The Bizarre History Behind Chuck E. Cheese & Showbiz Animatronics

ANIMATRONICS ARE GOING AWAY
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Music credit -
Kevin MacLeod - Pixelland
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I explain this history of the behind the Chuck E. Cheese 3-stage animatronic setup and how Chuck E. Cheese/Showbiz Pizza join together to create these animatronics. Let's check out the 3-stage animatronics in Altoona, PA before they are removed and gone forever. #chuckecheese

[@CrowRanaBurger]

Will you miss the animatronics? 🐸⬇

[@Sanicperson]

No

[@TheBatman-]

Maybe 🐸

[@fryingpanjim]

No I say we burn them

[@snoopy2oo8thomasvideos69]

Idk.

[@CJs_Will]

Yes, I’m depressed that they are leaving

[@CharlesBBarkin]

As a huge CEC fan myself, this video is great! No clickbait, No made up creepy stories, No misinformation, just pure history!

[@KZ-kl8fx]

How does one identify as a “huge CEC fan” 😭 worried about you folk

[@MinecraftClipsLITE]

@@KZ-kl8fx 💀

[@KZ-kl8fx]

@@bappo218 Monkey Joe’s was wayyy better than Chuck E Cesspool

[@Mr.Rex2513]

@@KZ-kl8fx monkey joes sucks ass

[@Spiderboy-wg4pu]

@@KZ-kl8fx what?

[@showbizwisconsin8350]

Man it feels unreal when you say "6 3-stages are left in the world". There were over 50 just 5 years ago. Dark future we're living in.

[@retrofan4963]

Dang, this is sad :( The thought lot of 3 Stages are gone is just awful. Makes me wonder, what they did to them to get rid of em? Worst case scenario is if they throw them in the trash.

[@CrowRanaBurger]

They’re going away quick

[@showbizwisconsin8350]

@@retrofan4963 HA! Throwing them in the trash would actually be pretty nice. That's what they did to closed stores in the 2000s. Now they have to cut them up to "deidentify" the characters before throwing them in the trash. Before it was just smashing the costumes, but now they actually cut up and smash the frames, destroying hundreds of dollars in pneumatic equipment that other stores could've benefitted from. There's a company protocol for how things need to be destroyed.

[@retrofan4963]

@@showbizwisconsin8350 Oh no :( That's horrible. Didn't know things could get that worse. This is a huge disrespect towards 3 stage CEC and Aaron Fechter's Rock afire Explosion animatronic legacy. They should've just lend them to the fans to take good care of them and preserve them safely.

[@Will_Slowed_Reverb]

It’s crazy because I use to have a Chuck E Cheese with a 3-stage and now it’s gone in a snap like that

[@technerdbird]

It's called Munch's Make Believe Band because when they were brainstorming for Concept Unification, it was decided to keep with the "band" theme of the Rock-afire. Since Fatz was the big, physically imposing leader the band, Munch was chosen to play the same role in the CEC band. Side note: They actually offered the voice of Fatz a job at CEC but he declined since Fatz was such a personal role to him.

[@Nerdy_Chuck_E]

Usually when I see a KZbinr posting about Chuck E. Cheese, I assume it’s just a stupid 3 AM video for little kids. But looking at this and being a Chuck E. Cheese fan, I love this video so much. No random clickbait, no kids touching and Animatronics and being scared. It’s perfect!!! can’t wait to see part two

[@roboyuma]

“No kids touching and animatronics and being scared” …..what? Did you mean: “No kids touching animatronics and being scared”? Because idk what the hell i just read.

[@BombBird11]

@@roboyuma You clearly aren't educated on what terrible Chuck E Cheese videos that KZbin kids crank out for babies on this site. To make a long story short, it's awful. lol

[@liams_world]

fr

[@NachoTaco.]

as a massive chuck e cheese nerd this is the best video ever also a little fun fact about the 3 stage is that the moon was actually pretty much the only thing they kept from the showbiz pizza tysm crow!

[@CrowRanaBurger]

Thanks for watching the video 🐸

[@RetroPizzaFan]

The animatronics made Chuck E. Cheese’s unique in every way. I’m sure the removal and remodel is best, company-wise. However, there’s a mass following of these animatronics that contribute to Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz Pizza Place’s history. They both had revolutionary technology and the aspect of food and video games being combined made it what it is today. I wish Chuck E. Cheese would’ve kept the stages in some locations and only remodeled those who needed it (ei. older locations, locations that had poorly maintained stages).

[@2doot]

I genuinely think it's a poor decision all around, Chuck E Cheese is known for the animatronics. Even the newer gen kids that didn't get to experience it know it; and I hate to bring up FNAF, and as annoying as it is to have a bunch of kids going there for ThE BiTe oF 87, it's still gotta boost them at least a little bit. Kids are curious, they wanna go in and see the animatronics. The adult fanbase grew up with them and there's nothing left for us obviously since we've outgrown all of the other offerings (subpar pizza and watered down booze isn't enough to bring people in, let's be real), but the fanbase has a fascination with the animatronics and would end up taking the trip anyways because of it. There's really nothing to offer now; they've downsized their arcades, the game selection isn't as good as it used to be, the animatronics have been canned... And who goes there for the food? They had to fake their name on food delivery apps because they know damn well no one would willingly buy a pizza without the whole experience of tokens (yet another thing that's far in the past, sad to say...) game cabinets, and cheap prizes? The animatronics may have been a pain in the ass to upkeep; but they were the draw. It seems Chuck E Cheese doesn't know what it wants to be as a brand anymore.

[@captivecreepa150]

@@2doot freddy fazbear, or or or or

[@YeetusTheFetus89]

I like how most of the animatronics have a lazy eye

[@CJs_Will]

When I think of Chuck E. Cheese, I think of the time I was forced into a suit. Good times

[@animesimp1114]

Huh?

[@animesimp1114]

I am here!

[@valeriem9549]

fnaf?

[@CJs_Will]

@@valeriem9549 crap, you know my secret. I gotta call in the shadow government to erase your memory

[@valeriem9549]

​@@CJs_Will no pls

[@princessmarlena1359]

What a shame they’re decommissioning the animatronics. It was bad enough to lose the ball pits and play structures. I’m glad I got to experience those features of CEC as a kid.

[@showbizpizzainternational245]

Back in the day, Chuck would be the host while Munch was the leader of the band, that's why it's called Munch's Make Believe Band

[@loafy69]

This makes me want to go down a huge rabbit hole of Chuck E Cheese’s lore lol

[@animesimp1114]

Right!

[@xxgostapua2107]

if you have a lot of extra time, do it. it’s gets very interesting

[@mamamiaWAAAHHH]

Fr. This may become a new special interest. Just like biology..

[@XaviHaunts]

Chucky cheese has lore, and i thought the crazy unexpected lore stopped at spirit halloween...

[@lachlanmaheux3408]

They've been around for a long time, sad to see classics go...

[@SteveDC101]

Yeah classic CEC will always be the best.

[@animesimp1114]

I'ma miss going there to see the art and fun games and music etc

[@AwesomeDrawer2017]

Hearing crow saying the name of Chuck E. Cheese stages gets me giddy

[@RatKingLiam]

fr

[@CECGuy_]

It makes me sad to know that they’re all going to be gone soon. But what can you do about it. What’s even sadder is I only have one stage left within an hour drive from me.

[@enigmaroad7217]

I LOVE CHUCK E CHEESE ANIMATRONICS AND I AM SO INTO THE HISTORY OF THEM, IDK WHY THEY THINK PEOPEL DONT CARE ABOUT THEM. Can’t wait for part 2😭😭😭😭😭🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

[@steamedbruschetta]

Really cool and informative video! Can’t wait for part 2! 🐸

[@tiamystic]

3:57 “Don’t be racist, I am a building!” Damn what a crossover

[@oscarmorgan42]

Oh with today’s day and age I was just expecting to see a ton of fnaf references but no it’s just something you don’t see a lot of now Q U A L I T Y C O N T E N T

[@SNESJerry]

It actually sucks they’re taking out what made them different from every other kids place and trashing it completely, good video though.

[@daniexists6]

So, it's a complicated situation. But why they cut them is pretty much a mix of a few things: -Maintenance was a headache. The Studio C. bots in particular were a pain in the ass to repair and keep updated, but the older bots were borderline impossible. Especially with the near constant state of bankrupsy. -FNAF. Kids not understanding what's real or not, coupled with Matpat's dumb theory about the guy who killed his coworkers. And it's not to say the company didn't try to roll with the punches. They made a video for Halloween called "Five Nights At The Pizza Time Theatre" which had the current Chuck go to a run down branch from the 70's run by a night guard who has to work there for five nights a week and has to deal with randomly moving versions of the older PTT characters who got the axe. -The tech just wasn't that impressive any more. In the 70's to the 90's, sure. But anyone right now could make a more advanced animatronic using Raspberry Pi, a small amount of coding and a little bit of luck. If you want an example of it, look at how many folks have made custom FNAF animatronics or have been restoring CEC or Showbiz bots.

[@RandomWasTaken_]

I like your new video style and you having more time spent on editing videos makes it much better I hope you hit 150K soon! 👍

[@totallytidmouth]

Absolutely loving the chuck e cheese videos you've been posting lately, these are super interesting and really entertaining. It's very neat to learn about the CEC before the time I was going.

[@LovleyLemonade]

"Uh, the animatronic characters here do get a bit quirky at night..."

[@thatguysanimation]

I feel conflictment on one hand it's sad to see these animatronics go after years On the Other hand fnaf has ruined my perspective on animatronics forever

[@Mickey-pancakes-are-good]

I like how your now getting into animatronics!

[@TheBatman-]

Very Informational! Love it 🐸🐸

[@aidennyoutube]

as a big CEC fan, this is just kind of sad to look at all the animatronics just rusting and all the old nostalgia left there.

[@bearambles.]

i love that there’s people as interested in stuff like this as i am. small communities like this are so cool

[@sethhorst6158]

I wonder when that Altoona PA footage was filmed? There are chances that I'll be going there tomorrow, and I'm hoping the 3 stage will be there. So far I've only seen a 1 stage and a Rock Afire Explosion in person throughout my life.

[@CrowRanaBurger]

I filmed it on March 30th this year

[@sethhorst6158]

@@CrowRanaBurger Ah ok, to my luck the stage was still there when I went yesterday.

[@orangepop30]

I saw the concept unification ones last month when I went to Iowa! As much as I love them, you can tell their time is up. They are in pretty rough shape. Munch had a bunch of ripped fur near his mouth and neck, One of Helen's eyes were faded, Jasper's hand wasnt even near the guitar, all of them had eyes that blinked at two different times, and overall you could really hear their animatronic parts struggling to work. It was almost louder than the music!

[@ravennn295]

I’m from Charlotte, NC and ended up at the CEC w/ the 3-stage. I didn’t know they were at that specific location until I walked in and saw them. I literally ZOOMED past all the kids to see them up close lol! I wasn’t aware of how scarce they were until I watched this so I’m glad I got to check it out!

[@kayla9839]

I work at Chuck E. Cheese and we recently just got the new remodel, which meant our animatronics were destroyed. It's super sad. Our tech guy kept them in such good shape and they looked and performed SO well, yet were scraped. Me and my coworker actually went dumpster diving into this huge portable dumpster outback during the remodel and took a few signs and stuff, lol

[@andydandy1870]

what location was it? if you don’t mind me asking i’m just curious LMAO

[@kayla9839]

@@andydandy1870 Deptford, NJ

[@KyleEvra]

That's really sad destroying history.

[@matheussegantin]

​@@KyleEvraSHOW BIZ PIZZA CHUNK E. CHESSE SHOW BIZ PIZZA CHUNK E CHESSE

[@someguywithmtndew5691]

@@matheussegantinwhat are you yapping about

[@senorgamer6017]

I hadn't been to chucke cheese in almost forever and when my little cousin was having her party, she was having it at chucke cheese. So i was somewhat excited to go back and relive my childhood. When we got there though, i was disappointed to see the giant token gone, the walls just stale while with a few gray streaks, the ticket eater/ counter machine gone, and most of all, i was sad to see they had gotten rid of the animatronic Chucke they had. It was only the one, but it was nostalgic to me. I still had hope and wondered if they just moved him, but thats just ridiculous. And it seemed more ridiculous to have replaced him with a couple of tvs hanging from the ceiling with a dance floor under them.

[@ROCKstonePollo]

Ur awesome KZbinr and u post actual cool stuff

[@Moonrise_lamb]

only 6 left of the 3 stage according to this vid.. that is so upsetting. my chuck e cheese location was a 3 stage, the animatronics were in near perfect condition, and i think they were the best models out of all of them. they recently remodeled, those poor animatronics are gone now, i cried, im still so devastated. wanna know what they did with them? they chopped them up, spray painted them, and just threw them in the dumpster. i hope they at least put some in a museum type place..

[@Moonrise_lamb]

i think mine might have been the best one yet.. it actually still had the moon.

[@StarliteProductDevelopment]

Tom Leverton, the CEO of CEC said in 2019 that "Kids stopped watching the animatronic shows" and that ", the customers preferred live entertainers" adding that the decision was financially motivated and to "reengage families with a more modern experience". With that said, look at Disney, they keep progressing with the technology when it comes to animatronics, yet CEC did nothing to bring it into the 21st century with all the advancements in technology we've had (other than continually changing the outer appearance of the character), so of course kids stopped watching. So now the chains new direction has lost all it's charm and appeal. Great opportunity for another to pick up where they left off though and make $$ with all these fans as there is obviously a demand.

[@JulesJulianAnakinFilms]

6:38 Me too. It was part of nostalgia in my local area until they took that down and was phased out in some CEC locations, and that’s pretty disappointing! It’s called the Mad Wave Motion Theater made by Triotech.

[@jmxfz.cc7]

Great Video!

[@CECWashingtonTheCECFan]

Great video! As a CEC fan, thank you for doing the history of the animatronics.

[@RatKingLiam]

As a huge CEC fan, this video is AMAZING! How did you know all of the stages?

[@CrowRanaBurger]

I just looked stuff up on Google 😂🐸

[@RatKingLiam]

@@CrowRanaBurger haha

[@janethmendoza396]

Congrats on 119k subs CrowRanaBurger

[@maxnation_official]

Amazing video. Love the concept of the video

[@mr_uzie_03]

I remember going to that exact Chuck E Cheese cuz it's around my area when I was younger. I'm still lokey surprised that the animatronics are still there even though they're prolly gone now. I haven't been there since I was 8 lol.

[@StarDoge210ACIOfficial]

I actually have to correct you on the cu1 stage, as of April there are only two of them left (Whitehall PA, And Springfield IL (my local) )

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

I love this video, as it has enough info in it

[@JoseLuisUrbina-zv2rx]

Crowranaburger I’ve been subscribed since 2021 so all I want to say is i hope you hit to 1 million soon 😊

[@nicholaskania9106]

Probably going to see the 3 stage in West Des Moines Iowa. That location actually still has the center stage curtains. The curtains on stage left and right over in West Des Moines Iowa were given to Darien IL as a prop for their weird Studio C Beta on a 3 stage

[@FvsYT1399]

I love your videos

[@ashtonstory7832]

I love that roller-coaster similator, and thanks for showing ❤️ 😀

[@Danieltcgcollects]

Does anybody have an updated list of which Chuck E. Cheese’s still have animatronics?

[@jbland7737]

Unfortunately as of now there is only one remaining Chuck E Cheese that still has the animatronics, and it is located in Northridge California☹☹

[@ct9567]

I wasn’t born back in the day when these were relevant unfortunately but I love vintage things and hearing this man talk about a tv on the stage and seeing that new smart screen Chucky cheese is heartbreaking.

[@Supasmartguy]

Now that they're gone, they won't be biting off anyone's frontal lobe.

[@M0nst3r_Muncher]

i learned a few weeks ago that the three stage setup in NC is only a few minutes away from me, i have been obsessed with animatronics and rockafire since i was a kid. so i cant wait to go visit them!

[@yeechi00]

animatronics are waayy better than a damn screen. god life is getting sad. please help me, universe.

[@DieulaOlivierjoseph]

I like how how when you when you leave. When you don't ask for help, fix them, and you're just leave.

[@n00traC]

I’m glad that my local Chuck E. Cheese still has its animatronics. I’m hoping they stay a little bit longer, or possibly don’t even get removed

[@jakethenecromorph]

It makes me sad to see them remove the animatronics because this was something from my childhood also that was the best part to me now I’ll Just look like any other restaurant the animatronics made it unique now it’s Just a boring normal restaurant

[@EZ_Money_Sniper]

Pretty cool to see the history of a childhood memory. Awesome video, even though you haven’t posted a DOAWK video in 2 months 🐸

[@BradyPlayz11]

Man about 6 years ago when I was 4 the animatronics were still there and I loved them. I’m sad to see them go no matter how cursed they are.

[@Jander406]

Scott Cawthon needs to save these businesses

[@EastwoodproductionsAHHHHH]

Lol welcome to the CEC fandom crowranaburger

[@doubtyou]

Nice to see the stages of the past. I still follow the guy who made rockafire explosion on KZbin since he posts music videos with them included. I’ve always liked Rockafire before Chuck E. Cheese., as soon as I found it I was like “why did they replace them?” Appreciate the history and the video

[@Grasshopper-KI]

My old CC had a kids tunnel system under the animatronics. It was Swiss cheese themed and kids mugged others for arcade Tokens lol

[@brandonlam3756]

3:19 Munch- “Hey”

[@Yianakirby5]

My mom grew up going to chuck e cheese for her birthday and went almost every year because of her nieces and nephews then son and daughters. She's seen many of the changes that Chuck e had encountered since she was born in 1971 as well as many other animatronic restaurants. She said it was really fun and it wasn't at all scary.

[@Shleepy27]

My mum was also born in 1971, but never got to see chuck e cheese because she grew up in sweden... I really want to visit a chuck e cheese before its all gone.

[@Bowlore]

Well, enjoy the animatronics while it lasts, I'm pretty sure they still have a Building, Moon, Munch JR in a location. Theres only one sadly and once it goes that will be the true extinction Munch JR and (maybe) Building. Not sure about Pizza cams, I know there is a newer black box version of it, and they also have the Blue cover version.

[@DatDude04]

I love how showbiz became the enemy they swore to destroy

[@mtyson1631]

Down in Wilmington, NC there used to be a stage 3. They had the pizza cam and everything. They took it down in 2019 I think and no one has bought it. The first restaurant you showed was almost exactly the same. I still have a coin and a drawn picture

[@awesomeocelot7475]

I think the lore is that Munch was the one to originally come up with the idea for him and his friends to form a band.

[@MarbleCarnivalDude]

Charlotte, NC no longer has pizzacam, but moon, skyscraper still rise and perform. Mini Munch is present but is not popping up.

[@jorgetheilluminationfan]

5:27 I did not see that coming I ❤ PBS Kids, have you ever seen a Chuck E Cheese Funding bumper on one of your PBS Kids shows that you watched as a kid?

[@Rolfe_dewolfe]

for the 3 stage variant they could’ve kept the colors for rolfes stage background and some other things but at least they kept looney bird (the pizza cam) and the moon (the other guy too)

[@Buckeyesontop]

Nice

[@jacobthebigbadwolf62]

I remeber going to chucke cheezs as a kid, It was a lot of fun. But for some reason the animatronics would smell bad and red liquid would leak from them...got lost there once security guard found me. I asked him what it's like working there he said it was alright although the animatronics do get a bit quirky at night...apparently it was his 5th night on the job too

[@budgiesarecool121]

Im sad to declare the North Carolina Location Has Become A 2.0 Restaurant (3 years ago)

[@chuckecoop4082]

considering what seems to be your "locals" i would recommend Billy Bob's Wonderland in WV. It has the last public rock afire in north america.

[@danielcallow]

Can’t wait for part two2!!!!

[@rapidlyvids]

7:08 Correct! They haven’t made a Pasqually plush since the 90’s!

[@Miltypooh2001]

I remember chuck e cheese was my favorite hangout place to go to and for it's time during its avenger era during 2001 it was the best year for chuck e cheese, the animatronics were fun to mess around with but god i remember how they used to scare me especially when they accidentally malfunction, nowadays i feel like they're not as popular anymore because they're hard to maintain and so most chuck e cheese restaurants would replace them with puppet costumes

[@FamiliarBlmp3312]

I used to have the collector toys of Billy Bob and Mitsy I lost them from moving alot as a kid.. I miss Showbiz Pizza. Yes, even the pizza tasted much better.

[@mr.urthling9238]

very sad that so many stages are gone... i remembered the chuck that used to be there when i was little and when i started working there and found it he was gone, i was so sad!

[@__Contour__]

Hey man can you tell me which exact Chuck e Cheese in charlotte NC it is that has the full 3 stage? Bc I live near there and want to go see it before it’s gone

[@Furby125]

5:23 rip that location it’s closed

[@GeneralHewett13]

This sucks that they are going, CEC Entertainment needs to rethink their motives

[@Thatsmelucas]

Hey crow two more days until the 2 year anniversary of diary of a wimpy kid fan covers

[@TheBananaSackYT]

I love old Chuck E. Cheese stuff it’s so interesting

[@Nobiz_CEC]

around a month ago I went to Altoona and the first 3 stage I saw and I got a 1985 token

[@thecartboy1]

the one i used to go to was a one stage, and considering how tall the stage was i assume it couldve had that mr munch maze at the bottom

[@jimmybiscuit]

This is so nostalgic, really miss Chuck E Cheese

[@fan1000]

I love chuck e cheese as a kid

[@MrRidge_]

Some crazy history

[@ToxicKittiSP]

I was hoping that when I got older, and had kids, I would take them to Chuck E. Cheese , just like I did. But, unfortunately, I can’t do that anymore.

[@minecrafter4623]

I remember the curtain and always remember is being closed most of the time, and at one point only the Chuck E. Cheese one would open.

[@missmadness564]

I wish they weren't getting rid of the animatronics, i never really watched them perform but I found them interesting and liked to try to find any issues they had

[@sarahmatlow5011]

Here to represent one of the remaining 6 stores that has the 3 stage set-up- Tallahassee!!

[@TheSupaCr3w]

@CrowRanaBurger this is a stupid question but can u give links to locations? i would love to know if one is near me. it is ok if u don't! Thanks for making this. I can't believe it still.

[@engel1018]

meanwhile scott making fnaf:

[@angusstuff]

I usedto go to that location, fun fact: the chuck e cheese guy used go go around back and enter through the front of the store there!