EX-CE-LENT
I did not reviewed a short since long ago, but this one really caught my attention. I had no expectations, and I loved it.
First off: the subject. Chess is not common. If it was a "violent clip" short, It would have been very thought to raise the bar.
And the good thing is that you go beyong that. You did not settle with a theme and plot (wich are both good) but you gave it a certain ring to it. The scratchy feel when good with the music, and the teatrical personalities of the chess pieces. Also, the situations with every chess piece, wich gave away the personalities of those behind them.
Those things give your short something most shorts in NG don´t have: a true audiovisual narrative. Most NG shorts are, (and I beg your pardon, but they are) mere mimics of Anime or US most commertial animation. Yours looks yours, I mean, it`s more personal -and therefore authentic.
I think you did a pretty good job, both technically and artistically.