Chess Master

[physics223]

Decapitate me with any pointed object of your choice if this thread has already been posted, as I'm absolutely sure it has not. Right now, the only thing I know about this series is that it is (or was) a joint work by Chinese and Japanese. I don't know how you'd really classify this series, but for me it is suffice to say that it is anime - look at the trailer here (http://www.xqw.com.cn/english/top.htm) if you don't believe me.

Personally, I like sports anime especially those who put something unique in their presentation that make the anime endearing to me. I like Hikaru no Go; I'm loving Akagi. (I love Akagi because it is an antithetical sports anime. It isn't made of kids with positive outlooks towards the future and their later lives: it is made of a teenager (or a man) who has accepted how the world works and works in its schemes. This teen isn't even scared of death - something you don't see in many sport anime.

Asides aside, this is a pretty inviting 'anime' (or collaboration, whatever) because chess is something more accessible to me - even if the characters are in Chinese, I'm pretty sure that once I get to know what the characters mean, I would know the flow of the game. What's better is that I am actually an avid fan of chess, and know the game by heart (more or less). That doesn't mean I'm great at it, however. I decided it was apt to consider it to be an anime series mainly because of how the characters were drawn and animated (from the trailer, anyway) and also of how they just look. Having said that, I think that loli on the left side of the website posted above (that of the trailer) looks cute. :D

Do not worry, however - once I have seen the first episode I'll be sure to update on what it's all about here. Until then,

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5025/cheers0030ug.gif

[bayoab]

People in the US should use http://www.chessmaster.com.cn/english/top.htm instead. The other link is filtered. I don't see anything about Japanese company either. Also, be warned, this is Chinese Chess (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_chess) .

[Darkman.exe213]

I dunno, looks kinda like Hikaru no Go with Pokemon influence instead of character development.

[Doraneko]

People in the US should use http://www.chessmaster.com.cn/english/top.htm instead. The other link is filtered. I don't see anything about Japanese company either. Also, be warned, this is Chinese Chess (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_chess) .


I watched the show some time ago and cannot remember exactly. But I am sure that there are quite a few Japanese names in the credits, especially for the major positions. IIRC the character designers and the episode director are Japanese. The in-betweening work and background art are all by the Chinese animators though.

I will post some screenshots of the credits when I returned home. Sorry if I have made some mistakes in this message as I am currently at school and have no access to the video file .

By the way I am not sure why you have to warn people that it is about Chinese chess (a warning is for something more serious IMO). After all many English-speaking anime fans are as oblivious to Japanese chess as to Chinese chess. But I don't see people warning those who are interested in Hikaru no Go.

[Maceart]

After watching the first episode (woah, I actually understood the Chinese dub), it has some potential if they can straighten out the directing hijinks. Some scenes don't flow well.

But, as someone who has played XianQi for most of his life, I'm definitely keeping up with this.

[physics223]

There are English subs to this 'anime,' and that was the reason I posted this thread initially in the Fansubs section. Why was it moved?

GAWD. The anime is so sweet, it's almost Hikaru no Go-ish. :D Kawaii love interest FTW!

[Kinny Riddle]

Ah yes, I saw this mentioned in some HK blog as well. It seems to be a cross between HikaGo and Yu-Gi-Oh.

http://www.cuhkacs.org/~alanlee/blog/archives/2006/11/xiangqiweng_01.php

It seems after being outsourced by Japanese anime studios numerous times (you'll see names like "Shanghai/Hangzhou XXX Animation Studios" in certain anime credits from time to time) , it seems inevitable that the Chinese studios would develop enough skill and experience to try producing their own anime. How good it is is another matter though.

This seems to be a Chinese-Japanese collaboration, just like Condor Heroes was a few years ago (which itself was based on the well-known Louis Cha martial-arts novel).

[Spirit Chicken!]

I'd watch this...but blast if I can get any English subs to turn on in the mkv! Tried zoomplayer, MPC, BsPlayer, VLC....all just have options that don't include a choice for an English sub instead of the japanese one.

Where is this going wrong so differently than anything else that comes out these days?

Intro music seemed quite good though.

[Forever]

LoL I just finding it very funny to see an anime that is orginally dubbed chinese. Well it does feel good that for once I dont need to refer to the subs and can laugh at all the translation errors since I am singaporean chinese.

Not very impressed by it at all, seems to be very corny. But since I play Xiang Qi otherwise known as chinese chess all the time when I was younger, I will continue with this.

[Doraneko]

I have just checked the credits. The number of Japanese staff is much greater than what I thought...

Director
Exectutive Director
Animation Director
Art Director
Character Design
Props Design
Colour Design
Storyboard Artist
Key Animation
Line Artist

While the Chinese staff is responsible for the in-betweening, background, sound, CG, and etc.

If you think more about it, how different is this show from those produced by Japanese company, with the major design/directing work done by Japanese, while having the animation work outsourced to China/Korea? Indeed, even some anime shows in this season have Korean art/episode directors. To me, this show is well qualified as an anime.

[KiNA]

O_O .. so there is an english sub available for this anime?

If its really HnGish .. I'm sold ^__^

[physics223]

I'd watch this...but blast if I can get any English subs to turn on in the mkv! Tried zoomplayer, MPC, BsPlayer, VLC....all just have options that don't include a choice for an English sub instead of the japanese one.

Where is this going wrong so differently than anything else that comes out these days?

Intro music seemed quite good though.

Try downloading the low-quality version - that is, the RMVB version. The subs seem to appear fine for me in the RMVB, although it sometimes is overlapped by the Chinese subs. :)

O_O .. so there is an english sub available for this anime?

If its really HnGish .. I'm sold ^__^

Yes, there is. It's also Pokemon-ish or Yu-gi-oh-ish, so be forewarned.

EDIT2: I just edited my blog post on Chess Master and different things, so in this post contains the torrent link:
Chess Master and Other Things (http://animeotaku.animeblogger.net/?p=58). Just scroll down (to the bottom part of the post, and you'll see italics at the end of it.) There's a link there for the torrent, and some instructions written by yours truly to be able to view RMVB on your PC. Enjoy! (Oh, but if you have time, do read the post ;) )

[Doraneko]

Does anyone feel that the leading male (esp in the first screenshot) has the potential to become a crossdresser like Mizuho from Otoboku :heh: ?


http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8038/1162821077750zh5.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1162821077750zh5.jpg)http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8350/1162820737433ny5.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1162820737433ny5.jpg)http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6898/1162820855734cu4.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1162820855734cu4.jpg)http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8380/1162820943900ab1.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1162820943900ab1.jpg)http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1050/1162821469530nz1.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1162821469530nz1.jpg)

Anyway just joking. I guess they'll stick to the usual anime style and storyline suitable for kids.

[physics223]

Now that I think of it, yeah ... o.o

[bayoab]

By the way I am not sure why you have to warn people that it is about Chinese chess (a warning is for something more serious IMO). After all many English-speaking anime fans are as oblivious to Japanese chess as to Chinese chess. But I don't see people warning those who are interested in Hikaru no Go.I chose warning because by just looking at the title, most people would expect regular chess.

Also, to agree with everyone else, from what I watched before I fell asleep, this looks like a sad marketing attempt ala Yugioh x Hikaru no go.

It actually doesn't appear to be fansubbed, it appears that the english subs were on the original raw since the chinese subs overlap. HK rip? Aired subbed? Already subbed by someone else and then resubbed?

[Doraneko]

I chose warning because by just looking at the title, most people would expect regular chess.

Oh I see. I can see where you're coming from now. Umm... maybe some kind of romanization is more suitable for the title.


It actually doesn't appear to be fansubbed, it appears that the english subs were on the original since the chinese subs overlap. HK rip?

AFAIK the English sub was actually shown during the broadcast. The Chinese sub is the fansub for those Mandarin-impaired Chinese-speakers. That's why you can see the English sub being overlapped at times.

And no it has nothing to do with Hong Kong either. If you are talking about bootlegs (as you said "rip"), it's simply too quick to get a release out. Not to mention that the kind of font is not that common as DVD sub.

Sorry to sound impolite, but the overgeneralization of "bootlegs = HK" prevalent in the English anime community simply makes me sick... This just reminds me of all those nasty sterotypes and generalizations against other cultures common in the last century, which I have no interest at all in bringing up again.

[physics223]

Was that the reasoning of the moderators why they put this into General Anime?

[Maceart]

I think, it's because they feel it isn't actually "fansubbed" yet, since the TV broadcasts had subs in them already? (I'm not really sure).

[physics223]

I'm not about to make a ruckus or rouse a rabble just for that simple question, but I'd just like to know why ... :)

[xris]

I'm not about to make a ruckus or rouse a rabble just for that simple question, but I'd just like to know why ... :)
We are not mind-readers nor are we omnipotent or omnipresent. We do not read all the posts in all the threads nor are we online 24/7. Instead of making post after post asking the same question, why not just PM a Mod. Not me since I'm going to sleep now :)

[monir]

Perhaps, the mod couldn't discern from the opening post if the show had english subtitle. I don't believe it is necessary for a series to be fansubbed before it can be moved to the Fansub section for further discussion. As long as a series has english subtitle and the series in question isn't licensed, I would presume the thread can be moved to the Fansub section. Oh, and it seems like Ojisan might be in agreement from his above post but the old man is too clever to override the authority of another mod. :D

Downloading an episode to see how Chinese Chess is played.

[physics223]

I'm opining from sight (i.e. don't take my word for this), but Chinese chess seems to be a simpler form of Indian-derivative modern chess (chess that's known and recognized worldwide). For one, I see lesser spaces to move in; for another, I think there are more pieces in a regular chess game than in this one.

[Lathdrinor]

The game complexity tree for Chinese chess is actually larger than the game complexity tree of regular chess. However, I do believe that the two forms of Chess share somewhat of a common origin, or were at least inter-seeded during their respective histories. For one - the existence of the elephant piece in Chinese chess is odd given that elephants were not part of the Chinese military (they were part of SE Asian/Indian militaries). Meanwhile, the original Indian game did have elephants, which suggests that the game might have either been imported or adapted by trade between the two cultures.

"Regular" chess, btw, is a Western derivative of Indian chess that did not arise until relatively late in world history. Pieces like Knight, Bishop, Rook, etc. were adaptations of original Indian pieces that had nothing of the sort. In fact, bishops were originally camels and rooks were originally chariots - which makes much more sense, if you think about it, than moving towers and zigzagging holy men :)

[Kinny Riddle]

The game complexity tree for Chinese chess is actually larger than the game complexity tree of regular chess. However, I do believe that the two forms of Chess share somewhat of a common origin, or were at least inter-seeded during their respective histories. For one - the existence of the elephant piece in Chinese chess is odd given that elephants were not part of the Chinese military (they were part of SE Asian/Indian militaries). Meanwhile, the original Indian game did have elephants, which suggests that the game might have either been imported or adapted by trade between the two cultures.

That's because on one side, the "elephant" (象) piece is actually "minister" (相), the Chinese Chess equivalent to a bishop. And since 象 and 相 are both pronounced the same well (xiang), different characters are used to distinguish both sides. And there were mention of elephants being used in battle by the SW tribes (in Sichuan, near the present-day Burmese border) in the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

The same can be said for the "General" (the equivalent of King in chess). On one side is 將 (jiang), the other is 帥 (shuai), both mean "Commander/General". According to the wiki below, the reason why there's no King/Emperor is because the real Emperor will lop your head off for trying to "eat" a caricature of him.

Full list of variations:

Name (Chess equivalent):

General (King):
Black 將
Red 帥

Advisor (sort of a "nerfed" Queen)
B 士
R 仕

Minister/Elephant (Bishop)
B 象
R 相

Horse (Knight)
B 馬
R 傌

Chariot (Rook)
B 車
R 俥

Cannon (no known Western equivalent)
B 砲
R 炮

Soldier (Pawn)
B 卒
R 兵

More stuff can be found in this wiki entry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_chess

[Demongod86]

Ew Chinese chess...if it was regular chess, I'd be hooked =P

[Kinny Riddle]

Ew Chinese chess...if it was regular chess, I'd be hooked =P
If you're trying to flame, then your attempt has not been very successful.

Both Chinese chess and western chess are both boardgames that require some level of skill to play, what's there to "ew" about? I would've understood if you yelled "Boring", but "Ew" makes it sound like it's disgusting to look at. Be more open minded please, cheers.

[physics223]

I find Western chess more enticing ... but at least this wasn't shougi. They'd take forever just explaining the different moves and the different officials in that game. I find all games that require cerebration quite exciting - especially the non-physical ones. :D

[Demongod86]

I've played chinese chess...I never got the hang of it too much...western chess is simpler to play and I feel has a higher depth to it.

[Lathdrinor]

Kind of an oxymoron, isn't it?

I, too, have played both forms of Chess, and it really comes down to a matter of preference (and cultural upbringing - in the West and especially the US, Western Chess is probably all you'd ever see unless you go to Chinatown; in China, however, Chinese Chess dominates, and you'll see it everywhere). Western Chess places great emphasis on pawns and their positioning, whereas with Chinese Chess the action is focused more on the three core attack pieces (Horse, Chariot, Cannon), with everyone else playing defense/support. As a result, Chinese Chess tends to have faster games. Meanwhile, board setups usually differ between the two games - the diagonals/straights are the most important avenues in Western Chess and most players form around them. In Chinese Chess, by contrast, due to the presence of the cannon and the restricted movement of the general and his guards the pieces usually end up clustered around a certain area (usually near the general). The opening moves are also drastically different (in Western Chess, you must move a pawn, and it's usually several moves before any threat is posed to the other side; in Chinese Chess, you have much more freedom as to what to do in the first move, and one of the most famous moves that gets the game right into the thick of battle is Cannon-to-Center, which threatens an enemy pawn the very first move).

Anyhow, this is getting slightly off-topic ;)

[physics223]

What happened to this series?