Salvadoran-American Animator Vivienne Medrano is one of the most successful women in the entertainment industry. She’s the sole creator of the hit animated musical web series Hazbin Hotel, on Amazon Prime, and Helluva Boss, on YouTube. Both shows have garnered millions of fans, and have won industry awards, for their multifaceted characters, quick and witty writing, and the “vibrant and visually-appealing” animation.
A standout in an industry predominantly run by men, Medrano stays behind the scenes, known mainly by her online persona Vivziepop. But she’s not just any ol' online content creator. She’s so much more.
“She's an animator, a director, a producer, (and) a writer. She really does it all,” Podcaster Joe Vulpis explains.
And the numbers don't lie. “Her YouTube channel just hit 10 million subscribers and has over 1.3 billion views,” Vulpis adds.
This is all quite a feat for an immensely popular Latina content creator you’ve probably never heard of. Well, that’s about to change.
Meet Vivienne Medrano, aka Vivziepop
In just the last five years, Medrano has grown her worldwide fanbase from hundreds to millions. Vivziepop first made it onto the scene with her webcomic ZooPhobia in 2012. After a few episodes, she placed the show on hiatus and announced a new project in the works. Still working as a freelancer, in 2019, Medrano finally released the pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel, which she completely crowdfunded on the platform Patreon. Today, the pilot has over 94 million views, earning the show a cult following.
“Hazbin Hotel became so popular that it got picked up by A24 and Amazon MGM Studios for an entire season,” The Mary Sue site writes. “Going from an indie animator crowdfunding on Patreon to having Amazon and A24 make your show into a full-fledged series is quite a feat.”
In Her Own Words
Here’s Vivziepop’s incredible story of her climb from an indie animator to one of the world’s most influential creators, in her own words, as told to SVA and Lightweights Podcast:
How ‘Bambi” Started it All:
“Animation is truly a magical art form. I love what it can do, the vibrant colors, and the fantasy it brings to life. The moment it clicked for me was when I was watching Bambi. I saw the animals moving in a way that was both realistic and stylized, and I realized, ‘That's what I want to do.’”
On Moving to the ‘Big City’
“I majored in Traditional Animation at SVA (School of Visual Arts). Growing up in Maryland, I always dreamed of living in a big city. So I pursued my studies in New York, where I fell in love with both the school and the city. Although I hadn’t animated much before attending SVA, I was so drawn to the art form that it felt like home from the start.”
How Music Influences ‘Helluva Boss’
“I absorb a lot from everything around me. My show is a mix of weird experiences, people I’ve met, things I enjoy, and the music I consume. That’s why I love musical theater so much; it’s not tied to one genre, but it has a distinct sound and vibe, especially in the storytelling through lyrics. I’m into so many different kinds of music, like country, pop, and even Weird Al, who is one of my favorite artists. My taste is so varied, from Megan Trainor to Kacey Musgraves, and I think that’s why my characters are all over the place. I find something to love in every genre, and it’s the same with people."
On Being With the ‘Weird Kids’
"I’ve known so many different kinds of people throughout my life. In high school, I didn’t belong to just one group. I floated between the art kids, the theater kids, the goths, and all the other cliques. I ended up with the “weird kids” because I had friends in every group. This diversity in my experiences reflects in my work, making my characters just as varied and all over the place."
What’s Next for ‘Hazbin’ and ‘Helluva’?
“My dream would be to do a big crossover movie, bringing together the two worlds. It would be the coolest thing. But I also think both shows could have their own movies, within their own canons or as separate entities. There's just so much potential. A feature film is definitely a dream of mine, and I'd love to bring these characters into that format. It would be amazing.”
Watch Hazbin Hotel, streaming on Amazon Prime, and Helluva Boss, on YouTube, now!
