Panic (?an!c)
Pixels, art & design from Japan
Created on 22nd October 2025
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Panic (?an!c)
Pixels, art & design from Japan
The problem Panic (?an!c) solves
There is a lack of authentic Japanese creativity in Web3.
Many “Japanese style” NFT projects are made outside Japan, which to local artists feel like stylized imitations rather than genuine cultural expression.
We aim to change this by establishing a Web3 design studio in Tokyo, a transparent and collaborative space where Japanese designers can create for a global audience.
Led by Hitch (M.A. in Design, Tokyo University of the Arts), our studio connects design values with blockchain culture, producing digital and physical works that carry true creative meaning from Japan.
Challenges I ran into
Our main challenge was bridging conceptual art with the NFT format while preserving artistic depth.
To overcome this, we developed “lore type NFTs”, artworks whose traits and stories evolve through symbolic and narrative design.
Building six complete chapters of story and character design required merging philosophy, visual design, and Web3 technology.
Through this process, we demonstrated that NFTs can function as a medium for contemporary art and storytelling, not just collectibles.
Link to the GitHub Repo of your project
Live URL of your project
What is your product’s unique value proposition?
Our uniqueness lies in merging art, philosophy, and design to build a cultural brand that redefines NFTs as meaningful artistic media.
Each pixel in our work is treated as a unit of visual language, expressing stories through minimal form.
Hitch’s art and design background enables a rare balance between aesthetic precision and conceptual storytelling in Web3.
Our first collection, ?an!c, is a 3,333 piece series of animated pixel characters called Surv!vors, each representing a symbolic narrative and unique backstory.
This approach shows how blockchain can record cultural meaning, creating art that exists both on chain and in physical form.
Who is your target customer?
Our audience includes digital art collectors, Web3 creators, and culture driven NFT fans who value design depth and authenticity.
They seek Japanese creativity that bridges Web2 and Web3, art infused with narrative, symbolism, and meaning.
Community feedback on X and Discord shows strong anticipation for the ?an!c mint, confirming a real demand for artist led cultural projects from Japan.
Who are your closest competitors and how are you different?
Comparable projects include Murakami.Flowers https://x.com/MFTMKKUS (by Takashi Murakami) and Renga https://x.com/RENGA_inc .
Our difference lies in our design methodology, symbolic storytelling, and local production, delivering works with real cultural and philosophical depth.
While others focus on visuals, we focus on meaning, transforming design, narrative, and philosophy into an evolving ecosystem of art.
What is your distribution strategy and why?
Our strategy is community driven and authenticity focused.
We will launch our first NFT collection on Base, integrating it with digital design assets (stickers, GIFs, and limited phygital goods) produced in Japan.
Partnerships with Base Japan and local production companies will help Japanese creators enter Web3 safely and collaboratively.
We will also expand through community events, exhibitions, and a Tokyo based design studio, functioning as both creative hub and brand home.
We chose Base for its openness and strong creative community, perfectly aligned with our mission to cultivate authentic Web3 culture from Japan.
This approach builds lasting cultural trust, allowing our audience and our brand to grow together.
Short Summary
Artist led cultural brand from Japan merging pixel art, storytelling, and design.
Building authentic Web3 culture through NFTs, design, and philosophy.
Technologies used