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Cuphead Show!, The

Entry updated 26 September 2022. Tagged: TV.

US animated tv series (2022-current). King Features Syndicate, Netflix Animation, Studio MDHR. Created by Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, developed by Dave Wasson. Directed by Clay Morrow and Adam Paloian. Written by Deeki Deke, Clay Morrow, Adam Paloian, Cosmo Segurson and Dave Wasson. Voice cast includes Joe Hanna, Frank Todaro and Tru Valentino. 25 circa twelve-minute episodes. Colour.

The show is based on the Videogame Cuphead (2017, vt Cuphead: Don't Deal with the Devil) and concerns two Children, the overconfident and not too bright Cuphead (Valentino) and his more wary and (relatively) smarter brother, Mughead (Todaro). In an age resembling 1930s America, they live with the grandfatherly Elder Kettle (Hanna) in a rural cottage, with a big City nearby. The pair have adventures, often caused by Cuphead's rashness; their main antagonist is the Devil (see Gods and Demons), who uses various games – such as at a carnival (spelt "carnevil") or on a radio quiz show – to collect peoples' souls. When Mughead saves Cuphead from having his soul sucked out, the Devil feels it is his by right and, in subsequent stories, seeks to recover it. These are the strongest episodes; most of the standalones are noticeably weaker – except when they encounter mischievous ghosts (see Supernatural Creatures) whilst walking through a graveyard, and the season one finale, where Chalice is introduced. Tap-dancing, dishonest and peppy, her design is similar to the brothers – whom she reluctantly leaves for the police to arrest in the cliff-hanger ending, when she turns into a spirit and disappears through a wall. The second season continued the good work of the first, with the standalone episodes being stronger, though Chalice is underused. By the end, Cuphead no longer owes his soul to the Devil; however, he succeeds in irritating him so much that he abducts Mughead.

Like the game, the show is a tribute to the black and white cartoons of the early 1930s, with the rubber-hose animation and designs that hark back to the works of the Fleischer Brothers (such as Betty Boop and Popeye) and Walt Disney (see The Walt Disney Company) from that era, as well as early Warner Bros. Cartoons. The cast are anthropomorphized inanimate objects and animals: the brothers look human, save for their heads being drinking vessels, complete with straws and holding milk; Elder Kettle is an elderly kettle.

The main difference – aside from being in colour – between the Cuphead Show and the early 1930s cartoons it emulates is the latter engaged more with adult or teenaged concerns – alcohol, parties and romance (with Sex and Drugs inferable); this cartoon is about two kids and their larks. So we have childish rather than adult fears – though the devil was a frequent antagonist in the early era too (here he is petty but not without charm). The animation is a pleasure to watch and occasionally Horror tinged; whilst not particularly deep in terms of character, the series is a lot of fun. [SP]

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