The Web3 entertainment brand Woodies recently announced that first animated short film, Woodies Origin, will make it’s on the Woodies YouTube channel on 19 September. The film is based on the popular Woodies Generative NFT collection.
As per the website, Woodies launched in September 2021 with the availability of 9,739 Ethereum-based NFTs which are available on the leading marketplace OpenSea. Brought to life by the art team, consisting of concepts by Des Lucrece, base designs by Jae-838, and rich stylisation by fine artist Gossamer Rozen, every Woodie was randomly generated from a mix of over 900 traits, making each one a uniquely appealing one–one design.
“The story flows through everything that we do. Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. As a purpose-led project with an environmental focus, it made sense that Woodies would have a strong story,” said Woodies co-founder Richard Powazynski in a statement shared on their website.
The company’s family-friendly NFTs have come to life with Woodies Origin, a three minute journey revealing the Woodies’ unique and mystical origin story.
Audiences are introduced to Arden, the last tree left in a grove after a logger chops down all of Arden’s tree friends. Aided by a magical protective Earth spirit, Merkle the Mother Tree, Arden becomes a Woodie, mobile and free to set off on a search-and-rescue mission to find his friends and stop the logger.
Placing storytelling at Woodies’ core has proven an intuitive and efficient way to attract highly engaged communities.
He further said, “That has played a big part in building interest in Woodies’ values and mission, because people feel deeply connected through their digital ownership of a Woodies NFT and fundamentally what it represents. Now the animated short film Woodies Origin is helping us to tell our story in a new and exciting way by bringing our beloved characters to life while also allowing a wider audience to be a part of the Woodies world.”
In making Woodies Origin, the company is staking its position as a Web3 storyteller, but in the tradition of Hollywood’s Pixar or Disney. The new film represents how NFT artistry can be transformed into films that delight and captivate in classic Tinseltown style.
Further, working in strategic partnership with visual storytellers Woodblock to produce the Hollywood-style animation, UltraDAO was assured of outstanding imagery while helping Woodblock to expand into the Web3 production world. Woodies Origin is the first in a planned series of short animated films bringing the story of Arden and his friends to life.
The award-winning composer Gareth Coker wrote and recorded the score with a full orchestra, adding a cinematic dimension courtesy of his deep experience in film, gaming, and metaverse soundtracks. Executing Gossamer Rozen’s (Dr. Martens, Squarespace, Patagonia) art direction and Crystal Schrader’s story lead, a talented team of digital artists, animators, 3D specialists, Web3 developers, and more produced Woodies Origin.
Woodies is emerging as the model as Web3 accelerates its search for the next Pixar. It is creating an emotional connection with its audience, progressing from NFTs to films and the Metaverse, while building value for all involved.