Netflix is adding another unique show to its repertoire; an animated TV series based on the critically acclaimed side-scrolling game Cuphead. Said game was based on the cartoon style of the thirties. Online provider Netflix has stated that the program will be called “The Cuphead Show” on Tuesday. The show, like the game, will feature titular character Cuphead and his brother Mugman. They’ve made a deal with the devil and have to do his bidding.
In the original game, traditional hand drawn cell animation was used to get the classic thirties cartoon look. In order to achieve the same thing in the TV show, King Features Syndicate, which was the home of classics like Betty Boop and Popeye, will act as executive producers for the show along with game creators Jared and Chad Moldenhauer. Netflix will also be producing the series with Cosmo Sergurson of Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, and Dave Wasson of Mickey Mouse Shorts.
The Moldenhauer brothers came up with the idea for Cuphead based on their love of classic games like Contra and Gunstar Heroes.
“As kids, we watched old VHS tapes of Popeye, Betty Boop, Silly Symphonies and more – the art style has always stuck with us. Once we came up with the Cuphead character, we knew we had something special. Everything that we’ve done since then has been us just trying to do the memories of those cartoons justice.”
Since the game’s release in 2017, it’s gone on to win many awards, but it isn’t the only video game property that Netflix is aiming to transform into movies or TV. It’s already well known that Netflix is currently producing a series based on The Witcher, and they’re also producing a series based on Resident Evil. There’s even a movie based on Tom Clancy’s The Division in the works.
Beyond that even, video game movies are becoming a more and more popular option. Movies in the works include a Call of Duty film, and another DOOM adaptation based on DOOM: Annihilation. Hopefully the latter will do a bit better than the corny 2005 adaptation that starred Dwanye Johnson.
It is interesting to see that video game movie adaptations are becoming more popular again, considering that video game movies have such a terrible reputation thanks to older films like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Super Mario Bros. Whether or not all of these new video game adaptations, be they TV shows or movies, will change public opinion on this genre in general. It’s also curious to see how many other companies and providers will follow the example Netflix is setting, and embracing these types of movies on their own. Clearly though, they’ll need to hurry before Netflix gobbles up all of the games best suited for adaptation.
