If you’ve spent any time on the indie side of YouTube, you know exactly why shows like Helluva Boss are such a massive obsession right now. Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano didn’t just make a cartoon; she basically ignited a revolution in adult animation. It’s got that specific, messy blend of high-octane violence, musical theater flair, and characters that make you want to give them a hug and a therapy referral at the same time.
Finding something to fill that void is tough.
Most adult animation feels like it's trying too hard to be Family Guy or just wants to be edgy for the sake of a cheap laugh. Helluva Boss is different because it’s deeply personal. It’s an indie darling that somehow looks better than half the stuff on major streaming networks. If you’re looking for that same hit of adrenaline and emotional damage, you have to look beyond the mainstream "dad" comedies.
Why the Indie Animation Scene is Dominating Right Now
The success of SpindleHorse Toons proved that you don't need a massive studio to build a global fandom. Fans aren't just looking for raunchy jokes; they want world-building. They want lore. When people search for shows like Helluva Boss, they're usually looking for that "found family" trope set against a backdrop of absolute mayhem.
Take Hazbin Hotel, for instance. It’s the obvious sibling to Helluva Boss, sharing the same universe (the Hellaverse). While Helluva Boss focuses on the gritty, day-to-day operations of I.M.P. in the Pride Ring and beyond, Hazbin is the grand, operatic tale of redemption. It’s more polished since its move to Amazon MGM Studios, but the DNA is the same. It’s about people—well, demons—who are fundamentally broken trying to find a version of "good" in a place that’s designed to be bad.
But what if you’ve already binged every second of the Hellaverse?
The Best Shows Like Helluva Boss You Might Have Missed
The hunt for a similar vibe often leads to Lackadaisy. This one started as a webcomic by Tracy J. Butler and transitioned into a stunning animated pilot funded by the community. It’s set in a 1920s Prohibition-era St. Louis populated by anthropomorphic cats.
It’s stylish. It’s jazz-infused. It’s surprisingly violent.
While it lacks the literal Hell-fire of Blitzø’s world, it shares that "indie spirit" and incredible attention to character design. The animation is fluid, almost reminiscent of old Don Bluth films, but with a modern, sharp edge. It captures that same feeling of a small group of outcasts trying to survive in a world that wants to crush them.
Murder Drones and the Glitch Productions Wave
If you haven't checked out Glitch Productions, you’re missing the other half of the YouTube animation gold rush. Murder Drones, created by Liam Vickers, is a chaotic masterpiece. It’s 3D, which might be a turn-off if you’re a 2D purist, but the writing is incredibly fast-paced and cynical.
It follows "Worker Drones" on a frozen planet who are being hunted by "Disassembly Drones." It’s got horror elements, plenty of dark humor, and a plot that gets surprisingly dense. It hits that specific "shows like Helluva Boss" craving because it doesn't hold your hand. It expects you to keep up with the lore while laughing at a robot getting its head blown off.
The Midnight Gospel
Switching gears to something a bit more philosophical but equally trippy, there's The Midnight Gospel on Netflix. Created by Pendleton Ward (the Adventure Time guy) and comedian Duncan Trussell, it’s basically a podcast set during the apocalypse.
The visuals are insane.
Every episode follows Clancy, a "spacecaster" who travels to dying worlds to interview beings about life, death, and drugs. It’s much more "vibey" than Helluva Boss, but the sheer creativity in the animation—the gore, the surrealism, the bright colors—appeals to the same visual palate. It deals with heavy emotional themes under a layer of neon chaos.
Why Tone Matters More Than Setting
A lot of people think that to be one of the shows like Helluva Boss, it has to be about demons. Honestly? Not really. What makes Helluva Boss work is the "found family" dynamic between Blitzø, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona. They are a disaster. They yell at each other. But they are a unit.
Final Space (rest in peace to its licensing) had this in spades. Gary Goodspeed and his crew of misfits felt very much like the I.M.P. team. It was a space opera that could make you cry in one scene and laugh at a stupid "cookie" joke the next. It’s harder to find now due to tax write-off shenanigans, but it’s the spiritual successor to that specific brand of emotional adult animation.
Then you have Invincible.
While it’s a superhero show, it shares the "hyper-violence meets genuine heart" philosophy. When a fight happens in Invincible, there are consequences. People get hurt, and the trauma sticks. Helluva Boss does this too—Blitzø’s self-loathing isn't just a gag; it’s a recurring plot point that affects his relationships with Stolas and the team.
The Evolution of Adult Animation: Moving Beyond South Park
For decades, "adult animation" meant one of two things: a sitcom about a dysfunctional family or a crude satire. We are finally moving past that. Shows like Helluva Boss are part of a new wave where the "adult" part refers to the complexity of the themes, not just the number of F-bombs.
👉 See also: Why Ai Hoshino Still Dominates the Oshi no Ko Story Long After Episode One
Look at Pantheon.
It’s a hard sci-fi series about uploaded consciousness. It sounds dry, but it’s gripping and visceral. It treats animation as a medium for serious storytelling rather than just a vehicle for gags. Or consider Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix. It is arguably one of the most beautiful things ever put to screen. It’s a revenge story set in Edo-period Japan. The action is choreographed like a high-budget live-action film, and the character development is top-tier.
If you like Helluva Boss for its high production value and willingness to take its characters seriously, Blue Eye Samurai is a mandatory watch. It’s much darker and lacks the musical numbers, but the craftsmanship is undeniable.
Breaking Down the "Helluva" Formula
What exactly are we looking for when we say we want shows like Helluva Boss?
- The Aesthetic: Vibrant, sharp, and expressive. It’s "edgy" but not ugly. It uses color to tell a story.
- The Humor: Fast, cynical, and often breaking the fourth wall or leaning into internet subcultures.
- The Heart: You actually care if the characters live or die.
- The Music: Not every show needs songs, but Helluva Boss uses music to bridge the gap between comedy and drama.
Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (the TV series) actually fits this in a weird way. It’s puppets, sure, but the transition from "kids show" to "existential nightmare" is handled with a surgical precision that VivziePop fans usually appreciate. It’s uncomfortable. It’s funny. It’s deeply weird.
How to Support the Future of These Shows
The most important thing to realize about this genre is that it is often fragile. Many of these projects start on Patreon or Kickstarter. Unlike big network shows, shows like Helluva Boss exist because the community keeps them alive.
If you want more content like this, you have to engage with the creators directly.
Watch the pilots on YouTube. Buy the merch. The industry is watching how these indie projects perform to see if they should take risks on "weird" adult animation. We’re in a golden age, but it’s one that requires fans to be active participants rather than just passive viewers.
Real Talk on Recommendations
If you’re sitting there with your remote in hand, here’s the quick-and-dirty breakdown of where to go next based on what you liked about Blitzø and the gang:
🔗 Read more: Why the Survivor: Guatemala Cast Still Fascinates Fans Two Decades Later
- If you want more demons and songs: Hazbin Hotel (Amazon Prime). It's the sister show. You've probably seen it, but if not, start there.
- If you want the indie YouTube grit: Murder Drones or The Amazing Digital Circus. These are the heavy hitters of the current YouTube scene.
- If you want beautiful animation and mature themes: Blue Eye Samurai or Arcane. These are the gold standard for what animation can be in the 2020s.
- If you want the "found family" in space: Final Space (if you can find it) or Star Trek: Lower Decks. Don't sleep on Lower Decks—it's much funnier and more chaotic than you’d expect from a Trek property.
The landscape is changing fast. We are seeing a move away from the "ugly" animation style that dominated the 2010s and a return to high-effort, artist-driven projects. Helluva Boss was a pioneer in that space, and the shows following in its footsteps are only getting more ambitious.
Actionable Steps for the Animation Junkie
If you've exhausted the mainstream lists and still need more, start digging into the "Pilot" culture on YouTube. There are dozens of incredibly talented teams putting out 10-minute proofs of concept that are just waiting for the right backing.
Keep an eye on studios like Iron Circus Animation or creators who have survived the "Webtoons to TV" pipeline. The next big show isn't going to come from a pitch meeting at a major network; it’s going to come from an artist with a tablet and a story to tell about a bunch of losers in a place they shouldn't be.
Check out the "Indie Animation" playlists on YouTube, support creators on platforms like Ko-fi or Patreon if you can afford it, and keep talking about these shows. The more noise we make about high-quality, creator-owned adult animation, the more of it we get to see.
Next Steps for Exploration:
- Search for "Indie Animation Pilots 2024-2025" on YouTube to see the next generation of creators.
- Follow SpindleHorse Toons on social media for updates on the latest Helluva Boss shorts and season releases.
- Explore the "Sakuga" community on Twitter or specialized forums to learn more about the animators who bring these chaotic sequences to life.