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Alastor is on par to be my favorite character.

The visuals are amazing. The sounds are great, the songs are amazing, the comedic timing is on point, the characters are diverse with personality and overall, this has me floored both with how well it looks and what its potential is.

This is DEFINITELY a niche cartoon. Not very many people can get behind it and not too many people can say they relate or enjoy it. However, those that do are SO impressed. I am one of those who is very impressed.

There is so much to say but so little time and substance to rate it by. I am in LOVE with this though. I will definitely "stay tuned".

So I will be completely honest, I am not particularly a fan of this specific style of storytelling, mainly an animated show in which the tone is constantly shifting from exaggerated comedy to serious drama. It is not the same as black comedy, because the goal at the end of the day is not to make you laugh, the goal is to tell a captivating story, but the entire thing is framed as comedic. I am not saying it is a bad style, I just personally do not like it, and feel as though it is overdone. However, it doesn't mean that it is a bad style just because it's not my favorite. So when I heard that this was getting picked up to be a fully-fledged animated series with an entire team behind it, and was started by a low-budget youtuber, I was definitely intrigued.

Needless to say, I was not personally that drawn in by the pilot because as I said before, I do not like the style. But objectively, it is quite well done. The animation is incredibly interesting, especially on Alastor the Radio Demon, along with the voice acting and music. The entire thing is professionally made, which is especially impressive since it comes from a youtuber, who, while they do have a team working for them, ultimately does not have the same resources as a TV production company. So even though it is not really my taste in storytelling, I definitely think that it deserved to be picked up for a full series.

I'm going to put this at a 6/10 for now due to us only having the pilot, but the rating for the overall series could be much higher, depending on how good it ends up being.

The Hazbin Hotel pilot is one of those rare internet-born projects that exploded with hype before it even had a full series. When it dropped, I didn't know whether to expect chaotic brilliance or an overstuffed mess-and honestly, it ended up being a bit of both. That's why I land it at a 7/10: an ambitious, eye-popping introduction that's fun to watch but not flawless.

The art and animation immediately stand out. Vivziepop's team poured raw talent into this, giving Hell a vivid personality-stylized, colorful, and flamboyant. It's a visual overload at times, but that chaos suits the setting. You can't deny it grabs your attention, and the character designs are memorable enough to stick in your head after just one viewing.

Charlie as the hopeful princess of Hell is instantly likable, and her dream of redemption for demons is such a unique premise. It gives the show its heart, grounding all the zany comedy with something earnest. But what steals the spotlight, obviously, is Alastor-the Radio Demon. His presence feels like a shot of adrenaline to the entire pilot, commanding every frame with charisma and menace. You can see why he became an instant fan favorite.

The humor is a mixed bag. Some jokes land with sharp wit, others feel rushed or forced, like they're trying too hard to cram in every punchline at once. The pilot suffers from "first episode syndrome"-wanting to introduce everyone, set the tone, and prove itself all at the same time. That makes it feel uneven, as though the story itself doesn't quite have space to breathe.

The musical numbers, however, were a bold choice that worked. They're catchy, theatrical, and give the pilot a Broadway-meets-Hell vibe that's completely its own. Yet, they also slow down the pacing in a 30-minute pilot that already has too much to juggle. It's fun, but it sacrifices some narrative clarity.

In the end, the Hazbin Hotel pilot feels like a sketchbook come to life: vibrant, messy, bursting with imagination, but rough around the edges. It's not polished television yet, but it's a promise-one that made me want to see where this world and its characters could go. That's why I sit comfortably at 7/10: good enough to stand out, flawed enough to remind me it's just the beginning.

This pilot gives a lot to look forward to, with so much passion poured into it. The concept is original and interesting, the characters are all very lovable, and the animation looks amazing. Aside from some minor pacing issues, this pilot gives a great taste of what's to come.

To get it out of the way: Creating an independently animated creation in this day is a herculean task that I have nothing but sheer respect for, as animation, especially with only a small team, takes years of effort even for a simple 30 minute work. Considering how corporatized the media industry is, sparks of autonomy and unfiltered talent are more important than ever.

Aside from that, the pilot itself is endearing, intriguing, and fun. It's no surprise that the series got picked up by an animation studio. While a musical was not the direction I would have thought of, it works well with the idealist Charlie, who is essentially a Disney princess who just so happened to be the princess of Hell. She and her supportive girlfriend Vaggie are a likable duo and her pitch for the "Happy Hotel", while failing catastrophically due to it being presented to people with no interest in redemption, was greatly entertaining. Enough so, in fact, to catch the attention of the sly and terrifying yet charming Alastor, who gets the hotel off the ground to "watch people try and fail to redeem themselves" for his own amusement. Frankly, I would say Alastor steals the show from his introduction on, with his cryptic radio-static voice, status as a person of mass destruction, claims to have no motive but boredom while subtly hinting at something more, and a mask of affability juxtaposed with sheer terrifying eminence when he gets serious. I would recommend watching it, especially as it's free on YouTube.