Internet Star 'Tiny Chef' Takes Over California Academy of Sciences

The beloved stop-motion character brings his sustainable cooking message to a new planetarium show and exhibit.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is featuring the internet sensation Tiny Chef in a new collaboration that runs through May 3. The eight-inch-tall, stop-motion animated felt chef, voiced by Matt Hutchinson, is the star of a new 20-minute planetarium show focused on climate action and sustainable living. The collaboration also includes an exhibit with props from the show, special menu items at the Academy Café, and Tiny Chef figures hidden throughout the museum.

Why it matters

The Tiny Chef collaboration aims to bring in new audiences to the California Academy of Sciences while promoting the museum's mission of environmental protection and regeneration. By featuring the popular internet character, the Academy hopes to present complex sustainability concepts in an approachable and entertaining way.

The details

The planetarium show, 'Tiny Chef, Big Impact,' depicts the character, nicknamed Cheffy, attempting to deliver a presentation about sustainable living, with a meter measuring the impact of his actions. The show includes scenes of the chef working in his tree-stump kitchen, wearing sustainable outfits, and using clean energy. The exhibit in Hohfeld Hall features props from 'The Tiny Chef Show,' including a tiny Clipper card and a photo op that allows visitors to appear the same size as the character. Nine Tiny Chef figures are also hidden throughout the museum's existing exhibits.

  • The collaboration was announced in mid-November 2025.
  • The planetarium show and exhibit will run through May 3, 2026.

The players

Tiny Chef

An eight-inch-tall, stop-motion animated felt chef who speaks in a lispy voice and creates plant-based dishes. He is the star of the new planetarium show and exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.

Matt Hutchinson

The voice actor who provides the voice for the Tiny Chef character.

Christine Klingenberger-Valdez

The senior marketing manager at the California Academy of Sciences who came up with the idea for the Tiny Chef collaboration.

Bashem

The character who assists the Tiny Chef in the planetarium show, handling the slides, playing videos, and providing emotional support.

California Academy of Sciences

A natural history museum in San Francisco that is hosting the Tiny Chef collaboration, featuring a planetarium show, exhibit, and special menu items.

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What they’re saying

“When I cook in my tiny kitchen, I blalways (always) use pwants (plants) and take cawe (care) of our pwanet (planet), and da Academy does da same thing but even BIGGOW (BIGGER).”

— Tiny Chef (Press release)

“The content of the exhibit is something that is easily understood for folks of all ages or wherever you are in your regeneration journey, through actions and hilarious clips that take on this concept in a new and fresh way.”

— Christine Klingenberger-Valdez, Senior Marketing Manager, California Academy of Sciences (richmondsunsetnews.com)

What’s next

The California Academy of Sciences plans to continue the Tiny Chef collaboration through May 3, 2026, with the planetarium show, exhibit, and special menu items available to visitors throughout that time period.

The takeaway

The Tiny Chef collaboration at the California Academy of Sciences demonstrates how popular internet characters can be leveraged to engage new audiences and promote important environmental messages in an approachable and entertaining way, helping to inspire action on sustainability and regeneration.