Hazbin Hotel, the eagerly awaited series by Vivienne Medrano (VivziePop), has finally arrived, bringing joy to long-time fans. Collaborating with colleagues from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, Vivienne dedicated almost two years (2017-2019) to bringing the Hazbin Hotel Pilot Episode to life. Prior to the Hazbin Hotel Pilot Episode, Vivienne gained recognition through the animated music video “Die Young – Fan Animated Music Video,” featuring Ke$ha’s song. This newfound recognition helped Vivienne with her early career and later assisted in the success of Hazbin Hotel.

Released on October 13, 2019, the pilot episode received acclaim for its originality in story and artistic direction, quickly going viral. This success led to the spin-off series “Helluva Boss,” premiering on November 25, 2019.

In 2020, film production companies A24, SpindleHorse Toons, and Bento Box Entertainment took over the production of Hazbin Hotel. However, some changes occurred, including a new cast and redesigned main characters. The series was initially set for a summer 2023 release but faced a delay due to the 2023 strike. A new release date was announced in late September 2023, revealing an Amazon Prime Video premiere, and it was revealed that the now 4-year-old pilot episode would be canon to the series.

The highly anticipated series had its Los Angeles premiere in Culver City on Wednesday, January 17th. Cast members, including Vivienne Medrano, Stephanie Beatriz, Erika Henningsen, and Amir Talai, attended the event, marking a significant moment for the Hazbin Hotel fandom. A Q&A, moderated by Joseph Deckelmeier, was held after screening the first three episodes with the aforementioned cast members and series creator Vivienne Medrano.

Given the success of both “Helluva Boss” and “Hazbin Hotel,” what lies ahead for Vivienne? Could an animated theatrical film be in the works? While that remains uncertain, one thing is clear – we’re all in for one HELL of a ride!

The following are highlights from the Q&A

Joseph Deckelmeier: How does it feel coming into a show that already has such a fan base that’s
so strong and hardcore? Is that a little intimidating to step into?

Admir (Alastor VA): It’s funny. I had absolutely no idea until I was well into recording it. [. . .] I auditioned, thinking it would be fun. When I saw the scripts, I thought, “Yes, this is great.” It wasn’t until later, with the new voice actors announcement, that I realized it might be a big deal. Like being the new Batman, it’s definitely intimidating but exciting.

Joseph Deckelmeier: What were your first thoughts when you saw your characters rendered?

Stephanie Beatriz (Vaggie VA): We haven’t discussed this, but I love the throwback-y sailor Moon-y coquette bow, the skirt, and the stockings- I mean, some of my earliest queer awakenings were watching Sailor Moon at, like, 05:00 a.m. I remember watching it being like, some of these girls are gay, so I just love that it’s there, that’s like a little touchstone of it. I just absolutely adore it.

Joseph Deckelmeier: One thing that really stuck out to me was the chemistry that everybody had. It is incredible the way it seems like they play off each other, but they didn’t record together, so what was it that you found in the post-production process to kind of cultivate and create that chemistry amongst the cast?

Vivienne Medrano (series creator): I know what it was, the voice director. Richard Horvitz, and I have been working together for a while. He understands my taste and knows what I want, almost reading my mind for an amazing direction. During the pandemic recordings, he would read with everybody, retaining the essence of each performance. This makes a significant difference, and I’ve witnessed many actors express how much it helps them emotionally connect with the scenes.

Joseph Deckelmeier: The heart of this show is really Charlie and Maggie’s relationship. Can you guys talk about how we see that relationship explored throughout the course of season one? ‘

Stephanie Beatriz (Vaggie VA): One beautiful aspect of this series is its exploration of redemption, questioning if it’s possible to redeem a soul from hell to heaven and whether change is achievable. Sometimes, when you fall in love, you don’t really understand that you’re deserving of that love. You don’t really believe that you are the kind of person that somebody else could be in love with. When considering their (Charlie & Vaggie) relationship, they reflect the uncertainty of feeling deserving of love. Falling in love can reveal one’s true self, and in their case, they don’t seek to change each other, embracing each other’s baggage. Vaggie’s goal is to support her partner’s dreams, raising questions about love, redemption, and self-worth.

Watch HAZBIN HOTEL on Prime Video here!

Our HAZBIN HOTEL INTERVIEWS

Before releasing the Hazbin Hotel pilot episode, we had the opportunity to interview Vivenne during Anime Expo 2019, before we knew what the future held for The Hazbin Hotel!

More recently, we had the opportunity to interview Edward Bosco, the original voice of The Radio Demon, Alastor. Discover what has happened since the pilot episode, why Edward is not returning for the series, and more in our exclusive audio interview! (Giveaway opportunity towards the end!)

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