The Commander X16 Movie Maker might sound like science fiction, but it’s real—and it’s breathing life into full-motion video on 8-bit hardware. In a new video from The Retro Desk, Matt showcases how modern code meets vintage ambition, as developer Anthony Henry has created a suite of tools that lets you watch converted video files on actual X16 hardware.
The story goes back to 2020, when forum chatter and emulator experiments stirred some skepticism about whether full video playback was really possible on the Commander X16. Early examples used tricks in emulation that didn’t reflect the actual limitations of the physical machine—things like blazing fast file reads and memory transfers that just weren’t feasible with the real hardware’s SPI interface and SD card performance.
But Tony’s Commander X16 Movie Maker doesn’t just dream—it delivers. His suite can convert common video formats like MP4 and AVI into X16-compatible files, using a matrix of sprites for video and PCM playback through the VERA chip. Yes, the visuals are chunky, and the frame rates are modest, but the fact that you can load up a classic like Charade (a 1963 Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant thriller) and actually watch it on an 8-bit computer is borderline wizardry.
Matt demonstrates the whole process—cropping, downscaling, and syncing—using HandBrake and Tony’s conversion tool. The software provides multiple encoding presets, from high color depth to higher resolution options, all depending on what you’re willing to sacrifice. Want smoother motion? You might lose some color. Crave detail? You’ll probably live with fewer frames per second.
In one example, Charade gets crunched into 160×112 resolution at 10 FPS with 21kHz audio—resulting in a 1.3GB file that actually plays on the real X16. From Rick Astley to Big Buck Bunny, and even the must-do demo clip Bad Apple, it’s all there. Tony’s tools include a video library manager, a custom playback app, and support for bookmarks mid-movie.
The Commander X16 Movie Maker isn’t trying to compete with Netflix. It’s a proof of possibility—and a celebration of what retro hardware can do when driven by modern ingenuity. It might be chunky, but it’s charmingly so. And if you want to see how far a dream computer can be pushed, this video is a must-watch.
