Mr. Takamori Yuichi introduces AnimeFi, a brand-new Web3 project featuring original anime/manga characters and how it is different from other anime projects. Mr. Takamori also shared details of AnimeFi’s first collaboration project with GOZ: & Shinnosuke Uchida and future plans.
AnimeFi is the first-ever Japan-based Web3 project (yet to be titled) launching soon in the summer of this year. It is a unique project that integrates manga and anime into digital collectibles showcasing the true essence of original Japanese anime art. Through NFTs, this project hopes to create a decentralized world of manga where people can read, collect, and have ownership over their favorite anime characters.
NFTStudio24 interviewed Mr. Takamori Yuichi who deeply understands the vision behind the project. Recently, in Dubai Metacon 2022, Mr. Takamori presented AnimeFi and showcased some of the NFTs that will be part of the project.
His team also includes co-founders MASARU WAGA and Okaman, and the art team, Character Design Shinnosuke UCHIDA who has won the Newcomer’s Award for Shueisha’s Ultra Jump magazine and mostly focuses on manga live painting, Animator GOZ has been working on various anime projects for Sunrise, MAPPA, and Tezuka Productions. Her most recent work is “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train” released in 2021.
NFTStudio24 sat down with Mr. Takamori to talk about the AnimeFi Web3 project:
AnimeFi: the next-gen Web3 project
Mr. Takamori briefly introduced NFTStudio24 viewers to AnimeFi.
The AnimeFi team is based in Tokyo, and before introducing this Web3 project, the team was running an NFT marketplace where people could freely buy or sell manga/anime rights. The company issued asset-backed NFTs of Anime cells and original drawings of the anime/manga characters. The NFT technology was attached to physical assets so people could own the artwork in their wallets without carrying it physically. This business has continued for almost a year and a half.
Now, the team decided to shift its business from physical artworks to digital by introducing a new Web3 project called AnimeFi. This project adopts the concept of Web3 and utilizes the decentralized NFT technologies to give people utility to own original Japanese Manga/Anime drawings.
We believe NFT is so compatible with anime and manga. It creates liquidity and liberalization of intellectual property by using this new technology called NFT.
Mr. Takamori said. For him, NFTs give creators freedom to create what they want to create and fans the opportunity to enjoy and own original artworks from well-known artists.
AnimeFi NFT utility
According to Mr. Takamori, the AnimeFi project is designed with the aim to give rights to owners. Before the project, the NFTs were just digital collectibles for trading on the market. Now, AnimeFi is offering exclusive utility benefits of NFTs to the owners.
We’re going to create manga every month, and also create animation every month. If you hold our NFTs in your wallet you can watch or read them. You have the right to access the utilities.
He saidAll in all, the AnimeFi project not only creates NFTs for users to not only hold as a digital collectible but also enjoy the benefits through the utility.
Bringing original Manga/Anime art
Mr. Takamori expressed great fascination in seeing the popularity of anime around the world. Seeing many artists and creators launching their own NFT projects based on manga art is something that holds value to Mr. Takamori.
Among all these projects, AnimeFi stands as the only Web3 project featuring the original Japanese manga art. It doesn’t copy or adopt a certain style; instead, it OWNS the original art. For example, in Metacon 2022, Mr. Takamori and his team introduced some original physical drawings of the creators that people could view digitally after scanning the code.
AnimeFi works with Japanese professional artists to showcase their original artwork through the NFT technology. Artists like Uchida or GOZ who are working with AnimeFi are showing their own artwork that aligns well with AnimeFi’s already disclosed roadmap.
Furthermore, AnimeFi establishes itself as an authentic brand by making everything transparent. The management team has more credentials compared to other NFT brands whose teams refuse to publicize themselves.
The main highlight of this project is that it only promotes original work from Japan, which no one has ever done until now.
“We want people to use us as a use case for the animation world.”
Mr. Takamori told NFTStudio24. 
Breaking the centralized system
Mr. Takamori touched upon an important aspect of Japan’s industry that the AnimeFi project aims to change. He said that most Japanese animation productions have centralized authority over artists’ artworks and content. They divide IPs through a committee that doesn’t give artists the right to own their work.
AnimeFi aims to break this system and create an environment for creators to freely create and own their work. Mr. Takamori said that this project will contribute to achieving this ideal in the near future.
Collaboration with Shinnosuke Uchida and GOZ:
AnimeFi’s first-ever NFT project is a collaboration between two famous Japanese artists, Shinnosuke Uchida and GOZ:. Mr. Takamori shared that the management was looking for artists who have the flexibility and are open-minded about adopting new technology.
For this collaboration, the team believed that Miss Uchida met the requirements of flexibility since she created a new value as a mange live painter. Furthermore, Ms. Gozu also had the flexibility to accept new things as a well-known animator.
The team sat down with both artists to discuss the project and beliefs which turned out quite well and resulted in perfect collaboration masterpieces in the form of NFTs.
When asked about future collaborations, Mr. Takamori shared that the AnimeFi team is committed to empowering new and veteran manga/anime artists. “We want to discover those people who are willing to commit themselves to create new things.” He said.
Future goals and aspirations
AnimeFi is truly a revolutionary project in the decentralized world and also the animation world in Japan. With the first collection coming up and various other partnerships, Mr. Takamori expressed his aspiration to build a leading animation company in the world.
By adopting the latest technology and collaborating with original Japanese artists, AnimeFi management hopes to top the NFT market worldwide.
For future goals, Mr. Takamori shared that AnimeFi will keep on experimenting with the utilities of NFTs. Currently, the owners can only read or watch manga/anime, but later the project will likely introduce esports, metaverse, and gaming in 3D form by creating dApps. The team will continue expanding further into the blockchain world.
However, the core value for AnimeFi remains the same: “To enjoy.” Mr. Takamori, again and again, pointed out the importance of creating projects that people will enjoy owning and connecting with others by creating a proper ecosystem in the near future.
Mr. Takamori Yuichi’s advice for the Web3 community
The interview ended with Mr. Takamori Yuichi giving a piece of advice to aspiring NFT artists, creators, Web3 developers, and stakeholders.
According to Mr. Takamori, Web3 and NFTs are new concepts. For people to get used to this technology, it is essential to first meet people and have a conversation. You can start off with a common topic like anime and explain the concept.
Relationship building is the key to success,
He saidAll in all, he advises them to enjoy the process. AnimeFi itself aims to create a project together through its community so people can enjoy the NFT experience.
For more information on AnimeFi visit:
Website: animefi.io
Twitter: @animefi202
See the complete NFTStudio24 interview with Mr. Takamori Yuichi in Japanese:
