SCORE!
For the Kentucky Buckets

KFC launched a fictional fried chicken football team called
The Kentucky Buckets. Yes, really. To support the campaign, they wanted more than just a commercial. They wanted something fans could actually play.

21st Century Fox Ad Studio was asked to turn the idea into an interactive experience that left them wanting a bucket of KFC Fried Chicken..

The Challenge

Build a lighthearted, retro-style football game where users collected buckets of fried chicken to score touchdowns. It needed to feel fun and arcade-inspired while still clearly supporting the campaign and its characters.

The tone had to strike a balance. Playful and a little ridiculous, but polished enough to feel intentional.

My Role

I translated KFC assets like buckets of fried chicken and the Colonel into 16-bit retro game graphics. After the visual translation, we then animated all the players and the KFC products within the football game. The goal was to make the brand feel like it belonged inside a classic football game rather than layered on top of it.

Additionally, I directed the sound design so the scoring moments and pickups had that familiar arcade punch.

The Result

We launched a retro football game starring KFC’s Kentucky Buckets where users racked up points by devouring buckets of fried chicken and running them in for the touchdown.

The experience extended the campaign into something interactive and gave The Kentucky Buckets a playable identity beyond the ad.