Chad Moldenhauer (born 1979) and Jared Moldenhauer (born 1980) are Canadian brothers known for being video game developers and the co‑founders of the independent studio Studio MDHR. They are best known as the creators and directors of the run‑and‑gun video game Cuphead (2017), which achieved widespread critical and commercial success for its hand‑drawn animation style inspired by 1930s American cartoons. The brothers and their work have been the subject of sustained coverage by multiple independent publications, including Polygon, Business Insider, IGN, GameSpot, and The Hollywood Reporter.[1][2][3]
Early life and influences
Chad and Jared were both raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, where they developed an early interest in video games and classic animation. They have cited 1930s American cartoons—particularly those produced by Fleischer Studios and early Disney animation—as major influences on their artistic sensibilities and visual style.[4][5]
Neither brother pursued formal education in game development. Prior to working full-time on Cuphead, Chad worked in graphic and web design, while Jared held employment outside the video game industry, including construction work.[6]
Career
Early development and Studio MDHR
The brothers began developing Cuphead in 2010 as a side project while maintaining full‑time employment. The project expanded in scope over several years of development.[1]
To complete the game, they eventually left their jobs and remortgaged their homes to finance production—a decision widely covered in press reporting on the game's development process.[7][8]
They formally established Studio MDHR—named after their surname—to support development and collaborated with a team of artists and programmers. The game's animation was produced by hand on paper before being scanned and inked digitally, contributing to its extended production timeline.[9]
The Moldenhauer brothers have emphasised handcrafted animation techniques and gameplay design influenced by early arcade titles. Interviews have noted their commitment to maintaining visual authenticity despite modern production methods.[10][11]
Cuphead
Cuphead was released in 2017 for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, with later ports to other platforms. The game received widespread acclaim for its animation, art direction, music, and difficulty, selling millions of copies worldwide.[12]
Media coverage frequently highlighted the prolonged development process and the challenges faced by the brothers as independent creators.[13]
Expansion of the franchise
Following the success of Cuphead, the Moldenhauer brothers oversaw related projects, including the expansion Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course and the Netflix animated series The Cuphead Show!, on which they served as executive producers.[14][15][3]
Accolades
Chad and Jared Moldenhauer have received recognition for their work on Cuphead and related projects. Cuphead won The Game Awards 2017 for Best Independent Game, Best Art Direction, and Best Debut Indie Game, and was nominated for Best Action Game and Best Original Score.[16] It also received recognition at the Annie Awards and D.I.C.E. Awards, and was nominated at the BAFTA Games Awards for Artistic Achievement, Best Debut Game, and Best Original Property.
As executive producers of the Netflix adaptation The Cuphead Show!, they were part of the creative team nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Series in 2022.
Notable works
- Cuphead (2017) – creators and directors[12]
- Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course (2022) – expansion[10]
- The Cuphead Show! (2022–2023) – executive producers[15][3]
References
- ^ a b "Cuphead artists illustrate the five‑year development cycle". Polygon. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "The origin story of Cuphead, the hit game that nearly broke its creators". Business Insider. 2019. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ a b c "Cuphead creator wants to stay far away from computer animation for Netflix series". The Hollywood Reporter. 2019. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Where did Cuphead come from?". Kill Screen. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Smash-hit video game Cuphead was a labour of love for Regina-born brothers". Leader‑Post. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ Takashi, Dean (2016). "Cuphead developers bet everything on a 1930s‑cartoon‑style game". GamesBeat. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ ""We quit our jobs, remortgaged our houses": How relentless passion made Cuphead a reality". GamesRadar+. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Cuphead creators took a gamble on a dream". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Studio MDHR takes us behind the scenes on the two million‑selling Cuphead". PC Games Insider. 2018. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ a b "Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course interview with Studio MDHR". AusGamers. 2022. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Cuphead Co‑Creator Talks Animation, Difficulty, and Design". Screen Rant. 2022. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ a b "How Cuphead's devs gambled on a dream". GameSpot. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ Takashi, Dean (2018). "Cuphead's creators get back to normal after their colossal — and exhausting — year". GamesBeat. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Interview: Cuphead Show Creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer". Game Rant. 2022. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ a b "Cuphead Creators on Bringing the Game to Netflix". IGN. 2022. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ "Canadian-developed game Cuphead wins big at The Game Awards". MobileSyrup. 2017. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
External links
- Official website
