The third installment of The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie is here; Episode 3 brings the total runtime to almost 30 minutes! With this latest release it feels fitting to look back at how we got started, how the team has grown, and the opportunities making this film has created. If you’re just starting to follow along Prop 245 was the first step towards the transformation of how we choose to develop Film and TV. Offering a new economic model for artists at a time when the film and animation industry is looking to reinvent itself. Prop 317 continued the film with a second Episode and after Prop 425 passed Nouns Movie development will continue throughout 2024! The team has been hard at work and has already begun production on Episode 4 and 5, a benefit of the fact that Prop 425 allowed for more flexibility in hiring and staffing after gaining the trust of the community.
Nouns DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) made history by providing the first major grant for the creation of an animated feature-length film, and creating a case for a new era in how content and entertainment could be made. Making content through the Atrium Production Platform represents a distinct shift in who can pursue film. With the assistance of a veteran team of animators, writers, actors, composers and sound engineers we are entering an age where passion to create and financing are the only roadblocks to developing exceptional content. This is the experiment that The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie is documenting in real time, not just the opportunity showcase the work of the team as we build in public, but to create an example of the original content that can be created in this new paradigm. Thank you to Nouns for being the first to experiment in what can be created through the Atrium Production Platform, though it is hard not to wonder who will be next?
Main Character Recap
Gi - A dreamer, Gi longs to be a Rover, to explore the world he lives in and discover what exists beyond the city of Blus. Unsatisfied by the status quo of life he seeks out to discover what the potential of his life could be. Along the way he makes great friends and even greater enemies. Will he be able to realize his dreams and discover a broader world, or will he fall victim to the Frowns plan?
Go - We meet Go, Gi's Father, in Episode 2 and it concludes with him being taken away by the Frowns henchman as he passes the talisman to Gi. Initially just thought to be another normal citizen of Blus he sends his only son in search of Jaws Hardback the last noun known to be selected as a Rover (those that seek out an explore the world of Blus and beyond). Want to know more about the voice behind the character? Learn more about Ray Hurd here.
Mrs Waxman - One of the first characters we are introduced to in the film, Mrs Waxman is seen as an ordinary citizen of Blus, but her tone and inflection lead us to believe there is more to her character that it first seems. After an absence in Episode 2, she reemerges in Episode 3 beginning to show that there is much more to her character and the world than we initially thought.
Mara - The best friend of Gi, Mara balances supporting her friend and maintaining a normal life in Blus after Gi's father has been abducted by the Frowns. Will their relationship withstand the plans of Leader Blunt?
Leader Blunt - Introduced in Episode 2, Leader Blunt heads the ether factory where Gi, Go, and Mara all work to extract ether from the scraps and allow the city of Blus to be powered. Will the frowns succeed in rolling out Noggles X and changing life in Blus forever? Want to know more about the voice behind the character? Learn more about Cesar Romero here.
A Passionate Team
At the heart of the film is a small, but incredibly talented team of creators demonstrating a new way to collaborate and create. The Atrium Production Platform leverages technology to connect everyone working to make the film a reality. As we build in public it has allowed us to provide recognition and showcase the ongoing work from our talented team. While many creators are left waiting years to be able to talk and show their work, we are constantly showcasing work in progress and highlight the talents of the team. Over the last year the team has grown from a small group of 12 to over 70 and all of them can't wait to continue bring you along for the ride. A special thank you to some of the stars that make this production possible
Jakub Pietras - Composer
Based in Poland, Jakub has found the career he always wanted without the need to leave home. The expanding digital infrastructure has led the team at Atrium to connect with passionate creators from all over the world, letting them live their lives the way they intended without the need to uproot their existence. Jakub's love for composing and his work shines through in each episode, adding to the soul of the film with his detailed approach.
Jordan Wiberg - Sound Director
Founder of OKG Music and Sound Jordan joined the Nouns Movie team early on and immediately made his impact felt. His ability to collaborate directly with Jakob led to smooth transitions, improved communications, and a level of detail that has added depth to the experience of the film.
ZenDoubt - Creative Director
Based in Australia, ZenDoubt has over a decade of Hollywood experience, but had always been seeking an opportunity to be more than the cog in the machine at a studio. Having worked on dozens of Marvel blockbuster movies such as Black Panther and Doctor Strange we knew he would be a great fit to help bring the city of Blus to the big screen. Thanks to Nouns Deli for keeping one of our creative directors well fed with the opening of the first nouns sandwich shop!
HKJay - Creative Director
HKJay also has over a decade of experience within Hollywood. Like many involved in big budget films and shows there was a yearning to have a bit more creative control. HKJay's work on His Dark Materials, Lego Batman and The Sea Beast showcase his talent for animation and the depth of his love for story. Based in Hong Kong, HKJay is another example of the global roster of talent that exists within the Atrium Production Platform and how technology has made the creation process evolve over the past few years.
Surpriyo Roy - Co-Founder of Atrium
Supriyo has been instrumental in assembling the team to make The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie a reality. His attention to detail, organization, and love for content have helped shape a team and deliver millions to animators looking to break out from the normal creative track. His persistence and perseverance have helped Atrium deliver the majority of content that has been developed within the web3 space.
Collect a Piece of History
With the release of The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie Episode 3 comes a new way to collect content and unlock the token gated access for the rest of the films development. The deployment on our scene capture mint experience went live on release day on Base. Ensuring an easy and low cost collecting experience and a perpetual invitation to gain access to the development of the rest of the film. Go to nouns.movie, click mint at the top, press pause on your favorite scenes, then select "Mint Scene".
Awareness / Press
The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie received it first award nomination early in 2024 from the Kino Film Festival finishing as a finalist in their people’s choice award. Episodes 1 and 2 were combined and released on YouTube channels CGBros and CGMeetup bringing the film to an audience of over 15 Million subscribers. During NFT NYC the film was screened at a CC0 Studios event showcasing the work we’ve done and the excitement for its anticipated release of Episode 3. Most notably, The Rise of Blus: A Nouns Movie has been accepted to screen in Poznan, Poland during the Animator International Film Festival. As an Oscar qualifying festival, this sets the stage for increasing awareness to alternative economic film models and the ability to onboard more creatives in our space.
Press
NFTNow discussed the movie's $3 million budget and how it relies on governance proposals passed by the Nouns DAO. The studio's founder, Supriyo Roy, regularly updates the film's progress and spending details.
Blockworks highlighted the launch of a new episode of the movie, marking a major milestone for Nouns DAO and Atrium.
NFT Plazas reported on NounsDAO's approval for creating a feature-length animated film featuring NFT characters.
Coindesk covered the announcement of the movie as the first animated feature project funded by Nouns DAO.
Animation Magazine noted the significance of the movie being the first-ever animated film funded by a DAO.
Follow Along
Head to nouns.movie, follow us on X, IG, and YouTube
Participate and see the film develop in real time by joining the discord and see all of the latest updates, previews, and opportunities.
