The basic premise of something being wrong with animatronics in a pizzeria is where the true - story connection might lie. There could have been real pizzerias where the animatronics were old and in need of repair, and they might have made strange noises or moved in unexpected ways. This could have given the creator the idea for the horror aspect in Five Nights at Freddy's. Additionally, the idea of a security guard being present at night in a place with these animatronics could be based on real - life security arrangements in such establishments. However, the game takes these small possible real - life inspirations and turns them into a full - blown horror scenario with its own unique and often very fictional elements.
The concept of animatronics in a pizzeria might be based on real - life pizzerias that had animatronics for entertainment. That's one of the main parts that could potentially be linked to a true story.