# First Peek at American Pinball's Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined, Featuring Sculpts from It's New Exclusive Partner The Art of Pinball

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-07-14  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/first-peek-at-american-pinballs-cirqus-voltaire-reimagined-featuring-sculpts-from-its-new-exclusive-partner-the-art-of-pinball

---

## Analysis

American Pinball announced an exclusive partnership with The Art of Pinball (sculptors Melvin and Lior) to create sculpted elements for all future AP games. The company revealed its first project under new ownership: a 'Reimagined' version of Cirqus Voltaire (the 1997 John Popadiuk classic). AP also confirmed new code for Galactic Tank Force will ship by Southern Fried Gaming Expo (July 31–Aug 2, 2026) with updated sculpts and topper.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The Art of Pinball (Melvin and Lior) is now the exclusive sculptor and toy creator for American Pinball — _Official statement from American Pinball, posted via Knapp Arcade on July 14, 2026_
- [HIGH] American Pinball first game under new ownership is a 'Reimagined' version of Cirqus Voltaire (1997 John Popadiuk design) — _Knapp Arcade article; American Pinball announcement_
- [HIGH] Galactic Tank Force code will be released by Southern Fried Gaming Expo (July 31–Aug 2, 2026) — _American Pinball statement in article_
- [HIGH] Galactic Tank Force will feature a new tank sculpt from The Art of Pinball and new topper — _AP statement via Knapp Arcade_
- [HIGH] Lior Rajwan created premium pinball mods for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — _AP official statement_
- [MEDIUM] AP is working on a new website that will be complete 'very soon' — _Knapp Arcade article reporting AP news_
- [MEDIUM] The next AP project from Melvin and Lior is 'Bigger, Bolder, and more immersive than anything that has ever been created in toy/sculpt and paint details' — _AP official statement (Melvin's quote); forward-looking marketing claim_

### Notable Quotes

> "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in Wonderland, Melvin and Lior raised the bar for what sculpted toys and artwork in pinball could be."
> — **American Pinball**, July 14, 2026
> _Establishes The Art of Pinball's track record and credibility in the industry; sets high bar for expectations_

> "Every new American Pinball machine moving forward will showcase exciting new creations from Melvin and Lior."
> — **American Pinball**, July 14, 2026
> _Confirms exclusive, ongoing partnership scope; signals AP's design philosophy shift toward premium sculptural elements_

> "The future of American Pinball isn't just about making games, it's about creating unforgettable worlds and iconic moments like never before."
> — **American Pinball**, July 14, 2026
> _Reflects new ownership's strategic repositioning of AP as a premium brand focused on immersive, collectible experiences_

> "Your next American Pinball game won't simply be another machine in your lineup—it will be the centerpiece of your collection."
> — **American Pinball**, July 14, 2026
> _Targets collector segment; signals premium positioning and differentiation strategy_

> "Some remake… Some remaster… WE REIMAGINE!"
> — **American Pinball**, July 14, 2026
> _AP's tagline for the Cirqus Voltaire project; distinguishes AP's approach from other classic remakes in the market_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| American Pinball | company | Chicago-area pinball manufacturer; under new ownership as of early 2026; announced partnership with The Art of Pinball and Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined project |
| The Art of Pinball | company | Pinball sculpture and custom mod studio; artists Melvin and Lior; now exclusive sculptor/toy creator for American Pinball; known for premium modifications including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland work |
| Lior Rajwan | person | Artist and co-founder of The Art of Pinball; known for premium pinball mods and custom sculptures; now officially part of American Pinball |
| Melvin | person | Co-creator/artist at The Art of Pinball; working on American Pinball sculpts; quoted as describing next project as 'Bigger, Bolder, and more immersive' |
| Cirqus Voltaire | game | 1997 Williams/Bally game designed by John Popadiuk; being reimagined by American Pinball; features illuminated slingshot sculpt |
| John Popadiuk | person | Original designer of Cirqus Voltaire (1997); legendary Williams-era designer |
| Galactic Tank Force | game | 2023 American Pinball game; receiving new code by Southern Fried Gaming Expo 2026; getting updated tank sculpt and topper from The Art of Pinball |
| Southern Fried Gaming Expo | event | Pinball expo in Atlanta, GA; July 31–Aug 2, 2026; American Pinball will showcase updated GTF machine there |
| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | game | Pinball game/mod referenced as showcase of Melvin and Lior's premium sculpting work; raised industry bar for toy and artwork quality |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Pinball news and media outlet; published this announcement on July 14, 2026 |

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** American Pinball enters exclusive partnership with The Art of Pinball as sculptor/toy creator for all future games (confidence: high) — Official announcement; exclusive long-term partnership deal with Melvin and Lior
- **[product_launch]** Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined announced as American Pinball's first major project under new ownership (confidence: high) — Official reveal with image of illuminated slingshot sculpt; full reveal promised 'soon'
- **[product_strategy]** American Pinball repositioning as premium collector-focused brand emphasizing sculptural artistry and immersive design (confidence: high) — Official statement emphasizing 'centerpiece of collection,' premium craftsmanship, and iconic moments; partnership with high-end sculptor studio
- **[code_update]** Galactic Tank Force receiving new code release by Southern Fried Gaming Expo (July 31–Aug 2, 2026) (confidence: high) — Official AP statement confirming code delivery date and Southern Fried Gaming Expo timeline
- **[design_innovation]** Partnership with The Art of Pinball signals commitment to premium, bespoke sculptural toy creation as core design differentiator (confidence: high) — Exclusive partnership; quotes about 'incredible sculpted elements,' 'attention to detail,' and 'raising the bar for the industry'
- **[product_concern]** Galactic Tank Force undergoing remediation with new code, revised sculptural elements, and topper updates (confidence: high) — AP announcement of new code and updated components by Southern Fried Gaming Expo; signals effort to address customer concerns
- **[personnel_signal]** Lior Rajwan officially joining American Pinball; high-profile artist/sculptor recruitment (confidence: high) — Official statement: 'Please join us in giving a huge welcome to Lior Rajwan as he officially joins the American Pinball family!'
- **[market_signal]** American Pinball explicitly targeting premium collector segment with messaging about 'centerpiece of collection' and discerning buyers (confidence: high) — Official statement language: 'centerpiece of your collection,' 'discerning collectors,' 'caliber of art, craftsmanship'
- **[industry_signal]** AP positioning Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined as distinct from other remakes/remasters with 'WE REIMAGINE' tagline (confidence: medium) — Official tagline contrasting AP approach with remake and remaster strategies

---

## Transcript

News First Peek at American Pinball's Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined, Featuring Sculpts from It's New Exclusive Partner The Art of Pinball k knapparcade July 14, 2026 We have news out of American Pinball (AP) this afternoon. Minutes ago the Company announced that it has reached an agreement with The Art of Pinball to become the exclusive sculptor for its games. Every AP game will now include sculpted elements courtesy of Melvin and Lior. Congratulations to Lior and American. As an added bonus, we got our first peek at American Pinball's first game under its new ownership, a "Reimagined" version of Bally's 1997 John Popadiuk-designed game Cirqus Voltaire. The image shows off a cool illuminated slingshot sculpt from the game. We have no official date for the machine's full reveal, but AP's statement said that it will be "soon." In other American Pinball news, the new code that it promised for its 2023 game Galactic Tank Force (GTF) will be out by the Southern Fried Gaming Expo, which takes place from July 31st through August 2nd in Atlanta, Georgia. At that event, American will show off an updated GTF machine with a new tank sculpt from The Art of Pinball and new topper. !Advertisement Ad 3 of 3 AP is also working on a new website that will be complete very soon. Below is the company's official statement on its new partnership: New sponsor slot Your sponsored ad here Be the first to claim this placement. Contact knapparcade@gmail.com today " As of today, we’re excited to officially announce that The Art of Pinball is now the EXCLUSIVE sculptor and toy creator for American Pinball! From this point forward, every American Pinball game will feature incredible sculpted elements designed by our in-house creative power team - Melvin and Lior. Lior Rajwan, the artist behind The Art of Pinball, made his name by creating some of the industry’s most sought-after premium pinball mods. With Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Melvin and Lior raised the bar for what sculpted toys and artwork in pinball could be. Their obsessive attention to detail, stunning paintwork, and relentless drive to innovate has set a new benchmark for the industry and they are just getting started! Every new American Pinball machine moving forward will showcase exciting new creations from Melvin and Lior. Behind the scenes, they are already hard at work on another project - one that Melvin describes as Bigger, Bolder, and more immersive than anything that has ever been created in toy/sculpt and paint details. The future of American Pinball isn’t just about making games, it’s about creating unforgettable worlds and iconic moments like never before. Every title will feature the caliber of art, craftsmanship, and attention to detail expected by discerning collectors. Your next American Pinball game won’t simply be another machine in your lineup—it will be the centerpiece of your collection. Please join us in giving a huge welcome to Lior Rajwan as he officially joins the American Pinball family! With CIRQUS VOLTAIRE, which we’ll be revealing soon, you’ll get the very first glimpse of what’s coming. And remember… Some remake… Some remaster… WE REIMAGINE! American Pinball_" Posted 33 minutes ago k About knapparcade Site administrator Comments (0) Please sign in to join the conversation. No comments yet Be the first to share your thoughts on this post! Related Articles First Peek at American Pinball's Cirqus Voltaire Reimagined, Featuring Sculpts from It's New Exclusive Partner The Art of Pinball 33 minutes ago Stern Pinball Places Venom in the Vault; Will We Get a Transformers Anniversary Edition?; Lego Donkey Kong about 4 hours ago Dungeon Crawler Carl AND Another Mystery Game are Coming from Multimorphic! about 23 hours ago Subscribe to Updates Get the latest pinball news, blog posts, and event announcements delivered to your inbox Subscribe !Advertisement Ad 2 of 3 New sponsor slot Your sponsored ad here Be the first to claim this placement.

_(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v5)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 4ec278f6-63b8-49da-bd5a-6557c3bda6fc*