The Chessmaster trope is a phenomenon used to describe manipulative genius characters that are capable of using their wits and intelligence to achieve their goal and lead them or their subordinates to their desired result. The trope gets its name from chess, where the players need to use logic and stay at least two steps ahead of their opponent to win. We’re sure that you can already think of some anime characters that fit this trope, so let’s discuss some of them and see how they get the job done.
The ultimate example of the chessmaster trope is Death Note. Why, you ask? Because it doesn’t have just one chessmaster, it has two! Both Light and L can be the embodiment of this trope. They both set their boards and try to reach their victory piece by piece. This anime is interesting for our topic for two reasons. Number one is that we can see the duality of this trope: heroes are not the only ones capable of being a chessmaster, they can stand on each side of the law and use their abilities for good as well as for evil. Number two is that the audience is involved in each move of the game, every decision is transparently explained to the viewer.
Another good example of the chessmaster trope is Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan. As the commander of the Survey Corps, he’s bound to have a strategic mindset and high level of intelligence. No chess game is successful without sacrificing pawns and other pieces, and Erwin does just that when he lets dozens of people die for the sake of capturing the Female titan and learning her true identity.
Although he’s only 13, Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler already exudes chessmaster vibes. The boy is a keen observer, and he knows exactly what his next move should be to strike his enemies and get to the desired destination point. The demon contract he’s made with Sebastian gives him a lot of freedom when it comes to the ways he can play the game, and he always uses this freedom strategically to his advantage.
Lelouch from Code Geass is one more example of the chessmaster trope. Just like all the other characters mentioned before, he possesses incredible intelligence and the ability to foresee his opponents' moves. Moreover, the analogy goes deeper as he actually excels at chess in the anime. The big difference from other chessmaster characters is that Lelouch doesn’t just use his pawns to do the dirty work for him, he also fights alongside his men instead of just sitting on the sidelines.
Manipulation has never been this attractive.
The Chessmaster trope is a phenomenon used to describe manipulative genius characters that are capable of using their wits and intelligence to achieve their goal and lead them or their subordinates to their desired result. The trope gets its name from chess, where the players need to use logic and stay at least two steps ahead of their opponent to win. We’re sure that you can already think of some anime characters that fit this trope, so let’s discuss some of them and see how they get the job done.
The ultimate example of the chessmaster trope is Death Note. Why, you ask? Because it doesn’t have just one chessmaster, it has two! Both Light and L can be the embodiment of this trope. They both set their boards and try to reach their victory piece by piece. This anime is interesting for our topic for two reasons. Number one is that we can see the duality of this trope: heroes are not the only ones capable of being a chessmaster, they can stand on each side of the law and use their abilities for good as well as for evil. Number two is that the audience is involved in each move of the game, every decision is transparently explained to the viewer.
Another good example of the chessmaster trope is Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan. As the commander of the Survey Corps, he’s bound to have a strategic mindset and high level of intelligence. No chess game is successful without sacrificing pawns and other pieces, and Erwin does just that when he lets dozens of people die for the sake of capturing the Female titan and learning her true identity.
Although he’s only 13, Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler already exudes chessmaster vibes. The boy is a keen observer, and he knows exactly what his next move should be to strike his enemies and get to the desired destination point. The demon contract he’s made with Sebastian gives him a lot of freedom when it comes to the ways he can play the game, and he always uses this freedom strategically to his advantage.
Lelouch from Code Geass is one more example of the chessmaster trope. Just like all the other characters mentioned before, he possesses incredible intelligence and the ability to foresee his opponents' moves. Moreover, the analogy goes deeper as he actually excels at chess in the anime. The big difference from other chessmaster characters is that Lelouch doesn’t just use his pawns to do the dirty work for him, he also fights alongside his men instead of just sitting on the sidelines.
