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The Cuphead Show! is a series of 12-minute cartoons based on ’50s-style cartoon characters from the videogame Cuphead… which I’ve never actually played. I know, I should’ve done. It does look good, but anyway…
with early Disney-style humour – even down to the point where there’s apparently sparkles on the print to make it look like the print (of this new digital production!) has seen better days, the first episode, entitled Carn-Evil, sees Cuphead and his brother, Mugman, having to paint the fence, but they’d rather have fun in the form of putting the paint in a cannon and shooting it off at Elder Kettle, before it’s down to the carnival to wreak more havoc.
However, one of the games, Soul Ball, is stealing everyone’s souls, resulting in a lot of empty individuals, and it’s all the work of the Devil. He loves a bit of a sing-song in a style of Cab Calloway’s Minnie The Moocher. But can the daring duo do what it takes to restore everyone’s souls?
In Baby Bottle, said character is left in a moses basket outside their house. Cuphead and Mugman have to look after him, but in a manner seen in cartoons of yesteryear, Baby Bottle gets the better of them on every occasion, even putting in jeopardy the radio, which is Elder Kettle’s prize posession.
After watching a couple of episodes of The Cuphead Show!, it’s all quite fun and bizarre. If I was a kid, I’d love it. As an adult, it’s mildly diverting.
The Cuphead Show! is not available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but is on Netflix now.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 12 minutes per episode
Release date: February 18th 2022
Studio: Netflix
Format: 1.78:1
Series Directors: Clay Morrow, Adam Paloian
Writers: Deeki Deke, Clay Morrow, Adam Paloian, Cosmo Segurson, David Wasson, David Wasson
Based on the videogame by: Chad Moldenhauer, Jared Moldenhauer
Producers: Cormac Slevin
Music: Ego Plum
Cast:
Cuphead: Tru Valentino
Mugman: Frank Todaro
Elder Kettle: Joe Hanna
Elephant: Cosmo Segurson
Henchman: David Wasson
Devil: Luke Millington-Drake
Chalice: Grey Griffin
Mr Mayor: Andrew Morgado
Duke: Jim Conroy
Ribby: Chris Wylde
Baby Bottle: Cristina Milizia
King Dice: Wayne Brady
Bowlboy: Keith Ferguson
Croaks: Rick Zieff
Quadratus: Gary Anthony Williams
Elephant Grandma: Kimberly Brooks
Brandywine: Candi Milo
Hippo Usher: Adam Paloian
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.