REDESIGNING ALASTOR FROM HAZBIN HOTEL

IF I PUT THE TITLE IN ALL CAPS DOES IT MAKE YOU WANT TO CLICK ON THE VIDEO
why did I say the plural of deer as 'deers' I don't like that I did that.
Anyway, the character this design is based off of belongs to Vivziepop and I have no rights over it. All of the music in this video is by Black Gryphon, the original voice of the character.
If you're concerned, the word I don't feel like I should say has to do with a native american tribe's private culture and mythology and part of the rules surrounding it is the fact that it should not be named, and if the people actually belonging to the culture can't say or portray it I don't see why I or anyone else should be allowed to. It's basic respect. So I see a lot of people adding elements from it into their redesigns and saying the character himself is based off of them, and I just really don't like it.

[@seabeebug]

I'd like to further explain why I don't like to associate the w*ndigo with Alastor because I feel like it might not be fair to avoid explanation; the creature comes from the Algonquian culture and it is considered very dangerous and disrespectful to the wishes of their people to name it as it might summon it. I don't believe in it or anything supernatural but I still respect that if they aren't allowed to say it, I as someone who has absolutely nothing to do with the culture should have no right to say it or try to use its likeness in fiction either. It's why I'm trying to steer the character's design away from evoking that imagery. Voodoo has an extremely similar issue so I'm trying to get away from that too. There are a lot of problems with this character that don't have to do with how red he is or how big he smiles or whether or not his jacket is brown (I'm not going to back down on the brown jacket)

[@Crisjola]

Just fyi, there’s a… rather large gap in the difference between voodoo from Africa, voodoo that is practiced in Haiti, and _specifically_ New Orleans Voodoo. New Orleans voodoo is not a closed religion, and the differences come from about two hundred years of cultural and mythological drift. It’s very similar to how in a high Scottish-American population from 250-ish years ago have myths about things in the Appalachian mountain range that, if you squint, you can see the fair folk/various other generally horrifying insta game overs, that came over to TN and then basically had zero contact with their mythology of origin for a hundred+ years. (I know this is a YT comment but I do recommend a breeze through JSTOR if you have access.) As for the w^digo, the idea of mentioning is what summons it (why in my example the people under the hill are _not_ named) is a staple of many, many mythologies/folk tales. So respecting that culture (and also promptly respecting others just the same) is a good rule of thumb. What is interesting about the various “things one should not name because it will summon them” is, I’ve never heard, and I’ve spent a near degree’s worth of time bouncing between Central South East Asia and North American tribes back to the literal stone ages (anthropology makes a great minor to history, and I’ve ended up with quite a few more classes than a minor needs), that something you can summon with (spoken) words also cannot be depicted in drawing. Like the Gentry aren’t going to come take all the steel nails out of your house so the roof falls in if you draw them. But good effing luck getting rid of them if you happen to get on their bad side (according to the mythology/tales). Also, be careful as an artist and creator to make sure that where you’re drawing any inspiration from is the _original_ source. Not Rome deciding to rename gods, or The Church deciding to make Ireland’s entire creation myth watered down Genesis that loops back in on itself because you can’t just paint over a creation myth of an actively living group of people and have that work out super well/it gets confusing. (Like the sludge Pan and, if memory serves, Dionysus came from as a pre-Greek nature god that was one god, that split into other gods. Same with Hermes.) I recommend _starting_ with Mesopotamia and going from there, because that’s as far back as records go (Gilgamesh and all), and to also stay _far away_ from any of that “maiden, mother, crone” stuff since that’s basically hogwash and is not remotely as interesting as Ishtar being a goddess of love/fertility, the goddess of war, and actively associated with Venus as the morning and evening star. There’s stepping on toes, and then there’s erasing culture by not willfully, and freely incorporating those that aren’t closed into your own-which has the neat side effect of making Louisiana one of the more diverse and accepting of any differences (from ethnic group to physical ability) of any state I’ve had the pleasure of living in and caring about someone from. Closed cultures are one thing-let them be, and leave the documentation of things up to the anthropologist who tend to devote their life’s work to transcribing down oral traditions so they don’t get lost-but open ones? Or, heck, by blood I’m well within my “rights” to claim Ishtar as someone I am vassal for, but… it is a very dead religion and very dead culture, seeing as it’s roughly 5,000 years old.

[@OR56]

I respectfully disagree

[@seabeebug]

@@Crisjola the voodoo part I'll have to say I'm not well enough versed in to make any statements on aside from saying I have heard that people who practice the religion are unhappy about the portrayal. I honestly just don't have enough faith in vivziepop to believe she put all that much thought into what would and wouldn't be offensive to certain cultures.

[@seabeebug]

@@OR56 with what part because it's not cool to disagree with respecting someone else's culture, I want to make sure you don't mean the explanation itself

[@OR56]

@@seabeebug I disagree with saying that anyone who isn't a part of some culture can't draw inspiration from it. What if I said that if you aren't a Christian, you can't have any Christian-style religious iconography in your story. No churches, no Bibles, no popes, nuns, monks, nothing that look even remotely like a cross, you are not allowed to say the words "Jesus" or "Christ" or "God" unless you are a Christian. Not very reasonable right? You can draw inspiration from anywhere you damn well please.

[@Akademya101]

This makes him into a completely different character, like his more sane and proper brother, the Redesign makes him look more soft and less evil and more human/earthly and less intimidating which counters hell showing them their true selves as sinners. This design would work if the character hides their evil nature but Alastor is the type to flaunt it. Also the all red makes him not only stand out but also makes him a literal walking red flag.

[@seabeebug]

Personally I don't think wearing all red necessarily makes someone more evil, and smiling widely is more of a personal choice rather than a permanent fixture of the face But you're allowed to have your opinion about what evil looks like. My idea of it is different than vivziepop's

[@seabeebug]

I don't like to reply twice but I also can't comprehend how a guy wearing red on red on red stands out against the all encompassing redness of hell That is in fact, my main issue

[@Akademya101]

@@seabeebug The permanent smile is part of his act, “you’re never fully dressed without one” as he says, it’s all intentional. It shows his power /cockiness and it hides his true nature, you can’t tell what he’s really thinking because he has a smile plastered on his face. And while I agree the red on red does hide him, he’s not ALWAYS gonna be in a red background and he’s never gonna blend exactly- the brown you gave him makes him more human and earthly which disconnects from hell itself. It’s not a bad design by all means, but the design choices does not reflect what the character is. His idea of evil isn’t abstract it’s to be as obvious as possible using as many stereotypical design choices: pointy, angled, red. You’re not supposed to second guess his evil nature, it should be staring you at the face.

[@seabeebug]

@@Akademya101 I know the smile thing yes, I never got rid of the smile, he just smiles without his teeth more often in my version. I also just personally don't like the decision to make him wear all red. I think his design is more of a remnant of the fact that he's the oldest design of the show and viv didn't want him to change too much. Also you did say that his smile is meant to make people second guess his nature but then also say his design is meant to make it so nobody second guesses his nature. The smile part is canon, I think the second one is speculation. Either that or they made design choices that contrast against themselves, which is not good.

[@seabeebug]

Also I'm still never backing down on the brown jacket. It's a hunter thing

[@seabeebug]

The people have spoken. Alastor belongs in heaven now. Let him in. He's not dangerous he has combed hair let him talk to god

[@MiniiPockets101]

The design is good don't get me wrong but I ain't gonna get scared of this absolute gentleman

[@seabeebug]

Yes approach him have tea with him, nothing is off here, ignore the smell

[@flawincode2175]

I definitely think it's ears, it doesn't make sense to be hair

[@seabeebug]

the very idea of it just being hair fills me with an incandescent rage

[@eeveefennecfox]

I think it's ears to,they move,espcially when he's angry

[@leonarose738]

Wow! He looks great and honestly I think people would be a little more likely to trust this guy than one that smiles all the time, especially that slasher smile. Which to me, kind of makes more sense for a serial killer. They're known to be more clever and less suspicious looking, especially if they're a seasoned one. I'd love to see your takes on the other characters, too.

[@DazombieAlien]

One of the main things I hated from the show was how awful Alastor’s hair looks. It’s okay in the front, but if you ever seen him from the back you know what I mean. This looks way better, ESPECIALLY THE HAIR.

[@seabeebug]

The hair is the part I'm proudest of

[@DazombieAlien]

@@seabeebug You should be it looks great!!

[@PizzaMadeMeFat]

your design is nice but he looks way to fancy and he looks like he shouldn't be in hell at all

[@seabeebug]

*looks at angel dust and rosie and valentino and camilla and lilith and stolas and

[@PizzaMadeMeFat]

@@seabeebug I don't mean fancy as in hell's version of fancy I mean heaven's version of fancy as in your Alastor design looks posh in a heavenly way he looks like he should be in heaven sipping tea with the upper echelon he's a cannibal but you made him look like a saint I don't think an evil voodoo cannibal who broadcasts his kills should look like he belongs in heaven

[@seabeebug]

@@PizzaMadeMeFat lol wild idea of what a heavenly man looks like but you're allowed to have your opinion

[@soapssie]

@@seabeebug No offense but your replies to this person seem really passive aggressive just thought I should point that out

[@keremtukel8178]

It looks like if Alastor was actually a nice dude while alive and went to heaven instead. I think it's a very cute design, but more like a different character that doesn't share the same qualities of Alastor from the show. The orihinal design having very sharp and triangular shapes really defined his portrayel I think, and this version has softer edges and looks more huggible.

[@seabeebug]

I regret to inform that the lack of sharp edges is actually just my art style seeping into the design and not the most conscious choice

[@0mnicorn]

Why, yes, I was ten times more inclined to click the video because of the capitalized title

[@seabeebug]

I KNEW IT

[@c_C_]

i can't believe that the best way to redeem a sinner is by making them less red. truly this comment section has opened my eyes. somebody tell charlie.

[@Avobaedo]

Now THIS is a dapper fella from the 20s/30s #OrangeAlastorIsSuperior

[@RosyBibliophile]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinons. It's okay not to like his design. But with that, definitely other fans will disagree. The updated colors looks washed out with how toned down it is. The reason why he is always smiling is because its creepy when someone always smiles regardless of circumstances. When Alastor was upset at Sir Pentious, he never broke his smile. It gives him much more menacing and mystery air. Viv's characters are thin-ish. The slim build is much more creepy in the dark... Like Slenderman or wendigo. Wendigos are thin because they are starving and crave flesh... Even of their own kind. I did hear many people in the pilot have the same criticism with how red or pink some characters are. This was updated and corrected in the show with different and skilled animators. It's great to explore your creativity, create your own designs and what you think is better. I'm more of a fan of the original designs though.

[@seabeebug]

Okay see the W word is exactly what I was talking about not being my right to say

[@seabeebug]

The idea with this redesign is also that ideally the rest of the show would be updated so it wouldn't be too obvious. He does still smile all the time, just not always with teeth. And honestly I like it when characters are allowed to not be skinny.

[@seabeebug]

I'd like to further explain why I don't like to associate the w*ndigo with Alastor because I feel like it might not be fair to avoid explanation; the creature comes from the Algonquian culture and it is considered very dangerous and disrespectful to the wishes of their people to name it as it might summon it. I don't believe in it or anything supernatural but I still respect that if they aren't allowed to say it, I as someone who has absolutely nothing to do with the culture should have no right to say it or try to use its likeness in fiction either. It's why I'm trying to steer the character's design away from evoking that imagery. Honestly I'll put this reply in the main comment section as well

[@serbsofiaioana1965]

​@@seabeebug While naming the w^ might summon it, it's also mentioned that no true depiction of it exists and no one knows what it looks like. The W^'s features in art are present in pop culture, depicted as a rotting deer like creature, which pretty much is a design that came from Stephen King & does not resemble the frozen cannibal spirit of Indigenous folk lore. Do your research before making assumptions!

[@seabeebug]

@@serbsofiaioana1965 I actually know all of this, yes. However despite the version most people are familiar with being somewhat removed from the creature itself, that doesn't fix the main problem being that many people believe it's the same thing and decide to use it however they want anyway. It's not just the rotting deer, it's depictions like Until Dawn too, people deciding to use its name as their usernames online, etc. Etc. It's not in the details, it's the meat of the problem. You can ask before making assumptions about how much I know. It just so happens we have different opinions about where lines should be drawn. If people want to make a rotting cannibalistic deer there's no reason not to call it something else. Thank you for the comment.

[@nick.bummer]

He feels less threatening because of the more muted orange, but GOD every other change you made was absolutely an improvement, his original design pisses me off 😭The colours you chose are pleasing as hell but all of Hazbin's palate is kind of an eyesore so I suppose that's why he feels soft in comparison

[@seabeebug]

I feel like that is the main reason people seem bothered by the softness of the design yeah, I could have saturated his colors some more but I like how it makes him stand out and gives the fancy guy vibe I'm looking for

[@eeveefennecfox]

you made him adorable ♥ he was already adorble in the show (adorably evil XD) and I didn't think he could get this much cuter,I love it,and you gave him a tail!!! ♥

[@mali_empire21]

To me, this feels a little more like he’s a demon who acts silly to hide his real nature. I like it, but I think some of his original features suit what they’re doing to his character more. Nice job, anyways

[@seabeebug]

He definitely does look somewhat menacing in his canon design, unfortunately for me some of it seems to be trying so hard that it has the opposite effect and just makes him look sillier to me

[@Wiligma_le_goobster]

This is adorable i love it

[@emberd-l795]

Are you thinking about drawing his true form next? With the clock eyes and the massive drooling smile and the massive antlers and the crooked neck?

[@seabeebug]

Perhaps

[@OR56]

Hunting orange was not worn in the 20s and 30s

[@seabeebug]

Yeah it's part of the morbid irony

[@charrii-san7403]

W REDESIGN

[@sansfunnybones69]

i honestly do not like this redesign for a few reasons. he looks less intimidating and looks more like he'd be out of heaven instead 1.his clothes look mess sharp and overall more calm 2.his legs look pretty weird,i get hes supposed to be like a deer but its just not something id believe would be good for a character like him 3.his microphone is just straight unlike his personality,i dont get why it looks like a sun, you could have changed it to look more like an old radio microphone 4 .his monocle is too visible,you could make it more transparent so you could show his other eye more 5.his ears(hair?) are less sharp thus making him look less intimidating overall 8.5/10 design(he feels like more of his own character like a brother or a distant cousin) if you dont make connections to alastor this is a really great design

[@seabeebug]

The microphone is actually designed to resemble both a pentagram and a type of radio mic used in the 1920s, a kind that is actually visible in the show itself when he visits his radio tower. I did my homework

[@soapssie]

I honestly can't choose which one I like better, I love the toned out Alastor with the orange, giving vibe where it'd be unexpected to see a dapper guy in hell which makes him seem more trusting and probably why he'd get his deals, plus not to mention it's just softer on my overworked eyes-- but at the same time, I like his canon too because 1, I love the kind of red he is, 2, his ear shape give bambi vibes, his design gives an ominous vibe to expect the unexpected. Also if you're worried about Alastor being inspired by w#ndigo's, he's not!! I'm pretty sure Vivziepop only ever mentioned that is because other people pointed that out to her in her design.

[@seabeebug]

I just need less red in this show if I'm being honest. And I sure hope he isn't inspired by them, but regardless I really wish the fandom would leave it alone already. Does he not already have enough gimmicks at play without picking up something weirdly offensive? Thank you so much for the nice comment.

[@soapssie]

@@seabeebug Yeah- I agree with you on that, the amount of red kind of makes it hard for certain characters to look normal in certain scenes, plus the whole w-ndigo stuff is unnecessary when he's already spooky at being a literal deer that eats meat. I'm glad you enjoyed my comment! Take care!

[@mrklein4948]

From the thumbnail, I thought you were gonna turn Alastor into a cat boy

[@seabeebug]

God that is valid

[@-thewanderer-840]

Although I heavily prefer the original design (except the hair) I think this redesign is ok ( except for the color scheme) .

[@LunaGaming_999]

The 7 main characters kinda represent the 7 deadly sins, don't you agree? lol-

[@seabeebug]

I could see that, sure

[@LunaGaming_999]

@@seabeebug I'd name them but I forgot the snake guys name

[@seabeebug]

@@LunaGaming_999 sir pentious

[@AZelene425]

This looks great !

[@seabeebug]

Thank you so much!

[@AZelene425]

@@seabeebug it was really late when i commented this so i didnt elaborate further but i just love how this is much easier in the eyes, i definitely love the "threatening in action not in appearance" route you took for him i think it fits him so much to be a sophisticated gentleman-y guy but still absolutely deranged and unhinged in his own way, hiding behind the soft and warm exterior Also . Thank you so much for changing his hair it was my main pet peeve of his og design uuughh Im still really tired so sorry if it doesnt make sense but good job on this design !

[@Xtrune]

best word i can describe this video is "unique".

[@seabeebug]

I can think of a better word: orange

[@seabeebug]

People do not see my orange vision. That's okay. One day everything will be orange. You'll see, you'll all see

[@Trilicii_x]

oh no

[@athena_ivory9142]

Yeah..this is getting out of hand and orange is uh...

[@LunaGaming_999]

@@athena_ivory9142 lol-

[@LunaGaming_999]

Should I be scared?

[@athena_ivory9142]

Also, I wouldn't call it redesigning, more like fan art

[@hakaki7280]

I absolutely do not agree with your point of view about the design, and like... love the alastoe design, maby becouse I like red idk.

[@seabeebug]

Shrug

[@h1ghtide_era]

are u under 16?.. hazbin is NOT for “edgy humor” teens 😢

[@seabeebug]

Whether or not something is for a certain group necessarily will not deter that group from becoming the primary audience anyway. It's like bronies but the other way around

[@h1ghtide_era]

@@seabeebug i’m not saying about the age group, i’m just saying about the amount of wanna be edgy and cool kids watching hazbin and helluva boss, and personally i think it’s cringe. for me i think that it depends on the maturity level of the “kids.” so, you can *still* watch hazbin if you are mature enough and don’t take the s-ualy jokes seriously. 😀

[@seabeebug]

I listened back to my audio and realized I never mentioned the Fandom having a lot of teens in it and you just thought I'm like 14. That is so funny. I'm 22, thank you for asking

[@bleedingberryjuice]

All these "ethical" concerns about fiction and not even understanding what makes Alastor great as a character...do yourself a favor and don't ever try to make anything of your own just stick to fanart BOO! Not sure why this even was in my recommended. Dislike.

[@seabeebug]

I'm going to keep doing what I enjoy. You should try doing that too, might help you cheer up a little