RENGA: Boundless Storytelling
RENGA stands out as a distinctive retro-futuristic NFT collection crafted to foster a brand and a global community. Within this shared imaginary universe, collectors can weave narratives around their unique characters.
British artist and illustrator Daniel Isles, alias DirtyRobot, initiated the RENGA project using his prior experience in blockchain digital items. Daniel, who lives in Japan, is credited with all the original images for RENGA, although his team’s efforts in strategy and finance, among other areas, also play a crucial role. Early on, the project secured backing from WeNew Labs, renowned for their flagship NFT collection, 10KTF.
In Japanese, Renga means “collaborative sequential storytelling by poets,” which has become the central theme of the project. Daniel started with a small comic in the universe, and beyond that, the fictional world can be expanded by RENGA collectors, who create stories about their NFT characters. This should lead to a rich and multifaceted narrative filled with numerous plot lines and unexpected twists. This is why the project explicitly rejects the idea of having a roadmap.
I think they hinder artists as opposed to helping (them). I can’t predict what I will create in the future, and this space moves so fast; what’s cool today may not be cool tomorrow,remarked DirtyRobot.
The collection features 10,000 unique characters, each distinguished by specific traits such as hairstyle, armor, and personality. Particularly notable is the archetype each belongs to, such as agent, robot, or alchemist, which adds depth to their roles. The market price for one RENGA NFT is currently set at 0.125 ETH (approximately $435), and a 5% royalty goes to the creator. The total issuance of tokens is intrinsically linked to the number of 'Black Box' NFTs that are burned—these are special tokens essential for creating a RENGA.
The RENGA Collection. Source: Official OpenSea Website..
The majority of Black Boxes were distributed via airdrop to supporters of The Art of Seasons—DirtyRobot’s inaugural art endeavor focused on the annual cyclic pattern of nature. This event provided early supporters not just with tokens; it'd granted the enthusiasts a unique opportunity to engage with his artistry. At present, about 1,000 Black Boxes remain, each priced around 0.38 ETH ($1370).
Besides the interlinked trio of NFT collections, an independent Haas x RENGA Racing series was developed in collaboration with Moneygram Haas F1. This collection, comprising 1,000 NFTs focused on racing, grants holders immediate access to merchandise draws and future perks. Racing enthusiasts can acquire these NFTs for merely 0.019 ETH ($70).
Due to the somewhat complicated mechanism for acquiring RENGA, the project advises users to be vigilant about suspicious messages offering another RENGA minting, as scammers actively use phishing tactics around news of RENGA’s bonus individual NFT launches.
Since its launch in 2022, RENGA has achieved substantial market success, with transactions amounting to 54,000 ETH (about $188 million). Although the virtual universe has seen limited expansion post-launch, the community remains robustly supportive—with only 5% of purchased NFTs resold and high social media engagement continuing.
Looking ahead to the end of 2024, the RENGA team plans to unveil a graphic novel, branded merchandise, and a series of themed collectibles.
