Author: Nancy, PANews

After undergoing the baptism of cycles, breaking the deadlock is an unavoidable keyword for NFTs. How to regain the hearts of players? Azuki, which has just celebrated its third birthday, is aiming for an open anime universe. On January 23, the anime project Animecoin (ANIME), in which Azuki is a core contributor, will officially launch on major mainstream trading platforms. As the utility value of NFTs gradually surpasses the narrative of single small images and expands into more diverse practical application fields, why is Animechain targeting the anime industry as an entry point, and how will it leverage the power of anime to open up new growth spaces for NFTs?

Recently, PANews interviewed Azuki founder Zagabond. In the interview, Zagabond deeply analyzed the development evolution and dilemmas of the anime industry, pointing out that Animechain will address the core pain points in the current anime industry, such as the lack of fan loyalty and uneven income distribution for creators, bringing a more immersive and interactive experience to anime fans. He also reflected on Azuki's experiences and lessons in brand marketing and insisted on the importance of building on Ethereum and expanding the ecosystem.

Community-Centric, Animecoin Will Create a Flywheel Effect Through Three Components

"In 2022, Azuki began to build an open anime universe, pioneering decentralized brand building. Now, with the help of the Animecoin Foundation, we are creating the next chapter of anime; the season of ANIME has arrived." Since the announcement of the launch of the anime network Animechain in March 2024, new developments have recently emerged, with the official announcement of ANIME's tokenomics, and the Token Generation Event (TGE) will take place on January 23.

The tokenomics of ANIME show that 50.5% of the total supply will be allocated to the community, with 37.5% allocated to the Azuki community as early supporters of the Animecoin ecosystem, and 13% allocated to the DAO treasury for use according to governance proposals passed by AnimeDAO.

Zagabond pointed out in the interview, "Animecoin is a community-led movement, with no VC allocation." He further added that the Animecoin Foundation is the leader in the development of Animechain, serving as an independent entity responsible for the governance process of AnimeDAO and committed to promoting the growth of the Animecoin ecosystem. It will use its allocated funds to finance launches and ongoing operations, funding programs, and other initiatives to bridge the gap between Animecoin and the broader global anime industry. Azuki serves as a core contributor to the Animecoin Foundation, supporting the foundation in fulfilling its mission to manage the development and growth of the Animecoin ecosystem.

Regarding the reasons for launching Animechain, Zagabond candidly stated that anime has risen from subculture to a part of mainstream pop culture. Luxury fashion brands like Chanel and Burberry are collaborating with anime brands, athletes reference anime in post-game interviews, and rappers like Megan Thee Stallion are sampling anime soundtracks. Despite this, the anime industry still faces significant structural issues. On the fan side, although fans spend heavily on cryptocurrencies, their loyalty and spending have not been effectively attributed. On the creator side, due to the unique financing structure of the Japanese anime industry, many animators and intellectual property holders do not earn substantial profits.

Anime 2.0 offers a unique opportunity for cryptocurrency to revolutionize the anime fan experience by integrating these fragmented fan components on-chain, allowing IP holders to accurately assess fan loyalty and open up new revenue opportunities for a more engaged fan base.

"Full Stack ANIME" will support the realization of the Anime 2.0 vision, creating a flywheel effect where each component promotes the growth of the others. Only as more users and developers join will the network become increasingly valuable and self-sustaining.

It is understood that Full Stack ANIME consists of three parts: blockchain infrastructure, consumer platform, and IP:

Dedicated Infrastructure (Animechain): Animechain is an L3 blockchain utilizing Arbitrum Orbit technology, with Animecoin as the custom gas token. This setup simplifies the experience for Web2 anime fans: they only need to understand and purchase Animecoin (reducing the complexity of managing multiple tokens), while also allowing for gas-free transactions for seamless onboarding.

Consumer Platform and Products (Anime.com): Guiding Web2 users through consumer products is key to triggering the flywheel effect and enhancing value. A large user base will attract more teams to build on the network, bringing in more users. Anime.com aims to do for the anime industry what Discord has done for gaming—becoming the dominant social layer for the entire anime industry.

Content and IP (Azuki): IP development provides the foundation for driving the cultural energy of the entire ecosystem. The IP layer connects various parts, uniting the community's passion for Animecoin.

Notably, Zagabond mentioned that Azuki has engaged in deep collaborations in the anime field during this process. For example, Azuki has partnered with Japan's leading anime production studio Dentsu; the first episode of Azuki's anime anthology series "Enter the Garden," titled "The Waiting Man," was produced by renowned creative producer Takaguchi Goro, who has worked on "Code Geass" and the "One Piece Film Red" movie, with a voice cast including Tomokazu Sugita (known for "Gintama"), Akari Kito (known for "Demon Slayer"), and Jun Fukuyama (known for "Code Geass"); Azuki has collaborated with AniplexUSA to launch a digital collectible experience for the "Fate/strange Fake" IP on Anime.com. This year, the team will announce more anime partnerships and share some ongoing discussions soon.

Adhering to Ecosystem Expansion Strategy, Focusing on Ethereum Development is a Priority

"Azuki, as a brand, represents resilience, growth, and innovation. We are proud to have overcome numerous challenges and remain standing in Web3. The community trusts the team and collaborates with us to create an open anime universe, which is the best proof of our efforts," Zagabond told PANews.

As a well-established NFT project, although Azuki gained popularity with its unique Japanese art style, especially resonating with anime enthusiasts, today, NFT projects must face multiple challenges, including overall market downturns, market saturation, and user aesthetic fatigue. NFT projects, including Azuki, have begun to explore more viable paths while reflecting on issues in the project development process to better align with audience needs.

For instance, during the execution of the Azuki Elementals release, particularly in marketing and communication, Zagabond believes there is still room for improvement. He further pointed out, "In the past, Azuki emphasized mystery and surprise in product launches, but as the market has evolved, this approach is no longer suitable. Elementals taught the team important lessons about transparency and expectation management. I still support the decision to expand the Azuki universe, but we have adjusted our approach to better align with community needs, ensuring clear communication and community involvement."

However, Zagabond also candidly admitted in the interview that broadening the core strategy of the Azuki ecosystem remains correct, as evidenced by the vibrant new community members joining through Elementals. Azuki Elementals represents the team's vision of expanding the Azuki universe by creating a more convenient entry into the garden. Azuki achieved unprecedented success through Elementals—it remains the most complex hand-drawn PFP series to date, unmatched in artistic complexity and feature combinations in the industry.

Regarding the trend of multi-chain ecosystems in NFTs, with many NFT projects beginning to expand to other chains, Zagabond stated, "My crypto journey began in 2017 when the blockchain ecosystem was relatively simple. While working at 0x, I participated in the development of matcha.xyz, a DEX aggregator, and we foresaw early on that the future would be multi-chain, and today that vision has become a reality. Each chain has its own active community and unique culture. Azuki has found its home on Ethereum, and its core story and IP naturally align with the values of this chain—'technological optimism and decentralization.' This alignment is so fundamental that I often describe Azuki as the 'crypto anime layer'—we are not just building on Ethereum; we are practicing its philosophy."

"I like to compare Azuki's growth strategy to that of a fashion brand. The strongest brands first establish a solid core identity and loyal fan base in their local market before considering international expansion. Now, Ethereum is our home, and we still have much to do here." However, Zagabond also revealed that in the future, Azuki is open to strategic attempts on other chains—but only when the timing is right and aligns with their vision.

In today's market, driven by demand, platform competition, and narrative changes, the NFT landscape is undergoing profound transformation. NFT projects like Azuki are enhancing their practicality and investment value by retaining and emphasizing their unique culture while expanding into the anime industry. This trend may indicate that NFTs are deeply exploring practical landing scenarios, opening up more pathways for the liquidity and value transformation of NFT assets.

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