Cuphead is an absolute beauty in the visual department, with its hand-drawn animation based on 1930s cartoons crammed full of the unique style of that era. With this in mind, it makes complete sense that a museum exhibit based on Studio MDHR’s run-and-gun classic would also stand out due to its incredible visual flair.
The publisher recently shared a look at the Cuphead exhibit at the Melbourne-based ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image). Over 100 3D-printed models are used in this spinning zoetrope to bring character figures to life, making it appear as though they’re smoothly “animated” as they are in the game. According to ACMI, this piece will be on display in ACMI: Gallery 1 until February 16th, 2031.
https://twitter.com/StudioMDHR/status/1381703559394299907
For those unfamiliar with the zoetrope device, it’s similar in concept to a flipbook, which displays a series of frames at high speed in order to trick your brain into seeing movement. Swap pages for 3D sculptures, a spinning platter, and strobe lights, and the modern version of the zoetrope creates a similar effect.
Cuphead is available now for Nintendo Switch and other platforms, and recently the game was featured in a crossover with the popular multiplayer title Fall Guys in the form of downloadable costumes.
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Written by Reece Heather
A veteran Zelda Universe editor and First-class journalism graduate, Reece emerged with a Nintendo 64 and a lifelong obsession after a narrow escape from Santa’s Naughty List in 1998. Outside of games, he’s reading Punisher comics, being bossed around by his cocker spaniel, and cornering innocent bystanders to rant about the importance of game preservation.
