Animator JP Ahonen is bringing his webcomic “Belzebubs” to the screen as an animated series, set to debut at Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy. Banijay Kids & Family is distributing the project, with production led by Pyjama Films, director Samppa Kukkonen, and screenwriter Lassi Vierikko.
The series originated from Ahonen’s personal journey during a period of burnout and depression over a decade ago. After becoming a stay-at-home father and struggling to maintain his artistic career, Ahonen participated in the Inktober challenge and created the character Sløth, a black metal musician attempting to balance family responsibilities with his musical aspirations. This concept evolved into a full family narrative featuring Sløth, his wife Lucyfer, and their children Lilith and Leviathan.
The show juxtaposes satanic and black metal aesthetics with conventional family dynamics, exploring themes of tolerance and acceptance. Ahonen describes the series as combining elements of “The Addams Family” with “Modern Family,” presenting characters who engage in unconventional behavior while maintaining strong familial bonds. The narrative emphasizes liberal values and challenges stereotypes, with storylines involving multigenerational perspectives ranging from traditional satanism to more progressive attitudes among younger characters.
Beyond the television adaptation, “Belzebubs” functions as an actual musical project. Ahonen’s band released its first album in 2019, charting in Finland, with a second album completed. The connection between music and animation developed as the webcomic gained viral traction, leading to the collaboration with Pyjama Films for music videos and eventually a full series.
Ahonen is already developing a second season and notes that the fandom extends globally, with significant audiences in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Italy, alongside his home country of Finland. He credits the project’s resonance with audiences to its origins as a personal healing process, now serving as a source of connection for viewers navigating their own challenges.
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