Behind the scenes of Cuphead - a record breaking master piece. | Levels

4 years, 3 world records, 1 family. Meet Studio MDHR: the makers of Cuphead. The game was built entirely by hand from their own home. With over 3 million copies sold, they reveal the untold tale behind their record-breaking game.

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[Dr_Al_]

Imagine spending that many hours on a single project only to have it cancelled, or really negatively reviewed and forgotten...
Indie developers really DO risk everything.

[clinthoagland]

I like that this video doesn't just focus on the brothers and brings up the fact that Maja Moldenhauer quit her job and bet everything on this game *while she was raising two little kids* which is for me one of the most astounding parts of the entire story. That takes...COURAGE.

[liamcristello]

Imagine putting in this kind of Herculean effort into a game, the whole time not knowing whether it was even going to turn a profit? That's insane, all of these developers are incredible.

[zyker]

A fantastically passionate team. On their first attempt at making a game they made a borderline masterpiece. To see what their next game will be is genuinely interesting since most sequels surpass the first by a lot. If not a Cuphead 2 let's see what else they can make.

[richieinkwell]

These 3 and Tina Nawrocki are my heroes. Cuphead is the reason i am currently in school for animation. I can’t thank these guys enough. It’s such a passionate and fun game.

[megamatt]

Cuphead is an example of developers being so dedicated to and focused on their work that it not only comes out as a great game, but a game that everyone will remember.

[arcticwolf]

This is the way true masterpieces are made

[Saiyanryu]

I'm glad Cuphead succeeded. I usually stick to fighting games exclusively, but out of my 24 years of living, Cuphead was the first "Adventure/Run & Gun" game I was really invested in (other than Pokemon up to Gen 4).

Creating out of passion will always outdo creating solely for profit; that's why a lot of AAA games are flopping nowadays. I'm excited to see Studio MDHR's next big project.

[kensmith]

Cuphead isn't a game. It's a work of art.

[DramaticQuantom]

Guys I thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating this amazing work of art. You guys gave me enough motivation to go after my dreams, You are the best!

[ReadyPlayerTomVR]

No studio deserves more respect, or praise in recent years then the 2 brothers, wife, and rest of the team at MDHR... Chasing dreams, hard workers, who make quality hand crafted passion projects, and do it right.. Treating the workers right, taking time to make it top quality. They're incredibly inspirational, and motivating. Cant wait to see what they're making next...

To all the big studios rushing games out every year, that are copy and paste like the past 10 they made (Assassins Creed, COD, Madden, etc.) be more like MDHR. You might learn something.

[MsIceCream]

Cuphead has become a video game that has managed to reach the hearts of many people, and has called many people to the world of animation, among them me. This is a very good video that shows us that long but beautiful work that is Cuphead. Excuse me, but the animated gif that appears at minute 1:08 of Cuphead and Mugman was made by me. Could you please give me credit for that animated gif in the description?

[unclesporkums]

Congrats to MDHR on the records and being the subject of the first episode!

[lostandtravellingwhentimes]

I love this game. The whole world needs to see it

[sebastiansanhueza]

The moment at 9:10 was lovely. But now I've played the game, I'm not sure whether she got fondly emotional or led PTSD emerge.

[KnavishCrayfish]

One of the most inspirational teams and video games in my opinion. Fell in love with the concept of Cuphead the first moment I saw it and waited with bated breath for its release.

Congratulations on all the success and praise you guys and girls have received, all totally deserved! I hope one day to make video games myself and how you talked about your relationship as brothers mirrors mine and my brother's!

Thank you for all your hard work and passion!

[maddiedeakin-berry]

My dad is actually a senior level artist for TT games who make the LEGO games, he’s been working there since 2005/6 when I was 4/5 years old and still does to this day as I’m currently 18 years of age.
My dads first game was the first Indiana Jones game and I remember when he cane home and gave me a box of Lego, and being a big Lego fan, I ended created some things for him and still do now in which he puts into his levels, the first one was Lego Batman (which also started my obsession with Mark hamill’s Joker and batman in general) when I made jokers hand buzzer machine when you play as him in free play, in Lego Batman 3 my dads level was the the joker and Harley DLC and he Asked me to make jokers cake which you transform and build from the Batman one, and recently my dads level in dc supervillains was the position ivy level and I built the vines for him which again he then created in game.
My dad still to this day has a drawing I did of Indiana Jones that I remember drawing for him of a scrap piece of red cardboard and he keeps it on his desk at work, and he brought me in to test his levels out for any bugs before they finalised it.
I can’t tell you how much I relate to this and I absolutely love cup head, I myself am a huge fan on ppl the 1920’s -40’s in America and especially with cartoons from the 30’s/40’s (who framed roger rabbit and looney tunes being my favourite alongside Tom and Jerry and tex Avery cartoons), and just seeing this really hit me as this combines both my love for video games and 30’s/40’s cartoons.
I actually draw and create props myself, but I’ve always drawn and created my own 30’s cartoon characters from since I was 4/5 playing my dads Lego games and still do now as we get them early, and I just love how these guys have worked so hard and invested so much into it and truly stuck to a traditional animation 30’s/40’s style to do it, I love the game so much guys and it truly hit home and relate so much to this. ❤️😊

[dengamleidiot]

And now it’s coming for the Switch.
What a time to be alive.

[ordinarylittlebastard]

5:12
Chad Moldenhauer's Idle Animation

[redbullgaming]

Did you know that this game was entirely built by hand?