Vivienne Medrano's Animation Universe: A Glimpse into the Future of Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, and Homestuck

Unveiling the Animated Frontiers: Medrano's Creative Vision Takes Flight

The Dawn of a Fan Phenomenon: Experiencing Vivienne Medrano's Work for the First Time

For newcomers in 2025, discovering Vivienne Medrano's work can begin in various ways. Perhaps it's the announcement of Spindlehorse's animated pilot for the webcomic epic Homestuck, or news surrounding the latest season of her highly popular adult musical series, Hazbin Hotel. Some might stumble upon sing-along events for the show or encounter her music videos and animated shorts on her YouTube channel, Vivziepop, which boasts over 1.6 billion views since its inception in 2012. Alternatively, an advertisement for her YouTube series Helluva Boss's transition to Prime Video, or the Kickstarter campaign for its spin-off card game, could be the entry point.

Exploring the Hellaverse and Beyond: A Decade of Dedicated Creativity

Regardless of how one discovers Medrano's creations, it quickly becomes apparent that a massive, passionate fanbase already exists for her delightfully R-rated, emotionally resonant adult animated shows, all set within the interconnected Hellaverse. This enthusiastic community is merely the surface; a vast array of Vivziepop merchandise, including extensive collaborations with established collectible brands, further illustrates her influence. The intricate lore of her series, painstakingly assembled by fans from her convention appearances, social media updates, online Q&A sessions, and drawing streams, highlights the depth of her universe. Many fans have been following her for over a decade, since her days as an art student with a popular webcomic titled Zoophobia. There's a considerable amount to explore in her body of work and its surrounding world, especially for Hellaverse enthusiasts who can delve into a decade's worth of online development, including prequel comics, early character designs for Hazbin Hotel on Tumblr, and proof-of-concept animatics on YouTube.

The Expansion Continues: New Milestones for Medrano's Animation Empire

With upcoming seasons for both Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, Medrano stands at the heart of an expanding animation empire, achieving numerous new milestones in 2025. Polygon recently engaged with her for their fall preview, gaining extensive insight into her direction, the Spindlehorse team's trajectory, and the future of significant projects such as Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, and Homestuck in the coming months.

Homestuck's Animated Debut: A Bold Step into New Creative Territories

Medrano expressed her enthusiasm for the Homestuck project, emphasizing its experimental nature, not only in terms of Andrew Hussie's webcomic content but also regarding the growth of her animation company. The 11-minute Homestuck pilot marks the inaugural project for Spindlehorse's new Australian division, Spindleroo. It also represents Spindlehorse's first venture centered on characters and a narrative not originally conceived by Medrano.

Testing the Waters: The Homestuck Pilot as a Blueprint for Innovation

Medrano views the pilot as a proving ground for various aspects: "The studio, the process, a new style, a new technology." She acknowledged the uncertainty of its future, stating, "It all honestly depends on the audience, obviously." Spindleroo has not yet committed to a full Homestuck series beyond this initial pilot. While a September launch date on YouTube was initially announced, current plans are fluid due to other Spindlehorse commitments.

Audience Reception and Future Prospects: The Determinant of Homestuck's Journey

Medrano indicated that audience response would determine studio interest in further developing Homestuck as a full animated series and whether to continue it on the Vivziepop channel. She noted, "The possibilities are endless right now, but it really does all depend on what people think of it. It's a really fun pilot. No matter what, it's like, 'Yay, we animated something that's never been properly animated before!'"

Navigating Narrative Challenges: Adapting Homestuck's Epic Scope

Regarding the complexities of condensing Homestuck's vast and often multi-medium narrative into a television format, Medrano credits original creator Hussie and Spindlehorse animation director Skye Henwood with the task. Henwood, a long-time fan intimately familiar with the comic, is collaborating with Hussie to streamline the story should the series continue. Medrano admitted the daunting nature of adapting such a massive narrative. She speculated that the pilot encompasses most of Homestuck's relatively concise first chapter, providing a substantial chunk of the overall story. However, she recognized the inherent differences between the comic and the animated medium, anticipating a distinct audience engagement. The project's genesis, initiated by Hussie approaching Medrano's company for collaboration, opens doors for other webcomic creators seeking animated adaptations. Medrano hopes this venture will pave the way for more original projects, enabling Spindlehorse to support diverse voices and unique artistic visions as their momentum grows.

The Evolution of Hazbin Hotel: From Crowdfunded Pilot to Streaming Sensation

Vivienne Medrano's Hazbin Hotel debuted on YouTube in 2019 with a crowdfunded pilot that has since garnered over 117 million views. A24 subsequently picked it up for a series, launching on Prime Video in 2024. The first eight-episode season presents a dynamic, self-contained narrative about Charlie Morningstar, a demon princess who embarks on a mission to reform Hell's sinners and guide them to Heaven, thereby ending Heaven's annual extermination of demons, purportedly to control overpopulation.

Charting the Course for Hazbin Hotel: Ambitious Plans for Future Seasons

The inaugural season significantly altered the Hellaverse's established rules, leaving the future of subsequent seasons uncertain. However, the second season, set to arrive on Prime on October 29th, along with already greenlit seasons three and four, suggests a clear path forward. Medrano's overarching plan for the show encompasses five seasons, with the narrative truly beginning to coalesce in season two.

A Leap Forward: Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Promises Elevated Storytelling

Medrano stated that "Season 2 is what the show was meant to be." She highlighted significant advancements in visual quality, pacing, scale, and narrative compared to the first season. While expressing deep affection for season one, she noted it was created under constrained conditions, with uncertainty about continuation, limited episodes, and tight runtimes. Despite the challenges, Medrano is immensely proud of season one's near-impossible accomplishment. She emphasized that season two benefits from being a full-fledged television season, allowing for impressive improvements.

Enhanced Pacing and Thematic Depth: Unpacking Hazbin Hotel's Second Season

Like its predecessor, season two will span eight episodes, but some will be longer to accommodate narrative needs, a crucial difference. Medrano noted that the pacing is superior due to a simpler story, contrasting with season one's crowded plot, which introduced characters, dealt with an accelerated extermination deadline, and built towards a major confrontation. The extended runtime in season two's episodes provides more narrative flexibility. Thematically, season one saw Charlie and her allies challenging the rules of Heaven and Hell and uncovering deceptions about those rules. Medrano revealed that season two blends a cautionary tale about misinformation with a narrative about self-reaffirmation and resisting external definitions of identity. It explores themes of identity, power, and insecurity, particularly through its hero and villain, who mirror each other in their specific vulnerabilities and self-perceptions.

Helluva Boss's Journey: From YouTube Origins to Prime Video Partnership

Medrano's other series, Helluva Boss, also premiered on YouTube in 2019 and is set within the Hellaverse, featuring a distinct cast. The series primarily follows a team operating a demonic assassination service and also explores the complex romantic relationship between Blitzo, a Hell-born imp and former circus clown turned assassin (voiced by co-writer Brandon Rogers), and Stolas, a Hell Prince. Medrano and Rogers have produced two seasons on YouTube, which launched on Prime Video on September 10th. Prime is currently producing seasons three and four, which will debut on Prime before being released for free streaming on YouTube.

A New Beginning: "Mission Zero" and Hellaverse Consistency

The September 10th Prime launch of the series included a new episode, "Mission Zero," which Medrano described as "essentially a new starting point." She explained that while the original Helluva Boss pilot, co-created with Brandon, holds a special place, the evolving consistency and lore of the Hellaverse across both series necessitated a re-evaluation. The original pilot, driven by comedy and zaniness, violated some of the established rules, making it functionally incompatible with the current show. "Mission Zero" serves as a new pilot, retaining the spirit of the original while aligning with the updated Hellaverse and its lore. Medrano believes it will be particularly helpful for new audiences, offering a smoother introduction to the series and preventing inconsistencies caused by the outdated original pilot.

A Grand Design: The Four-Season Arc of Helluva Boss

Medrano has envisioned Helluva Boss as a four-season series, with a precisely planned ending. She noted that while it's only four seasons, they are significantly longer, resulting in a substantial number of episodes. Season three is described as a "very enormous arc" with implications for season four. While Medrano couldn't reveal the specific distinctions between seasons three and four, she believes the latter will offer a deeply satisfying culmination of the series' build-up. She prides herself on creating self-contained stories with her characters, aiming for a fulfilling conclusion, while acknowledging opportunities for future spin-offs. The release dates for seasons three and four are not yet set, as Medrano explained they are producing them concurrently as two massive, interconnected projects, and the timeline depends on various factors and the needs of each season.

Beyond the Hellaverse: Medrano's Vision for Future Creative Endeavors

Vivienne Medrano has future projects in mind beyond her two active series, contingent on finding the time for writing and development. Some of these, like Bad Luck Jack, based on her college webcomic, are known to fans. She hopes to create more shorts with these characters and potentially a graphic novel, fulfilling a long-held college aspiration. Similarly, she envisions developing the world of her thesis short, "Timber," a "little Western musical" on YouTube. Additionally, Medrano has undisclosed projects in mind, awaiting the opportunity to bring them to fruition. Currently, her focus remains heavily on the Hellaverse as the head writer, balancing numerous scripts and priorities for both shows. She noted the immediate transition from writing for Hazbin to Helluva Boss to maintain production schedules. While there's still significant writing ahead for both series, she anticipates shifting her attention to these other projects and producing more solid shorts once her current commitments are less demanding.