Adult Animation Revolution: ‘Hazbin Hotel’ Changed Animation

Since its pilot episode debuted on YouTube, Hazbin Hotel has been changing the animation landscape. I was never into adult animated sitcoms because, to me, they consisted of ugly characters being mean to each other. That’s why it was so refreshing to see Hazbin Hotel and its abundance of lovable — and attractive — characters taking over the world.

Growing up in the 2000s, homophobia and Christian conservatism were rampant. I never could have anticipated that we’d have an animated series about Lucifer’s bisexual daughter that would become a mainstream pop culture success. This series could only happen today and its characters and themes are desperately needed right now.

Since the pilot of Hazbin Hotel, we’ve seen a rise in indie animated shows that incorporate action, horror, lore, spicy character designs, and openly queer characters.  I cannot overstate how bold and pivotal the series is — not only was Hazbin Hotel picked up for a full streaming series, but Helluva Boss delivered two full seasons direct to YouTube. Maintaining independent control within the streaming landscape is a victory that sets a positive precedent for creators moving forward. There is a short list of animated shows that changed the animation landscape and Hazbin Hotel is one of them.