"Check Animate" - A Stop Motion Chess Animation

This animation is my final project for my BA (Hons) degree course in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of the West of England, Bristol.
The production is an animation of a real, historical game of chess played between Henry Atkins and Herbert Jacobs in London in 1915. The intention is to extend the theme of games/ gaming and satire used in previous productions to metaphorically represent society's changing relationship with linguistic variety.
I created this project using Final Cut Pro 7 and Adobe After Effects CS6 editing software.

[@chess]

This was great!

[@sosotik]

Uhh...

[@GoAheadShaun]

+Hing Siew 😊

[@sosotik]

+GoAhead Namal Umm...Uhh...Too weird.

[@jeongna]

r/woooosh

[@Official-Fell]

ya boooooooooooooooooooooooi!

[@goldenrooster7295]

I love how he's british and says at the end "THATS CHECK....... MATE"

[@insanityofficial395]

Maite

[@NathalieB.FRANCE]

So relatable

[@emmajohnston1794]

Bruh we dont speak like that !!!!!!

[@background553]

@Savage Spy1502 you forgot the pause

[@background553]

@Savage Spy1502 there it is your speaking bri'ish now.

[@IgroSome]

i feel like people don't appreciate old stuff like this as much as they should, this is a gem

[@troy801]

Hi, I'm one of the voice actors, thank you for your kind words my friend!

[@IgroSome]

@@troy801 if you actually are, that's super cool! well done on this!

[@erainmartinez8175]

(laughing) 13:30 Ping pong

[@RandomPerson-dr4py]

Oh shit this was 10 years ago?

[@altacount1168]

you cant blame the rook, the rook 90 percent of the time just chills in fin the corner for around half of the game

[@ripinkhanna6075]

Rook lifts:

[@denorangebanan]

Memes memes.exe has stopped working

[@user-cx9un9fs7q]

Mostly cause the rook is the second most powerful piece you have, so it’s not a good idea to send it out early. Same goes for the queen.

[@somethingsomething8022]

10% chess 90% puns from the rooks

[@jwdominionpyroraptor4775]

Now i hate rooks

[@stratupstudio8072]

acutely i would say it's 10% chess, 20% silliness, 20% puns from the rooks, and then 50% random references.

[@Jaogo]

It’s 50% reference 15%chess and 45% rook puns that is funny

[@mrvalkyrie2998]

For anyone wondering this is the danish gambit

[@Number1BoraFan]

Yes

[@nolanrudolph5463]

14:43 to 15:07 seems a lot like the Chess scene from Harry Potter Ron: You understand, right Harry? Once I make my move, the Queen will take me, and you're free to check the King. Harry: No, Ron, no! Hermione: What is it? Harry: He's going to sacrifice himself. Hermione: No Ron, no you can't! There must be another way! Ron: Do you want to stop the snake from getting that stone or what? Harry, it is you that has to go on, I know it. Not me, not Hermione, you. Knight to h3.

[@刘婕婕]

I watched that movie before and good job memorizing that part. It took me half a year to memorize it.

[@nicbentulan]

Music CHECK Music Ron no don't move don't forget were still playing music CHECKMATE Music

[@-CookieDev-]

i just realized that this is a harry potter reference edit: just realized im stupid and didnt read right

[@dronarambam4823]

eyyy another potherhead like me

[@taragrimberg6831]

Your correct

[@devchessworld1313]

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 (Danish Gambit) Nf6 5.Nf3 Nxe4 6.0-0 Nd6 7.Nxc3 Nxc4 8.Re1+ Be7 9.Nd5 Nc6 10.Bg5 f6 11.Rc1 b5 12.Rxc4 bxc4 13.Ne5 fxg5 14.Qh5+ g6 15.Nf6+ Bxf6 16.Nxg6+ Qe7 17.Rxe7+ Bxe7 18.Ne5+ Kd8 19.Nf7+ Ke8 20.Nd6++ Kd8 21.Qe8+ Rxe8 22.Nf7#

[@Brainrotteddd]

Mad lad

[@Deccagon]

@@Brainrotteddd Food let; such a inspirational message!

[@kingsley.]

“20.Nd6++ Kd8” my man so good he checked twice in one move

[@isavenewspapers8890]

@@kingsley. That's known as a double check, and it's actually pretty common. It occurs when a player delivers a check with two pieces at once. This can occur if one piece moves so that it gives check and also unveils discovered check from another piece; it can also occur if you capture en passant to unveil two checks at once. In algebraic notation, a double check is usually given a +, the same as any other check. However, some publications, particularly older ones, give double check a ++ instead. This style of notation has fallen somewhat out of favor to avoid confusion with checkmate, which itself uses ++ sometimes (though it usually uses #).

[@sprihashrestha8912]

​@@isavenewspapers8890How do you know that stuff?

[@itsthatkidagain7050]

I like how the way the pieces are sent out in different ways, and make sense to the game, as in they are out.

[@HeromakerJB]

Whoever made this video did amazing work. I can't believe this video has been on KZbin since 2013, and I'm just now finding out about it. I love the various video game references and the Annoying Orange music.

[@GaryLuKOTH]

This reminds me of the Annoying Orange.

[@TOMNICE]

+Gary Lu KOTH Me too, but this is awesome :D

[@Neon_ER]

Gary Lu Productions me too

[@wasteland3447]

Me too

[@drmush7363]

Same

[@Official-Fell]

and it is

[@blackholedividedbyzero]

For those people who are confuse about what happened at 8:14 to 8:58 if you look at it very carefully the knight at d6 take the bishop at c4. All those extra movements are just part of the drama.

[@regularcookie4023]

I love how they go for a annoying orange style

[@user-cx9un9fs7q]

It’s the best style for inanimate objects, without a doubt.

[@dinobacon5834]

When i was watching this i have been suffering from all of the blunders and mistakes but also the humour is pretty funny

[@mr.playtime2688]

7:53 cursing is considered illegal in chess m8

[@thefastmeow]

14:44 the song used is "O'Fortuna by Carl Orff"

[@leculecu1326]

I love animations like this ..the eyes! Great job..

[@kummer45]

We need THIS. The word demand THIS. Imagine a Carlsen game commentated like this. Just pick any classical game of chess and bring this drama into it. It would be super original and hilarious.

[@carealoo744]

With 3-Person Chess!

[@NoNAME-qi9tq]

Love this video "YOU NEED TO MAKE MORE!!!"

[@BroomPusher2024]

Id pay real money for a chess videogame like this

[@clixxyz2330]

Thanks for at least playing 1.e4, most chess animations make a move like 1.a4 Beyond this line are spoilers! Oh yeah, there was also a queen sacrifice, even if it was only a mate in two.

[@potatoboy549]

There was a mate in 4 if white didn’t want do give up the queen. Queen sacrifices are cooler though.

[@ugi062]

It's literally a game played in real life

[@ChadTanker]

ItS AcTuAlLy A dAnIsH GaMbIt

[@isavenewspapers8890]

@@ChadTanker What do you mean, "actually"? You're not correcting anything.

[@Stien58_]

8:17 lol the bishop moved like a rook

[@zendrra]

I love how the pieces die

[@mrusername3959]

I've watched this like 4 times. It's astronomical.

[@jasonzawtun]

3:58 - White Queen Pawn has been shot by Black King Pawn. ❌⚪ 4:10 - White Queenside Bishop Pawn has been golf by Black King Pawn. ❌⚫ 5:31 - White King Pawn has been Pac-Manned by Black Kingside Knight. ❌⚪ 6:09/6:28 - White Castle Kingside. ⚪ 7:12/7:57 - Black Kingside Knight Pawn got joked, carded and ejected. Then White Queenside Knight hopped. ❌⚫ 8:14 - White Kingside Bishop challenged and lost to Black Kingside Knight. ❌⚪ 9:03 - White Kingside Rock checked. ⚪👑 9:46/10:39 - Black Kingside Knight was joked and rammed by White Queenside Rock. ❌⚫ 10:54 - White Queenside Rock was Angry Bird shattered by Black Queenside Knight Pawn. ❌⚪ 11:26 - White Queenside Bishop was Angry Bird splat by Black Kingside Bishop Pawn. ❌⚪ 11:47 - White Queen checked. ⚪👑 11:58 - White Queenside Knight checked. ⚪👑 12:00 - White Queenside Knight was threatened Black Kingside Bishop. ❌⚪ 12:27 - White Kingside Rock check. ⚪👑 12:50 - Black Queen was rammed by White Kingside Rock, with the addition of check. ❌⚫ ⚪👑 13:18 - White Kingside Rock was token and ponged away. Then Black Kingside Bishop took space. ❌⚪ 13:53 - White Queen checked again. ⚪👑 14:11 - White Knight checked. ⚪👑 14:27 - White Knight checked. ⚪👑 15:07 - White Queen checked. ⚪👑 15:17 - White Queen was rammed by Black Kingside Rock. ❌⚪ 15:48 - White Knight *checkmated.* ⚪👑👑 15:31, "lousy horse."

[@CubedCubone]

AAAAAAH THE GAP THE TOOTH GAP

[@Alejandroso31]

Lol, why are you on every video i watch? Xd

[@starrynissy]

Alexbear same XD

[@hajimake4805]

lol

[@ShawndaPrawn]

Well, that's a relief. I was concerned people would call this an annoying orange ripoff, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Great work on this vid, just hilarious. :)

[@ryanp646]

The comment right under this says "reminds me of annoying orange"

[@Sem-xc8de]

There actually IS inspiration from the Annoying Orange in this. There's music ripped from it, the way the faces are made are similar, and there's references to the series. Dunno about Dane Boe, the creator of Annoying Orange, but I'm pretty sure he ENCOURAGES fan inspiration by his series.

[@Rrzhh]

@@ryanp646 Annoying Chess*

[@Kenedienz]

the was made before annoying orange

[@RandomPerson-dr4py]

@@Kenedienzannoying orange was 13 years ago 3 years before how’d you get that wrong

[@Stellabeam23]

This was very well made. When I think of all the time and effort put into this I'm amazed. I sat down and watched the entire thing, which is rare for me. Bravo!

[@michaelricha7959]

11:41 *rule britannia music plays in the backround*

[@maximumbloop6301]

14:23 grown men will cry at this part

[@carolynhernandez6157]

It makes me so mad he didnt kill the rook ugh!!!

[@marmar6172]

Bruh he did it because its a smothered mate. Mate is better than a rook bub.

[@ilno]

@@marmar6172 without that rook white could've win without sacrificing the Queen

[@lagreewithyourcomment]

@@carolynhernandez6157 because there's a faster way to win

[@md.shahiduttarif2831]

11 years later and still fantastic

[@cestalic]

When the rook fell asleep he dream that he'd been eaten by pac-man

[@cestalic]

Even this is not reminding of Annoying orange

[@poomonkevr5222]

I’m the 69th like (just so u know)

[@zeldafan7383]

At 14:00 the black king realises that he's in check

[@yndndbehdhdhbs4161]

Did the queen even notice?

[@willardmoshenek9850]

I loved this and everything it’s awesome but I couldn’t help but notice the continuity error at 11:31 when the pawn takes out the Bishop the knights is on the square where it just was... not where it moved too....

[@ZorLink21]

Will Moshenek speaking of that, at 11:27 black makes the blunder that allows white to force checkmate which is fxg5

[@tilienkurniawan31]

Fact: it has been 11 years since another video has been uploaded

[@maximumbloop6301]

Announcer: Looks like he chose the sandwech Me: The what? Announcer: Not the ham and cheese kind Me: yeah that clears it up

[@moltenshard]

Awesome animation ! Oh my god how much work will this take for the voice acting, and other effects and references, Oh KZbin bring your algorithm back to work so people can watch this underrated masterpiece !

[@troy801]

Hi, I'm one of the voice actors. Thank you for your kind words my friend!

[@alyssert1743]

Beautiful! Editing and stop-motion is good, with lots of jokes and a nice storyline. I can’t imagine how long this must’ve taken.

[@ZorLink21]

12:24 The queen was forced to move to e7 because Be7 or Ne7 is met by 1: Nxh8+ Kf8 2:Qf7#. Or black could play Be5 or Ne5, but that would be Met by Nxe5+, followed by Qf7 which will be check if black goes to e7 or checkmate if he goes to f8

[@isavenewspapers8890]

There is also 16... Kf7, which is probably the best move at the human level. However, it gives White mate in 12 with 17. Ne5+ Ke6 18. Qf7+ Kd6 19. Rd1+ Kc5 20. Qxc4+ Kb6 21. Qb3+ Ka6 22. Qd3+ Kb6 23. Nc4+ Kc5 24. Qd5+ Kb4 25. Nd6 cxd6 26. Qb3+ Ka5 27. Rd5+ Ka6 28. Qb5#, at least according to Stockfish.

[@danieljxliu]

The queen sacrifice at the end has a H. Potter reference to it.

[@alpha-2273]

This is probably my new favourite video

[@bossa-c1f]

I remember watching this 6 years ago when I was in prep and I just started chess

[@lim6435]

Same and FINALY found it after many years

[@bossa-c1f]

HAHA yes now i actually understand it lmao @LIM64

[@lim6435]

@@bossa-c1f same xd

[@XYZ_is_taken]

Seeing this 11 years later has opened a nostalgic memory in my brain i didn’t know i had lol

[@itzquick8745]

This deserves way more attention

[@aidanwissing3710]

This was pure beauty

[@thefredsolesboss3442]

14:49 Harry Potter ( Rons text)

[@Niti_Nutty]

Now I wish that there was a channel called " annoying chess " after watching this

[@Yopiwastaken]

Lol

[@bluepaper7133]

Unbeknownst to the queen, there is actually another way. if the knight went to f7 to check, and king steps to the square e8, the knight can chomp off the rook with discovered check, the king steps to d8, and queen to e8 is checkmate. If the king goes to g8, then just knight to f8 again with the king vulnerable and the knight protected, you are up material; a queen and a knight for a knight bishop and rook. That is including that the king is very vulnerable and isolated pawns too. Edit: I didn't see that other bishop, but I think that is still going to be winning Edit2: Oh yea if the king went to f8 then just Qf7 is mate

[@xRooze]

Always the 1 chess nerd

[@bluepaper7133]

@@xRooze Ok

[@theshadowforce3438]

Nice catch

[@okuu_utsuho]

15:56 this predicted Shotgut King: The Final Checkmate, but without that rocket launcher.

[@leannewilliams9605]

14:44 Harry potter reference

[@tailsfan11westandwithukraine]

Kinda makes me cringe for some reason, tbh.

[@shrinkious4873]

For those who don't know, black loses most of the time after taking the two pawns. It is called the danish gambit.

[@insanityfrfr]

in an alternate reality... king: you know where to go knight knight: moves to the wrong square

[@nourthedoor]

I can't believe white hung like 62 pieces in the first 5 moves and then proceeded to smother mate

[@averythomson8663]

ITS CALLED A GAMBIT

[@ChadTanker]

07:23 Bishop: Are you a Lepre-pawn?

[@tailsfan11westandwithukraine]

o-HO! Never noticed that one! Nice catch!

[@bumole3749]

I love it. I almost always watch this.

[@sikegotcha5452]

This is really cool, continue doing that!

[@StevenDaze]

Rook's Puns are Hilarious and I Love how Europian this is

[@lord.d1_]

10:55 never blunder your castle with a stupid move

[@UrAvgDMG]

And higher (aka queen and king *although no legal move*)

[@kimthuan3350]

That's smothered check mate!!!

[@horseman160]

This is the same music and concept in annoying orange. Did anyone notice that?

[@JimmyLundberg]

Fairly obvious isn't it?

[@horseman160]

Jimmy Lundberg Pretty much.

[@MillenniumDiceTV]

Its obviously an appealing combination for Annoying Orange to become so successful, theres no harm in it.

[@ernestonavarro4017]

Horseman yea it was good tho

[@ericslifeadventurewang678]

Yeah

[@zeldafan7383]

As you can see in the end, the black king was checkmated because he was checked by the white knight and he was blocked in every direction by his own pieces and so it was a smothered checkmate

[@zeldafan7383]

There's a smaller version of the smothered checkmate you did but it also has a queen sacrifice

[@Sem-xc8de]

There's clear inspiration from Annoying Orange in this video. 1: Some of the music is ripped from the series 2: The characters have faces similar to the faces of the Annoying Orange characters 3: THERE ARE LITERAL ANNOYING ORANGE REFERENCES IN THIS, WHICH INCLUDE THE ROOK'S PUNS

[@DavidBrit101]

2:20 Ah, I didn't understand this joke the first time

[@pufferfish5065]

Our teachers played this when we were in 4th grade (teachers asistant didn't knew english lmao)

[@diamondxmen]

Me when someone who’s better then me at chess checks me: Black King: *LEAVE ME ALONE!*

[@ilno]

I think Eric would've said, " Stop hurting me...!"

[@mikestrollersun3537]

I loved the fact that the first 2 and a half minutes were just talking no move

[@singpr-cuntrhumns9277]

The bishop's Nickname's "Bish" XD

[@isaacbarbara2382]

Nice smothered mate

[@Hunterkirksey]

Can you do a sequel?

[@thunderstrikergaming3636]

do a 2nd

[@SteveInLava]

Joel Osborne is dead

[@pravijarajesh]

@@SteveInLava wut

[@SteveInLava]

@@pravijarajesh the creator of this video has grown up

[@zeldafan7383]

You did the smothered checkmate

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

White castled wrong. According to the rules, King has to move 2 spaces towards a rook, then Rook jumps over the King. Not the other way around

[@atlantaheatsneakers]

I noticed that to

[@GaryLuKOTH]

PeanutPlays It is the same thing.

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

Gary Lu in casual games - yeah, it's kind of the same thing. But in tournaments, it's an official rule that castling is the king's turn

[@GaryLuKOTH]

wariolandgoldpiramid It is different if you castle on the queen's side though (which you hardly ever see)

[@Fennaixelphox]

Gary Lu I usually castle queenside.

[@Your_averageRocketNe]

I like how its wacky, but could still follow chess rules.

[@kidsw3113]

My favorite parts were the parts when black king makes his eyes wide

[@prestonhopkins9970]

At the start it says short animation, yet it goes on for almost 17 minutes.

[@nicbentulan]

2:08 it's funny because chess960 is more interesting than chess >:P Greatest player of all time: maybe not bobby fischer Greatest player currently: magnus carlsen Most talented player of all time: BOBBY FISCHER Most talented player currently: WESLEY SO 14:44 harry potter: british person making a video on a game played between 2 british chess players and referencing a british film involving chess (harry potter 1) 15:01 seems like deviation from harry potter film dialogue but correct in terms of chess in that every other move is losing for white (except for the repeated Nf7)

[@andreasstocker8301]

i love the smoothered mate

[@djcarver6330]

Okay I gotta wake up in 10 hours to eat some toaster strudels so... gonna go to bed now....

[@JaehyunLim1]

Aww... It could've became a Danish Gambit at the beginning.

[@praisefichtali7832]

Ikr

[@ripinkhanna6075]

It is a Danish Gambit

[@nicbentulan]

@@ripinkhanna6075 indeed

[@nicbentulan]

what do you mean? how is it not danish?

[@ripinkhanna6075]

@@nicbentulan Mhm

[@zheanmapula4597]

THAT'S CHECK... MATE *rocket shoots* *BOOM*

[@michaelfoote7812]

Rest In Peace black king

[@ZorLink21]

9:31 Black was forced to play Nc6. Because otherwise white could play Nxe7, winning the queen on the next move with the rook or with the knight via discovered check. Without playing Nc6 black would have to give up his right to Castle to save his queen

[@isavenewspapers8890]

Also, Black would just lose a bishop for absolutely nothing. That part feels important to note.

[@Sciencedoneright]

the british accent makes it better

[@KenDoStudios]

animated chess should be a thing

[@michaeloeu518]

Noone : Not a sigle soul on earth : Drum : BADAM DUSSSSSS

[@gravity_cow]

eventually, thousands of years later, one of those pieces is going to make a video animating a game of chess and unknowingly creating an infinite time loop

[@Eliza-hb1nc]

4:46 you could have pawned that black pawn since he is diagonal to a pawn

[@Eliza-hb1nc]

that knight could have did it too.

[@Eliza-hb1nc]

also, after the pawn swears, bishop moves sideways, which is not possible in chess.

[@Eliza-hb1nc]

also also, after the poke battle, knight moves in a way that piece cannot.

[@isavenewspapers8890]

You mean that White could have used their pawn on b2 to capture the black pawn on c3? You are correct in that case. However, the move 5. bxc3 would have been a fair bit worse than 5. Nf3, the move that was actually played. This is because 5. Nf3 at least develops a piece, and if Black were to play 5... Nxe4 or 5... cxb2 6. Bxb2 Nxe4, it's not even that good for them. In the former case, White plays 6. O-O and eventually gets a massive lead in development to compensate for their material disadvantage, and in the latter case, there is a tactic: 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qd5+ Ke8 9. O-O, and now White has very rapid development of their pieces as well. Notice that the key here is that White is able to castle, which was allowed to happen because of 5. Nf3.

[@isavenewspapers8890]

@@Eliza-hb1ncThat was just part of a skit. It wasn't actually a move played in the game.

[@mike239s]

"u never done it before" XD never castled in previous 200 games, that would make my day

[@jeongna]

mike lezhnin Pft yeah

[@saralachmi]

So hilarious and nicely made I love it

[@lostlines8490]

Ok the plot twist was a big one, i cant stop seeing t

[@potatopotpie]

This is awesome for some person that only has 204ish subs

[@SonNguyen-he9mc]

Hello yes

[@prestigiotablet6024]

Bro love the smothered mate

[@mattheworchard481]

10:05 The DN-Neigh test

[@joshualedbetter879]

Finally, Chess the movie

[@phimhay5308]

As a chess player, I can assure you this is true

[@Funniwesd]

am happy i found that smothered mate aswel

[@thegreatcat9202]

This was actually a good game

[@Addu_Bhaiya1]

L

[@mog5397]

Minus the fact that in 8th minute knight magically took bishop

[@Baburun-Sama]

Chess Pieces Movements: Pawn = (row)(column) Knight = N(row)(column) Bishop = B(row)(column) Rook = R(row)(column) Queen = Q(row)(column) King = K(row)(column) Chess Pawn Promotion: Knight = (row)(column)=N Bishop = (row)(column)=B Rook = (row)(column)=R Queen = (row)(column)=Q Chess checkmates: Pawn = (row)(column)# Knight = N(row)(column)# Bishop = B(row)(column)# Rook = R(row)(column)# Queen = Q(row)(column)# Chess checks (not mates): Pawn = (row)(column)+ Knight = N(row)(column)+ Bishop = B(row)(column)+ Rook = R(row)(column)+ Queen = Q(row)(column)+ Chess Attacks: Pawn = (row1)x(row2)(column) Knight = Nx(row)(column) Bishop = Bx(row)(column) Rook = Rx(row)(column) Queen = Qx(row)(column) King = Kx(row)(column) Chess Specials: Castling [king] = O-O Castling [queen] = O-O-O En Passant = (row1)x(row2)(column) e.p.

[@whitted2799]

This is annoying orange, but in the Chess world

[@_ort]

this is so underrated

[@melonpop_5303]

i cannot imagine how long this must have taken

[@popiwipi9057]

i Love the smothered mate