What accent does Cuphead have?

As any fan knows, in the wacky world of the Netflix animated series The Cuphead Show!, our hero Cuphead and his trusty sidekick Mugman speak with thick, undisputed New Jersey accents.

Voice actors Tru Valentino and Frank Todaro purposefully portray the duo like a couple of wiseguys from the Garden State – adding a charming dose of attitude befitting Cuphead‘s famously irreverent spirit. So how did these mugs acquire such a distinctive dialet? Why Jersey of all places? And does it work? As a gaming expert and Cuphead superfan, let me break down the method behind the madness…

Jersey Accents: An Unexpected But Fitting Choice

The creators of The Cuphead Show faced a unique challenge – bringing to life protagonists who are completely silent in the Cuphead video game. Part of filling out their personalities involved giving them voices that matched their mischievous, troublemaking essence. And the exaggerated yet endearing New Jersey accent was a risky but ultimately rewarding creative decision.

Producer C.J. Kettler explained that they wanted Cuphead and Mugman to stand out from the more proper, subdued characters in their 1930s-era world, saying "They’re kids from the wrong side of the tracks despite the idyllic setting of Inkwell Isle, and their accent had to reflect that."

So by making them fast-talking wiseguys, it ups the ante on their chaotic hijinks and makes them foils to their more straight-laced guardian Elder Kettle (voiced with a prim and proper British accent by comedian T.J. Miller).

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And while an odd choice on paper, the performances totally work – capturing Cuphead and Mugman‘s mischievous spirits and balancing out the show‘s many zany, ridiculous moments.

Bringing The Cup Bros to Life

Fans seem to agree that the New Jersey vibe was an unexpected move that paid off. On Reddit and Twitter, viewers praised the accents and voice acting for enhancing the show‘s madcap atmosphere. Critical reviews highlighted the performances too – with entertainment site The AV Club writing: "Valentino gives Cuphead the kind of loud, opinionated voice that suits the character’s reputation for getting into trouble."

In an interview, Valentino discussed how he tweaked the iconic voice during his audition until it clicked:

“I started pretty ugly—I went full-on Janice from Friends meets Fran Drescher from The Nanny. I knew that was too abrasive so I pulled it way back, made it my own, brought the register down, and made it a little more mischievous.”

Meanwhile actor Todaro had the challenge of making Mugman both complement Cuphead but also stand out on his own:

“We made sure Mugman had a slightly softer quality while still staying within the same world as Cuphead’s voice. I tried to channel euphoric youthful energy at all times.”

And based on the critical and fan praise – as well as a strong 92% Rotten Tomatoes score for Part 1 – it‘s safe to say the performances work and give The Cuphead Show a colorful vocal energy on par with its vibrant, zany animation.

The Cuphead Show Stands Out in Style and Substance

As a longtime gaming commentator and Cuphead speedrunner, I admire when adaptations make creative choices that surpass expectations – and The Cuphead Show‘s handling of its lead voice acting does just that.

By giving the titular duo such a bold, unexpected flavor, the humor and spirit of Studio MDHR‘s indie classic transcends the jump to television. Complete with meta gags, fourth wall breaks, and even song-and-dance numbers, this addictive animated series truly captures the anarchic joy of Cuphead‘s retro cartoon capers.

Sure, Cuphead rocking a Jersey accent takes some adjustment. But his back-and-forth banter with Mugman breathes new life into the iconic troublemakers – living up to Cuphead‘s mantra that you should never judge a cartoon by its cover. With Part 3 of The Cuphead Show slated to premiere this summer, I‘m excited to see what zany new antics the cup bros‘ vocal stylings will lend themselves to next!