NFT Show ‘The R3al Metaverse’ is launched via Invisible Universe

NFT collections like Cool Cats and Bored Apes Yacht Club have essentially become media franchises. The digital artworks appear as members of musical groups, characters in cartoons and stars in movies and TV shows.

So it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a proven idea in franchise production: bring these disparate characters together in one show, much like an Avengers-style movie. That was the beginning of a brainstorm that led animation startup Invisible Universe to create its new series, “The R3al Metaverse,” which launched Tuesday. (Disclosure: dot.LA co-founder and executive chairman Spencer Rascoff is an investor in Invisible Universe)

“We joked at first and said, ‘Yeah, put them on a reality show, like everybody else [the NFT avatars] move into a house,” Invisible Universe CEO Tricia Biggio told us. “All of a sudden we were like, ‘Wait, is that a good idea?'”

“The R3al Metaverse” is an animated parody that follows five NFT characters who move in together and experience life in Los Angeles. Cast members are inspired by five major NFT collections: Bored Ape Yacht Club, World of Women, Doodles, Cool Cats and Robotos.

The short comedy, released as one- to two-minute episodes on social media, pokes fun at reality TV tropes and the debate over NFTs. In one episode, the characters stare at a painting and are confused by its lack of “real-world use” besides being a wall decoration.

Unlike traditional media franchises, NFT collections are not completely controlled by a single company. Each project has thousands of individual NFT holders who often have their own commercialization rights over their artwork. Invisible Universe acquired three NFTs and secured licenses for two more to get characters that fit well with “The R3al Metaverse” storyline, Biggio previously told dot.LA.

In keeping with the decentralized ethos of blockchain technology, the Los Angeles-based startup plans to sell 7,800 “Producer Pass” NFTs that allow holders to influence the show’s direction and give them a chance to bring their avatars to the show. Invisible Universe, which recently raised $12 million in Series A funding, has yet to decide how much these NFTs will cost when they drop next month, but Biggio said they’ll likely be in the $150 to $200 range each.

A number of NFT media projects have similarly given creative input to individual holders, from a community-driven novel project called Jenkins the Valet to an upcoming horror film by filmmaker Kevin Smith. As it happens, the production company behind a reality TV show that Invisible Universe parodies – “The Real World” – has its own plans to create NFT-backed programming.

It is too early to know whether such projects will appeal to a broad audience beyond early NFT adopters. Another looming question is whether giving fans input will help or hurt the creative quality of such works. Acknowledging this balancing act, Biggio said her company has set “creative car guards” as the characteristics and motivations of its main characters.

“But within those boundaries, there’s tons of room for collaboration,” Biggio added. For example, NFT holders will help write characters’ “confession interviews,” a common reality TV device where cast members speak directly to the camera.

Invisible Universe will release the first six episodes over the next two weeks on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms. Fan contributions will begin to appear within the first 10 episodes, Biggio said. The startup plans for at least 34 episodes.

“It’s an opportunity to make fun of reality TV, as well as make fun of the kind of absurdity of the metaverse,” she said. “People struggle to define the metaverse or define Web3, and we think there’s a lot of comedy in that.”