Hazbin Hotel
Entry updated 24 February 2025. Tagged: TV.
US animated webseries (2019; 2024-current). Spindle House, Bento Box Entertainment. Created and directed by Vivienne Medrano. Writers include David Capdevielle, Raymond Hernandez, Ariel Ladensohn, Vivienne Medrano and Adam Stein. Voice cast includes Edward Bosco, Alex Brightman, Gabriel C Brown, Monica Franco, Jill Harris, Elsie Lovelock, Michael Kovach, Mike Lauer, Michelle Marie, Will Stamper and Jessica Vosk. Nine episodes of 24-32 minutes. Colour.
The pilot webfilm was independently produced, mainly through crowdfunding, and was released via YouTube in October 2019, reaching 5 million views in the first week and passing 100 million in February 2024. In August 2020 it was announced that a Television series had been commissioned, which premiered in January 2024: further seasons are promised.
Kind-hearted Princess "Charlie" Magne (Harris/Lovelock), the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith (see Religion), is distressed by Hell's annual cleansing, which erases souls to curb Overpopulation. So, with her girlfriend Vaggie (Franco), she hits upon a novel alternative: redemption (see Eschatology). But, as Hell's inhabitants are evil and happy to be so, a move to Heaven does not appeal; thus they have only one patron: Angel Dust (Kovach), a gay gangster, prostitute and porn star, fluent in the single-entendre, who's taking advantage of the free accommodation at their hotel. However, support is offered by the mysterious Alastor (Bosco/Brown) aka The Radio Demon, who appeared in Hell only decades ago, quickly becoming one of its most powerful denizens. He explains his motivations are simply boredom and a desire to watch demons aspire then fail – but he does provide staff: cute neat freak Niffty (Marie) and alcoholic gambler Husk (Lauer). When territorially ambitious Sir Pentious (Stamper in pilot, Brightman in series) attacks the hotel in his skyship (see Airships), we see Alastor's power as it is dragged beneath Hell's surface by a tentacled monstrosity (see Monsters).
Damned souls are transformed into demons (see Gods and Demons) on their arrival in Hell. Alastor was a 1930s Louisiana serial killer and radio host who fondly recalls the 1929 stock market crash: "so many orphans". Sir Pentious was a Victorian Scientist; consequently his inventions have a Steampunk feel, despite being advanced Technology.
The pilot is a very funny, visually and verbally rich adult show. The animation is imaginative: demonic character designs usually adhere to the credo of "evil is sexy", and the environs of Hell have a vibrant, neon seediness. The voice cast deliver their lines with gusto; the three songs are all memorable, the first being sung by Charlie in full Disney Princess mode. Also set in the same universe is Helluva Boss (2019-current).
The first television season opens with Charlie recounting how after the creation of Adam and Lilith, Adam had insisted he was in charge, so Lilith left him (see Feminism). She and Lucifer fell in love; both "rebellious dreamers" they wished to share free will with humanity – thus the offering of the fruit of knowledge to Eve. But this also created evil (see Metaphysics) and consequently Hell: into which Lilith and Satan were cast, with Heaven performing annual Exterminations to stop the new realm growing too powerful. Lucifer lost hope, but Lilith prospered – until she disappeared seven years ago.
Adam (Brightman) is in charge of Exterminations and announces the next will be in six months, not twelve: and when his second-in-command Lute (Vosk) discovers the corpse of an Exorcist Angel in Hell, he vows all Demons will be killed. The Exorcist was killed during the last extermination by one of the Overlords of Hell, to protect her daughter; meanwhile Charlie tries and fails to persuade Heaven that sinners can be redeemed (though they also seem ignorant on the process), with Adam revealing Vaggie was once an Exorcist, mutilated and left in Hell by Lute for sparing a child. The season finale has the Extermination fought off by the sinners, with Adam killed; whilst Sir Pentious, who had sacrificed himself during the battle (see Altruism), appears in Heaven as an angel, redeemed. At the very end we see Lilith is also in Heaven, sunbathing.
The season's plot and more serious elements (for example, Adam and the Exorcists can be read as Christian Fundamentalists) sadly mean the vivacity and humour of the pilot is less prominent, though what remains is still very good; but the resulting story is engaging and exciting, confirming Hazbin Hotel as one of the best contemporary animated series. [SP]
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