The well-known NFT project Azuki announced on July 24, 2025, a collaboration with OpenSea, the world's largest Non-Fungible Token trading platform, to launch the "Azuki Mizuki Anime Shorts" series of ERC-1155 Non-Fungible Tokens. The Mint price is only 0.0014 ETH, with no wallet or whitelist restrictions. The sales proceeds will be directly injected into the Mizuki anime short film production fund, reflecting new possibilities for blockchain in cultural and creative financing.
Issuance Details and Funding Model
The first Mint period is one week, followed by a six-month open period for the standard version, with an extremely low entry barrier aimed at attracting a broader range of fans and collectors. The OpenSea project page shows that this series uses the ERC-1155 standard, allowing multiple token minting and reducing transaction fees. Azuki stated that the initial Non-Fungible Token sales and secondary market revenue will flow back to the creative team, forming a continuous production fund. A blockchain analyst noted:
"This model allows creators to directly connect with supporters, bypassing traditional intermediaries, which could be the next step for the content industry."
Significance for the Anime Industry
Unlike traditional production committees or crowdfunding, Azuki uses Non-Fungible Tokens to transform fans into funding providers and stakeholders, providing immediate cash flow and enhancing community engagement. This approach echoes the increasingly apparent trend between 2024-2025: content studios attempting to replace part of early-stage investments with digital assets. If the model matures, future animation companies could attract funding through Non-Fungible Tokens during the planning stage, reducing dependence on single investors, while fans would be more motivated to promote works due to their equity stake. Observers note that even the incoming Trump president in 2025 might pay attention to this new economic model.
The collaboration between Azuki and OpenSea demonstrates that Non-Fungible Tokens are more than just collectibles and could become a cash flow for the cultural and creative industries. With the "Mizuki Anime Shorts" officially minted, the market will witness whether this blockchain and anime experiment can create a win-win situation for creators and supporters.
