Another month, another vignette!
Mordecai and Viktor demonstrate practical strategies for neatly wrapping up a chess match.
Rocky and Mordecai Plushies are now available in the store at LackadaisyShop.com
Missing from the credits:
Production Manager - Ashe Wagner - / thequeencryptid
Background Design - Kasey Schiavone - / kasettetape
Special thanks to the Translation Team:
Spanish Language Translation - Walter Tomas Vitola - / realizer_367
Spanish Language Proofreading - Nerlyn “Tomb” Galan - / gravewritern
French Language Translation - Marie “Eseralie” Leininger - / eseralie_art
French Language Translation - Charlotte “Isyldia” Abert - / isyldia
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Support Lackadaisy -- / lackadaisy
Read the Comic -- lackadaisy.com/
Join the Community -- / discord
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#lackadaisy #lackadaisycats #animation #indieanimation #2danimation #cartoon #animatedshort #cats #1920s #chess
"Where'd you learn to play? In a cave?" "In a TRENCH." That line was COLD.
Just like the Russian winters.
It could’ve been because he fought in the war (WWI, as this is the time after the war ended)
@@Elliot_J_Reichyeah thats how he lost his eye
WW1
@@Jroobelucios Thought he lost his eye in a labor riot after the war. Think its in one of the supplementary art, can't remember where. There's a mugshot of him with freshly injured eye and the reason given for his arrest.
A LOT of soldiers became extremely proficient at chess in the trenches. WWI was often weeks/months of extreme boredom broken by sudden outbursts of mind-shattering horror.
So long as it wasn't raining and sick and injured soldiers weren't drowning in mud.
Makes sense, since regular mental exercise probably made said horror marginally more bearable
Which is why PTSD was so impactful during that time, cause in the next 5 minutes half of your buddy could be on top of you, as you are drowning in the mud or you two could be talking about your girl back home. Repeat this mental process every 5 minutes for several months and now you can never be calm even after the war cause peace is now stressful.
@@mindshuffler3332 well at least for the british (I don't know enough on individual armies of WW1 so feel free to correct me) most of the frontline trench deployments would only last about a week before they'd be taken off the line, most if the drowning in mud and raining came from around where I live by Ypres.
@@Maliketh_the_black_blade.armies would rotate men in and out, however that was done specifically when it was able to be done, so if you didn't have a good place to rotate troops you were stuck in that trench until relief was able to be sent
Art before: Dogs playing Poker. Art now: Cats playing Chess.
Lol
I adore both of them lol 😂😂😂
Ye
So what's next? Mice playin' Mahjong?
@@Salmando 🤔
Props to Sung-Won Cho for saying all those strategy names without cracking up.
bold of you to assume they didn't need multiple takes for this
Maybe he didn't. SungWon is really good. He's pulled off harder on his let's plays.
So much hate for checkers. Like how many S's were in checkers?
So true lol
@@leavemynameoutofthis as a voice actor he is good, but his opinions leave a sour aftertaste.
Of course, a cat can't play chess without knocking the pieces off of the table. Classic
Yeah, but they usually don't yeet the board at someone.
@@KentaroMiyamoto21 I mean, they probably still THINK about it.
@@KentaroMiyamoto21 Depends on the size of the cat :P
@@weezact7 We eat the board and pieces.
That's probably why the argument fades away after Viktor hucks the board: they got knocking something off a table out of their systems.
Sungwon becoming the official voice for Mordecai is the best thing that has happened to Lackadaisy
Mordecai: "Lets play a different game." *takes out a pair of decks of cards bearing images of cows, cheese and grass.
@@PlebNC 'Boy do I love Dairy' 'Victor can tell card game will be irritaring'
@@PlebNC Somehow it's perfectly in-character for him 🤣
He knows exactly how to do that comically straight delivery.
he became a crybaby when his stance that Asian character voice roles have to be done by Asians was upheld by anim companies
"The main thing that puts me off of playing chess is that there is 2000 years of gameplay that hundreds of people with higher IQs than me have spend thousands of hours studying the history of, so much that when I put the pawn forward they say 'Ah, I see you're going for the bulgarian somersault.' and then I try to take their bishop with my knight and they go 'Ah, rookie mistake, you've played the frenchmans cumsock, and in approximately 37 moves I'll have won.'" Anon
Hate when I do the Frenchman cumsock and they counter it with the Gianormous booty-clapping penisian defense… btw where is that line from?
Can't just enjoy the game with them can you?
Real
Counter it with a gigagantosaurus booty-clasping penisian defense
37. 😂
"In a TRENCH..." It's amazing how one simple line can teach you so many things about someone...
Yeah that line made me go *insert Jayz closing the door meme* That line destroyed
so true 😭omg
Day for Roxanne Wolf and Gregory Show to comment they would react to this
There's actually some cool historical details in that too. Soldiers in the trenches in WW1 would commonly play board games to pass the time, and Chess was a very common one.
Yeah, he fought for the Austro-Hungarian Empire according to the webcomic.
This is the most intense chess game ever recorded in Lackadaisy history.
Lackadaisy history? This is the most intense chess game since chess was first by Sissa Ben Dahir!
About to make history with this one
Bowomp
Maybe the only chess game
Fr lol-
Mordecai listing every strategy that Viktor could possibly be using and Viktor just saying “Viktor. Takes. Your. Bishop.” is a whole mood and I’m here for it
Honestly I probably woulda done the same, just tossed the board and said fuck you @hole I quit.
I believe he said "Viktor. Takes. Your. Bishop."
I’m interested that Mordecai even knows every single strategy. Tbf, chess isn’t a game of luck, it’s a zero-sum, perfect information game. With a theoretical perfect solution every time. But only if you have the brain of a computer that can memorise the Shannon number, which is the 10^120 unique states of the chessboard. But Mordecai is a very smart fictional character that perhaps knows every single strategy in chess, so could also theoretically know every single state of the chessboard.
Why would you tell someone your strategy
@@tjreardon8495 Mordecai is just baffled by Viktor's playstyle, because he can't figure out what existing strategy he's using. It's frustrated him to the point he has to ask, because it's driving him mad. Once he realizes Viktor ISN'T playing an established strategy, he pouts because he's not getting the kind of chess game he expected (playing against a well-trained strategist). Also, I think he knows pissing Viktor off will get him to throw the game (literally), letting Mordecai declare victory in his head without continuing to play.
"Viktor. Takes. Your. Bishop." Do we need a better explanation for his strategy? He was kind enough to give it.
It's a clear difference between Mordecai and Viktor. Mordecai is mostly about theory and academic knowledge, hence why he can name all these strategies. Viktor on the other hand might not be very knowledgeable, but has first hand experience. I love when two characters with a contrasting attribute interact with each other
I find the line funny since the knight can't actually move and take his bishop if you look where it is lol.
Mordecai's playing tactically. Victor's playing Chess
@@thediam0nddrag0n78No…Checkers.. And then Vicktor proceeded to yeet the chessboard.
@@luissesaber2370in the beginning you can see that Viktor takes his bishop with the knight
The off-screen startled cat noise is common in media, but has completely different context here and I love it.
Its probably from the janitor from the start lol
“I wonder why the ballistic aspect of this game was never formalized” Golden
Can you explain what he means by that line I don't think I understand it.
@@Colejones9505 He’s basically asking why they didn’t include throwing the board/pieces at people as part of the core game rules
@@vex3488 oh ok now that line makes more sense thank you.
Icbm gambit joke
Icbm gambit joke
I like to imagine that Viktor isn't even bad at chess (he was one figure ahead) but Mordecai is so baffled by his moves, that he uses his strategy of insulting the opponent XD
The knight can be taken by a pawn, and not only that, it would open up Mordecai's rook, which isn't good for Viktor
@@limonlx7182 yeah you're right :D it's still an entertaining thought
Sounds like my strategy when I play chess, though I don't insult my opponent I just distract them with conversation so they forget their strategy (managed to beat my uncle once doing that 😆).
@@limonlx7182 I don't imagine many of the guys that Victor learned to play Chess with were particularly great strategists either. But they probably had a lot of time that needed passing. Life in the army is largely made up of hurry up and wait. Especially in Trench Warfare.
@@DRAG0NSPIRIT10 you don't need a strategy as long as your opponent doesn't have one either XD
I love how absolutely LAYERED the in a trench comment is. Viktor just tried to bluntly remind Mordecai that he once spent years fighting in the worst conditions imaginable and that he should know better than to annoy him. I wonder if he threw the chessboard because he was genuinely insulted or just frustrated that Mordecai missed the threat.
It could be both. My general understanding is that the two have history. Their greatly differing outlooks annoy each other, but they are fully capable of working together if the situation calls for it because they are highly experienced in their fields, which rarely afford a long lifespan.
@@josephperez2004 mordecai and viktor are my favorite duo tbh
Or he didn't miss the threat and just chose not to acknowledge it
I mean, mordecai himself is also pretty intimidating and dangerous
I think it was a choice of either throw the board across the room or fling Mordecai out the window and into traffic.
i find it very funny that mordecai is so expressive with his tail, in comparison to viktor, whose tail doesn't move at all. even though mordecai likes to play poker face, viktor's the real deal
I was quite surprised by it. Maybe it's because Mordecai is constantly suppressing his emotions so it has to come out *somewhere*.
@@laibarehman8005 that’s a probable theory
Never in my life have I been excited to watch two cats play chess lmao
I can agree with that.
same but i love it
That’s what I’m sayin 😂
I know, my cats are terrible at it.
Is this who I think it is 🙀🤣
The delivery of "...Checkers?" kills me every time 😂
@ProZD is amazing at with his line delivery. That and his vocal range? I'm shocked he isn't in far more shows and movies than he is.
The expressions too, like the way his brow furrows in realization before giving a face that matches the tone perfectly
I play chess like I play checkers (and lose every time)so that felt like a personal attack
Morcedai and Viktor is my favorite
The fact that Viktor is a world war 1 veteran, and horrifical traumatized by it, makes Mordecai's trivialization of his chess education all the more vicious.
210 likes but no comments let me fix that
If I was Viktor, I would have used one finger to push Mordecai to the floor
He knocked off the chess set from the table. This really is a show about cats.
This needs to be pinned. 😅
I like how realistic it was to actual cats playing chess by having it end by a cat knocking it off the table.
I see lots of compliments being paid to the voice actors and animators, so a quick shout-out to the music and sound teams - the broom shuffle, the snowfall, the click and clatter of the pieces & board, the slow-waltzing ragtime - chef’s kiss to it all.
The off screen cat screaming trope utilized very opportunistically in conjunction with the entire worldbuilding
utter master piece! - also chef's kiss to it all
❤❤❤
Doubly so when using great headphones or full surround sound
Watched it again so I could take in the appreciation on these. I enjoyed the little music for sure, but the clatter and REOW! Of the other cat were also great! Lol
"The ballistic aspect of this game" is a phrase which will now officially join my lexicon.
Ever heard of the Tennison Gambit Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation?
@@pablotomasllodra4423I feel as though I have
@@pablotomasllodra4423 The Jamaican Jive?
The idea of the cold soldier and intelligent socialite dynamic has never been as well-expressed in media as these 2 are. You make me excited for when the show is finally released.
I don't know if "socialite" can really be used to describe Mordecai haha.
@@laibarehman8005 Just watched the pilot, you are right about that. I called him socialite here because everything about him seems well-educated.
@@maniacalmurderer4123 His character is really interesting. Mordecai I think is meant to represent a "low born" person who aspires to climb the social ladder. As a consequence his snobbish mannerisms are amplified. This is another interesting thing, if I recognize his setup, the Bishop was instrumental in a hasty checkmate. After losing it, instead of playing the game in good spirit as was Victor's intention, he sought to irritate him and expand the game to the art of war itself. "If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him." This is a consequence of pride, Mordecai felt some level of defeat when Victor disrupted his plan. Even if it was ultimately inconsequential to his victory, the hurdle is enough humiliation to prompt Mordecai to seek absolute victory over the game by other means. Note, once he felt secure in that, he got back to being friendly with Victor. This show is gonna be good.
@@kaipakta817 This sounds like a very interesting take that Ive not heard from anyone else, so I'll try to build. I play chess with a regularity, so I figured I would try to analyze the position, only to immediately discover that the move Viktor makes is illegal. The night on C6 moves 4 down and 1 to the left to take the bishop, from White's point of view. There is also a pawn on C4 that does not appear in the first shot, but then does in the second shot from Mordecai's perspective, just as an inconsequential error.. Anyway, Viktor makes a clearly illegal move, which Mordecai is understandably confused about. Despite this, instead of calling Viktor out on the illegal move, Mordecai launches into trying to pick apart Viktor's position as though the move was genuine and legal, instead of simply calling out that the knight cannot move in such a way. I believe that he knows even less about chess than Viktor, as any player who is well versed in chess would immediately call out the wrong move because the position immediately becomes better for black if the illegal move is kept. Mordecai decides to ramble off a bunch of names for chess openings and positions, some of which are made up, and others thrown together without an understanding of what the words he's saying means. For example, zugzwang in chess is when one player makes a move that forces the other player to choose between a series of moves that all compromise their position. Not an opening. Just using this as a reinforcement to your theory.
I love how Mordecai said "There it is, the Viktor offensive." referencing Viktor's service in the US Army during WW1, most likely meaning he would've participated in the 100 days offensive.
Better to be in the US Army than the Serbian/Austro-Hungarian Army. Viktor is an amazing character for Lackadaisy.
@@jchrystsheighthe Austro Hungarian army were a complete messed of an army, it’s like something out of Monty Python of Warhammer 40k, they were so incompetent that they had to call big olde German Empire to save them despite arrogantly refused to follow many of German advises in strategy, Viktor is really lucky to serve in an US army if he were in the Austro Hungarian army he will be either dead by friendly fire due to communication difficulties (Austro Hungarian army were super diverse where most troops literally cannot understand the others languages) or went full Mordecai mad at the sheer stupidity of his commanders.
there is no way it is that deep
@@aguyontheinternet8436 what?
@@aguyontheinternet8436 its Lackadaisy, it is that deep.
"Where'd you learn to play? In a cave?" "In a TRENCH." Made me audibly fangirl
What is funny is fact that victor propably serously learned in trench because he was an american soldier from slovakia during ww1
@@Dejroslaw2448Is Viktor really Slovakian? I thought he’s just Russian.
The DISRESPECT from Moodycai to an implied WWI vet 😭
@@FastTquick Yes, he is Slovakian
@@gabrielegenota1480 ikr-
When he said "In a TRENCH", I was actually quite shocked. Serious and cold moment right there.
Love the classic ‘throwing something out of the scene and it hits a cat’ aspect where the cat with the broom is on the ground lol
Furry cat
Happy to be back and contribute my first rough animation work for the show. Enjoy everyone! :D
Is it weird if I ship these two? I was really feeling the urge to yell "Just @#$& already!" at the screen.
fantastic work!
great job dude!!
very well done.
@@yosefzanerva806help lmao😭 i mean their dynamic aint the worst
I can’t get over how the writers & animators perfectly convey the personalities of these 2 in only 1 minute & 5 seconds. Mordecai is highly intelligent, but he’s so Type A that he will analyze everything to the abyss & back w/o considering that his opponent is just making it up as they go. Viktor is so straightforward that he never overthinks anything, but what he lacks in planning he makes up for w/ brute strength.
Yeah, in Mordecai's backstory some may realize that Mordecai is a Jew. Yes, a Jew. Jews in general are more intelligent in different fields than some average Joe, but Mordecai here is like the icon of intelligence and calculations. Viktor is a freaking veteran of World War I. He knows the basics of how the pieces move across the board and I think Mordecai could have just shut his mouth and been grateful that Viktor knows how to play at all for once.
@@bravejewess6043 Part of the problem is that Mordecai has an obvious superiority complex. Chess wise, he clearly has extensive knowledge & experience. Which leads to him having no respect for Viktor’s style of playing, since it doesn’t involve long term strategy. This bruises his ego since he can’t predict him.
@@TheOddityFair This! He's so focused on how chess should be played it leaves him weak to Victor's "chaos"..
I think victor would have won
@@SirusCreed Hard to tell based on what little we can see of the board, but since Mordecai can’t predict Viktor I think he stood a good chance. Edit: Even more so since the board is already all wrong. It looks like there are white Pawns by the white King, which is impossible. Also the King & Queen need to be switched.
"In a trench." That singular line coupled with the way it's told tells you so much about Victor.
Mordecai: "What is your strategy????" Viktor (and me): "Chess"
It makes a lot of sense that Victor was a WWI veteran. A LOT of sense.
He was probably a member of the Czechoslovak Legion
@@lordmerp1498 It's also possible that he was russian and escaped to America to avoid the Bolshevik purges
@lordmerp1498 and @roanferguson he is confirmed to have immigrated to America before the war, and fought against his former countrymen.
@charliefarmer4365 yeah, I just started reading the comic today. I'll admit I was wrong on this one
@@roanferguson8873 good theory nonetheless!
"In a trench..." is the hardest response anyone could have possibly given.
The animation, vocals, _humor,_ *characterization...* It all came together to make such a satisfying and rewatchable little piece of art. Every team killed it--this whole thing feels so alive.
The attention to detail in the animation is just outstanding. From the flickering candlelight to the subtle facial expressions, it brings the characters to life in such a captivating way.
Is no one going to mention how well the 3-D model is implemented in the short animation. The chessboard goes frame by frame. So instead of going in one smooth motion making it feel out of place, they made sure that the 3D animation went at the same 24 frames as Victor’s hand. Incredible work.
Woah, you are right! The little extra mile the 3D team goes through really shows how well it can be implemented with 2D characters!
Perfect blend
I didn't even realize it was a model.
I wasn't going to talk about it because I didn't even notice. Thank you for pointing that out to me that was so well implemented
I didn't even realize the set was CG before you pointed it out.
Mordecai is the type of person that reads the stats, learns the map and make interesting builds and strategies for nearly every kind of situation. Viktor the type of fella that just uses the things he thinks looks cool and still wins because the opponent overthinked it too much.
Nah, I think Vik knows what he’s doing too. Just cuz he learned it during war doesn’t mean he doesn’t strategize. He just knows not to tell the enemy.
@@ItzzzBeamo He likely only learned the basics and how to predict stuff, rather than formulas like Mordecai did. So it's Street vs Book smarts
Is this about warhammer or chess TwT
Those people who see every single chess move as part of a specific strategy kill me. Only strategy I use is the Bongcloud opening, and after that it could be anything.
@@GekleloPlays strategy games in general
Did anybody else notice that it takes place at the Defiance General? The attention to details or I guess being consistent with things like these is one of the reason why I love Lackadaisy
Yeah, love that detail! I'm assuming the guy Viktor hit with that chessboard is the same one that talks to Freckle and Rocky in the comic, too :]
I like Viktor's strategy, ''if I don't know what I'm doing, neither can the enemy" 😆
He knew what he was doing. He took the bishop.
I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH MY RECOMMENDED AND SAW THIS AND I SCREAMED-
ME TOO😭
SAME
FACTS!!!!
LITERALLY ME TOO
Same omg
I admire Mordecai and Viktor for being able to glare stare each other down. Viktor is a muscular surly Slovak who could throw someone Mordecai's size through a wall. And Mordecai is an intimidating, levelheaded, assassin who can easily take someone out with his scowl and vocabulary. Respect!
and his gun
@@Lemural Thank you. He is a skilled marksman!
@@Lemural Hatchets work too
Back then We would call Viktor a Russki
This is the first time I see Slovak character in foreign media
The use of the cat yelling sound effect almost in place of a Wilhelm scream is perfect
I love all of the smaller expressions and details, especially with such expressive animals like cats like Viktor's fur on the back of his neck standing up with his ears turning and going back, the shifting of whiskers Honestly I have nothing but praise for everyone working on the Lackadaisy team!
The voice actors KILLED it on this one!! And the writing team with this dialogue!! So simple but SO great!! NOW THAT'S HOW YOU WRITE!!!
I know right I really like victor's voice actor ❤
Agreed
Yeah, I agree! Also I think I would rather play Chess or Checkers with Viktor and Mordecai more often than go on a hunting spree.
another day , another win for lackadaisy hands down my most favorite indie series of all time
I like Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, but I'd say that Lackadaisy is my second favorite indie series overall, with the former two being tied for first place. :3.
FR
@@hannahmetzger4880 Same
@@hannahmetzger4880 sure dude its your opinion i aint angry we all have our preferences
A chess game between two animated cats in a barn in the midle of winter has no reason to be this cute
Their in a Cafe in a small town ( sorry to be that guy)
There in a cafe
@@litepaw7 It's a General Store. (If you're gonna be that guy at least be right.)
Two animated cats who are hardened criminals
the way these brief anecdotal stories manage to give people such a hearty insight on the characters personalities by literally just putting them in situations that they go through day to day (mind you within the span of a MINUTE) really reflects off of the amazing writing team, animation team etc. lackadaisy will set a bar for animation as a whole and can serve as such a good learning tool have a toast to some excellent writing to say the least
0:44 i love how Tracy knows how cats act when arguing and she uses their body language 😺
I pretty she uses her own cat as an example 😌✨️
Yess, the silly way cats push their heads together lmao 🤣
@@jiquilisco8281 YESSSS
Can't say I know all that much about chess, but the best analysis I can give... Viktor favors attrition chess trench warfare. He's not going for clever gambits or brilliant checkmates, he's simply "playing checkers" thinning the board, trading every piece for a piece. On the sides you see he traded a bishop for a bishop, and in his last move he trades a knight for Mordecais other bishop. Such games tend to last quite awhile and can stalemate more easily, but a stalemate is only a loss from a certain perspective. Despite Mordecais rambling this is a valid strategy used all the way to the grand master level. Mord clearly favors the opposite sort of play, defensive, conservative, and trap based-with established opening gambits. He wants the game over, fast and decisive. Which is precisely why he grows so annoyed, as his strategy relies on the other player having a similar mentality to him. Essentially, Mord is playing to win the game, and Viktor is playing not to lose. While this might seem the same, it's not.
This is such a good analysis
I can't tell if that move Viktor made with his knight was a legal one. Was it?
Okay I gotta say this is super in-depth. And how they align with their characters as well. Huge props right there!
@@sonofjack6286 I'm not smart enough to recreate the game, but I checked it on a virtual board and it was a legit move-with the preceding move likely have been Mord retreating his bishop to that specific spot after being threatened by the knight. In narrative terms, Mord moves his bishop out of cover and Viktors knight chases him from across to the field to their mutual destruction.
This makes a lot of sense with Victor having learned to play in WWI. Another comment mentioned that soldier chess players would likely have those longer games to stave off boredom during the long stretches of nothing happening.
This gives me a feeling of the old Pixar shorts but this time with dialogue instead of relying on reading only the characters actions, I love it! It's so refreshing to have that kind of energy conveyed again in animation where it's simple but can hold many details at once in surroundings and characters.
My strategy is the "Jack Sparrow" strategy. Even I don't know my next move so my opponents never know what I'm about to do
The smart kid, not understanding how I’m beating him: Me, who’s been eating his pieces when he’s not looking:
Mordecai’s so serious about chess it’s honestly frightening but hilarious.
TRUE! Also, nice profle pic!
@@zaphill4346 thank you!
I honestly would have probably done the same thing Viktor did if I encountered someone like Mordecai playing chess. Just say F you throw the board and go away.
I was expecting Victor to win using the gambit where you win in like 3 moves. The one that's the least number of moves to win in chess. So that the joke is Mordecai overthinking it and Victor keeping it simple. Victor yeeting the board into a guy's head is still funny.
THAT'S MY FRIEND AS VIKTOR. I KNOW HIM. Screaming because he was barely in the pilot-- having him in this short brings me such JOY. >w
Viktor fought in ww1? That’s amazing!
if indie animation became a history book, this would be in it
Its not only in it, IT IS ON THE COVER!
I would love to read a history book with this as the cover...and because it's filled with indie animation lol
I certainly hope so.
This going on the BOOK!
The small detail of Mordecai pushing up on Viktor's hat from getting too close is part of why I heavily respect this series.
Love the dynamic between these two. Mordi talks so much, in such an articulate way. It's so much fun.
I’ve always admired the research and writing of Lackadaisy, far before getting to see it animated. But, seeing the characters play out and have dialogue like this in animated form really brings all the talents out. The backgrounds and atmosphere is beautiful, the body language firs both so well, and their banter reveals so much through so little. And while both VA’s are excellent, I get so happy every time I hear SungWon VA Mordecai. You can hear the influence of the old comic dubs, it’s so seasoned in some way, and it just feels so nice to have him cast for a character he’s clearly loved for so long.
These animations never disappoint, the expressions of the characters, the sounds, the environment, the music, EVERYTHING! It's incredible! Congratulations to the Lackadaisy team for another extraordinary animation.
HEY SHARION 👋
@@IQ_Zombie Oh hello! I didn't expect to see you here.
@@Sharion.Inuyatt of course I'd show up where else would I get my lackadaisy meme content 😺
@@IQ_ZombieFair enough
Nah kinda mid
Dang, Mordecai! You just told off a man who fought in the most horrific war up to that point and you still have all your teeth? Must be that famous charm of yours. That said, I love how the two immediately go back to being friends again when they examine the results of Viktor's impeccable aim with a chess board. It just goes to show how strong that weird friendship they have is.
If you asked me, the real loser is the guy who got hit by the chess board. After all, he seemed to have a hard time getting up.
I love how this scene is a great example of intellectual smarts vs. street smarts. Mordecai as an intellectual, knows all of these fancy official chess strategies, but let his academic knowledge inflate his ego a long while back, leaving him frustrated when he finds himself losing to a "simpleton" that he is sure "doesn't know how to play" having caught him in the perfect position of executing a slow sweep of his pieces towards a guaranteed victory. Viktor, is a man of few words and based off his clothes comes from a lower social background, but he is far from a fool and is quite street smart. His tough life and time as a soldier gave him the experience to read a situation quickly, so he immediately gets irritated when he notices Mordecai paused his move to intentionally name fancy strategies - he picks up on the fact Mordecai is looking down on him and trying to intimidate him, especially with how mocking his tone is when he says "checkers" confirms Viktor's assumption. It's why he growls that he took "his Bishop piece" as a clear indication to Mordecai to back off, stop instigating and continue the game, but Mordecai pushes further, leaning forward to distract him from the advantage he has on the board as he mocks his background, trying to provoke Viktor, but he simply responds by standing his ground as he fires back that he learned to play chess "in a trench". It not only answers Mordecai's question, but the delivery of the line from Viktor makes it clear to Mordecai that the big guy won't let Mordecai's education nor his authority intimidate him. Mordecai finishes of his deceitful play by getting right in Viktor's face and alluding to the veteran that he is worth little more than the "dirt" in which he learned to play, with a line as simple as "In the dirt. That explains everything". Unfortunately for Viktor, Mordecai's deception works, as Viktor tosses the pieces in anger. Satisfied, that he hid his failure, Mordecai backs off and Viktor calms down.
That was very well explained and I agree with you
Whats even funnier is that I was watching lackadaisy last night and I was LITERALLY thinking “yup, we’re gonna be getting something soon.”
That's how you know you have compelling characters. They can be doing something as simple as playing a game of chess and you're invested.
If you read the comic it's stated Mordecai was born and raised in New York and tries to hide his accent. His accent slipped out when he said “Strategy” I think it's cute.
Pro tip: If someone tells you that they learned something in a trench then consider your next words with exceptional care!
Mordecai: Crap! He's winning. I better tick him off so that he'll throw the game - literally and figuratively.
"In a trench" given the time, that line goes hard as hell
"Viktor. Takes. Your. Bishop."
Where did you learn to play? In a cave?
@@lukwoj7954 In a trench.
@@Degon1954 Right. In the dirt. That explains everything.
@@lukwoj7954 (grabs the entire game and throws it to the other side, hits shop keep)
@@Degon1954 there it is. The victor offensive.
The dynamics between Viktor and Mordecai are always impeccable and pure gold.
THE CAT YOWLING AS HES HIT WITH THE CHESSBOARD AHAHAHAHAHA! I really live for the little cat touches y’all do with this series!
Some people are sore winners, sore losers, and then there’s Mordecai.
I’m so obsessed with Lackadaisy. Not them both crossing their arms and looking in the end
Only Lackadaisy can make us deeply enjoy seeing two cats arguing over a chess match at each other Indie animation has come so far tho I love it
I would disagree. I think I would deeply enjoy that kind of content from most animators. That said, this goes above and beyond.
@@jacketofdiamonds yes exactly tbh
Lackadaisy has some of the best written characters I've seen in a while.
Bruh it only has a pilot
@@tobsonasanya4765 bro doesn't know about the comic that's been going on for 13 years
@@tobsonasanya4765 It has one long runner webcomic and a metric ton of extra material exploring several aspects of these characters, and the dynamics between them, both in canon and not canon scenarios.
@@tobsonasanya4765it’s a fucking comic, not just a pilot
Omg fr?@@tatsugirifan
0:58 Omagoosh I love how Mordecai's head turn feels different from victors It has soo much character I love it
Love how analytical Mordecai is. He seems to be expecting some kind of by the book play. But Victor plays on the fly. I expect that Mordecai is just mad because his predictions of Victors moves were inaccurate. Dang I just love all the diverse characters you have. All so different, yet so lovable for their own quarks.
HELL YEAH CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EM PLAY CHESS TOGETHER!!
The more closely you watch the animation the more impressive it is; SO much nuance and tiny movements within movements. So exciting to see!
It is SO wonderful! And, as someone else pointed out, it is cool how the 3D chess piece moves per frame with the character too when lifted, so it fits in with the rest! The attention to detail ❤️
Gosh in just a minute they have SO much personality 😭🫶
Mordecai lost the game so he started a new one he could win: getting under Victor's skin. Beautiful animation and character work here! Thank you for posting
By the looks of it, the move Viktor makes is entirely valid. I have seen a lot of older cartoon animations where a game of chess is played off-screen and pieces tend to move irregularly or poor move choices are made. Also, the fact Viktor bumps an adjacent piece is fantastic attention to detail! Many props to all animators who took part in making this video!
viktor being able to play chess really adds to his appeals. Makes him more than just hired muscles guy's got he brains to back it up as well
He is Eastern European, after all! Quite the popular game over there
When you realise the cat screech was actually someone getting hit
Their working relationship is so freaking good, dude. Long time fan. It's so unique and fun. I could watch these two just go get a cup of coffee and have the best time.
The irony of it is I think the whole reason Mordecai was so mad is that by taking his bishop with the knight Victor actually has Mordecai in check. Which could easily be resolved if Mordecai took the knight with his pawn but NOOO he had to resolve that insult to his pride thus ending the game
Mordecai is not in check, his only piece that is threatened by the knight is his rook. Knights can't move diagonally.
Someone else pointed out that Pawn would take Knight, but that opens up the defense to repeated Checks with each successive counter. Looks like Queen is protecting the Knight?
Ain’t no way Mordecai disrespected victor like that
Because mordecai always use logic and his brain in everything in a chess game and in killing peoples and victor never think he do things because he can do it also mordecai is a fancy man and Vic was a simple soldier so maybe mordecai think he is superior
*“I wonder why the Ballistic aspect of this game was never formalized”*
My ex-bf had a roommate who played chess in junior championships or something like that. They tried playing chess. The roommate said that it was hard to play against my ex because his lack of "formal" chess training made him unpredictable. You can reasonably anticipate the train of thought of a fellow professional. God only knows what the amateur is thinking.
Our boys here are proof that Chess is a game of strategy and wits... The poor bystander was no match. Absolutely love the style of these animations!
this was beyond worth paying half a paycheck to their kickstarter. such high quality everything really
And still Viktor is basically the closest thing Mordecai has to a friend
ProZD, Mordecai's voice actor, happens to be a huge board game nerd, so I imagine voicing this must have been a joy!
*_"The Victor Offensive"_* YOU MEAN TO IMPLY HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE AND YOU SAW IT COMING!? MORDECAI, YOU TROLL! XD
It DOES take smarts to be a smart-ass 😆
@@zacharyborges4420 That of which ProZD fits the bill all too well.
I’m so happy when I see Lackadaisy. I don’t think a chess game for a billion dollars is gonna be this intense.
I can't stop rewatching this to hear the dialogue and watch such interesting expressions. They're both so cold and emotionally distant that having them together makes for very fascinating dynamics.🤔🤩💕
I like how Viktor just gets more and more ticked off as to him, Mordecai is just babbling nonsense
I love how piercing their eyes appear in contrast to their shadowy faces, Victor especially. Also poor shopkeep