¡El show de Cuphead!

Cuphead took the world by storm back in 2017 with it's throwback aesthetic, challenging but fun game play and slapping soundtrack. Save for the game play, The Cuphead Show maintains the main 2 core aspects of the game as will as adding in some talented voice acting, fleshing out the characters and providing lots of laughs throughout each episode. From the superb writing to the amazing comedy, The Cuphead Show made the constants delays and production hurdles worth it.

Developed by Dave Wasson (creator of Cartoon Network's Time Squad) with the original creators of Cuphead, Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, serving as executive producers, The Cuphead Show follows the adventures of Cuphead and his brother Mugman on Inkwell Isle. While the recurring arc of the show is the Devil wanting Cuphead's soul, the show's primary focus is being an episodic comedy like the 1930s cartoons that inspired the game. Each episode features Cuphead and Mugman going on an adventure on Inkwell Isle and hilarious shenanigans ensue. With a runtime of 14-16 minutes, each episode wastes no time before getting the viewer on the brother's side and laughing with/at them and their antics. While we're rooting for them to make it out alive, we're also laughing at hilarious comedy that ranges from clever word play, funny visual gags and hysterical slapstick. Some of the funniest moments come from the antagonists getting their comeuppances in hilarious fashion or the brothers outwitting the Devil himself. In addition to really strong comedy, the show also goes the extra mile of fleshing out the characters and the world they inhabit. From showing the brothers's relationship with their Elder Kettle, how the Devil runs his operations to even how the brothers meet antagonists from the game. There are also musical numbers in every other episode that serve the story in upbeat and organic ways. The show does a really good job building the world of Inkwell Isle by providing really hilarious comedy and keeping the storytelling focused on the brothers.

The characters from the game were given much more personality this time around as before they only had basic personalities at best to serves the narrative of the game. Starting with our titular hero, Cuphead is a mischievous, playful and clever character who still very much cares about his brother and Elder Kettle and he's also sympathetic enough so that we relate to him. Mugman is more cautious than his brother, but he still likes to have fun and is still willing to help his brother out. They but heads from time to time, but they still love and respect each other at the end of the day. Their parental guardian, the Elder Kettle, is a fun and lively old man who tries his best to raise his boys right. He's more than willing to put his foot down when they misbehave and helps them out whenever he can. Then there's the Devil himself, the ruthless ruler of Inkwell Isle. There have been many different depictions of the Devil, but this show has one of the funniest deceptions I've seen of the fallen angel. He's charismatic, he's temperamental, he has multiple evil transformations and he relishes in being a dastardly demon. Every time he's outwitted by the brothers it gets a really good laugh out of me, particularly when he gets shocked by the invisible sweater. Other notable standout characters include Porkrind, the owner of a shop who detests the brothers, Ribby and Croaks, a couple of bickering frog brothers who own a club, King Dice, the host of a game show that's actually a scam, and Ms. Chalice, who's a street smart girl who uses her charm to get what she wants.

Bringing these characters to life are the wonderful voice talents directed by the wonderful Sara Jane Sherman. Tru Valentino and Frank Todaro give Cuphead and Mugman distinct Jersey accents with Tru making Cuphead sound more confident while Frank makes Mugman sound really cautious. Joe Hanna did a fantastic job voicing the Elder Kettle, making him sound like a middle aged man who has to deal with 2 young boys. Luke Milington-Drake was the MVP for me as the Devil as he made him sound so flamboyant yet very short tempered. He also did a fantastic job with his musical number. Wayne Brady did such a good job voicing King Dice making him sound so charismatic yet perfectly captures his nervousness when speaking to the Devil. Grey Griffin truly shines as Ms. Chalice, really nailing that Jersey accent and making her sound so spunky. Chris Wylde and Rick Zieff had such believable chemistry as Ribby and Croaks and made them sound just like real tough guys trying (and hilariously failing) to pretend to be nice guys. Other voice talents such as Jim Conroy, Keith Ferguson, Candi Milo and Cosmo Segurson did a really good job bringing the other inhabitants of Inkwell Isle to life.

Visually, the show looks absolutely phenomenal just like the game it's based on. The character designs retain their rubber hose look to them while also appearing more polished for a more streamlined production than that of the game. Lighthouse Studios and Screen Novelties provided the animation and it's as bouncy and lively as the 1930s cartoons that inspired the game. Characters squash, stretch and bend like cartoon characters should, their facial expressions go off model for the right reasons and cartoonish gags such as seeing one's skeleton when shocked are used to great effect. The bright colors are giving just the right amount of contrast with the amount of black and darker hues, particularly at night. There's also some elements of real life 3D objects for the backgrounds that make this feeling like a trip to the past. My personal favorite moment of animation in the show is when Cuphead and Mugman are trying to escape the graveyard from the episode Ghosts Ain't Real. From the amount of ghosts on screen to the nod to the Skeleton Dance short to the eerie atmosphere, this episode would make for the perfect Halloween special if it was longer and had Cuphead and Mugman out trick or treating. Like the game before it, they really went the extra mile to make the animation spectacular.

I'd be re-missing myself if I talked about The Cuphead Show without bringing up the music. Composed by Ego Plum, the music in this show perfectly captures the jazzy feel of the 1930s just like the game. There's heavy emphasis on brass and strings, particularly the saxophone and bass, it's chaotic in rhythm yet so satisfying and the music cues were very on point. They even due call backs to music of the games such as the themes for the Root Pack and Ribby and Croaks being used in their respective episodes. There's also the theme song which is sung wonderfully by Gizzelle Andrea Becerra. It's just full of energy, Gizzelle has such great vocal range and the visuals complement it beautifully. I especially love it when Cuphead and Mugman join in and sing along while also ending the song on a really funny note (literally as Mugman plays the trombone before falling face first). The credits play a chipper piano tune which is just the perfect way to bookend each episode. The music is arguably the most important ingredient in this show; if it wasn't as good as it was, I guarantee you the rest of the show would suffer for it.

Like the game it's based on, The Cuphead Show is a fantastic throwback to 1930s animation yet it feels so fresh and outstanding in execution. From the outstanding animation, the hilarious humor, well defined characters, stellar voice acting and really catchy music, this currently sits along side Kid Cosmic and Hilda as one of my personal favorite animated shows on Netflix. My only critique of this otherwise amazing show is that the first season ends rather abruptly. I really hope Season 2 comes out soon so until then give The Cuphead Show a watch. If this show is not for you, play the game. Either way, let Chad and Jared Moldenhauer know that all their hard work on their passion project was not in vain by supporting it.