“Hotel Hazbin” creator talks about origin of series, how it relates to South Park

“Hotel Hazbin” creator talks about origin of series, how it relates to South Park. The characters in the new Prime Video series are full of color and strong personalities. Where did all that come from?

By Megan Sauer

Hazbin Hotel” is one of the newest animations in streaming entertainment, an eight-episode madness with weekly premieres that is achieving very positive comments on social networks.

I sat down with the creator, Vivienne Medrano, to talk about the inspiration behind the entire concept, from the infernal city to the major and supporting characters.

With a color palette worthy of hellfire and Las Vegas, “Hotel Hazbin” is making a big splash on Prime Video and is positioned as one of the most interesting topics in the catalog.

What is “Hotel Hazbin” about?

The plot takes place in Hell, where the demonic princess, Charlie, establishes a hotel called Hazbin with the goal of rehabilitating and redeeming demons, offering them a chance to escape eternal damnation.

As the story progresses, the complexities of the characters, their dark pasts, and the dynamics of the underworld are explored, all presented with a vibrant visual style and a tone that combines dark elements, irreverent humor, and musical elements.

The series has gained popularity for its unique narrative and creative approach to the infernal theme.

“Hazbin Hotel” began as a pilot on YouTube, released in 2019 and achieving more than 93 million views. With time and the patience of the fans, A24 acquired the rights to develop a complete season with Vivienne as director of each of the episodes.

Also known as Vivziepop, Vivienne gained popularity in the online community for her creativity and artistic skills.

Her ability to tell original stories with memorable characters has led to her creations attracting a significant audience on platforms like YouTube and beyond.

How was Vivienne inspired to create “Hotel Hazbin”?

It has been a long road to the development and release of “The Adventures of Charlie Morningstar” on Prime Video.

Medrano talks in the interview about how adult comedy, musicals, religious iconography, and major American cities inspired his animated wonder in the infernal regions.

“I’ve always been very, very influenced by adult comedy. I watched South Park at a very young age and thought, ‘Oh my God, swearing is so funny.’

It really changed the entire trajectory of my career. So doing an adult animated comedy was always in the cards for me, but I’m also a big fan of musical theater.

Blending those elements into this vibrant animated musical, which exudes fluidity and captivation, encapsulated everything I adore—and it genuinely struck a chord with audiences. It’s been amazing to see the response.”

There is something wonderful about the acclaimed “Hazbin Hotel” being conceived as a grand circus where entities can go to purify themselves. Vivienne Medrano always knew that she wanted a lot of fun and craziness in the big city of hell of hers:

“There are so many different things, texts, so many different religions, and there are so many different ways of representing life after death that I thought, ‘Oh, this is so fun.’

The concept of demons is incredibly versatile, allowing you the freedom to design and approach things in any way you desire. So I wanted to make my hell like a big circus. In this scenario, Lucifer takes on the role of a ringleader, and all the sins are inspired by circus acts and similar themes.

It just makes it a little more fun. The main city is a mix of New York and Las Vegas.”

Charlie Morningstar, played by Erika Henningsen, is the main protagonist of “Hotel Hazbin,” a heroine who changed her personality over time but for whom Vivienne feels great affection.

“Originally, when I developed the main character of this group of very misfit demons that live in this hotel, it was a very early iteration. Charlie had a very different personality.

And over time, I came up with that element of the redemption side of the story. That affected his design, his personality, and the way he acted. I love her, I think she’s very funny. I love being able to write for her and seeing Erika [Henningsen] play her. She is amazing.”