AMY MIKLER + CHUCK E CHEESE

June 2, 2024

Did you know Chuck E. Cheese serves beer and wine for parents? Neither did we. Last year, during our three shoots for Chuck E. Cheese, we discovered quite a few surprising things. Among them: kids scream with excitement when Chuck E. Cheese makes an appearance, reminiscent of the Beatles mobs back in the day; Skee-Ball, once a staple, now feels old-fashioned; and the pizza is so beloved that a thriving takeout business has emerged.


Amy Mikler's first project for Chuck E. Cheese was a scrappy stills and motion shoot aimed at showcasing how CEC can be used for fundraising efforts. With a minimal crew, a loose idea of shots, and a compressed schedule, Amy needed a nimble setup. She also had to keep the all-volunteer talent moving so she could capture their natural energy and excitement.

For the second shoot, Material+ brought us in for a campaign shoot. Amy enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm ideas ahead of time, allowing her to focus her energy on eliciting natural laughs from the kids on set. With a tighter shot list, the need to tell multi-layered stories was crucial. Amy and the art director worked out shots that maximized the background, such as placing meals in the foreground, the dance floor in the middle ground, and the new movie screens in the background. Despite a couple of last-minute food shots, they stayed on schedule, wrapped on time, and left the client very satisfied.

Our final shoot of 2023 was once again a bit scrappy, aiming to showcase the new trampolines. With a mix of motion and stills, Amy and her team needed to tell a fast-moving story, from providing socks to highlighting height requirements, all the way to showing high-flying kids having a blast. Amy incorporated details like friends high-fiving after checking height and slow-motion footage of jumping to keep the clips feeling fresh and fun.


We had a lot of fun getting to know the Chuck E. Cheese brand this year, appreciating the enthusiasm of their team, and we're eagerly looking forward to our next shoot!

check out more of amy's work

THOSE 3 REPS + FRESHLY COOKED CREATIVE

May 28, 2025
🪄 Bringing Our Brand to Life with Freshly Cooked Creative 🪄 When we set out to celebrate our 36-year journey - and communicate who we are today - we partnered with Freshly Cooked Creative to help us tell that story visually and memorably. The result is a stunning animated piece that begins with our sapling logo and grows into a vibrant, flourishing tree. It’s more than a beautiful metaphor. The animation reflects our evolution: deep roots in the industry, decades-long relationships, and a future full of growth and possibility. Every frame is intentional, designed to reflect our expanding capabilities and continued relevance in the creative space. But Freshly Cooked didn’t stop at animation. They delivered a complete brand package built to meet today’s marketing demands. We now have: Four optimized formats of the animation for use across digital platforms Custom-designed web icons, Zoom backgrounds, and event signage Branded social media assets and sticker graphics for both digital and in-person impact Thanks to Freshly Cooked Creative , we now have a dynamic, versatile visual system that honors our past while positioning us for what’s next. Curious how Freshly Cooked can help bring your next campaign, pitch, or brand refresh to life? Check out their latest work and reach out to us if you want to see more!

ICONIC + JAMES NELSON

May 21, 2025
✨ Why Custom Illustration Matter ✨ Why icons deserve a second look! Icons are often treated like a checkbox - something to grab from a stock library or pull from an existing UI kit. But when they’re built intentionally, they become one of the most quietly powerful tools in your creative arsenal. Custom icons do more than reinforce a brand. They clarify communication. They guide users. They bring visual consistency to even the most complex projects - across digital, print, packaging, environments, and campaigns. Illustrator James Nelson approaches icon work with that kind of purpose. His sets are clean, strategic, and built to flex—whether they’re solving for user experience, packaging hierarchies, internal comms, or large-scale marketing systems.

ROLLING LOUD + LINCOLN DURHAM

April 1, 2025
✨ Lincoln Durham - 3D Character Design + Animation - Rolling Loud Music Festival ✨ Lincoln Durham created this dynamic sizzle reel showcasing some of the 2D and 3D animations he developed for the Rolling Loud Music Festival across various cities, in collaboration with Zellus. These animations were primarily used for social media promotions and as NFTs to further engage festival fans. The original artwork, provided by an undisclosed artist, served as still illustrations that Lincoln brought to life by adding motion and sound. For the 3D scenes, he sculpted and rigged characters inspired by the 2D illustrations, using them as a foundation to build out a story line based on direction from Zellus. Lincoln’s ability to seamlessly blend 2D and 3D animation, along with his expertise in motion and sound design, brings energy and depth to every project. His work for Rolling Loud is just one example of how he transforms static illustrations into immersive, high-impact visuals. Looking to elevate your next project with dynamic animation? Consider Lincoln for your upcoming creative needs!