He is one of the most famous robots in the world and an idol in Japan. Astro Boy is now going to the blockchain. Pre-production of the ATOM Genesis NFT series will begin on Friday, April 7, in honor of Astro Boy’s 20th birthday. The creators of the series, Animoca Brands Japan and Mad World, have announced a number of perks and utilities.

What is the ATOM Genesis NFT Series?

The ATOM Genesis NFT series is a series centered on the famous character Astro Boy, known as "Mighty Atom" in Japan. The series is the result of a collaboration between the Akihabara Regional Tourism Organization, Animoca Brands Japan, and Mad World. It contains 150 unique NFTs created by 40 Japanese artists from the Akiba Eden community. Moreover, they are all Astro Boy derivatives authorized by Tezuka.

Access to the pre-minting phase will open on Friday. Thanks to their ATOM Genesis NFTs, holders will gain access to a variety of utilities, such as immersive experiences and generative art applications, over the next three months.

All NFTs in the series will be certified by the Japan Animation Association’s official marketplace, called “Open Post.” The platform will issue on-chain certification for each token in the ATOM Genesis series.

Who is Astro Boy?

Astro Boy is a robot boy with human emotions and the protagonist of a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. He first appeared in the anime, which aired from 1952 to 1968. In the story, the robot's birthday is April 7, 2003.

In the story, Astro Boy was created by Mataro Tenma after his son Tobio recently died. The Robot Circus run by Hamegg eventually bought Astro, but Professor Ochanomizu rescued him from slavery. Eventually, the scientist created a robot family for Astro. Naturally, the two embarked on many adventures together.

The aesthetics of the manga series inspired generations of manga authors. In fact, Osamu Tezuka's style now defines the "anime" style. For example, the author was one of the first to adorn his characters with large eyes. In addition, he popularized the Disney-influenced "cartoon" style in Japan.

While NFTs are growing in popularity in Japan, the ATOM Genesis series is sure to appeal to many collectors. More than 70 years after he first appeared in the comics, Astro Boy is far from an outdated robot.