One form of artwork has dominated the market for as long as users have been able to make their PFPs on community websites: the anime PFP. The most popular anime shows in the West were Cowboy Bebop on Adult Swim and Dragon Ball Z, which ran on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block from the 1990s to the mid-2000s. Because of this, many of the actors from these shows were used in the anime PFPs made during this time. It was typical to see characters like Goku, Vegeta, or Spike Spiegel in profile pictures. Unsurprisingly, avatars from that time tended to have similar appearances.

Since then, anime has established itself as a global phenomenon. Due to the growth of anime PFP NFTs, users can now build their digital identities around anime characters without being part of a fandom or its followers. Owners of these anime PFPs frequently support one another’s endeavors. This lets people find characters that speak to them while also trying out various anime styles. So, instead of fandoms based on TV shows, communities are now based on a typical anime style. We put together this list of the top Anime PFP NFT collections available so you can find your community.

Azuki

Project Summary

Date of Publication: January 12, 2022

Quantity: 10,000

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Let’s tackle the most critical issue first. Anyone who has looked into the largest PFP NFT collections, even a little bit, has at least heard about Azuki. This 10,000-piece collection of unquestionably beautiful anime caught our attention. The PFP NFTs are dripping with all the flair and rebelliousness of skater culture, just like Tetsuya Nomura’s designs for Square Enix’s cult classic The World Ends With You. It is, therefore, understandable why the inhabitants of the NFT community found a lot to enjoy about these PFPs.

When Azuki first came out, the buzz was palpable, and the line’s ascension to prominence is still one of the swiftest in the NFT industry to date. But there were some difficulties along the way to the top. According to rumors, ZAGABOND, who created Azuki, was known for giving up on earlier NFT projects in May 2022. But things have changed since then, and most people’s views have become more positive since the bad news came out.

Announcing that AGE OF VALOR, our first 247 Comics Crossover Title, will feature characters from the @AzukiOfficial avatar collection.

The 247 Studio Badge will unlock an exclusive preview.

Promo Art by @mulan_bean. pic.twitter.com/eGy36sXoKC

— 247 Comics (@247ComicsHQ) October 25, 2022

CloneX

Project Summary

Availability: November 29, 2021

Amount: 20,000

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

For better or worse, CGI and 3D animation are unavoidable in anime, as anime-only fans of Berserk and, to a lesser extent, Attack on Titan is all too familiar with the industry’s recent trends. However, that’s hardly a terrible thing for CloneX enthusiasts. This 20,000-piece collection features a ton of gorgeous anime characters for interested collectors to choose from, forgoing what may be an uncomfortable cel-shaded approach in favor of avatars rendered in exquisite, well-lit 3D.

Since the project’s late 2021 debut, it has been trending upward. Fans of the project have found a lot to enjoy about the direction it has taken so far, whether it be the way Nike purchased RTFKT Studios, the team behind the project, or the collaboration with Takashi Murakami, a pop-art sensation from Japan.

No. 1 Force

Project Summary

Availability: August 19, 2021

Available: 7,777

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Even though it wasn’t the first, 0N1 Force was one of the first NFT projects with an anime theme to do well. As of this writing, almost 50,000 ETH, or about $70 million, have been traded on the project. That’s not too terrible for a collection of cool anime PFPs.

So what precisely is it? As its name suggests, each 0N1 Force animation PFP NFT is based on a Japanese one that has been given human traits. Those who want to use these NFTs as PFPs will be happy to know that the ogre traits of each avatar have been significantly reduced. Just mild visual signals like slightly protruding teeth or vibrant bright skin tones will be similar to how most anime depicts characters of this kind.

Kiwami

Project Summary

Released on: March 24, 2022

Quantity: 10,000

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

If seeing the word “Kiwami” made you briefly think of Kamurocho, take a minute to collect yourself. The eclectic group of characters from the Yakuza series isn’t yet represented in an NFT collection. What, then, is this collection?

This collection, proudly made in Japan, tells its owners to “chase the tsunami” by choosing one of the anime PFP NFTs inside. Anime fans will find something in this collection that captures who they are. It has colorful side-profile anime avatars that mix cyberpunk, streetwear, and Japanese folklore. On their website, Kiwami boasts, “For those who are Kiwami; extreme, loyal, motivated, and ineffable—you’ve found your tribe.”

Shonen Waste

Project Summary

Availability: February 5, 2022

Available: 9,001

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Shonen Junk billed as a collection including “The Junkiest Web3 Weebs,” has a history supporting such assertions. James Lin, a crucial player in its development, also contributed to creating another thing anime lovers worldwide like. Crunchyroll. Yes, the streaming service for anime.

If you’ve ever wished you could have a picture of Shinji going Super Saiyan, this collection is for you. As a result, and with “almost 9,000 [!!!]” pieces (yeah, they went there), this collection contains several allusions to some of the most well-known anime franchises ever. There is something for everyone here, including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Dragon Ball Z, and more.

Also Read: NFT Artist Shares His Journey Into the Industry 

Galverse, Shinsei

Project Summary

Availability: April 14, 2022

Available: 8,888

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

In addition to the typical shonen fare, there are numerous other anime series. Any self-respecting anime viewer should pay attention to Shojo as well, in large part because of the rich history of magical girl anime. Of course, Sailor Moon was around before Cardcaptor Sakura and a long time before Madoka Magica.

Who are they, then? Emi Kusano, the mother of one of Japan’s most promising young crypto musicians named Zombie Zookeeper and the singer of this certified banger, leads the group Shinsei Galverse. Shinsei Galverse’s creators want to take you back to the 1980s with this collection, which has all the different styles of magical girl anime from that decade. All 8,888 Galverse anime PFP NFTs show how Galverse sees magical girls and is drawn in a manner that fits the period, with that hazy look that most old anime have. The people who work on the Galverse plan to use the money from the sale of this collection to make a full-fledged anime version of the Galverse.

Container House

Project Summary

Date of Publication: September 28, 2021

Quantity: 10,000

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Everyone enjoys a nice gachapon pull, right? But wouldn’t it be unexpected if a tiny, living being appeared from a capsule toy machine? This is how Capsule House feels. The project was made by the artists SeerLight and Kaejunni. At first, it seemed like a simple PFP release that combined composition with Kodomo-style images. But this collection is more complex than it first appears.

The collection came out in September 2021, just a few months after anime PFPs began to sell well on the NFT market. It went from being a simple and cutesy whimsy collection to a high-quality, full-scale PFP project during the winter. Starting in 2022, people who owned Capsule Houses could trade in their original art for portrait NFT copies of their unique tokens that were very detailed. It seems like the Capsule House journey is just getting started, as these PFPs are still going viral on social media.

Muri

Project Summary

Availability: March 13, 2022

Quantity: 10,000

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Out of all the projects on this list, Shonen Junk and Muri probably appeal to manga and comic book fans the most. Haus made Muri, a Web3 project focusing on clothing, furniture, and digital and physical artifacts. This was done after anime NFTs like 0N1 Force, and Azuki became popular. This project, which started as a solo effort, has shown how independent producers can use their intellectual property to fund long-term multimedia projects.

The founders of Muri have set out to create a thriving ecosystem based on tokens (Muri PFPs) that may be used to buy goods, genuine goods, and in-game currencies that are rumored to correspond with future gaming projects. To further develop the project universe, the Muri team has also been hard at work producing original anime and manga, albeit most of it is still up to the discretion and dictates of those Muri NFT owners.

Animetas

Project Summary

Availability: July 31, 2021

Provision: 10,101

Right now’s Floor Price

What do the project and anime PFPs art have going for them

Animetas is the definitive compilation for fans of pixel art and everything cyberpunk. This anime PFP project’s narrative describes a distant future universe where humans can no longer live on Earth. In this other history, 10,101 pioneers decided to mint their ideas as part of the Animetas collection, now known as the Ethereum blockchain.

Even though Animetas is primarily a PFP effort, there is much more to the project than what can be expressed in 10,101 JPEGs. The Animetaverse, a virtual universe, contains much more than just Animetas. This virtual world made by Cyberh49 and PixelGustavo is also home to the Animonkeys PFP collection, another work by the Animetas authors. Even though Animetas has been around for more than a year (as of this writing), the team behind the project has several unannounced or upcoming expansions to the Animetaverse in the works.