Chuck E. Cheese Is Removing All Of Its Animatronics By The End Of This Year
If you grew up in the '80s, '90s, or '00s, then you probably have very fond memories of going to Chuck E. Cheese's to celebrate birthday parties or because your parents took you as a treat.
Now, a huge part of going to Chuck E. Cheese — other than winning tickets to turn in for a prize — was watching Munch's Make Believe Band.
The animatronic band, which was always just a little creepy, was comprised of Chuck E. Cheese, Mr. Munch, Jasper T. Jowls, Pasqually the Chef, and Helen Henny. They would perform a few original songs, but most importantly, if you were there for a birthday party, the "Birthday Star" song.
Now, if you don't have kids or just haven't been to a Chuck E. Cheese in over a decade, then you might not know that they have made a lot of changes over the years, including removing the iconic tokens and tickets in favor of reloadable cards. But, one change they have been doing slowly is removing the animatronics from some of their locations.
Well, in a recent interview with the New York Times, Chuck E. Cheese's chief executive, David McKillips, announced they would be removing all the animatronics from every location (except two) by the end of this year in what he described as the company's "most aggressive transformation."
McKillips attributes the changes to kids wanting to play more with screen-based entertainment. The animatronics are going to be replaced with a band playing on a giant screen and a digital dance floor.
The official Chuck E. Cheese X/Twitter account (no, they don't have a blue checkmark because Chuck isn't about to give his money to ****) also tweeted out the NYT story announcing the news and asking people to share their memories. Of course, people had a lot to say:
I gotta give respect to you at least acknowledging. You are a stand up guy Charles. This is is upsetting news as this is what I think is the most unique part of this establishment, but I also understand cost and just innovation to the future.
— Sponge (@JustRunge) May 13, 2024
Being truamtized by the chuck e cheese animatronics is a childhood rite of passage. I'm devastated https://t.co/C51PWQo2Wv
— Hey, it's Elle! 🍉🇵🇸 🔜 Preorder EVELYN & AVERY (@boxfulthoughts) May 15, 2024
the kids have nothing left 💔💔💔💔💔
— ladidai (@ladidaix) 🤠 peep lincolnbio (@ladidaix) May 15, 2024
Those Friday nights as a kid were memorable. It was like going to Six Flags when my parents took us Chuck E. Cheese. Super fun. https://t.co/nRVae3IQ92
— Gone Fishing (@CanopyLife2) May 15, 2024
I used to go to Chuck E. Cheese on my birthdays (example 13th b day) and now I won’t ever want to hold a birthday there again because the animatronics are gone. Sometimes I go with family and I look at where it used to be and it’s just soulless. Bring them back.
— ATM (@AidenTmello) May 14, 2024
RIP, Chuck E. Cheese, and friends you're going to the big DZ Discovery Zone in the sky. But, you will forever live in the memories of Gen X'ers, millennials, and Gen Z'ers.
