Check, Mate is a handcrafted short film directed by Carlos Lascano, created in collaboration with Nathan Love, as part of a campaign by McKinney NYC for the international organization Voices of Alzheimer.
Entirely built from painted paper and animated by hand, the film merges puppetry, stop-motion techniques, digital compositing, and 2D animation to create a tactile, emotionally immersive world. Through the simple act of a chess game between two lifelong friends, it becomes a metaphor for memory, friendship, and the passage of time.
“I wanted to tell this story using a technique that felt fragile and human, something that would visually echo the fragility of memory,” says Lascano. “Paper, with its imperfections and texture, became the perfect medium to express the beauty of what fades”.
Every puppet, prop, and background was hand-painted and cut before being animated, then subtly enhanced with digital layers. The process aimed to preserve the warmth and authenticity of real materials while using compositing to deepen light, shadow, and atmosphere.
“To me, “Check, Mate” is not just a campaign film, it’s a meditation on time, loss, and the connections that endure,” Lascano explains. “Animation, when made with honesty, can move people beyond words. Even a story made of paper can feel profoundly real.”
Animation Production: Dreamlife Filmworks – Nathan Love Director / Animation Producer / Art Director: Carlos Lascano Animators: Carpincho López, Sofía Oczowinski, Carlos Lascano Background Illustrations / 3D Support: Sofía Oczowinski After Effects Compositing: Carlos Lascano, Carpincho López Handcrafted Paper Creations: Carlos Lascano, Valeria Luchessi, Carlos Lascano Moya Pipeline / Technical Coordinator: Marcial Quiñones (Planet 141)
On-Set Crew 2nd Camera Operator: Francisco Cordero On-Set & Production Assistant: Ludmila Zaid Studio Lead: Valeria Luchessi
CYLNDR Studios Director of Production: Pierre Roache Director of Business Affairs: Laura Gearino Executive Director of Production: Kara O’Halloran Managing Director: Sylvain Tron
Nathan Love Creative Director: Carlos Lascano Producer: Jesselee Kahaloa Executive Producer / Managing Director: Derrick Huang nathanlove.com
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Check, Mate is a handcrafted short film directed by Carlos Lascano, created in collaboration with Nathan Love, as part of a campaign by McKinney NYC for the international organization Voices of Alzheimer.
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Credits:
Animation Production: Dreamlife Filmworks – Nathan Love
Director / Animation Producer / Art Director: Carlos Lascano
Animators: Carpincho López, Sofía Oczowinski, Carlos Lascano
Background Illustrations / 3D Support: Sofía Oczowinski
After Effects Compositing: Carlos Lascano, Carpincho López
Handcrafted Paper Creations: Carlos Lascano, Valeria Luchessi, Carlos Lascano Moya
Pipeline / Technical Coordinator: Marcial Quiñones (Planet 141)
On-Set Crew
2nd Camera Operator: Francisco Cordero
On-Set & Production Assistant: Ludmila Zaid
Studio Lead: Valeria Luchessi
McKinney
Creative Directors: Julianna Strong, Stefanie Gunning, Lev Sloujitel
Executive Director: Darcy McCarthy
Account Director: Nicole Garside
Copywriter: Will Engebretson
mckinney.com
CYLNDR Studios
Director of Production: Pierre Roache
Director of Business Affairs: Laura Gearino
Executive Director of Production: Kara O’Halloran
Managing Director: Sylvain Tron
Nathan Love
Creative Director: Carlos Lascano
Producer: Jesselee Kahaloa
Executive Producer / Managing Director: Derrick Huang
nathanlove.com
Carlos Lascano
Website: carloslascano.com
Instagram: @carloslascano