More than 15 years after its original series finale, Mike Judge’s mega-hit adult animated comedy “King of the Hill” returns with a fourteenth season on Hulu.
Hulu aimed to reintroduce the series to longtime fans while also attracting new viewers who might not be family with the series. To achieve this, Hulu partnered with comedian and podcaster Theo Von to create a fully custom-animated interview between him and the series’ protagonist, Hank Hill. The resulting video was shot and animated, featuring the pair, complete with Hank’s dry, clean-cut sensibilities and Theo’s humor.
In the promo, Hulu brings Hank into a hilarious situation that introduces new viewers to his character, while fans get to see him in a new light as he navigates a new element of the modern world: serving as a guest on a podcast.
The video leverages the contrast between Theo Von and Hank for comedic effect. While Hank's "square" sensibilities clash with Theo's irreverent energy, their interaction highlights Hank's innate, good-natured charm and accidental humor that’s made him such a beloved character for decades. From giving detailed, unrequested advice about various ratchet wrenches to helping with ad reads for Bobby’s ventures and random mentions of Peggy, Hank's calm delivery brings grounded, hilarious realism to the scene.
At the heart of the execution is a fully custom animation created specifically for this live-action integration. The team faces multiple challenges:
Through careful production, design, and animation, the team produced a vibrant, one-of-a-kind promo that blends classic animated comedy with contemporary live-action storytelling – showcasing original, custom animation as a central creative tool to deliver a unique experience for fans.
The Theo Von x Hank Hill promo successfully amplified excitement for the season on social media, garnering over 18 million organic views across platforms. Fans engaged enthusiastically with the content, leaving hundreds of comments praising the humor, the creative pairing, and Hank’s character in this new context. The asset also drove sharing and conversation, helping the series reach audiences beyond existing fans.
By highlighting a playful, authentic interaction between the beloved animated character and contemporary influencer, the promo reinforced the show’s humor, legacy, and accessibility to new viewers. It achieved the dual objectives of reactivating longtime fans while drawing in new audiences, demonstrating that thoughtful, character-driven creative can cut through social noise and deliver measurable cultural and streaming impact.
