Finalbosu is a fan-owned anime project started by three Dutch brothers that has quietly built one of the most active NFT communities in the web3 space.
According to co-founder Kevin van de Luitgaarden (better known as Bosu kev on X), more than 70,000 people have joined the project's Discord server, and approximately 4,000 collectors hold NFTs in two series.
He said the project first minted in February 2022 and sold out in minutes, while the second mint - a collection of 8,888 avatars built on the Abstract blockchain - currently has over 3,600 unique holders.
The project started as an independent experiment and has evolved into a gamified onboarding experience on the project's proprietary platform. According to Bosu Kev, more than 130,000 participants have explored the related legends, watched movie trailers, and followed the serial character reveals, culminating in the latest mint on April 14.
Unlike traditional anime studios, Finalbosu offers its holders direct creative input. Fans participate in character design, enrich story backgrounds, and even collaborate with the brand to launch peripheral products. A recent event called the "Bosupreneur Competition" even invites community members to propose business ideas using Finalbosu's IP - Bosu's Kev said that several of these ideas have been selected for development.
Today, the team is focused on building empowering tools and co-creation infrastructure to allow fans to help the series flourish without relying on centralized studios. Bosu's kev shared how web3 opens new doors for creators and collectors, and why the future of anime may be decentralized.
OpenSea: Let's get started! Who are you? What is your origin story as a builder?
Kevin: I'm Kevin van de Luitgaarden, father of two and a lifelong builder. I graduated high school at 16 and joined my brothers' design and video production company.
We loved storytelling early on, making homemade movies with friends. At 20, I moved to Spain and started a marketing company, but eventually I realized I wasn't achieving my goals. I closed the company and threw myself into it with my brothers again - this time in Web3. Finalbosu really started then.
OpenSea: What initially prompted you to get into web3?
Kevin: I started getting into crypto early on, but I didn't really understand it until I bought my first NFT in 2021. A Facebook post by Alex Becker drew me in and made me fall in love with this emerging culture of community building.
It reminded me of our early days, getting together, no budget, just imagination, creating together. Web3 felt like a grown-up version of that. That's when I called my brothers and said, 'Let's build a universe of our own.'
OpenSea: What personal experiences or fandoms influenced your obsession with anime and stories? Was there a specific moment when you realized you needed to create something of your own?
Kevin: We have always been fascinated by stories - anime, manga, video games, movies. My older brother, MustaYaki on X, started drawing anime when we were kids. Most of Finalbosu's style comes from him.
One thing I remember vividly is my dad bringing home a large box of old comics. Opening it felt like opening a door to a different world. That was the first time I really understood the power of media franchises.
OpenSea: When you first conceived Finalbosu, what did the anime world need? Was there a moment when you realized web3 could bring something completely new to anime fans?
Kevin: Anime is beautiful, but it is still largely controlled by traditional studios and gatekeepers. We felt there was room to create something more open and inclusive - allowing fans to be not just spectators, but co-creators.
We don't see enough brands embracing the power of Web3, allowing fans to own a part of the story and contribute ideas. This combination - high-quality world-building, new technology, and shared ownership - is what we are pursuing.
OpenSea: You call Finalbosu a next-gen anime series, what exactly does that mean? What do you think fans are craving that traditional studios can't offer?
Kevin: This means building from the ground up with fans. We are not trying to imitate previous works, but striving for innovation. In traditional media, fans help build brands early on, but once the brand grows, they are no longer needed.
We want to change this status quo. With Web3, fans can truly participate, contribute ideas, and even have ownership. They are not just consuming stories, but shaping them.
OpenSea: Who is building Finalbosu with you? What unique advantages do they bring to this vision? How do you stay aligned when expanding this fan-driven universe?
Kevin: It all started with me and my two older brothers. Now, our team is growing, but the creative core remains the same. MustaYaki is the character designer and creative director, and my other brother Jeff is involved in the story background setting and script writing. Our fourth co-founder is John, aka NFTsorBust, who is a seasoned Web3 developer with extensive operational and scaling experience.
We have assembled a small team of animators, artists, and contributors, many of whom were originally community members. The team's cohesion stems from shared values. We are committed to quality, creativity, and collaboration, and communicate frequently to ensure alignment on the vision.
OpenSea: What exactly does Finalbosu's community-driven narrative look like? How do you give fans real creative power?
Kevin: It's too early to tell, but the foundation is being built. Community-driven storytelling means providing people with the tools, IP access, and platforms to create within our universe. It starts with empowerment - if you own Finalbosu collectibles, you will eventually be able to build your own brands, content, or products within the framework of the series. It also means directly supporting creators.
One of our community members runs a peripheral store, and we are exploring ways to co-create and promote works with him. On the technical side, we are working with Abstract to create seamless, Web2.0 compatible experiences.
Fans will be able to vote on story elements, submit artwork or content, and unlock additional benefits - all on-chain, but without having to be a Web3.0 native developer.
OpenSea: What is the line between chaos and collaboration? How do you deal with situations where the community wants one thing and the creative team wants another?
Kevin: It's like a dance. We are always happy to listen. Some of our best decisions have come from community feedback - even our NFT token distribution has been referenced by holders, but we also firmly believe in maintaining the core vision.
Therefore, we operate in a way that I call 'semi-decentralized.' We lead the creative direction, but also give the community real space to grow. One of the ways we manage this model is through the 'Bosus Board' - a group of trusted holders who help us make key decisions and pressure test ideas. As we grow, we will rely more on such systems.
OpenSea: When someone holds a Finalbosu NFT, what do they actually get? Besides collecting a cool PFP, how do you help fans have a deeper experience?
Kevin: They get more than just a PFP, they get early access to a universe that is still being built. They join a community that is eager, creative, and shares a common idea: Against All Odds.
They also join a startup in real time - a company that is honest with each other and works hard every day to become a giant. Eventually, they will have access to empowerment opportunities, storytelling tools, rewards, and ways to help shape the direction of the brand, but for now, they get trust - and the chance to witness something new being born.
OpenSea: Will Finalbosu characters appear in other worlds? Such as games, virtual spaces, or other creators' universes? What are your thoughts on interoperability?
Kevin: Of course, we are already thinking about how to integrate our characters into games, interactive experiences, board games, virtual worlds, and more. Interoperability is built into our DNA. Web3 provides us with the tools to build open systems, allowing creators and developers to participate freely.
Over time, we hope Finalbosu will be more than just a brand, but a world that can expand, merge and integrate into new spaces.
OpenSea: Overall, what exactly are you building? Is it the next Marvel, or are you pursuing something more radical?
Kevin: Yes, we are building a media franchise brand, but also a more radical attempt. We want to build the first truly fan-driven anime brand. Fans are not just watching, but creating. The next great animator or story teller doesn't need studio permission - they just need an idea, a collectible, and a community behind it.
It's ambitious, but so were all the stories we grew up with. Our goal isn't to be the next Marvel, it's to build something different - something of our own.
OpenSea: If Finalbosu succeeds, what will the anime industry look like in ten years? Who will be the heroes, and what will be left behind?
Kevin: It's more global, more inclusive, and more open. We believe anime is still in its early stages of expansion in the West. If we do it right, Finalbosu will help bridge that gap - it has characters and stories that resonate around the world, and tools to help creators build their dreams.
We want to set a precedent: series do not need to shut fans out. Those who join early, are full of faith, and create actively can grow with the brand. If we succeed, somewhere there will be a child holding a Finalbosu toy and have a little more confidence in themselves. That is our vision.
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