At a June 22, 2000 annual shareholder’s meeting CEC Entertainment, Inc, operators of the Chuck E. Cheese chain of children’s pizza palaces, shared findings from the latest Cartoon “Q” score study conducted by Manhasset, N.Y. research firm Marketing Evaluations, Inc. regarding their mouse mascot, Chuck E. Cheese.

The survey, which measures popularity among boys and girls ages 6 to 8, ranked Chuck E. Cheese in the top 4% of 671 different children’s cartoon characters and properties. Compared to previous studies this increased score rates Chuck E. Cheese as one of America’s most favorite children’s characters, out-ranking such well-known characters as Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Winnie the Pooh.

“What is most impressive is how consistently Chuck E. has ranked among the top characters over the past six years,” stated Richard Huston, executive vice president of marketing for CEC Entertainment. “Other characters come and go based on what TV show or movie is popular at the time, but Chuck E. is part of a child’s world year in and year out.”

The company also announced the formation of a new partnership with Funimation Productions of Fort Worth, Texas to represent Chuck E. Cheese’s product licensing efforts. “Children associate the fun and excitement of the experience of going to the entertainment centers with Chuck E. Cheese the character,” said Gen Fukunaga, president of Funimation Productions. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with such a great children’s icon,” added Fukunaga.

The company has several licensed products currently on the retail market including the Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Factory from Wham-O Toys of San Francisco, California and a line of food products from CCF Brands of Cincinnati, Ohio Funimation Productions of Fort Worth, Texas are also producers of the highly successful children’s television program Dragon Ball Z which can be seen on The Cartoon Network cable channel.