The Cuphead Show! is a cartoon about two cups. One of them is impulsive, troublemaking and prone to getting the other into scrapes. The other is cautious, easily swayed and perpetually dragged along. That is the whole premise, and it is also the engine that drives the entire series. Netflix’s animated adaptation of the 2017 video game runs three seasons, 36 episodes, and it plays like a slapstick comedy with a devil on its tail.
Dave Wasson created the show, and Netflix released it as a Netflix Original Series on February 18, 2022. The second season arrived on August 19, 2022, and the third season debuted on November 18, 2022. The series is set in the 1930s-style world of the Inkwell Isles, a place populated by anthropomorphic characters who live in teapot-shaped cottages and deal with contracts, debts and the occasional soul-harvesting game. The show follows Cuphead and his brother Mugman as they try to find their way out of various issues, occasionally meeting characters from the original game.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Cuphead and Mugman
Tru Valentino voices Cuphead, and Frank Todaro voices Mugman. The pairing is the heart of the show. Cuphead is the one who makes the decisions, even when those decisions are terrible ones. Mugman goes along because he cannot help himself. The dynamic is simple, but it is consistent across all 36 episodes, and it never stops working.
Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, the creators of the original Cuphead game, serve as executive producers. They are joined by Wasson and CJ Kettler from King Features Syndicate, with Cosmo Segurson as co-executive producer. The show draws directly from the game’s lore, including the Devil’s hunt for Cuphead’s soul and the game “Soul Ball,” but it is built for a younger audience, told through short, self-contained stories rather than a continuous narrative.
The Devil’s Contract
One recurring plot thread runs through the entire series: the Devil believes Cuphead’s soul belongs to him, having won it in a game called “Soul Ball.” Cuphead and Mugman always manage to foil the Devil’s plans, and the threat hangs over every episode. It is the one through-line that gives the otherwise episodic format some shape.
The Devil’s pursuit is a constant presence, even when it does not appear on screen. Episodes can end with a cliffhanger involving the Devil, or they can end with a resolution that leaves the contract unresolved. Either way, the show knows what it wants to threaten and what it wants to resolve.
Animation and Humor
The animation is the star of the show. It is bright, fluid and full of energy, drawing on the visual style of the original game while expanding it into a wider range of movement and expression. Characters stretch, bend and distort in ways that would be impossible in a video game, and the result is a show that feels both familiar and new at the same time.
The humor is slapstick, physical and often absurd. Cuphead gets into fights, falls off buildings, and gets caught in situations that require quick thinking. Mugman’s reactions are the funniest part of the show, as he tries to keep up with his brother’s wild schemes. The show is not subtle, and it does not need to be.
Music and Voice Acting
The music matches the tone. It is jaunty, upbeat and full of energy, with a jazz-influenced sound that fits the 1930s setting. The score is used sparingly, but it lands when it matters, underscoring the chaos on screen.
The voice acting is strong throughout. Valentino brings energy to Cuphead, and Todaro gives Mugman a resigned warmth that makes the character feel real. Their chemistry is the reason the show works, even when the plots get thin.
What the Critics Said
The show received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation, voice acting, music, humor and tone. The reception was warm, but not without limits. Some critics felt the show lacked substance, with the episodes’ plots being criticized for being “too fragmented” and “often repetitive.”
That is a fair complaint. The show is episodic by design, and some episodes feel like sketches rather than fully formed stories. The recurring plot with the Devil helps, but it cannot carry every episode on its own. The show is at its best when it leans into the characters and the relationships between them, and at its worst when it becomes a string of gags without a clear point.
The 36 Episodes
The show ran for three seasons, each season adding to the lore without changing the core setup. The first season established the world and the characters. The second season expanded the scope, introducing more characters from the game. The third season wrapped up the show’s run.
Each season kept the same formula: Cuphead makes a mess, Mugman suffers, and they find a way out. The consistency is a strength and a weakness. It is comforting to know what you are getting, but it can also feel predictable after 36 episodes.
The Verdict
The Cuphead Show! is a good show that is not a great show. It is consistently entertaining, visually striking and performed with energy. It respects the source material while building its own identity, and it understands exactly what kind of show it wants to be.
The criticism about fragmentation is valid, but it is also a product of the format. A show built entirely on standalone episodes is bound to have some that feel unfinished. The best episodes are the ones that let the characters breathe, and the show has plenty of those.
The show is worth watching for anyone who enjoyed the game, and it is worth a second look for anyone curious about the source material. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a solid addition to the Cuphead universe.
Key Facts
- Creator: Dave Wasson
- Network: Netflix
- Seasons: 3, totaling 36 episodes
- First episode: February 18, 2022
- Last episode: November 18, 2022
- Voice cast: Tru Valentino (Cuphead), Frank Todaro (Mugman)
- Executive producers: Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, Dave Wasson, CJ Kettler, Cosmo Segurson
- Critical score: 7.5/10
Some felt it lacked substance, with the episodes’ plots being criticized for being “too fragmented” and “often repetitive”.
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