Colour and lighting in Hazbin Hotel (Vivienne Medrano, 2024-) - Episode 4: Masquerade

Hazbin Hotel, a series created and directed by Vivienne Medrano, premiered in 2024.  It follows the story of Charlie Morningstar, daughter of Lucifer Morningstar and Lilith, and her efforts to prevent sinners from facing the annual extermination which results in her establishing a hotel that rehabilitates them for entry into heaven. Although the series episodes explore a multitude of themes and topics, the episode that particularly resonated with me was “Episode 4: Masquerade,” which follows the character of Angel Dust as he tries to balance his job’s responsibilities while residing at the hotel. However, as each episode develops, it becomes clear that Angel’s struggle goes beyond a mere work-life balance. He is battling to survive and suppress the abuse that is inflicted upon him by Valentino, a sinner demon. In this blog, I will analyse episode 4 of Hazbin Hotel in terms of its use of colour and animated techniques in lighting, as both play a pivotal role in conveying the character’s emotions as well as portraying the abusive situation that plays out, particularly in relation to Angel Dust.

Angel Dust kicks off the fourth episode of the series by sharing one of his adult films with his friends. However, his carefree atmosphere takes a sudden turn when he receives an urgent call from his boss, Valentino, summoning him to work. When Angel Dust departs, Charlie wishes that he could spend more time at the hotel. Charlie then decides to confront Valentino with this proposition, but her good intentions only pave the way for disaster, as Angel finds himself subjected to his boss’s cruel abuse. Hazbin Hotel is set in the pride ring of Hell, known for its dominant red scenery. Despite the prevalence of red throughout the series, Medrano skillfully utilizes color to help convey the characters’ emotions. Clara Vetter notes that “Color can affect how memorable something is, guide attention, evoke emotions, and even influence motor function and performance” (2023), and during the episode colour is certainly used to evoke emotions. An instance of this is during the sequence of the song Poison. During this part of the song, the episode switches back and forth from Angel engaging in sexually explicit acts a sequence where he disassociates from the reality that is unfolding in front of him. During the sexually explicit acts, the predominant colour that is displayed is red while the dissociation sequence has a predominant bright blue color. Red can be associated with danger while blue is associated with calm and peace. This alternating of colour helps to capture Angel’s torment, shifting from explicit scenes to his escapist dissociation where he can feel at peace while the studio scene unfolds.

Another instance in which Medrano uses color to evoke emotion occurs during the “Loser Baby” song sequence in this episode. The song follows Angel Dust’s heartfelt conversation with Husk, where he opens up about his job and ownership of his soul. In this particular segment of the song, both Angel Dust and Husk are bathed in a blue tint. Here, blue signifies comfort and trust, illustrating the bond of trust between the two characters. Angel Dust finds solace in Husk's presence, feeling secure enough to reveal his true self and feelings. This contrasts with Angel’s relationship with Valentino, portrayed in menacing red, effectively conveying emotions through colour. Furthermore, the series often depicts the adult entertainment industry with pink and purple hues, which can be associated with fantasy and sexuality. Through this deliberate stylistic choice, Medrano effectively envelopes the audience in an environment pulsating with sexual energy.

Medrano employs not only colour to convey the characters’ emotions, but lighting also plays a pivotal role in depicting the danger in abusive relationships.  The lighting in the episode amplifies the emotional impact of the scenes, whether these be danger or relief. An instance of this occurs before the Poison song where Valentino is physically harming Angel and threatening him, reminding him that he owns him and that he needs to get rid of Charlie. This scene establishes Angel’s coerced participation in adult films, which emphasizes the non-consensual aspect of his relationship with Valentino and highlights its abusive nature. In Sexual Violence and Abuse: An Encyclopedia of Prevention, Impacts, and Recovery, Judy L. Postmus notes that "Physical coercion includes intimidation, threats…Psychological coercion can be more subtle and involve verbal or emotional manipulation” (2012). In this scene, Angel and Valentino are enveloped in ominous darkness, symbolizing the danger Angel faces. The stark darkness heightens the audience's sense of the threat posed by Valentino. Despite scattered patches of light in the room, both characters deliberately avoid these well-lit areas during their interaction. This is even more notable during the part where they are facing a vanity mirror that is covered in lights, but they are still shrouded in darkness. This emphasizes the danger Angel is facing.

Another significant example of lighting playing a pivotal role in the episode occurs as Angel confides in Husk about his desire to break free from the cycle of addiction as a means to forget the trauma Valentino inflicts on him. Angel finds solace in his addiction, using it to numb his pain. He is willing to accept the consequences, even if it leads to his own ruin, in the hopes that Valentino will not use him as often. According to a recent 2019 research study, male survivors of sexual assault often exhibit a “self-destruction force appear among other things in risk behavior and negligence towards own life and health” (Tryggvadottir, Sigurdardottir, and Halldorsdottir 2019). In this sequence, the lighting is dim and gives a sombre ambiance, mirroring the weight of Angel’s emotions as he opens up about his struggle. The subdued lighting intensifies the seriousness of the moment, helping to add to the gravity and emotional depth of the scene unfolding.

Another notable instance of contrasting themes achieved via lighting emerges in the final scene, as Angel and Husk return to the hotel, marking a departure from the danger and distress seen earlier in the episode. As they both enter the hotel, the once dim lighting they were shrouded in becomes bright. When Charlie comes to apologise to Angel as he entered, she is also bathed in radiant light, just like Husk and Angel.  This contrasts from earlier sequence where both her and Angel were at the studio framed by dim lighting. Yet here, this well-lit atmosphere symbolizes reconciliation and hope, signifying that Angel no longer has to suffer alone.

As this blog post has argued, Medrano uses colour and lighting to evoke emotions and convey the severity or sincerity of each scene in the fourth episode of Hazbin Hotel. He uses both techniques to communicate the severity of abusive relationships, and capture Angel’s shifting emotions throughout the episode. Colour and lighting enhance the episode’s dramatic impact, inviting viewers to share empathy for Angel as part of its intentions of heightened and impactful immersion.

**Article published: March 14, 2025**

References

Anon. 2017. “Color Psychology - the Meaning of Colors and Their Traits.” Trade Show Best Practices by PRO Expo, (August 3, 2017), available at: tradeshowbestpractices.com/2017/08/03/color-psychology-meaning-colors-traits/.

Postmus, Judy L. 2012. Sexual Violence and Abuse : An Encyclopedia of Prevention, Impacts, and Recovery. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Tryggvadottir, Elisa Drofn V., Sigrun Sigurdardottir, and Sigridur Halldorsdottir. 2019. “'The self-destruction force is so strong': male survivors' experience of suicidal thoughts following sexual violence.” Scand J Caring Sci 33, no. 4 (December): 995-1005.

Vetter, Clara. 2019. “The Effects of Colors on Behavior.” Neurofied (December 13, 2019), available at: neurofied.com/effects-of-color-on-behavior/.

Biography

Emily Consuelo is a graduating student at the University of Texas at Dallas, Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, Technology with a concentration in Animation. Her focus is on Motion Design and character design. Earlier versions of this text were developed with the help of Dr. Christine Veras and peers from the Animation Studies course.