DISCOVER PROJECT
Cryo Studios
Chess Set
A custom-modeled chess set brought to life through cinematic battle-inspired animation
— Chess Set is a short 3D animation built around the elegance and tension of a chessboard mid-battle. I designed and modeled the full set from scratch, then used lighting, material contrast, and controlled camera movement to turn a familiar strategy game into a polished cinematic sequence.
SERVICES
Concept Design, Visual Effects, 3D Scene Design
Project Overview
Design a detailed custom chess set with the highest standards of realism and technical precision to meet the client's rigorous production requirements for physical creation.
This project began as a 3D modeling challenge focused on precision, repetition, and form. Chess pieces are instantly recognizable, which made accuracy important — but I also wanted the set to feel more cinematic than ordinary. I treated the board like a small stage, where each piece had weight, presence, and purpose.
Chess Set is a 20-second 3D animation that transforms a classic game into a dramatic visual sequence. The project highlights my ability to create detailed hard-surface models, build a cohesive scene, apply reflective and glass-like materials, and use animation to give still objects a sense of momentum and conflict. Working closely with the director and production team, we aimed to integrate realistic visual effects with live-action footage seamlessly. The result was an immersive and believable depiction of the Olympic chess match that drew viewers into the game.
Approach
Exploring 3D character concepts
I approached the project by focusing on silhouette, material identity, and visual hierarchy. Each chess piece needed to feel distinct at a glance while still belonging to the same set. I paid close attention to scale, spacing, and the relationship between the pieces so the final board would feel balanced and intentional.
As a 3D artist, I treated the chessboard as both a product design piece and a miniature cinematic environment. The modeling emphasized clean forms and recognizable profiles, while the animation focused on timing, impact, and movement that matched the idea of a strategic battle. The goal was to make the objects feel designed, not just placed. Leveraging the latest software, I created realistic textures and lighting that brought the gameboard's landscape to life. The careful attention to detail ensured the scene was both game-accurate and visually captivating.
"My design philosophy was based on controlled contrast: dark and light pieces, stillness and motion, strategy and chaos. I wanted the scene to feel elegant first, then dramatic — like a polished product render that slowly turns into a battle sequence."
Final Design
Autodesk Maya
Substance Painter
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Photoshop
The culmination of extensive research, creative design, and technical precision resulted in a visually breathtaking film. The final animation is a short cinematic chess sequence featuring a fully custom-modeled board, detailed chess pieces, reflective materials, animated movement, and edited battle-style pacing.
The completed piece presents the chess set as both a designed object and an animated scene. The final result balances technical modeling with cinematic direction, using camera framing, material contrast, and movement to make a familiar object feel elevated and memorable.
Product Images
