A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
a little
Cuphead and Mugman are brothers that fight, but ultimately they care about each other. Lessons are peppered into most of their misadventures: the evils of gambling, procrastination, etc.
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Positive Role Models
a little
Cuphead and Mugman live with Elder Kettle, who looks after and cares for them. Between bouts of cartoon violence and name-calling are small examples of things like sharing, forgiveness, teamwork.
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Diverse Representations
a little
The series is about anthropomorphic objects in a fantasy world. The lead voice actor is Black and there is some diversity among supporting characters.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Tom and Jerry-style cartoon violence. Rockets, cannons, gunpowder, and explosions appear often. Characters fight and argue about small things. They sometimes meet others who lie, steal, or use violence. Spooky scenes. In some episodes, main villain is the devil, who dwells underground and tries to steal souls. His head floats around, he has horns, and he turns into a serpent with sharp teeth. His voice is more funny than scary, though, and he's easily tricked.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
very little
Insults using mostly antiquated terms: "ding-dong," "oh, banana oil," "dumb yokels," "loser," "punk."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Products & Purchases
very little
Based on the hit video game Cuphead. Cuphead merchandise available for purchase.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Cuphead Show! is an animated series based on the popular video game. Its vintage-style animation and bouncy pace are modeled after cartoons of the 1930s, and its content is similar as well. Rockets, cannons, gunpowder, and explosions appear frequently. Characters fight and argue about small things, but the central characters ultimately care about one another. They sometimes meet others who lie, steal, or use violence. Insults use mostly antiquated terms: "ding-dong," "oh, banana oil," "dumb yokels," "loser," "punk," etc. There are also some spooky scenes: The devil is the central villain and dwells underground while trying to steal souls. His head floats around, he has horns, and he turns into a serpent with sharp teeth. But his voice is more funny than scary, and he's easily tricked. Between bouts of cartoon violence and name-calling, there are small examples of things like sharing, forgiveness, and teamwork.
What's the Story?
THE CUPHEAD SHOW! is an animated comedy series following the unique misadventures of lovable, impulsive scamp Cuphead (voiced by Tru Valentino) and his cautious but easily swayed brother, Mugman. As the two scour their surreal world of the Inkwell Isles in search of fun and adventure, they always have each other's back. Unless there's only one cookie left, in which case it's every cup for himself. The show also inspires an occasional dose of the heebie-jeebies -- especially when a ridiculously weird nemesis, the devil himself, arrives on the scene to toy with the brothers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cuphead and Mugman's relationship. How can you tell they care about each other?
Why is it funny to watch things blow up and to see Cuphead and Mugman fight? Why can something be funny on television but dangerous in real life?
How is this show similar to and different from the old classic cartoons? Families can also discuss the difference between the pen-and-ink animation used in older cartoons and the flash and computer animation techniques seen in modern stuff. Can you see a difference? Which do you prefer?
