SpindleHorse
| Company type | Independent animation studio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California , United States |
| Products | Animated series (Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss), animated shorts (Holidaze, Bad Luck Jack) |
SpindleHorse Toons, often referred to simply as SpindleHorse, is an independent animation company based in the United States, established by Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano in 2018 and located in Burbank, California. The studio is responsible for creating the Hellaverse shared universe of animated series, which includes the flagship production Hazbin Hotel—developed in collaboration with Bento Box Entertainment and co-produced alongside A24—as well as the spin-off series Helluva Boss, for which SpindleHorse acts as the exclusive animation house.
In addition to these series, SpindleHorse has produced various animated shorts such as "Holidaze" and "Bad Luck Jack," both accessible on Medrano’s YouTube channel. The name of the studio originates from a character Medrano invented during her childhood.
History
Vivienne Medrano launched SpindleHorse, under whose banner the Hazbin Hotel pilot, the pilot plus first two seasons of Helluva Boss, and several shorts were developed. Medrano fulfills multiple roles including director, chief writer, and principal character designer. Funding for the Hazbin Hotel pilot was predominantly sourced through her Patreon supporters rather than income from YouTube ad revenue. The voice casting for Helluva Boss was supported by Horseless Cowboy, with Richard Steven Horvitz serving as voice director. Industry outlet Cartoon Brew highlighted Medrano as a prominent figure in the realm of independent animation achievements.
The pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel debuted on YouTube in October 2019, followed by the release of the Helluva Boss pilot in November 2019. Additional content includes the short "Holidaze," released in December 2019, and an animated music video titled "Addict" for Hazbin Hotel, which premiered in July 2020. In August 2020, A24 secured the rights to develop Hazbin Hotel into a full television series, a decision characterized by Animation Magazine as daring. Academic Ben Mitchell observed in 2023 that these productions effectively utilized Patreon’s tiered monthly contribution system to finance their creation. The full series launch in January 2024 garnered widespread critical praise.
On September 30, 2020, SpindleHorse unveiled "Bad Luck Jack," an animated short inspired by Medrano’s webcomic ZooPhobia, which subsequently earned the Ursa Major Award for Best Dramatic Short Work. Between 2020 and 2021, Medrano released "Voxtagram" clips featuring characters from both Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss through Instagram accounts managed by SpindleHorse personnel.
In August 2025, Medrano announced an Australian branch of SpindleHorse named SpindleRoo. Its inaugural project is an animated pilot adapting the webcomic Homestuck. This initiative represents the studio’s first venture into material not originally created by Medrano herself. During a September 2025 interview with Polygon, Medrano described this effort as an experimental "test pilot" designed to explore new artistic styles and technological approaches. Viewer feedback will determine whether it evolves into a full series or remains a YouTube-exclusive project. She expressed aspirations that this undertaking will open opportunities for SpindleHorse to collaborate with other creators and expand its portfolio beyond her own creations.
Television series
| Title | Released | Original network(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Pilot"/"That's Entertainment" | 2019 | YouTube | Pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel |
| Hazbin Hotel | 2024–present | Amazon Prime Video | Produced in partnership with Bento Box and A24 |
| Helluva Boss | 2019–present | YouTube Amazon Prime Video |
Web series
| Title | Release Year | Original Platform(s) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestuck - The Animated Pilot | 2025 | Pilot, produced by SpindleRoo |
Music videos
| Title | Release Year | Original Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Inside of Every Demon Is a Rainbow" | 2018 | YouTube |
| "Oh Millie" | 2020 | YouTube |
| "Addict" | 2020 | YouTube |
| "Just Look My Way" | 2023 | YouTube |
| "Polkamania!" (segment from "Vampire") | 2024 | YouTube |
| "Everything Is Fine (Remix)" (segment from Helluva Boss) | 2025 | YouTube |
Shorts
| Title | Release Year(s) | Original Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Holidaze" | 2019 | YouTube |
| "Bad Luck Jack" | 2020 | |
| Helluva Shorts | 2024–present |