Dave Cunningham
Out of all the things to make an animated series with, the real question is: why not The Cuphead Show!? Everything about it screams Netflix series and it’s about time. Based on the best-selling and possibly the reason why most controllers and consoles have been smashed to the ground, Cuphead. The clip from @NetflixGeeked didn’t really provide as much as we’d expect, but it did give just enough information about how the series would be animated––and let me tell you, it doesn’t get anymore Cuphead than this. You can even see how the Fleischer Brothers inspired the aesthetic.
What is The Cuphead Show all about?
Based on the 2017 video game by Studio MDHR and inspired by the Fleischer Brothers’ 1930s classic animation, The Cuphead Show tells the story of two brothers: Cuphead (Tru Valentino) and Mugman (Frank Todaro). Together, they travel a wonky yet fantastic and colorful world. In the teaser, it’s also revealed that Wayne Brady was cast as the voice actor for King Dice––one of the antagonists of the Cuphead game. If you’re familiar with classics like Betty Boop and Bimbo, then you’re either married and/or resting on the front porch. Kidding aside, those are the animations that inspired the animated series.
"Who will be the first contestant to roll the dice?"
Here's a sneak peek clip of King Dice in The Cuphead Show! #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/8DLDfxD7Gj
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) June 11, 2021
To be fair, Cuphead fans have been blessed in 2021. I mean, just being a fan of the game that made you lose the most hair is… a feat, I guess. Not only is the franchise getting a TV adaptation in The Cuphead Show, but the game will also be receiving a long-awaited DLC––The Delicious Last Course. Very funny, the “DLC.” Set to release this year, the DLC has unfortunately met the same fate as those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
If all else goes as planned, then it’s safe to expect that the animated series would just do a better storytelling job than the game. For the most part, it would be following the same format of the game.
According to the video game, Cuphead is your classic run and gun action game that puts an emphasis on its boss battles. The graphics are inspired by 1930s cartoons and the visual and sound effects are no exceptions––being created with the same techniques of that era of entertainment (hand-drawn animation, watercolor backgrounds, and jazz to lift up the mood). In single-player or co-op, you can either play as Cuphead or Mugman as you jump into strange yet aesthetically pleasing worlds, get new equipment, learn a bunch of cool moves, and discover mysteries while you’re on your way to pay the devil.
If you’re not, at all, familiar with what Cuphead is about––the plot of the game, and possibly the series, would come off as a little too overwhelming. However, if you do choose to wait and watch it, it’ll be one of the greatest frustrations of your life.
