The Art of the Cuphead Show Hardcover – September 3, 2024

This book is a unique 250+ page interview that delves into the intricate process behind The Cuphead Show! It tells the story of the show’s creation in remarkable detail, featuring stunning concept art that illustrates how the game’s characters were reimagined for the screen, each infused with their own personality and story. Additionally, it unveils the challenges of producing the show during the pandemic and finally addresses a long-standing fan question: Why weren’t all of the game’s bosses included in the series, and what ultimately happened to them?★★★★★ ArtBefore purchasing this book, I had already read The Art of Cuphead volumes one (original game) and two (DLC), so I wasn’t sure if anything could still surprise me. Whether due to my lower expectations or the sheer amount of incredible artwork within these pages, I found myself thoroughly impressed.Now, I fully appreciate what a monumental task it was to adapt the game’s characters into an animated series. On one hand, Moldenhauer brothers from Studio MDHR closely oversaw every stage of production to ensure the show remained as authentic as possible. On the other hand, the show’s creative team proved their immense talent and dedication, with many of them embracing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on a Fleischer-style rubber hose animation project. They continuously pushed their limits, improving with each episode.A standout aspect of the book is the contribution of Screen Novelties, a stop-motion animation studio that crafted many of the show’s most iconic locations as physical models, later used as artistic backgrounds in select episodes.Last but not least, the Lost Episodes chapter highlights fan-favorite game boss characters who didn’t make it into the show due to budget constraints. Some of these episodes had been fully written and storyboarded but were ultimately left out of production. The book captures the expressiveness of the show’s characters in every sketch—there’s even a strong Ren & Stimpy influence that I noticed and which answered many of my questions. The level of professionalism shines through in every background, facial expression, and the overall 1930s-inspired stylization of the series.★★★★★ TextThis is the first artbook I’ve encountered that feels like a 250+ page interview with the team. The authors conducted in-depth discussions with the show’s creators, providing readers with first-hand insights into the creative process.I found myself unable to put the book down and nearly read half of it in a single sitting. It’s worth noting that this is also a complete episode guide, offering a behind-the-scenes look at each installment. Some episodes have extensive backstories, while others are covered in just a few short paragraphs, but overall, I was completely satisfied with the depth of information provided.The text never feels overwhelming—it remains engaging throughout. After all, this is an artbook, not one of Stephen King’s lengthy novels meant to be read over several months =)★★★★☆ Book DesignThe book's design is excellent. Here are a few key highlights:1. It matches the size of the previous Cuphead artbooks, making for a cohesive collection on the shelf.2. It has a durable hardcover with no dust jacket, eliminating the risk of damage, tearing, or misplacement over time.3. The page layout, font selection, and image placement are all thoughtfully designed.4. Its portrait format makes it easy to flip through and read, unlike bulkier landscape-format of some artbooks.5. Minor drawbacks: some gorgeous artworks are poorly placed, with the main focus of the image lost in the book’s center binding (you could see it in one of the photos). Additionally, the Lost Episodes section includes multiple storyboard sequences with repetitive images. While this might have been intentional, I would have preferred fewer duplicate images for a cleaner presentation.★★★★★ PriceThe book was released in September 2024, and its price still remains steady at around $30-35, factoring in a ±40% discount from its original listed price. As both a game fan and an artbook collector, I can confidently say it’s worth every penny.★★★★★ Overall ImpressionsSome artbooks impress with their stunning visuals, while others captivate with deep insights into the creative process. The Art of The Cuphead Show! delivers both.Beyond the artwork and interviews, what truly sets this book apart is the infectious enthusiasm of the show's creators. Seeing their smiling faces in behind-the-scenes photos and reading their firsthand accounts of working on the series gives you a profound appreciation for how much they cherished this rare opportunity. It’s a true labor of love—a dream project brought to life.

My son and I love this show!! This book and the book very similar with the concept art for the video game are amazing. I keep this next to my desk and look at for inspiration during work. If you like the show or even this style of cartoons you’ll love this

Amazing background art and insight of the story boards and brainstorming of each episode’s conception is spectacular.

Fun, informative, and artsy. Great to look at. Very interesting concepts as well.

Awesome work by the Character Designer Bradley Lewis detailed in the Book.

Loved the show and seeing how they made it makes it even cooler seeing the behind the scenes

Loved the book

The Cuphead Show sadly ended when fans wanted a lot more. This, alongside the vinyl record, scratch an itch for those begging for more content, even if more episodes are unlikely right now. The book itself is super high quality, and contains a lot of great notes from all artists involved.