Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has tapped YouTube-born animator Vivienne Medrano for a theatrical original: an animated musical feature titled Prehistoria. The project, unveiled this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, marks a notable studio move to bring creator-driven online talent into mainstream cinema.
Studio president Bill Damaschke revealed the collaboration during the “Warner Bros. Pictures Animation – A New Chapter” presentation, showing first-look artwork for the prehistoric-set film and confirming a theatrical release plan.
Medrano—known online as VivziePop—rose to prominence through independently produced adult animated series that built large fan followings on YouTube. Her coming-of-age into feature filmmaking, she says, has been a longtime goal, and working with a major animation studio gives her a chance to expand a story she’s held for years into a larger, cinematic form.
From web shorts to the big screen
The deal highlights a broader trend: major studios courting creators who have proven audience appeal on digital platforms. Medrano’s two best-known shows, Hazbin Hotel and its spin-off Helluva Boss, demonstrate that type of grassroots traction—tens or hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and sustained fan engagement across social channels.
Launched as a pilot in 2019, Hazbin Hotel centers on Charlie Morningstar, a princess of Hell who seeks to rehabilitate lost souls to ease overcrowding in her realm. Following its viral reception, Medrano’s company SpindleHorse partnered with A24, Amazon MGM Studios and Bento Box Entertainment to produce a full season for Amazon Prime Video; the series premiered on the platform in early 2024 and was reported as one of the largest global debuts for an animated series on the service. Additional seasons and spin-offs have continued to expand the franchise.
Industry observers say the Warner Bros. announcement at Annecy underlines two immediately relevant points for audiences and the market: original creator-led IP can cross from niche streaming success into studio features, and adult-oriented animated musicals are increasingly seen as commercially viable theatrical fare.
Quick facts
- Project: Prehistoria — original animated musical feature
- Creator: Vivienne Medrano (VivziePop)
- Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
- Reveal: First look and announcement at Annecy International Animation Film Festival
- Release format: Theatrical (studio confirmed)
- Creator background: Creator of Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss; SpindleHorse partnered with A24, Amazon MGM and Bento Box for the Hazbin series on Prime Video
For viewers who followed Medrano’s online work, Prehistoria will be monitored for how it translates the creator’s distinctive black-comedy, musical sensibility to a studio-backed, big-screen canvas. For the industry, the collaboration signals continued interest in converting digital-first popularity into mainstream theatrical opportunities.
Warner Bros. has not yet released a full production timeline or casting details. Further updates are likely as the studio progresses development and prepares marketing ahead of the planned theatrical run.
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