The Cuphead Show! Explained

Developer:Dave Wasson
Theme Music Composer:Ego Plum
Opentheme:"Welcome to the Cuphead Show!"
Endtheme:"Farewell to the Cuphead Show!"
Composer:Ego Plum
Language:English
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:36
List Episodes:List of The Cuphead Show! episodes
Producer:
  • Carolyn Roach
  • Jackie Watson
Editor:Amy Blaisdell
Runtime:10–34 minutes
Network:Netflix

The Cuphead Show! is an animated slapstick comedy television series developed by Dave Wasson for Netflix,[1] based on the 2017 video game Cuphead by Studio MDHR. Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, the creators of Cuphead, serve as executive producers, along with Wasson and CJ Kettler from King Features Syndicate, and Cosmo Segurson serving as co-executive producer.

The series was released worldwide on February 18, 2022, as a Netflix Original Series,[2] to generally positive reviews from both critics and the audience, with praise for its animation, voice acting, music, humor, and tone, but some felt it lacked in substance, with the episodes' plots being criticized for being "too fragmented" and "often repetitive". The second season was released on August 19, 2022, followed, soon after, by the third season released on November 18, 2022.

Plot

Set in the 1930s-style world of the Inkwell Isles, The Cuphead Show! follows the misadventures of impulsive, troublemaking scamp Cuphead and cautious but easily-swayed Mugman, a pair of anthropomorphic cup brothers who live with their elderly grandfather and caretaker, Elder Kettle, in a teapot-shaped cottage. The brothers' stories often center around them trying to find their way out of various issues, occasionally meeting and interacting with characters from its video game source material. While the series is mainly episodic, one recurring plot is the Devil hunting Cuphead for his soul, as he believes it is rightfully his after Cuphead lost a soul-harvesting game called "Soul Ball", only to be always foiled by Cuphead and Mugman.[3]

Voice cast

Development

In July 2019, it was announced that Netflix had green-lit the series. Chad and Jared Moldenhauer from Studio MDHR are executive producers, along with C.J. Kettler from King Features Syndicate, Dave Wasson, and co-executive produced by Cosmo Segurson.[5] Clay Morrow and Adam Paloian are supervising directors.[6] The series is animated by Lighthouse Studios, a Kilkenny-based division between Mercury Filmworks and Cartoon Saloon, and stop motion animation was provided by Screen Novelties. In an effort to meet streaming series deadlines, the show's production crew were unable to utilize hand-drawn animation like in the game, instead choosing to use puppet-based methods while also putting in various elements to match the 1930s rubber hose style.[7] The series was first revealed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2020,[8] with the announcement that the show's music would be composed by Ego Plum.[9]

Episodes

See main article: List of The Cuphead Show! episodes. The first season was released on February 18, 2022, and consisted of twelve episodes.[10] Netflix ordered a total of 36 episodes to be produced, that would end up getting released as three seasons.[11] The second season was released on August 19, 2022, and consisted of thirteen episodes, with the third and eighth episodes being close to 25 minutes long. The third and final season was released on November 18, 2022, and consisted of eleven episodes, with the first, and the finale episodes being 20 minutes long, and the sixth episode being the longest episode in the series, lasting for 30 minutes long.[12]

Reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of 16 critics gave the first season a positive review, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The site's critical consensus is: "While The Cuphead Show! fluidly recreates its video game forebear's eye-popping animation, this good-looking vessel is still waiting for some substance to fill it."[13] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 69 based on reviews from 4 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[14]

The Escapist noted that "fans and critics have been left disappointed by the series due to its lack of substance and short nature" but the target audience is children and "kids will discover a bouncy and energetic cartoon and probably find what's here incredibly entertaining."[15]

Rafael Motamayor of IGN rated the series 9 out of 10, saying "The Cuphead Show Season 1 delivers memorable characters, surreal humor, and beautiful animation in a fantastic adaptation of the video game."[16]

Accolades

It was first nominated for Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Series in 2022.[17] [18] [19]

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
2022The Game AwardsBest Adaptation[20]
Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Animated SeriesC.J. Kettler, Chad Moldenhauer, Jared Moldenhauer, Dave Wasson, Cosmo Segurson, Carolyn Roach and Jackie Watson
Individual Achievement in Animation Ivan Aguirre (background painter)[21]
2023Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast ProductionEgo Plum, Cosmo Segurson and Dave Wasson ("Carn-Evil")[22]
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast ProductionKarl Hadrika ("A Very Devil Christmas")
Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Original Song for a Children's or Young Teen ProgramEgo Plum and Dave Wasson ("Down & Out: Roll the Dice")
Outstanding Directing for an Animated ProgramClay Morrow and Adam Paloian

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corvin . Ann-Marie . June 23, 2020 . Annecy Sneak Peeks 'The Cuphead Show!'; 'Sirocco,' 'Inu-Oh,' XR 'The Hangman at Home' . live . June 14, 2021 . . June 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210614201732/https://variety.com/2020/film/global/annecy-sneak-peeks-the-cuphead-show-sirocco-inu-oh-1234646198/ .
  2. Web site: Milligan . Mercedes . January 18, 2022 . Trailer: Netflix Pours Out 'The Cuphead Show!' Feb. 18 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118175809/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/trailer-netflix-pours-out-the-cuphead-show-feb-18/ . January 18, 2022 . January 18, 2022 . Animation Magazine.
  3. Web site: Hollis. Daniel. June 26, 2020. Netflix has teased a look for the upcoming 'Cuphead' TV show. live. June 14, 2021. NME. en . June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614201739/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/netflix-has-teased-a-look-for-the-upcoming-cuphead-tv-show-2696684.
  4. Web site: Rosario. Alexandra Del. June 11, 2021. 'The Cuphead Show!': Wayne Brady Joins Cast Of Netflix Video Game Animated Series. live. June 14, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. en-US. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613082530/https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-cuphead-show-wayne-brady-cast-video-game-animated-series-1234773689/.
  5. Web site: Shanley. Patrick. July 9, 2019. Netflix to Adapt 'Cuphead' Into Animated Comedy Series. live. June 14, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614201732/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cuphead-animated-comedy-series-works-at-netflix-1223052/.
  6. Web site: McCaffrey. Ryan. July 9, 2019. Cuphead Netflix TV Show Details. live. June 14, 2021. IGN. July 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190709135433/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/07/09/cuphead-netflix-tv-show-details.
  7. News: Mallory . Michael . Creating a Rubber Hose Wonderland for 'The Cuphead Show!' . 19 August 2022 . Animation Magazine . January 25, 2022 . January 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220125174201/https://www.animationmagazine.net/top-stories/creating-a-rubber-hose-wonderland-for-the-cuphead-show/ . live .
  8. Web site: Baron. Reuben. June 27, 2020. Annecy Report: A Look Inside The Cuphead Show. live. June 14, 2021. Comic Book Resources. en-US. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614201733/https://www.cbr.com/annecy-report-a-look-inside-the-cuphead-show/.
  9. Web site: Kain. Erik. June 26, 2020. Here's Your First Look At 'The Cuphead Show' On Netflix. live. June 14, 2021. Forbes. en. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614203058/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/06/26/heres-your-first-look-at-the-cuphead-show-on-netflix/.
  10. Web site: Beresford . Trilby . Netflix Drops Trailer for The Cuphead Show, Releasing on Streamer Next Month . . January 18, 2022 . January 28, 2022 . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202014523/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-trailer-the-cuphead-show-1235075588/ . live .
  11. Web site: Creating a Rubber Hose Wonderland for 'The Cuphead Show!'. Michael. Mallory. January 25, 2022. January 28, 2022. Animation Magazine. January 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126153748/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/creating-a-rubber-hose-wonderland-for-the-cuphead-show/. live.
  12. Web site: Cripe . Michael . 2022-10-24 . The Cuphead Show! Season 3 Hits Netflix Next Month, Reveals 'Secret Assassins' (Kind Of) . 2022-10-26 . The Escapist . en-US . November 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115191538/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-cuphead-show-season-part-3-release-date-trailer-netflix-november/ . live .
  13. tv . the_cuphead_show/s01 . The Cuphead Show! . 5 March 2022 .
  14. Web site: The Cuphead Show! - Season 1 Reviews . . . 20 December 2022 . February 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220220105257/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-cuphead-show!/season-1 . live .
  15. Web site: 2022-02-22 . Jesse . Lab . The Cuphead Show! Isn't Meant for Gamers, and That's because . . 2022-02-27 . February 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220224160006/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-cuphead-show-isnt-meant-for-gamers-and-thats-okay/ . live .
  16. Web site: 14 February 2022 . Motamayor . Rafael . The Cuphead Show: Season 1 Review . . 2022-12-22 . December 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222200159/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-cuphead-show-season-1-review . live .
  17. Web site: NATAS ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR FIRST ANNUAL CHILDREN'S & FAMILY EMMYS. theemmys.tv. November 1, 2022. November 7, 2022. February 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230202042422/https://theemmys.tv/cafe-nominations-2022/. live.
  18. Web site: Children's & Family Emmys: Netflix Leads Nominations for First Awards Ceremony . Dresden, Hilton . November 1, 2022 . . November 7, 2022 . December 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221202025712/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/childrens-family-emmys-nominations-2022-1235252859/ . live .
  19. Web site: Netflix Leads Nomination Tally for First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys . Variety . Schneider, Michael . November 1, 2022 . November 7, 2022 . November 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108022519/https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/childrens-amp-family-emmys-nominatons-netflix-1235419791/ . live .
  20. Web site: The Game Awards 2022 nominees announced. Romano. Sal. Gematsu. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. November 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221115030200/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/11/the-game-awards-2022-nominees-announced. live.
  21. Web site: NATAS Announces Individual Achievement in Animation Winners for 1st Children's & Family Emmys. Animation Magazine. December 8, 2022. Milligan, Mercedes. December 8, 2022. December 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208215154/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/12/natas-announces-individual-achievement-in-animation-winners-for-1st-childrens-family-emmys/. live.
  22. Web site: Giardina . Carolyn . February 26, 2023 . 'Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio' Wins Five Trophies Including the Top Prize at the 50th Annie Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226092842/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/annie-awards-animation-2023-winners-1235334278/ . February 26, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.

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