Vivienne Medrano
{{Short description|American animator and producer (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|10|28}}
| birth_place = Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
| image = Vivienne Medrano Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2025.jpg
| caption = Medrano at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2025
| other_names = VivziePop
| alma_mater = School of Visual Arts (BFA)
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- YouTuber
- animator
- writer
- director
- television producer
- voice actress}}
| title = Founder of SpindleHorse
| years_active = 2011–present
| notable_works = {{flatlist|
}}
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality
| embed = yes
| channel_handle = SpindleHorse
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| subscribers = 10.8 million
| views = 1.5 billion
| silver_button = yes
| silver_year = 2015{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99N4bEkxb5|title=100K SUBS SPEED DRAW - VivziePop|date=May 10, 2015|author=Vivienne Medrano (VivziePop)|author-link=VivziePop|via=YouTube|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114202350/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99N4bEkxb5|archive-date=January 14, 2022|url-status=live }}
| gold_button = yes
| gold_year = 2018
| diamond_year = 2024
| stats_update = January 3, 2024
}}
}}
Vivienne Medrano (born October 28, 1992),{{Cite tweet|number=1453898356858650630|user=VivziePop|title=THANK YOU MONICA! 💕|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|author-link=VivziePop|date=October 28, 2021}} also known by her online alias VivziePop, is an American YouTuber, animator, writer, director, producer, and voice actress. She is best known as the creator of the musical television series Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss. She also created the webcomic ZooPhobia.{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/oiaf-2021-drops-official-trailer-and-new-program-highlights|title=OIAF 2021 Drops Official Trailer and New Program Highlights|website=Animation World Network|date=September 3, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903205748/https://www.awn.com/news/oiaf-2021-drops-official-trailer-and-new-program-highlights|archive-date=September 3, 2021|url-status=live|quote=Join Creator Vivienne Medrano (a.k.a. VivziePop) for an intimate conversation about creating her Youtube hit series, Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss.}}{{cite web|last=Asarch|first=Steven|url=https://www.insider.com/hazbin-hotel-creator-on-shows-creation-and-future-2021-2|title=A Cartoon Demon Musical Drew in 53 Million YouTube Viewers. The Creator of 'Hazbin Hotel' Says She Couldn't Have Predicted Its Success.|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=Insider|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210203232139/https://www.insider.com/hazbin-hotel-creator-on-shows-creation-and-future-2021-2|archive-date=February 3, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/lxia-announces-the-return-of-animation-day-at-laliff-2022/|title=LXiA Announces the Return of Animation Day at LALIFF 2022|website=Animation Magazine|date=May 16, 2022|access-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517130201/https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/lxia-announces-the-return-of-animation-day-at-laliff-2022/|archive-date=May 17, 2022|url-status=live}}
Career
=Early work=
Prior to joining YouTube, Medrano did assistant work on a thesis horror comedy film by Zach Bellissimo titled Blenderstein, in 2011.
Before launching her current channel "VivziePop", Medrano launched her first channel, "xZoOPhobiAx", which features animatics for ZooPhobia.
Medrano launched her YouTube channel under the screen name "VivziePop" in 2012, building a dedicated online audience, who enjoyed her fanwork and original creations.{{Cite web|last=Vollenbroek|first=Tunde|date=April 29, 2019|title=7 Tips for Building a Successful Animation Channel on YouTube|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/streaming/7-tips-for-building-a-successful-animation-channel-on-youtube-173406.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Cartoon Brew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205031023/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/streaming/7-tips-for-building-a-successful-animation-channel-on-youtube-173406.html|archive-date=February 5, 2021}} Also in 2012, she started a webcomic titled ZooPhobia, which ran until 2016, ending so that she could find more time to develop Hazbin Hotel.{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Larry|date=January 10, 2013|title='Zoophobia': Fear of an Animal Planet|url=https://www.cbr.com/zoophobia-fear-of-an-animal-planet/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327195733/https://www.cbr.com/zoophobia-fear-of-an-animal-planet/|archive-date=March 27, 2021|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=CBR}}{{cite web|url=https://animatedviews.com/2019/hazbin-hotel/|title=Hazbin Hotel [Review]|last=Short|first=Dan|date=November 7, 2019|website=Animated Views|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106031732/https://animatedviews.com/2019/hazbin-hotel/|archive-date=November 6, 2020|url-status=live}} Medrano directed her first short animated film, titled "The Son of 666" in 2013. Medrano released her fourth year thesis film entitled "Timber" in 2014, for which she won a Dusty Award in "Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation".{{cite web|last1=McLean|first1=Tom|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/top-dusty-toon-honors-to-moonstruck/|title=Top Dusty Toon Honors to 'Moonstruck'|website=Animation Magazine|date=May 14, 2014|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923172327/https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/top-dusty-toon-honors-to-moonstruck/|archive-date=September 23, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|author=|title=Dusty Festival: Winners List|url=https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|newspaper=SVA BFA Film|publisher=School of Visual Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202013430/https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/|archive-date=February 2, 2021}} See the list of winners in 2011 which list "Blanderstein" and "Destiny for the Birds", and 2014, which lists "Timber". Medrano named the film after the song of the same name by Pitbull and Kesha, and its score contained homages to the song as well.{{cite web|last1=Medrano|first1=Vivienne|url=http://film.sva.edu/alumni-blog-vivienne-medrano/|title=Alumni Blog: Vivienne Medrano|website=SVA BVA Film Blog|publisher=School of Visual Arts|date=June 30, 2014|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306120514/http://film.sva.edu/alumni-blog-vivienne-medrano/|archive-date=March 6, 2020|url-status=live}} In October 2014, she released an animated music video for the song "Die Young" by Kesha, which accumulated over 50 million views by October 2019. As a result, she became "relatively well-known" online for her animation and artwork, some of which she shared on her channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuyspec.com/ae/television/hazbin-hotel-may-be-over-before-it-begins|title="Hazbin Hotel" May Be Over Before It Begins|last=Lepri|first=Miranda|date=February 3, 2020|website=The Spectator|publisher=Stuyvesant High School|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201106033150/https://www.stuyspec.com/ae/television/hazbin-hotel-may-be-over-before-it-begins|archive-date=November 6, 2020|url-status=live}}
Medrano received a Bachelor in Fine Arts and graduated from School of Visual Arts in August 2014. She worked as a freelance animator for two years. She continued to work on her webcomic ZooPhobia until 2016 when she ended it to focus her attention on Hazbin Hotel. Hazbin Hotel would be crowdfunded through Patreon.{{cite web|last1=Sarto|first1=Dan|url=https://www.awn.com/news/hand-drawn-feature-documentary-last-days-indiegogo-campaign|title='Hand Drawn' Feature Documentary in Last Days of Indiegogo Campaign|work=Animation World Network|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106025254/https://www.awn.com/news/hand-drawn-feature-documentary-last-days-indiegogo-campaign|archive-date=November 6, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Caroline|url=https://movieweb.com/hazbin-hotel-character-photos-a24/|title=A24 Reveals Character Images for Raunchy Animated Series Hazbin Hotel|website=MovieWeb|date=March 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322132258/https://movieweb.com/hazbin-hotel-character-photos-a24/|archive-date=March 22, 2022|url-status=live}}
=SpindleHorse=
Medrano founded the animation studio SpindleHorse, under which the pilot for Hazbin Hotel, the pilot and first season for Helluva Boss, and several animated shorts would be released.{{Cite web|last=Amidi|first=Amid|author-link=Amid Amidi|date=August 7, 2020|title=A24 Picks Up Online Pilot 'Hazbin Hotel' for Series|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/a24-picks-up-online-pilot-hazbin-hotel-for-series-195245.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307072738/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/a24-picks-up-online-pilot-hazbin-hotel-for-series-195245.html|archive-date=March 7, 2021|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Cartoon Brew}} Medrano serves as the director, writer and character designer for SpindleHorse Toons.{{cite web|url=https://tv.creativetalentnetwork.com/making-your-own-cartoon-with-special-guest-vivienne-medrano|title=Making Your Own Cartoon with Special Guest Vivienne Medrano|date=September 2, 2020|website=Creative Talent Network|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425182500/https://tv.creativetalentnetwork.com/making-your-own-cartoon-with-special-guest-vivienne-medrano|archive-date=April 25, 2021|url-status=live}} In an interview with Cartoon Brew, she said that much of the Hazbin Hotel pilot was funded by money from her Patreon, rather than income from YouTube's algorithm. The company Horseless Cowboy assisted Medrano with voice casting during the first season of Helluva Boss, with Richard Steven Horvitz serving as the voice director.{{cite web|url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/horseless-cowboy-helluva-boss/|title='Hazbin Hotel' Creator VivziePop Teams with Horseless Cowboy on Devilishly Twisted 'Helluva Boss'|date=October 7, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|website=Skwigly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008142651/https://www.skwigly.co.uk/horseless-cowboy-helluva-boss/|archive-date=October 8, 2020|url-status=live}} Cartoon Brew described her as a "paragon of indie success in animation".{{cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/festivals/6-unmissable-events-at-this-weeks-ottawa-international-animation-festival-208910.html|last=Dudok De Wit|first=Alex|title=6 Unmissable Events at This Week's Ottawa International Animation Festival|website=Cartoon Brew|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212016/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/festivals/6-unmissable-events-at-this-weeks-ottawa-international-animation-festival-208910.html|archive-date=September 24, 2021|url-status=live}}
In October 2019, the pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel was released on Medrano's YouTube channel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/hazbin-hotel-best-fan-art/|title=Hazbin Hotel: 10 Astonishing Pieces of Fan Art|last=Brueheim|first=Jackson|date=May 13, 2020|website=CBR|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612220106/https://www.cbr.com/hazbin-hotel-best-fan-art/|archive-date=June 12, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|url-status=live}} In November 2019, the pilot of Helluva Boss was released on her YouTube channel as well.{{Cite web|last=Short|first=Dan|date=December 18, 2020|title=Helluva Boss|url=https://animatedviews.com/2020/helluva-boss/|website=Animated Views|access-date=April 25, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118103546/https://animatedviews.com/2020/helluva-boss/|archive-date=January 18, 2021}} In July 2020, Medrano released an animated music video for Hazbin Hotel called "Addict", featuring the Silva Hound song of the same name.{{cite web|last1=Troup|first1=Margaret|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|title='Hazbin Hotel' Creator Releases New Episode of Spinoff Series 'Helluva Boss'|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Iowa State Daily|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201103153029/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/hazbin-hotel-creator-releases-new-episode-of-spin-off-series-helluva-boss-vivienne-medrano-youtube-animated-series-a24-angel-dust-charlie-moxxie-millie-blitzo-brandon-rogers-richard-steven-horvits-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_f905a1ea-1d33-11eb-afb6-3b962bc22e27.html|archive-date=November 3, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.comicon.com/2020/07/17/hazbin-hotel-returns-with-a-new-music-video-addict|title='Hazbin Hotel' Returns with a New Music Video 'Addict'|last=James|first=Tito W.|date=July 17, 2020|website=Comicon.com|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200722000834/http://www.comicon.com/2020/07/17/hazbin-hotel-returns-with-a-new-music-video-addict/|archive-date=July 22, 2020|url-status=live}} In August 2020, Hazbin Hotel was picked up for a full series by A24.{{cite web|last1=Dudok de Wit|first1=Alex|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/monthly-wrap-up/heres-the-biggest-animation-news-you-missed-in-august-195997.html|title=Here's the Biggest Animation News You Missed in August|work=Cartoon Brew|date=September 1, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904074858/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/monthly-wrap-up/heres-the-biggest-animation-news-you-missed-in-august-195997.html|archive-date=September 4, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Alexa|first1=Laurén|url=https://www.awn.com/news/unconventional-a24-picks-controversial-hazbin-hotel|title=Unconventional A24 Picks Up Controversial 'Hazbin Hotel'|work=Animation World Network|date=September 1, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102023751/https://www.awn.com/news/unconventional-a24-picks-controversial-hazbin-hotel|archive-date=November 2, 2020|url-status=live}} In 2020, the pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel was honored at The Webby Awards.{{Cite web|title=NEW Webby Gallery + Index|url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2020/video/general-video/animation/115429/hazbin-hotel|access-date=2025-04-03|website=NEW Webby Gallery + Index|language=en}} Animation Magazine said that A24 was taking a "bold step" by picking up the series.{{cite web|last1=Milligan|first1=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/a24-checks-in-to-vivziepops-hellish-hazbin-hotel/|title=A24 Checks in to VivziePop's Hellish 'Hazbin Hotel'|work=Animation Magazine|date=August 7, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814180006/https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/a24-checks-in-to-vivziepops-hellish-hazbin-hotel/|archive-date=August 14, 2020|url-status=live}} In 2023, scholar Ben Mitchell described Medrano's Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss as series which were "sensationally popular" and an effective use of Patreon to subsidize the show's art "through monthly tiered payments".{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Ben|author-link=|date=2023|title=Independent Animation: Developing, Producing and Distributing Your Animated Films|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rNytEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT87|location=Boca Raton, Florida|publisher=CRC Press|page=87|isbn=9781000849189|access-date=July 6, 2023|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706134653/https://books.google.com/books?id=rNytEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT87|url-status=live|via=Google Books}}
On September 30, 2020, Medrano released an animated short film titled "Bad Luck Jack", based on ZooPhobia.{{Cite web|last=Short|first=Dan|date=October 5, 2020|title=ZooPhobia: Bad Luck Jack|url=https://animatedviews.com/2020/zoophobia-bad-luck-jack/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120184811/https://animatedviews.com/2020/zoophobia-bad-luck-jack/|archive-date=January 20, 2021|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Animated Views}} The short was nominated and won for a Ursa Major Award in the "Best Dramatic Short Work" category.{{cite web|url=https://ursamajorawards.org/voting2020/|title=Voting|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|access-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301150205/https://ursamajorawards.org/voting2020/|archive-date=March 1, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=O'Reily|first=Rod|url=https://www.flayrah.com/8351/ursa-major-awards-2020|title=The Ursa Major Awards for 2020|website=Flayrah|date=May 2, 2021|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503132052/https://www.flayrah.com/8351/ursa-major-awards-2020|archive-date=May 3, 2021|url-status=live}} The short was also listed as a "Recommended Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short Work" on the Ursa Major Award website.{{cite web|url=https://ursamajorawards.org/ReadList.htm|title=Recommended Furry Art and Literature List|publisher=Ursa Major Awards|access-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203232450/https://ursamajorawards.org/ReadList.htm|archive-date=February 3, 2021|url-status=live}}
On April 25, 2025 it was announced that Helluva Boss would now be available on Amazon Prime Video as well as YouTube, with Medrano expressing that she was grateful to Prime Video for the opportunity and what it "means for the continued rise of indie animation."{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/04/prime-video-hires-on-helluva-boss-adult-animated-series-with-extra-seasons/|title=Prime Video Hires on 'Helluva Boss' Adult Animated Series with Extra Seasons|website=Animation Magazine|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425222621/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/04/prime-video-hires-on-helluva-boss-adult-animated-series-with-extra-seasons/|archive-date=April 25, 2025}} It was later reported that Medrano, and Spindlehorse itself, would retain "full creative control and final cut on the series."{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=William|url=https://www.avclub.com/helluva-boss-amazon-prime-video-hazbin-hotel-seasons-3-and-4|title=Prime Video snags a helluva lot of Hazbin Hotel-adjacent Helluva Boss|website=The A.V. Club|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428030514/https://www.avclub.com/helluva-boss-amazon-prime-video-hazbin-hotel-seasons-3-and-4|archive-date=April 28, 2025|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Mullinax|first=Hope|url=https://collider.com/helluva-boss-coming-to-prime-video-hazbin-hotel-two-season-renewal/|title='Helluva Boss' Is Finally Coming to Prime Video While 'Hazbin Hotel's Future Has Been Decided|website=Collider|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426030227/https://collider.com/helluva-boss-coming-to-prime-video-hazbin-hotel-two-season-renewal/|archive-date=April 26, 2025|url-status=live}} The Hollywood Reporter also stated that Medrano had signed a "first-look deal with Prime Video to develop new projects."{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hazbin-hotel-spinoff-helluva-boss-prime-video-1236201132/|title='Hazbin Hotel' Offshoot 'Helluva Boss' Gets Prime Video Run, Two-Season Renewal|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 27, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427003638/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hazbin-hotel-spinoff-helluva-boss-prime-video-1236201132/|archive-date=April 27, 2025|url-status=live}}
=Other work=
From 2017 to 2019, she worked as an animator on Nico Colaleo's DreamWorksTV series, Too Loud.{{Cite web|url=https://belatina.com/hazbin-hotel-pilot-review/|title=A Salvadoran-American Artist's Conception of Hell|last=Liberman|first=Dr Esther|date=December 9, 2019|website=BeLatina|language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226122747/https://belatina.com/hazbin-hotel-pilot-review/|archive-date=February 26, 2020|url-status=live}} She called her experience on the series "a delight."{{cite tweet|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|user=VivziePop|number=828726973866323969|date=February 6, 2017|title=For the fantastic @NicoColaleo SO excited to share the adorable wonder that is "Too Loud" with everyone! Working on it has been a delight|url=https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/828726973866323969|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425063810/https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/828726973866323969|archive-date=April 25, 2021|url-status=live}} She also worked as a character designer on the series. In March 2021, it was reported that she was a partner of Redefine Entertainment, a management company formed by Jairo Alvarado, Tony Gil, and Max Goldfarb.{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=March 3, 2021|title=Jairo Alvarado, Tony Gil & Max Goldfarb Form Lit Mgmt/Production Company Redefine Entertainment|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/jairo-alvarado-tony-gil-max-goldfarb-form-lit-mgmt-production-company-redefine-entertainment-1234700233/|access-date=April 24, 2021|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313162239if_/https://deadline.com/2021/03/jairo-alvarado-tony-gil-max-goldfarb-form-lit-mgmt-production-company-redefine-entertainment-1234700233/|archive-date=March 13, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Cavero|first=Natalia Puertas|date=March 4, 2021|title=Latinos Set to "Redefine" the Entertainment Industry|url=https://aldianews.com/articles/culture/film-television/latinos-set-redefine-entertainment-industry/63168|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Al Dia Television|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311020112/https://aldianews.com/articles/culture/film-television/latinos-set-redefine-entertainment-industry/63168|archive-date=March 11, 2021|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Medrano was born in Frederick, Maryland and is a Salvadoran-American. She became interested in animation as a child when she watched the film Bambi. She began using art programs such as MS Paint in third grade.{{cite interview|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|interviewer=Danielle Peters|title="Animation Is Magic": SVA Alumnus VivziePop on Perseverance, Inspiration and 'Hazbin Hotel'|url=https://sva.edu/features/animation-is-magic-sva-alumnus-vivziepop-on-perseverance-inspiration-and-hazbin-hotel|work=School of Visual Arts|location=New York|date=February 25, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302220322/https://sva.edu/features/animation-is-magic-sva-alumnus-vivziepop-on-perseverance-inspiration-and-hazbin-hotel|archive-date=March 2, 2020|url-status=live}} See YouTube clip of interview [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8jjQdrcKzY here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201223430/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8jjQdrcKzY|date=February 1, 2020 }}. Her early art was heavily influenced by Invader Zim. Medrano moved to New York City and began attending School of Visual Arts in September 2010 and would later graduate in 2014. She is bisexual,{{cite tweet|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|user=VivziePop|number=1272689220277043200|date=June 15, 2020|title=Also I am a bisexual woman, and majority of my cast and crew, and characters are LGBT so to think that the show or production is setting out to be anti LGBT is ludicrous and I'm pretty sick of that being what people just -believe- about my projects.|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616004034/https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1272689220277043200|archive-date=June 16, 2020|url-status=live}} and on the asexual spectrum.{{cite web|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne.|title=My bisexuality is something I've had so long to understand about myself, but the ace-ness was something I denied for a long time. I now really feel like it explains a lot about myself I have always been unsure of. I'm happy to keep learning new things about myself. ❤️ Happy International Ace day! 🙌|website=Bluesky|url=https://bsky.app/profile/vivziepop.bsky.social/post/3lm4qdnkvns2p|date=April 6, 2025|access-date=May 18, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250519133828/https://anartia.kelinci.net/did:plc:dhwk3xnuw2actkty24jls3mp/3lm4qdnkvns2p|archive-date=May 19, 2025|url-status=live|url-access=registration}} Note: sign-in required to read text. It is also available [https://archive.today/20250519133041/https://bsky.app/profile/vivziepop.bsky.social/post/3lm4qdnkvns2p here]. She grew up Presbyterian, and says she remembers going to church and questioning a lot of stories in the Bible — Adam and Eve and Lucifer, in particular.{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/vivienne-medrano-jessica-vosk-daphne-rubin-vega-hazbin-hotel-interview/|title=Exclusive: Hazbin Hotel Creator and Its Broadway Stars Are in Heaven Being in Hell|author=Greg Archer|website=Movieweb|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=March 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522182313/https://movieweb.com/vivienne-medrano-jessica-vosk-daphne-rubin-vega-hazbin-hotel-interview/|archive-date=May 22, 2024|url-status=live}}
In a January 2024 interview following the release of Hazbin Hotel on Amazon Prime Video, she described herself as a "queer woman on the internet who made something popular", and related herself to her character Charlie Morningstar, saying that both she and Charlie are in a "position of fighting uphill battles to just have our dreams exist."{{cite web|last=Piepenburg|first=Erik|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-19/hazbin-hotel-a24-vivienne-medrano-alex-brightman|title='Hazbin Hotel,' A24's First Animated Series, Imagines Heaven and Hell with a Broadway Voice Cast|website=Los Angeles Times|date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119185532/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-19/hazbin-hotel-a24-vivienne-medrano-alex-brightman|archive-date=January 19, 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} Previously, Medrano had described herself, on social media, as a "proud 'fiery' [L]atina," and said that Vaggie was the character she related to most, saying that Vaggie and Charlie "feel like sides of [her]self."{{cite tweet|last=Medrano|first=Vivienne|author-link=Vivienne Medrano|user=VivziePop|number=1189643963201769472|date=October 30, 2019|url=https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1189643963201769472|title=Being a proud 'fiery' latina myself, Vaggie is hands down the character I relate most too in #HazbinHotel her and Charlie feel like sides of myself. The ambitious side and the temperamental wanting to defend myself and others side. Fuck anyone who shames you for being fiery 💕🔥|website=Twitter|access-date=January 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824142344/https://twitter.com/VivziePop/status/1189643963201769472|archive-date=August 24, 2022|url-status=live}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Year ! colspan="5" | Credited as ! rowspan="2" | Notes |
width="65" | Director
! width="65" | Writer ! width="65" | Producer ! Animation/Art ! Other |
---|
scope="row" | Hazbin Hotel
| 2024–present | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |
=Web series=
= Music videos =
class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Artist |
2024
| "Polkamania!" ("Vampire" segment) |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|u=SpindleHorse|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medrano, Vivienne}}
Category:American women animators
Category:American women screenwriters
Category:American female comics writers
Category:YouTube channels launched in 2012
Category:People from Frederick, Maryland
Category:School of Visual Arts alumni
Category:American voice actresses
Category:American people of Salvadoran descent
Category:American surrealist artists
Category:Bisexual women artists
Category:Bisexual women writers
Category:Bisexual screenwriters
Category:LGBTQ people from Maryland
Category:American LGBTQ film directors
Category:American LGBTQ screenwriters
Category:American bisexual artists
Category:American bisexual writers
Category:American bisexual actresses
Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:21st-century American women artists
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American screenwriters
Category:YouTubers from Maryland
Category:American writers with disabilities
Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder