Toei Animation announced on Tuesday, Feb 1, 2022, that they have begun an animation project based on a 9-year-old boy, Zombie Zoo Keeper‘s NFT art collection called “Zombie Zoo.” The anime project is set to release this Spring.

Toei stated that collaborating with Zombie Zoo Keeper will be the first step for the company to expand its NFT initiatives that will “[partner] with creators to develop animation franchises based off of NFT artwork.”

Toei chose “Children’s creativity” x “Technology & Internet” x “Content production” as their three fundamental focuses for the project, whose “synergy” will “support and create animations that reflect children’s creativity as it is.”

“Zombie Zoo” is an NFT art collection created by Zombie Zoo Keeper in 2021 as a free summer vacation study with his mother, Emi Kusano, who is also an artist.

A total of 209 pixel arts were created as of Jan 24, 2022, on iPad, and sold on the NFT (Non-Fungible Token) marketplace by OpenSea for relatively big ethereum (ETH) profits.

He was later selected on the “2021 Forbes JAPAN 100” list, and Toei stated he quickly “became the face of the “NFT Art Scene’ in Japan.”

The 9-year-old entering the world of animation commented, “I am so excited that a dream I had been talking about with my mom every day, creating an anime about capturing zombies, came true! I am thrilled that as a kid I get to work with adults and creative professionals.”

Source: Toei animation