Take a look at new footage from the Netflix Animation, King Features production of "Cuphead", the 1930's cartoon-inspired animated TV series created by Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, as the first, long-form animated series for King Features, the home of "Popeye" and "Dick Tracy", as the company builds up franchises across TV, digital video, licensing and social media:
"...on 'Inkwell Isles', 'Cuphead' and his brother 'Mugman' are two fun-loving cups who live under the watchful eye of 'Elder Kettle'. Against the elder's warnings, the brothers enter the 'Devil's Casino' and begin playing craps.
"When they go on a winning streak, the Devil himself offers to raise the stakes. If Cuphead and Mugman can win one more roll, they will receive all the money in the casino; if not, the Devil will take their souls.
"Cuphead loses by rolling snake eyes, and he and Mugman beg for mercy. The Devil makes a deal with them: collect the 'soul contracts' that signify his ownership of the souls of his runaway debtors by midnight the next day, and he might let them keep theirs. They visit Elder Kettle, who gives them a potion that allows them to fire blasts from their fingers to aid in their quest, but also warns them the debtors may change physical form in an effort to stop them.
"The brothers travel around the Inkwell Isles, fighting the debtors in order to obtain their contracts. On entering the second island, the Elder Kettle informs them about 'doing the right thing' when they come up against the Devil again.
"Once they have the contracts, they return to the Devil's Casino, but its manager 'King Dice' blocks their way. He has lost a bet with the Devil, presumably over whether Cuphead and Mugman would be able to complete their task, and forces them to fight his own henchmen before confronting them directly.
"After the brothers defeat King Dice, the player must choose whether to give the contracts to the Devil. If the player turns over the contracts, the Devil turns the brothers into his evil lackeys and the game ends; if not, the Devil becomes furious at the brothers' refusal to honor their deal and fights them himself. Cuphead and Mugman triumph over him, burn the contracts, and race home. Learning that they no longer have anything to fear from the Devil, the former debtors honor the brothers for their heroic actions..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Cuphead"...