# David Van Es

David Van Es is a key figure in modern pinball, known for his influential work in game design, multimedia integration, and strategic licensing. Beginning his career as a film and television editor in Australia, he transitioned into pinball in the mid-2010s with Spooky Pinball, notably contributing to successful titles like *Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle* and the rapidly sold-out *Rick and Morty*. In 2021, Van Es co-founded Barrels of Fun Pinball, leading the acclaimed launch of *Jim Henson’s Labyrinth* (2023), which earned recognition for its innovative gameplay, immersive visuals, and high-profile licensing. His strategic approach, including rejecting traditional pre-order funding models, has influenced the industry by demonstrating how boutique companies can sustainably produce high-quality, licensed pinball machines.

## Snapshot
- Roles: animation, design, sound, music
- Years active: 2016-Present

## Games credited
- Design: [Dune](/games/pinball/dune-2025) (2025)
- Design: [Jim Henson's Labyrinth](/games/pinball/jim-hensons-labyrinth-2023) (2023)
- Animation: [Ultraman: Kaiju Rumble (SE)](/games/pinball/ultraman-kaiju-rumble-se) (2021)
- Animation: [Rick and Morty](/games/pinball/rick-and-morty-2019) (2019)
- Animation: [Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle](/games/pinball/alice-coopers-nightmare-castle) (2018)
- Animation: [The Jetsons](/games/pinball/the-jetsons-2017) (2017)
- Animation: [Total Nuclear Annihilation](/games/pinball/total-nuclear-annihilation) (2017)
- Animation: [Rob Zombie's Spookshow International](/games/pinball/rob-zombies-spookshow-international) (2016)
- Animation: [Domino's Spectacular Pinball Adventure](/games/pinball/dominos-spectacular-pinball-adventure-2016) (2016)

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_Canonical URL: https://www.kineticist.com/people/david-van-es_