Years of Creativity
