‍Finalbosu, a fan-owned anime project launched by three Dutch brothers, has quietly built one of the most engaged NFT communities in the web3 space. According to co-founder Kevin van de Luitgaarden, better known on X as Bosu kev, more than 70,000 people have joined the project’s Discord server and roughly 4,000 collectors hold NFTs across two collections. 

He says the project’s first mint in February 2022 sold out in minutes, and its second—an 8,888-piece profile picture collection built on the Abstract blockchain—now counts over 3,600 unique holders. What began as an indie experiment has evolved into a gamified onboarding experience hosted on the project’s proprietary platform, where more than 130,000 participants, according to Bosu kev, have explored the lore, watched a cinematic trailer, and followed a serialized character reveal leading up to the project’s most recent mint on April 14. 

Unlike traditional anime studios, Finalbosu gives its holders direct creative input. Fans have helped design characters, contributed to the lore, and even launched merchandise in partnership with the brand. One recent initiative, the “Bosupreneur Competition,” even invited community members to pitch business ideas using Finalbosu IP—several of which Bosu Kev says were selected for development. 

Today, the team is now focused on building licensing tools and co-creation infrastructure that will allow fans to help grow the franchise without relying on a centralized studio. Bosu kev shares how web3 opens new doors for creators and collectors alike, and why the future of anime might just be decentralized.

‍OpenSea: Let’s get right to it! Who are you, and what is your origin story as a builder?

‍Kevin: I'm Kevin van de Luitgaarden, a father of two and a lifelong builder. I left high school at 16 to join my brothers in their design and video production company. Our love for storytelling started early, making homemade movies with friends. At 20, I moved to Spain and built a marketing agency, but eventually, I realized I wasn't fulfilled. I shut it down to go all-in with my brothers again—this time in web3. That's when Finalbosu really began.​

‍OpenSea: What led you to web3 in the first place?

‍Kevin: I got into crypto early, but it wasn't until I bought my first NFT in 2021 that things clicked. A Facebook post by Alex Becker pulled me in, and I fell in love with the emerging culture of community-building. It reminded me of our early days, gathering friends to create with no budget, just imagination. web3 felt like the 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 storytelling? Was there a specific moment when you realized you needed to create something of your own?

‍Kevin: We've always been obsessed with stories—anime, comics, video games, movies. My oldest brother, known as MustaYaki on X, has been drawing anime since we were kids, and most of the Finalbosu style comes from him. One memory that sticks out is when our dad brought home a big box of old comics. Opening it felt like a portal to different worlds. That was the first time I truly understood the power of a media franchise.​

‍OpenSea: What did the anime world need that did not exist when you first started dreaming up Finalbosu? Was there a moment when you realized web3 could help bring anime fans something totally new?

‍Kevin: Anime is beautiful but still largely controlled by traditional studios and gatekeepers. We felt there was room for something more open and inclusive—where fans aren't just spectators but co-creators. We didn't see enough brands embracing web3's power to enable fans to own a piece of the story and contribute creatively. That combination—high-quality worldbuilding, new tech, and shared ownership—is what we're pursuing.​

‍OpenSea: You call Finalbosu a next-generation anime franchise. What exactly does that mean, and what do you think fans are craving that traditional studios are not able to provide?

‍Kevin: It means building from the ground up with the fans. We're not trying to imitate what's come before; we're aiming to do something new. In traditional media, fans help build a franchise in the early days, but once the brand gets big enough, they're no longer needed. We want to change that. With web3, fans can have real participation, creative input, and even ownership. They don't just consume the story—they shape it.​

‍OpenSea: Who is building Finalbosu alongside you, and what unique strengths do they bring to the vision? How do you all stay aligned as you scale a fan-powered universe?

‍Kevin: It started with me and my two older brothers. Now we've grown into a bigger team but kept that same creative core. MustaYaki is the character designer and creative director. My other brother Jeff co-writes the lore and script. Our fourth co-founder is John, aka NFTsorBust, a longtime web3 builder who brings operational and scaling experience. Around us, we've built a small team of animators, artists, and contributors—many of whom started as community members. Alignment comes from shared values. We're obsessed with quality, creativity, and collaboration, and we check in often to ensure the vision remains shared.​

OpenSea: What does community-driven storytelling actually look like at Finalbosu? How do you provide fans with real creative agency?

‍Kevin: It's still early, but the foundation is being built. Community-driven storytelling means giving people the tools, IP access, and platforms to create within our universe. It starts with licensing—if you hold a Finalbosu collectible, you'll eventually be able to build your own brand, content, or product under the franchise umbrella. It also means supporting creators directly. One of our community members runs a merch shop, and we're exploring ways to co-create and amplify his work. On the tech side, we're working with Abstract to create a seamless, Web2-friendly experience. Fans will be able to vote on story elements, submit art or content, and unlock perks—all on-chain, but without needing to be web3-native.​

‍OpenSea: What is the line between chaos and collaboration? When the community wants one thing and the creative team wants another, how do you navigate that?

Kevin: It's a dance. We always want to listen. Some of our best decisions have come from community feedback—even our NFT drop was shaped by what holders told us. But we also believe in protecting the core vision. So we operate in what I call a "semi-decentralized" way. We lead the creative direction but give the community real space to play and grow. One way we manage this is through our "Board of Bosus"—a group of trusted holders who help us make key decisions and pressure-test ideas. As we grow, we'll lean more on systems like that.​

OpenSea: When someone holds a Finalbosu NFT, what are they really getting? How do you help fans go deeper than just collecting a cool PFP?

Kevin: They're getting more than a PFP. They're getting early access to a universe that's still being built. They're joining a community that's hungry, creative, and aligned around a shared mindset: Against All Odds. They're also joining a startup in real time—one that's transparent about the ups and downs and working every day to become something massive. Eventually, they'll get licensing opportunities, storytelling tools, rewards, and ways to help shape the direction of the brand. But for now, what they get is belief—and a front-row seat to the creation of something new.​

OpenSea: Could Finalbosu characters show up in other worlds, like games, virtual spaces, or other creators' universes? What is your take on interoperability?

Kevin: Absolutely. We're already dreaming about ways to bring our characters into games, interactive experiences, board games, virtual worlds—you name it. Interoperability is baked into our DNA. web3 gives us the tools to build open systems where creators and developers can plug in. Over time, we want Finalbosu to be more than a brand—we want it to be a universe you can expand, remix, and bring into new spaces.​

OpenSea: Big picture, what are you actually building here? Is it the next Marvel, or are you after something more radical?

‍Kevin: We're building a media franchise, yes, but also something more radical. We want to build the first truly fan-powered anime brand. One where fans don't just watch but create. Where the next great animator or storyteller doesn't need permission from a studio—they just need an idea, a collectible, and a community behind them. It's ambitious. But so were all the stories we grew up with. We're not aiming to be the next Marvel. We're aiming to build something different—something ours.​

‍OpenSea: If Finalbosu succeeds, what does the anime industry look like in 10 years? Who becomes the hero, and what gets left behind?

‍Kevin: It's more global. More inclusive. More open. We see anime as still in its early days of Western expansion. If we do our job right, Finalbosu will help bridge that gap—with characters and stories that resonate around the world and tools that help creators build their own dreams. We hope to set a precedent: that franchises don't have to gatekeep their fans. That the people who show up early, who believe, who build—they can grow with the brand too. If we succeed, somewhere there's a kid holding a Finalbosu toy, believing in herself just a little bit more. That's the vision.​