When it came time to make an announcement about what we were up to at the studio, we asked ourselves if there was a way to make something a little more special than a standard trailer containing only game footage. How could we pull back the curtain on our latest projects and reveal the news of our plans for another hand-animated Cuphead game in a way that would capture people’s imaginations?

Initially, we had a concept for a “fireside chat” style address similar to the ones once given by Walt Disney, taking place on a set full of Easter Eggs related to the world of Cuphead. Soon enough, however, we began to wonder…what if Cuphead himself was the one giving the address? And thus the idea was born for a Special Bulletin news segment hosted by our very own porcelain pal. And to physicalize him in the most fun way possible, we turned to none other than the puppet pros at Toronto’s Stop Motion Department.

We had worked with Philip, Evan, and the team on our PlayStation 4 launch trailer inspired by the eerie 1930s stop motion short, The Peanut Vendor. This announcement called for something different, however. Unsurprisingly, the team at Stop Motion Department shared our enthusiasm, and set to work fabricating a Cuphead character that retained the iconic elements like his nose and straw, but deliberately exaggerated everything from face shape to body size. The results blew us away, and felt playful and “off model.” Artisan Graeme Black-Robinson played triple duty as puppet fabricator, puppeteer and voice actor, allowing for full control over the performance. The result perfectly treads the line between endearing and over-the-top and we couldn’t be happier with the way Graeme brought Cuphead to life.

Ultimately, whether it’s our new game projects themselves, or the way we share them with you, we deeply value craftsmanship, and hope that this Special Bulletin put a smile on your face the same way that making it did for us!