In an era dominated by AI-generated content and digital illusions, a talking animatronic basketball named Old Ball has captured hearts across social media and the NBA. Behind this viral sensation is Benched Studios, a trio of longtime friends-Ben Bayouth, Adam Aseraf and Christian Heuer-who combined their love for basketball, comedy and practical effects to create something truly unique.
In addition to speaking with Old Ball, Newsweek also sat down with the minds behind the puppet to talk about practical effects, plans for the future and, at the core of it all, their love of basketball.
The Origins of Old Ball
The trio has known each other for close to a decade. They worked at Will Ferrell's Funny or Die, and Heuer said the inspiration formed there. "That's how I first met these guys. The DNA started there," he said.
"Ben is this next-level Jim Henson-level genius. He designed and created Old Ball, and can voice him. Ben’s always had this ability. And we always dreamt of doing a puppet show in the real world," Heuer said.
When Bayouth’s talent for animatronics met their collective love for basketball, the idea clicked.
"What if we did a basketball? We researched like crazy. ‘Has anyone ever done an animatronic basketball?' We couldn't find anything. We built OB like six months ago and started filming in Ben's home studio," said Heuer.
Bayouth's artistic roots and years of experience in practical effects were the backbone of Old Ball's creation. His love for practical effects blossomed from one of his dad’s best friends, who worked in the field.
"He would come over all the time and show what he was working on. Then my brain would go nuts, and I’d think about how I could do it, and never thoroughly thought that I could break into it. That inspired me," the animatronics expert said.
That inspiration and constant study paid off in the form of Old Ball.
"After 18 years in the field, I was able to make a completely autonomous, wireless ball that can go to events, be held, passed around, and talk," Bayouth said.
In a world flooded with AI visuals, the team deliberately chose practical effects to keep the magic tangible.
"Our favorite movies from the 90s, the tone of that is in Old Ball. It's 80s technology, nothing new, but done in a new way,” Aseraf explained.
From Bayouth’s home studio to NBA arenas, Old Ball quickly became a social media magnet. Fans often ask if it's AI or CGI.
"People still can't believe it when it's in their hands. They think it's visual effects. But when you bring something like this in person, it's a magic trick you can see,” Bayouth said.
The Love of Basketball
For the Benched Studios team, basketball has always been more than a sport. The trio cites their collective childhoods as the formative moments of their fandom.
"I was thinking of all those moments in the 90s, chilling with my mom watching the Lakers, her screaming at the TV, neighbors knocking on our door asking if everything was OK. That was a huge part of my childhood," Aseraf said.
In many ways, Old Ball's story mirrors Bayouth's own: "I watched a lot when I was younger, and then kind of fell out for a chunk of years, and this project has been just a wonderful way to reintroduce me to everything," he said. "I’m just having a blast."
That nostalgia shaped Old Ball's personality, a character that mirrors the universal love of the game.
The basketball community embraced the project, with collaborations spanning the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, and even the NBA Cup.
"We'd do this if we had nothing, and they've been like a big hug-come on in,” Aseraf said.
The trio isn't stopping at the hardwood. With the recent addition of Old Football, Benched Studios’ dream of a "Sports Muppets" universe is one yard closer.
"We want to make a ball for every sport. We soft-launched football and want to make a soccer ball for the World Cup,” Heuer said.
Character creation is treated like building an ensemble cast, with extra effort taken to develop a unique personality for each ball.
"If Old Ball covers this area, then what is Old Football like? What is Soccer Ball like? We imagine them all hanging out and make sure each has unique traits,” Aseraf said.
The team dreams of breaking proximity limits.
"I do the voice live, but more than 20 feet away gets tricky. If we could perform from a desk, that opens up huge possibilities,” Bayouth said.
Old Ball is more than a puppet. The belligerent basketball is a celebration of sports, nostalgia, and creativity. As Aseraf puts it, "Sports have always been a great uniter. When a ball shows up at an NBA game that can talk and mirror the love of the game, that's something everyone shares."
With plans for soccer and football characters on the horizon, Benched Studios is redefining what live entertainment looks like in the age of digital saturation, one talking ball at a time.
Newsweek