Anime Meets NFTs: Dentsu and Azuki Launch “Enter The Garden” Series

Dentsu Inc. has partnered with Chiru Labs, creators of the globally popular Azuki NFT project, to develop an anime anthology series titled “Enter The Garden,” that will utilize the Azuki IP. The trilogy is directed by renowned anime director Goro Taniguchi, known for his work in “One Piece Film Red” and the “Code Geass” series. 

Azuki NFTs Meets Anime

Today, viewers can watch the trailer for “The Waiting Man,” the first episode of the trilogy “Enter The Garden.” The complete episode will premiere exclusively on Azuki.com and Azuki’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, with subsequent episodes to follow in the coming months. 

Azuki is known for its NFT collection that showcases characters influenced by anime-style art and streetwear. This anthology series represents a novel collaboration between NFTs and animation, featuring cameo appearances by NFT characters owned by the community.

In addition, Azuki & BEANZ NFT holders have commercial rights to their NFTs/IP, allowing them to develop businesses and products based on this IP. According to the announcement, Episode 1 will showcase some of these ventures, offering a new take on product placement by promoting community member businesses within the storyline.

A Star-Studded Team

The “Enter The Garden” anthology is spearheaded by renowned anime director Goro Taniguchi, known for his work on popular titles such as “One Piece Film Red” and the “Code Geass” series. 

Furthermore, the first episode, “The Waiting Man,” features contributions from industry figures like Junichi Yamamoto, involved in projects such as “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” and Kinu Nishimura, known for her character design work in the “Street Fighter” series. Voice talents Akari Kito and Tomokazu Sugita, known for their roles in hit anime shows like “Demon Slayer” and “Gintama,” also contribute to the series.

A Global Initiative

Japanese anime has a massive global following, and Dentsu has been actively investing in and producing refined anime content while promoting anime culture worldwide for many years. Yusuke Nii, Head of Anime Operation at Dentsu, emphasized the company’s commitment to adapting its production and distribution strategies, “Moving forward, we will continue to evolve our approach to anime production and distribution in response to the changing needs of viewers and the media scene.”

Zagabond, Founder and CEO of Azuki/Chiru Labs, expressed excitement about this collaboration, stating, “We’re thrilled to partner with the best in the industry and work with creatives who are excited to experiment with new, community-driven IP. Through our collaboration with Dentsu, Goro Taniguchi and the entire creative team, we are honored to present this incredible anthology to anime fans worldwide, and this is only the beginning.”

Last month, The Arbitrum Foundation announced a collaboration with Azuki and the Weeb3 Foundation to launch AnimeChain, a Web3 anime project. This innovative initiative aims to revolutionize the anime industry by integrating Web3 technology to enhance the global anime experience. The project will amalgamate first and third-party anime content, games, merchandise, and NFTs, marking a new era in anime fandom.