‘Belzebubs’ Creator JP Ahonen Brings Satanic Family to Screen in New Animated Series

Finnish artist JP Ahonen is preparing to introduce “Belzebubs,” an animated series based on his popular webcomic, to a wider audience. The show is set to premiere at the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, with distribution handled by Banijay Kids & Family.

Produced by Terhi Väänänen for Pyjama Films, the series is directed by Samppa Kukkonen and written by Lassi Vierikko. Early stills from the upcoming project were recently shared with Variety ahead of its festival debut.

Ahonen revealed that the concept originated over a decade ago as a personal coping mechanism. “It started as a self-therapy project over 10 years ago. I was burnt out and going through depression,” he explained. At the time, he and his wife had just welcomed their first child after enduring several miscarriages. Struggling to balance the desire to be a stay-at-home parent with the need to work, Ahonen nearly abandoned his art career entirely.

The direction of his life changed during the Inktober challenge, which prompts artists to produce a new ink drawing daily throughout October. Ahonen created two black metal figures, eventually developing the character Sløth, a stay-at-home dad who strives to be a good husband and role model while pursuing his musical ambitions. The humor lies in the inherent contradiction within the black metal scene, where achieving success often leads to being labeled a “poser.”

The narrative juxtaposes satanic imagery with traditional family dynamics. Sløth is married to Lucyfer, and they raise their children, Lilith and Leviathan. “They do weird things, but they stick together. It’s one of those don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover stories,” Ahonen said. He contrasted the show’s themes of indulgence and liberalism against conservative values represented by the figure of God.

A viewer described the series as a crossover between “The Addams Family” and “Modern Family,” a comparison Ahonen finds apt. He emphasized that the show is fundamentally about tolerance and liberal values, featuring characters who are open-minded despite facing prejudice. The series also includes a grandmother who adheres to old-school Satanism and children who are more progressive, willing to participate in activities like dressing as angels for school plays while maintaining strong familial support.

The transition from webcomic to animation was spurred by the viral success of the comic and the need for music videos for Belzebubs, which is portrayed as a functioning band in the story. Ahonen and a musician friend had been exploring ideas combining animation and music, leading to the involvement of Pyjama Films. The duo had previously released an album in 2019 that charted in Finland, and a second album is now complete.

Ahonen is already working on the second season, noting that the comic remains the core of the story but the series expands upon it significantly. He expressed hope for global reach, citing his fanbase demographics which show strong followings in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Italy, with Finland ranking fifth.

Reflecting on the journey from a personal project born out of dark times to a globally resonant story, Ahonen noted, “They know my history with depression and suicidal thoughts – all this really bleak stuff. It’s wonderful that now I can be there for them through my art.”