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Introduction
Toei Animation joins forces with Strata to launch new IP Project DenDekaDen – Born out of a shared vision, to tell a new kind of story that utilizes blockchain technology. The ultimate aim was to create a new franchise loved across the world, for many years to come. The project introduces a story that connects Japan and the world in new ways, merging Japanese ancient traditions and mythologies with the digital world of blockchain, empowered by community participation.
It’s impossible to talk about anime IPs in the Web3 space without bringing up DenDekaDen. This innovative venture by @0x_strata in collaboration with @ToeiAnimation, known for classics like Dragon Ball and One Piece, showcases the fusion of time-honored anime with modern blockchain technology. Through NFT engagement and dynamic storytelling, DenDekaDen demonstrates how anime can adapt and thrive in the digital era, possibly establishing a new standard for anime in the Web3 ecosystem.
Art
As a katsune who cherishes timeless essence, the art style instantly resonated with my soul. The standout feature of this anime is its bold use of color—vivid and striking, yet never overwhelming. Colors are selected with care, not merely for effect, but to echo the essence of the characters themselves. They add layers to the story, encouraging viewers to reflect on how each color choice reveals nuances of character traits.
The character designs and color schemes establish a visual identity distinct from Toei Animation’s past works, showcasing innovation through expressive faces and daring color choices that set this project apart.
Strategy
DenDekaDen’s Tenet
“A modern legend rooted in Japan’s traditions unfolds. Interweaving worlds, cultures, and concepts, blurring the lines between physical and digital. Bound by our shared beliefs, we, the circle of creators, curators, and believers are here to write a new chapter.”
DenDekaDen’s vision, hinted at through its graphics and enigmatic social media posts, appears to be about connecting Eastern and Western cultures. It strives to integrate cutting-edge technology while preserving traditional values. Their mission, as outlined in their principles, is to merge the tangible with the virtual, all while cultivating a robust and creative community.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of DenDekaDen’s approach is this:
DenDekaDen exists as a co-created, community-driven, medium-bending Legend. An expanding character universe with twists along the way, steered by decisions and the participation of believers and followers, told across different mediums — familiar as well as new.
The infographic showcases the diverse platforms where DenDekaDen plans to deliver its experiences, including Twitter, manga, virtual idols, music videos, and animation among others.
Music Video
The project unveiled an impressive music video featuring DenDekaDen’s official theme song for the initial animated teaser, which is exceptionally cool. True to Toei’s high standards, they’ve also introduced an NFT collection titled “Keshin No Kaden,” celebrating the traditional hand-drawn methods of its creation.
The revenue generated from NFT minting will finance the development of a casual social mobile game named “Project DenDenGarden,” closely linked to the anime’s production. Players will have a hand in crafting each character’s storyline. In-game events are interwoven with the anime’s lore, providing fans with a straightforward yet impactful way to steer the IP’s direction, which is quite innovative.
In the game, participants undertake missions, roam the DenDenGarden, and create their own items. NFTs bring a contemporary element, allowing for the minting and trading of game assets. Guilds work together to outdo competing guilds, with the results of these seasonal guild conflicts having lasting effects on the game’s world and enriching the DenDekaDen saga.
NFT Collection
There are 3 collections as of now. Genesis Omikuji, Spirit Key Avatars, and Keshin No Kaden. The first 2 grant tiered access to the IP (refer to the post below).
Spirit Key Avatars are front facing profile pictures that act as your main avatar. Genesis Omikuji are basically equipable NFTs that can set your Spirit Key Avatar apart. Check equipable traits below.
DenDekaDen’s 3rd collection is called “Keshin No Kaden Collection” (Incarnation Garden) features 10,000 NFTs, each one honoring the artisanal methods of hand-drawn animation. These NFTs capture various steps of the animation workflow, including:
- Storyboarding
- Character Creation
- Key Animation
- Background Layout
- Inking
- Coloring
- The Final Shot
This set not only honors the craft of animation but also gives collectors ownership of a moment from this creative process through each unique NFT. At the time of writing, the third release of this mint is currently happening.
Avatar System
DenDekaDen has a unique avatar system where traits are classified into fixed, customizable and equipable categories. The following are direct quotes from their X posts.
The Spirit Keys unlock the Avatar Platform. With the Avatar Platform, we push the boundaries of NFT profile picture collections by enabling Fixed Traits, Customizable Traits, and Equipable Traits to co-exist and augment the appearance of each Avatar.
Designed to maximise freedom of expression among holders while drawing on familiar NFT-style rarities. Future-proofed for more cross-platform utility via the Relics system, allowing each avatar to be augmented by equipping other compatible NFTs.
Fixed traits
Fixed traits are token-specific. They cannot be customized, and are assigned randomly at different rarity levels. These traits define the avatar’s rarity. *Some fixed traits may be transformed into Relics in future.
Customizable traits
Customizable traits can be changed at any time by the owner through the official website. They allow increased freedom of expression and identity among holders. *These traits should not be referred to when determining a token’s rarity.
Equipable traits
Relics can be equipped onto Spirit Key avatars to augment their appearance. When a Spirit Key or Relic is transferred, Relics are automatically un-equipped. *Transferring a spirit key does not transfer equipped relics, and vice versa.
NFT statistics:
1. Genesis Omikuji
- Supply: 756 NFTs
- Unique Ownership: 422 unique owners
- Price Range: Current Floor Price: $154.55 (as of November 07, 2024) The most expensive Genesis Omikuji sold for $775.4 on August 19th, 2024.
- Website Link: https://opensea.io/collection/dendekaden
2. Spirit Key Avatars
- Supply: 7,777 NFTs
- Unique Ownership: 2,501 unique owners
- Current Floor Price: $22.64 (as of November 07, 2024)
- Website Link: https://opensea.io/collection/dendekaden-spirit-key-avatar
3. Keshin No Kaden
- Supply: 10,000 Frames
- Unique Ownership: Information not explicitly provided, but it’s part of the DenDekaDen ecosystem, suggesting community involvement.
- Price Range: Sale Price during the first phase: 0.0577 ETH
- Website Link: https://www.dendekaden.com/mint
Community
By owning a Genesis Omikuji or a Spirit Avatar, you don’t just become a member of the DenDekaDen community; you ascend within its ranks. The nearer you are to the center:
- Your Influence Amplifies: Your opinions gain more influence, allowing you to have a substantial impact on the IP’s trajectory.
- Enhanced Role: You play a pivotal part in crafting the story, character arcs, and community activities, directly influencing how the project unfolds.
- Deeper Engagement: Closer proximity to the community’s heart offers more chances to connect with fellow enthusiasts, the creative team, and potentially the project’s founders, fostering collaborations or gaining exclusive sneak peeks.
- Special Privileges: Those at the inner circle’s edge might receive privileges such as priority entry to new NFT drops, invitations to private events, or access to unique items tied to the project.
Joining and interacting with the community was quite an experience. The discord mod, Sophy Mico, was warm and accommodating. I quickly noticed that most of the discord members spoke Japanese with a discord translator doing real time translations to allow conversations among international members. Although not perfect translation was acceptable to allow smooth conversations.
I tried to attend one of their AMAs but it was entirely in Japanese. Although I didn’t understand a single word, I was excited to just be there. I don’t see this as a problem in the near future as we have better real time translators in production that will allow real-time conversations among people with different languages.
Immersion
In the world of DenDekaDen, there are seven key characters, each linked to a specific emblem.
Every spirit avatar, representing each player or participant, pledges allegiance to one of these characters. Your involvement and decisions in the game directly influence the narrative development of your faction’s character.
This structure not only enriches the narrative but also creates a deeply engaging world where fans can enhance their connection to the lore by choosing a side, making the whole concept quite impressive to me.
Personal insights
In my exploration of DenDekaDen, I felt a strong pull to acquire a Spirit Key Avatar, drawn by the captivating artwork and the prestige of Toei Animation, a studio with a rich anime heritage. The entry cost was notably low at 0.0078 ETH, almost matching the gas fee, making it accessible even with my modest ETH holdings.
During my quest, Believer #5853, a follower of Hisato, resonated with me. What particularly stood out was his unique trait: a katana, a symbol representing only 3% of the collection. This sword isn’t merely a blade; it’s a profound emblem of Japanese heritage. His avatar also portrayed the hand gesture of ‘sincerity,’ one of the fundamental values in Japanese culture, which I found to be a beautiful touch in its minimalist yet powerful design.
Considering the legacy of Toei Animation and their forward-thinking plan for this project, I see these avatars as undervalued treasures. Owning one feels like holding a piece of anime’s future in the Web3 realm. It’s an invitation to join a pioneering endeavor at its inception.
Read about other anime projects building on-chain: Kaidro, Azuki and Tatsumeeko
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