An R-rated, animated musical comedy set in hell? Not bad for your first animated television series.

When SVA last spoke to VivziePop, a.k.a. Vivienne Medrano (BFA 2014 Animation), she was a DIY artist and freelancer who had created her own series, Hazbin Hotel, about Charlie, the daughter of Lucifer and princess of hell, and her attempts to run a rehabilitation center for demons.

Medrano posted the pilot episode on YouTube, where it gained over 92 million views and built worldwide fan base. Hollywood came knocking, and now a Hazbin Hotel series—from Medrano, A24, and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment (known for producing Bob’s Burgers)—is set to premiere on Prime Video next Friday, January 19. Medrano serves as executive producer and directed all the episodes.

In a recent interview with Animation Magazine, Medrano talked about the origins of her series, and how it developed during her time as a BFA animation student.

“Some of these characters that you see on the show have been with me since middle school,” she says. “I began telling the stories in comics and short films and through [my time at] SVA. . . . I was lucky to study at SVA, which is an amazing school, and I really developed my animation style there.”

As it was in its YouTube incarnation, Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel blends adult humor, unforgettable characters and catchy musical numbers to create a unique world. Music is, in fact, a significant component of the show—the trailer features a new original song, “Ready For This,” from platinum-certified artist Sam Haft and Emmy-nominated Andrew Underberg, who contributed original music and lyrics for the series.

Features

The animation alumnus, also known as ViziePop, has transformed her YouTube hit into a bonafide Prime Video Series