| Hazbin Hotel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Vivienne Medrano |
| Directed by | Vivienne Medrano |
| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer | Parry Gripp |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (plus pilot) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Editors |
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| Running time |
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| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | YouTube |
| Release | October 28, 2019 (2019-10-28) |
| Network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19) – present |
| Related | |
Hazbin Hotel is an Americanadult animatedmusical comedy television series created byVivienne "VivziePop" Medrano.[1][4] The series revolves aroundCharlie Morningstar,princess ofHell, on her quest to find a way forsinners to be "rehabilitated" and allowed intoHeaven, via her "Hazbin Hotel", as an alternative to Heaven's annual "Extermination" of souls due to Hell's overpopulation. The series is produced bySpindleHorse Toons in collaboration withA24,Amazon Studios, and the animation studioBento Box Entertainment.
Thepilot episode, released onYouTube on October 28, 2019, was made entirely by freelance animators and was mainly financed by Medrano'sPatreon followers.[5][6][7] The first season premiered onAmazon Prime Video on January 19, 2024,[8][a] withits first episode also released onYouTube a day earlier for a limited release.[9] A second, third and fourth season are confirmed to be in production. The series has received generally positive reviews from critics.
The popularity and success of the pilot allowed Medrano to create a spin-off series calledHelluva Boss, which premiered on October 31, 2020. The series features a different cast of characters within the same in-universe setting.
As of January 2024,Hazbin Hotel was the largest global debut for a new animated series on Prime Video.[10] In February 2024, the pilot episode surpassed 100 million views on YouTube.[11]
The series followsCharlie Morningstar, the princess of Hell, as she sets about fulfilling her seemingly impossible dream of opening a hotel called the "Hazbin Hotel", which aims to rehabilitate sinner demons. Due to overpopulation, Hell goes through an annualpurge whereangels, led byAdam, descend from Heaven and kill sinners. Charlie finds this upsetting, and wants to find a more peaceful solution to the overpopulation problem. Her goal is to have her clients "check out" fromHell as redeemed souls and be accepted intoHeaven.[12]
With the help of her devoted manager and girlfriend,Vaggie, and their reluctant first patron,pornographic film actorAngel Dust, she is determined to make her dream become a reality. But when her proposal on live television goes awry, her plan attracts the attention of the powerful"Radio Demon" Alastor who, despite finding her belief in redemption laughable, wants to help Charlie run the hotel for his own amusement.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||
| Pilot | October 28, 2019 (2019-10-28) | YouTube | |||
| 1 | 8 | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19) | February 2, 2024 (2024-2-2) | Amazon Prime Video[b] | |
| Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "That's Entertainment" | Vivienne Medrano | Dave Capdevielle, Raymond Hernandez & Vivienne Medrano | October 28, 2019 (2019-10-28) | |
The day after the latest Extermination,Charlie, the princess of Hell, pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in Hell. She opens a hotel in hopes that patients will be "checking out" into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted girlfriend,Vaggie, and their first client, adult film starAngel Dust, stick by her side. WhenAlastor, a powerful entity known as "The Radio Demon", reaches out to Charlie to assist in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.[11] Musical numbers : "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "Inside of Every Demon Is a Rainbow", and "Alastor's Reprise" | ||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [13][14] | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Overture" | Vivienne Medrano | Vivienne Medrano | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19)[a] | 1BBHH01 |
Charlie's father, Lucifer, was an angel who fell in love withLilith, the first woman. They gave the second woman,Eve, the gift of free will, inadvertently creatingHell, where Lucifer and Lilith were banished by Heaven. To keep Hell's sinners in line, angels created the annual Extermination. One week after the events of the pilot, as Hell is still recovering from the last Extermination, Charlie mentions that she has not seen or heard from Lilith in seven years. Lucifer later calls Charlie and asks her to take his place in his annual meeting with Heaven. Charlie pitches toAdam – leader of the Exterminations – and his second-in-command Lute, her plan to save sinners through redemption in her hotel. Her pitch is ignored and laughed at, and Adam reveals that the next Extermination will happen in six months rather than a year. Meanwhile, Vaggie, Charlie's girlfriend, enlists the hotel's staff to make a commercial to promote the hotel, but the final product is cut short by a news broadcast announcing the Extermination date being moved. Lute finds the corpse of an exterminator killed in Hell and shows Adam. The two plan to kill every demon in Hell during the next Extermination. Musical numbers : "Happy Day in Hell" and "Hell Is Forever" | |||||
| 2 | "Radio Killed the Video Star" | Vivienne Medrano | Adam Neylan & Vivienne Medrano | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19)[a] | 1BBHH02 |
When a trio of powerful overlords known asthe Vees (Vox, Valentino, and Velvette) find out that Alastor, another overlord, is back after being gone for seven years, Vox tries to send a warning to him. This backfires when Alastor sends his own warning to Vox. The Vees then decide to try to destroy the hotel from the inside. Vox enlists a demon named Sir Pentious to spy on the hotel by posing as a guest. As Sir Pentious is getting adjusted to the operations of the hotel, Angel Dust, another resident of the hotel and a popular porn star, feels saddened that Charlie doesn't believe he can change. Angel Dust later finds out that Sir Pentious is working for Vox and shows Charlie and Vaggie proof. Although Angel Dust and Vaggie want to kill Sir Pentious, Charlie forgives him and gives him a second chance after witnessing Vox yell at him for failing. Sir Pentious apologizes for his deceit and decides to become a true patron at the hotel. Musical numbers : "Stayed Gone" and "It Starts with Sorry" | |||||
| 3 | "Scrambled Eggs" | Vivienne Medrano | Ariel Ladensohn | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19) | 1BBHH03 |
To help Sir Pentious improve as a person, Vaggie insists that he get rid of his egg minions. She asks Alastor to get rid of them, but before he can, he runs into ancient overlord Zestial, who invites him to a meeting for the overlords of Hell. During it, Velvette reveals the head of the dead angel, suggesting that they go to war with Heaven. This idea is shot down by Zestial, as a war would lead to more deaths. Velvette insults Zestial but is kicked out by overlord Carmilla Carmine, who controls Hell's weapon supplies. Carmilla reveals that she killed the exterminator to protect her daughters. This is overheard by one of the egg minions. The egg relays the message to Alastor. Meanwhile, Charlie asks Vaggie to lead trust exercises at the hotel. Vaggie worries that the group will not be ready when the next Extermination happens and pushes the patrons to participate in strenuous activities. However, when Charlie tells Vaggie that she feels that she is going too far with her methods, the two talk it out and discover their friends bonded over the experiences Vaggie put them through. Charlie and Vaggie let Sir Pentious keep the eggs. Musical numbers : "Respectless" and "Whatever It Takes" | |||||
| 4 | "Masquerade" | Vivienne Medrano | Adam Neylan & Vivienne Medrano | January 19, 2024 (2024-1-19) | 1BBHH04 |
Angel Dust leaves the hotel to act in aporn film for his boss, Valentino. While shooting, Charlie arrives and tries to bring Angel Dust back to the hotel, but Valentino beats Angel Dust, reminds him that he owns Angel Dust's soul, and forces him to make her leave. Angel Dust continues filming and is constantlyassaulted by Valentino and other workers. Returning to the hotel, he gets into an argument with its bartender, Husk, who had earlier accused him of being "fake." Angel Dust leaves to go to a bar, followed by Husk at Charlie's insistence. Husk saves Angel Dust from being drugged by one of Valentino's workers, but Angel Dust lashes out at him for saving him, revealing that he purposely lets Valentino assault him so that when he is broken and ruined, Valentino will stop using him. Husk reveals that he was once an overlord whosegambling addiction led him to make a deal with Alastor to keep his power, trapping him in a similar situation to Angel Dust. At the hotel, Angel Dust thanks Charlie for caring about him, making her emotional. Musical numbers : "Poison" and "Loser, Baby" | |||||
| 5 | "Dad Beat Dad" | Vivienne Medrano | Rachel Kaplan | January 26, 2024 (2024-1-26) | 1BBHH05 |
Charlie spends all night trying to figure out a way to reconnect with Heaven. Left with no other options, she calls her father, Lucifer. He shows up at the hotel and isn't impressed, clashing with Alastor. They are interrupted when Alastor's friend Mimzy unexpectedly arrives at the hotel, wanting to meet with Alastor. Husk is distrustful of Mimzy, claiming that she only shows up when she needs something. Alastor brushes him off, but when Husk hints at Alastor owing a debt to someone, Alastor loses his temper and threatens to kill Husk if he steps out of line again. Husk's suspicions about Mimzy are later revealed to be true, as several loan shark demons attack the hotel in an attempt to find her. Alastor uses his powers to kill the loan sharks before forcing Mimzy to leave, not wanting the hotel to be damaged further. Lucifer reveals that he believes Charlie's plan is impossible because sinners are inherently evil and that Heaven will never listen to her. This upsets Charlie, but they ultimately reconcile, and Lucifer agrees to arrange Charlie another meeting with Heaven. Musical numbers : "Hell's Greatest Dad" and "More Than Anything" | |||||
| 6 | "Welcome to Heaven" | Vivienne Medrano | Adam Stein | January 26, 2024 (2024-1-26) | 1BBHH06 |
Charlie and Vaggie arrive in Heaven for a trial intended to decide whether souls in Hell can be redeemed. Adam and Lute confront Vaggie, who is actually a former exterminatorangel who was stripped of her wings and left eye by Lute after sparing a sinner child. Adam threatens to tell Charlie if Vaggie does not sabotage the trial. The trial begins by monitoring Angel Dust's actions as his friend Cherri Bomb takes him and the other hotel residents to anightclub. While trying to save hotel maid Niffty from Valentino, Angel Dust stands up to him, saying that Valentino can do whatever he wants to him in the studio, but Angel Dust is his own man anywhere else. Charlie claims that this is proof of Angel Dust being redeemable, but the angels do not know how souls enter Heaven. While arguing over the case, Adam accidentally reveals the Extermination plans to the court. Adam also tells Charlie about Vaggie's past as an exterminator. The court finds that there is no evidence that a sinner can be redeemed. Adam sends Charlie and Vaggie back to Hell, promising that during the next Extermination in a month, he will be coming for the hotel first. Musical numbers : "Welcome to Heaven" and "You Didn't Know" | |||||
| 7 | "Hello Rosie!" | Vivienne Medrano | Ariel Ladensohn | February 2, 2024 (2024-2-2) | 1BBHH07 |
Charlie and Vaggie are kicked out of Heaven. Vaggie reveals to the rest of the group that she was once an angel. Alastor, taking advantage of Charlie's fragile mental state, convinces her to make a deal with him. In exchange for a favor she will do for him later, he tells her that there is a way to kill exterminators and that Carmilla Carmine knows how. Charlie tells Vaggie to go to Carmilla to convince her to help, while Charlie and Alastor seek other sinners to help them fight. In Cannibal Town, Charlie and Alastor meet Rosie, the overlord who runs the town. Rosie and eventually the rest of thecannibals agree to help fend off the angels. Rosie convinces Charlie that Vaggie's actions speak louder than her words and that she is redeeming herself through the hotel. Meanwhile, Carmilla teaches Vaggie how to fight angels and reveals that she killed the exterminator using angelic weaponry scavenged from past Exterminations. Vaggie regains her wings, and Carmilla agrees to help by supplying the hotel with angelic weapons. Vaggie and Charlie reconcile with each other. Upon entering the hotel, they see the residents fortifying it for the battle with the angels. Musical numbers : "Out for Love" and "Ready for This" | |||||
| 8 | "The Show Must Go On" | Vivienne Medrano | Adam Stein | February 2, 2024 (2024-2-2) | 1BBHH08 |
Extermination Day arrives, and a war between angels and sinners ensues. During the battle, Adam badly wounds Alastor, forcing him to flee. Sir Pentious confesses his love for Cherri Bomb before sacrificing himself in a failed attempt to destroy Adam. Distraught and enraged by Sir Pentious' death, Charlie enters her demon form and confronts Adam while Vaggie is forced to fight Lute. Lucifer arrives to help Charlie and overpowers Adam, who destroys the hotel before being killed by Niffty. Lute and the other angels retreat, and Charlie rebuilds the hotel to a greater state alongside her friends and father. As the Vees plot to take over Hell, Alastor hopes for freedom from a previous deal and control over Hell before reuniting with Charlie and her friends. Sir Pentious manifests in Heaven as an angel, proving that sinners can be redeemed. Lute, now in charge of the Exterminations, confronts Lilith in Heaven, saying that if she wants to stay there, she must return to Hell and stop Charlie's hotel. Musical numbers : "More Than Anything (Reprise)" and "Finale" | |||||
Thescore of the pilot episode was released on November 3, 2019.[15][16]
The day after the release of each episode of the first season, the songs featured within them were released on a soundtrack EP throughA24 Music, starting with Part 1 on January 19, 2024.[17] Two songs from the first two episodes were released ahead of the series and are not present on any of the EPs; "Happy Day in Hell" was released on October 20, 2023, following a preview atNew York Comic Con[18] and "Poison" was released on January 5, 2024.[19] Following the release of the series, "Poison" debuted at number 34 on the USBillboardHot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, having accumulated 2.7 million US streams in the week following the show.[20]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] | CAN [22] | JPN Dig. [23] | NZ [24] | UK DL [25] | ||
| Hazbin Hotel (Original Film Score) | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 1) |
| 95 | 84 | 15 | — | 11 |
| Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 2) |
| 189 | — | 12 | — | — |
| Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 3) |
| — | — | 13 | — | — |
| Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack) |
| 13 | 14 | 6 | 6 | — |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [26] | CAN [27] | NZ Hot [28] | UK [29] | ||||
| "Hell Is Forever" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 1) | |
| "Stayed Gone" | 11 | 85 | 21 | —[A] | |||
| "It Starts with Sorry" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Whatever It Takes" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Respectless" | — | — | 28 | — | |||
| "Loser, Baby" | 1 | 65 | 10 | 77 | |||
| "Hell's Greatest Dad" | 9 | 74 | 23 | 98 | Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 2) | ||
| "More Than Anything" | — | — | 38 | — | |||
| "Welcome to Heaven" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "You Didn't Know" | 25 | — | 24 | —[B] | |||
| "Out for Love" | 20 | 94 | — | — | Hazbin Hotel Original Soundtrack (Part 3) | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [26] | CAN [27] | NZ Hot [28] | UK [29] | ||||
| "Happy Day in Hell" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack) | |
| "Poison" | 2024 | 2 | 69 | 24 | 96 | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
From October 27, 2019, to July 7, 2020, awebcomic titled "Chapter 1: Dirty Healings" (which showed how Angel Dust learned of the hotel) was completed, containing twenty-two pages and hosted on the officialHazbin Hotel website.[30][31] Another comic entitled "A Day in the Afterlife (The Radio Demon)", which focused on Alastor's daily life in Hell, was posted to the website on October 19, 2020, containing sixteen pages.[32]
In February 2020, Gabriel C. Brown, Alastor's pilot singing voice, covered the songs "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" and "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" in character.[33] He reprised the role in several fan-made music videos for original songs, including "Insane" in June 2021, which was reviewed byOne Piece creatorEiichiro Oda as his "second-favorite song of 2023".[34][35] In July 2020,Hazbin Hotel andHelluva Boss songwriterSam Haft released "Alastor's Game", in which Haft voiced Alastor.[36] In February 2024, aHazbin Hotel emote entitled "Reaper's Showtime" was released to the video gameFortnite byEpic Games, allowing the player character to wield Alastor's iconic cane, while playing the song "Insane".[37] On October 11, 2024, Black Gryph0n and Baasik released "Daisies", a prequel song to "Insane" which "explores Alastor's (semi-canon) origin story".[38]
"Addict" is an animatedmusic video released on July 17, 2020, on Medrano's YouTube channel,[39][40][41] based on and featuring the Silva Hound song of the same name.[42] It centers around Angel Dust's relations with his best friend,Cherri Bomb, his abusive boss,Valentino, and their experiences withaddiction.[32] The song was performed by Michael Kovach and Kelly "Chi-Chi" Boyer. Tito W. James ofComicon.com described the video as giving viewers a "deeper look" at the lives of Cherri Bomb and Angel Dust, and praised the "world ofHazbin" for being "paradoxically provocative and empathetic".[43] The song ranked as the #3 dance song on iTunes on July 21, 2020.[44] Additionally, the song #14 on the USDance/Electronic Songs chart, #4 on theDance/Electronic Digital Songs chart, and #77 on theDance/Electronic Songs Year-End.[45][46][47]
A spin-off series,Helluva Boss, unveiled its first season on October 31, 2020, almost one year after the release of its ownpilot.[48][49]Helluva Boss takes place in the same fictional universe asHazbin Hotel, the Hellaverse, but it has a different cast of characters and story. As Medrano described it, while both shows share the same setting,Hazbin Hotel is aboutredemption and consequences of past actions, whileHelluva Boss follows "characters and societies that already exist in Hell", focusing on relationships between characters.[50]
Some characters of thepilot had been around for years when Medrano began working with people atSchool of Visual Arts on what would later becomeHazbin Hotel,[51] as the "Misfit Demon Gang" in Medrano's webcomic seriesZooPhobia.[52][53] Originally, the pilot was meant to be an adult comedy "with a raunchy, demonic aesthetic". It took over six months to write the episode, and over two years to animate it, with teasers released in that ensuing period to garner an audience of fans.[51] The series contains variousLGBTQ+ characters. This includes agay character named Angel Dust, abisexual character named Charlie, and anasexual character named Alastor.[54][55][56]
The show's pilot episode was released on Medrano's YouTube channel in October 2019, and it gained 54 million views by early February 2021.[51] Almost a year later, A24 picked upHazbin Hotel for the production of a TV series in August 2020.[57][58]
On December 21, 2021, the officialHazbin Hotel Twitter account teased the release of the first season.[59] It was later reported that the cast from the pilot was not asked to reprise their roles for the A24 production, though these voice actors showed support for the show despite their removal.[60][12][61] Medrano said that she loves her characters "more than anything" and that they are "in good hands".[62]
Several main characters had been redesigned from the pilot, including Charlie,[63] Vaggie,[64] Alastor,[65] and Angel Dust.[66] Along with SpindleHorse Toons, Bento Box Entertainment co-produced the series for A24.Princess Bento Studio,[67] aMelbourne-based studio jointly owned by Bento Box Entertainment and Princess Pictures, alongside Bento Box both handled animation production, with SpindleHorse Toons andToon City[68] both handling digital animation services. According to Medrano, many of the artists who worked on the pilot would be returning for the first season, and argued that the "indie spirit of the pilot lives on".[69]
On October 28, 2022, the third anniversary of the pilot's release, a teaser trailer was released on Medrano's YouTube channel promising a summer 2023 release date for the first season,[70] but this was later stalled due to the 2023strike of actors and writers.[71] On September 28, 2023, a trailer was posted on the series' official Instagram account and Medrano's YouTube channel announcing its first season's premiere on Amazon Prime Video in January 2024, while also announcing that "Season 2 is coming".[72] In November 2023, it was announced that the series would premiere on January 19, 2024.[a] On December 13, 2023, the official season one trailer was released. It was also confirmed that the pilot would remain canon to the story with the show itself acknowledging it in multiple episodes while continuing plotlines that were established in it.[73][74] On July 26, 2024, it was announced that the series was renewed for a third and fourth season.[75][76] On August 13, 2024, it was announced that DogHead Animation in Florence, Italy, will also be handling animation services for the second season.[77]
The pilot episode has been critically acclaimed for its animation quality, music, and characters.[2][78] Matthew Field ofGo! & Express, argued that the pilot was part of the "animation renaissance" on YouTube, and said there may be "a lot more projects like Hazbin in the future".[1][79] Lidia Vassar of theMSU Reporter praised the show, noting its "raunchy sense of humor and quirky art style".[31] She also stated that she was looking forward to future episodes, enjoyed the "diversity of character designs", and stated that it is clear that the show's creators "put a lot of time and heart into this project". In December 2019, in an article about the current state of adult animation,CBR animation critic Reuben Baron stated that while the pilot episodes ofHazbin Hotel andHelluva Boss had garnered "some warranted criticism" because of their inappropriate and edgy humor, they are still "clear labors of love from an animation standpoint".[80] Another critic onCBR, Nerissa Rupnarine, pointed out that Alastor is on the small list of "canon asexual characters" within animation.[56]
Some reviewers argued the series will have a positive influence onindependent animation going forward,[41] and argued that the success ofHazbin Hotel led to the success ofHelluva Boss.[81] Reviewer Sean Cubillas forCBR praised the show for "quirky, ambitious, anddark humor" and some of the "fastest, wittiest, and raunchiest dialogue ever seen in independent animation."[82]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 81% of 31 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "A hellzapoppin' musical series swathed in hot, vibrant colors,Hazbin Hotel is worth a booking."[83]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned a score of 69 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[84]
Erik Piepenburg of theLos Angeles Times said the show's universe is a "brazenly colorful, queer-inclusive and fast-paced mishmash" with "outlandish grotesque scenes and copious potty mouths", along with "a Broadway pop score".[3] Christine N. Ziemba ofPaste argued that the series is not "simply a rehash" of the pilot, is not for kids, and includes "wickedly pointed adult humor", characters which are eccentric or are sinners, and "Disney-esque musical numbers", and called the series "visually eye-catching".[85] Hope Mullinax ofCollider said series expectations were "easily smashed", praising the music, cast, and design choices. She was excited to see where the series went forward, but was disappointed that Cherri Bomb didn't get a bigger role.[86] Joe Draper ofDigital Spy described the series as explicit and including an "all-star cast of stage performers and TV favourites".[87] Petrana Radulovic ofPolygon described the series as a "character-driven musical with an overarching driving plot and a lot of deep world-building", also noting that it features "multiple female and queer leads".[88]
Rendy Jones ofRogerebert.com said that some jokes are not as effective, and that the "ambitious wings" of Medrano were trimmed "by corporate streaming demands". He claimed the series has hit-or-miss gory humor and disorienting camera angles, but overall has stellar music, skillful voice actors, and a "balanced charm to round out its hellish setting", and called it a "sweet, raunchy time" that many adults will like.[89] Rachel Leishman ofThe Mary Sue called the series special for its musical element and argued that animated series have a "special kind of magic to them", and stated thatHazbin Hotel's shine is its own, and is a "fun series to take a dive into".[90] Mae Abdulbaki ofScreen Rant called the series "lively", praised the cast, characters, catchy songs, and "chaotic energy", while saying the themes of good and evil could be "more nuanced" and that the characters can act "extremely childish" at times.[91]
In contrast, Alison Herman ofVariety said that although the series has a "feel-good backstory belied by its grim premise" and original idea that's "easy to root for", it pays less attention to cosmological details or motivations of the protagonists. She said the series has retrograde morality, gets lost in "its chaotic, contradictory atmosphere," and is not far along enough to "function as a full season of TV", comparing it unfavorably toThe Good Place.[92] In addition, Jenna Scherer ofThe A.V. Club said the series has a "lot going for it", praising the premise, stylish and innovative animation, music numbers, and voice actors, but criticized the writing as lacking, and hoped the second season allowed the series to "slow down and find its groove", but noted that the series will "find its audience regardless".[93]
Kristy Puchko ofMashable described the series as a "perky pink cartoon show about sinners and singing", but argued that the first three episodes are "unremarkable" to newcomers, and said that the dialogue is jarring when compared with an animation style which "seems to be apingDisney XD", as well as saying it is "not satisfyingly subversive". She hoped that the series will "overcome its growing pains" in the first season, and says this expansion of Medrano's works is "flashy but thin".[94] TheNew Hampshire Union-Leader criticized the series as having an "utterly confusing backstory/mythology", frantic action, overall calling it a "headache of a show", as well as stating the dialogue sounds "more adolescent than shocking".[95]
Following its release,Hazbin Hotel set a new streaming record for Prime Video, becoming the largest global debut in viewership for a new animated title on the platform.[96]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra TV Awards | December 8, 2024 | Best Animated Series | Hazbin Hotel | Nominated | [97] |
| Annie Awards | February 8, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | "Masquerade" –Sam Haft, Andrew Underberg | Nominated | [98] |
| Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | "Dad Beat Dad" –Jeremy Jordan as Lucifer Morningstar | Nominated | [99] | ||
| GLAAD Media Awards | March 27, 2025 | Outstanding New Series | Hazbin Hotel | Pending | [100] |
By August 2020, the show had developed a dedicated fanbase,[101][102] with the 31-minute pilot receiving over 101 million views as of February 2024,[32] a rise from 32 million views in May 2020.[5] In awhite paper about the increase in adult animation,[103]John Evershed, founder ofMondo Media, described the series as a rare exception to shows on YouTube that are picked up by companies as a "long form TV series".[104] He argued that the show generated enough attention and views to interest A24 in producing the show as a TV series.[105] Medrano toldInsider in February 2021 that she was surprised the show had gotten so big, saying that thefandom ofHazbin Hotel rivals those of shows with multiple seasons, even with only a pilot released, and that it "hit a chord with people" due to its art style, angst, and drama. Furthermore, she expressed excitement in the direction of the show, noting the demand for her content.[51] Others called the series a "YouTube hit".[106]
Some media outlets noted intense fan interest in the character Lucifer Morningstar, the king of Hell,[107] who hadn't "physically appeared in anyHazbin Hotel work" prior to the show's first season.[108] Sarah Laudenbach ofScreen Rant noted that the series had developed a strong fanbase despite having "minimal content" available,[109] with "longtime fans" praising the series for dealing with "dark topics like abuse and addiction".[110] She also said that Medrano created an "entire Hellish universe" which gained a "fandom of its own".[111] Kimberly Terasaki ofThe Mary Sue described the show as having inspired the "imaginations of thousands of fans" and noted that there are over 7,000fan fictions for the series onArchive of Our Own, along with "thousands of fan comics andfandubs".[112] Scholar Ben Mitchell described the series as "sensationally popular" and an effective use of Patreon to subsidize the show's art "through monthly tiered payments".[113]
Join Creator Vivienne Medrano (aka Vivziepop) for an intimate conversation about creating her Youtube hit series,Hazbin Hotel andHelluva Boss.
| External videos | |
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 Hazbin Hotel Full Episode Pilot: That's Entertainment — Official upload of the episode ontoYouTube |
