After what seems like an eternity of delays, The Cuphead Show finally debuted on Netflix this weekend- and much like the game itself, it’s a visual delight.
When Developer Studio MDHR released Cuphead, a 2D side-scrolling platformer, in 2017, the game was promptly met with critical acclaim.
As fun and challenging as the game’s many imaginative boss battles are, Cuphead‘s main draw (see what I did there?) is, without doubt, the visual style.
The game very obviously takes huge inspiration from the 1930’s ‘rubber hose’ style hand-drawn animation technique, as well as swing-era style music. It manages to blend these together with modern humor and challenge, to create something extremely unique.
Making the Jump to TV
In 2019, Netflix announced they were green-lighting a series based on the game. Fans were really eager to see if this style could translate well into a TV show.
But then Covid happened. The show was delayed, then delayed again. And again.
The good news though, is that finally this weekend, February 18th, all 12 episodes of the show were released on Netflix.
And the even better news- It is definitely worth the wait!
The creators of the game served as executive producers and it’s really obvious to see how they have tried to closely stick to the source material while attempting to tailor the content towards children. The animation is excellent, in keeping with the game’s 1930’s look and feel without ever looking old-fashioned.
The character designs and voice acting are impressive. No characters in the game were voiced, so the creators of the show could’ve pretty much gone in any direction they wanted when casting for the roles. Thankfully they didn’t put a foot wrong, with each character cast really well. Cuphead and his brother Mugman are charming, mischievous youngsters with just the right amount of likeability. The villainous King Dice and The Devil are bags of fun, and there are also plenty of familiar faces from the game that fans will appreciate.
The episodes are a mixture of zany humor and slapstick antics. At only 15 minutes long each, they definitely don’t outstay their welcome. While their target audience is primarily children, there’s plenty for adults to enjoy when watching with their kids too.
With The Cuphead Show, the Future is Bright
Netflix has already signed off on a 2nd and even a 3rd season, with rumors circulating that they might even appear before the end of the year. You know what they say- you wait ages for one bus, then two or three come along at once, right?
With the Delicious Last Course DLC finally getting a release date of June 30th, and at least a couple more seasons of the show guaranteed, it’s a great time to be a Cuphead fan right now!
Remember to check back with LordsofGaming.net for all your latest gaming news and views.
