COMPANY
PROJECT
RTFKT
Project ANIMUS
CONTRIBUTIONS
Narrative Design
Lore
3D Design
AR
Immersive Design
DETAILS
Project Animus is an epic story of exploration, resilience, and revelation in the RTFKT universe. Created in collaboration with Takashi Murakami, the project centers on Animus—rare companion creatures with special powers designed to assist Clones in their adventures. Following the destruction of their home world, Clones set off across the stars, guided only by mysterious Animus Eggs gifted by the Progenitor. Through a series of phases, immersive quests, and years of storytelling, the community connects, incubates, and finally reveals these creatures as part of the Clones' search for a new home.
The unfolding narrative builds upon previous RTFKT campaigns, leading to a grand reveal in which Clones discover an energy-rich world where the Animus can hatch. The project, delivered in stages, provides its owners with their companions in multiple forms and files to use in games, animations, VR, AR, and metaverse platforms. It offers deep connectivity, storytelling, and character evolution for the RTFKT community.
A Story To Tell
For Project Animus, I was entrusted with weaving together a multi-year narrative that would build anticipation and set the stage for the grand Animus reveal. Through polished animations, immersive quests, video logs, and narrated audio, fans were gradually drawn into the evolving story of the Clones. After the destruction of their home world, the Clones embarked on a quest, driven by the need to find a new home and fueled by the mysterious Animus Eggs left by their progenitor.
Finally, through hidden clues and cryptic coordinates, the Clones discovered a strange new world.
Its unique energy was the missing piece needed to bring the Animus to life. This culmination of many campaigns and collectibles set the scene for a narrative crescendo that fans had anticipated for years and left them excited for what was to come.
Below you’ll find a combined recap of most of those artifacts. Some were omitted to keep a focus on the main branch of the tale.
Launch
Reveal
For the Animus reveal, we wanted to shine a light on the incredible talent within our community. We teamed up with amazing creators like Aalasady, Yori, and Hunter 2one to bring this trailer to life. Their creativity and hard work made this launch truly special, showcasing not just the epic story of Animus but also the passion and collaboration that defines our community. This project wasn’t just about the reveal, it also underscored the strength of our community’s creative spirit, making the launch a truly collaborative and unforgettable moment.
What is Animus?
Project Animus is RTFKT’s most ambitious creative and technical initiative to date, bringing the idea of digital companions to life within the Clone X universe. Created in collaboration with Takashi Murakami, Animus draws inspiration from classics like Pokémon, while pushing the boundaries of storytelling, gamification, and digital ownership.
The project introduces 40 unique companion species across 20,000 characters, each designed to support Clones on their adventures and even create some of their own along the way.
Every Animus features dual 2D and 3D modes, allowing users to seamlessly shift between stylized expression and real-time, fully rigged characters, optimized for AR, VR, and gaming environments.
As a multi-phase narrative experience, Animus unfolds through evolving storylines, gamified progression, and community-driven discovery, aligning with RTFKT’s vision of merging gaming culture with the future of digital collectibles.
Hover (or tap if on mobile) to toggle between 2D and 3D below.
The Animus site also features a dynamic gallery where visitors can explore each Animus in both their 3D and 2D forms. This section provides an in-depth look at the intricate designs and unique stats of each character.
Explore the world of Animus at animus.rtfkt.com
AR Filters
As part of the lead-up to the Animus incubation event, we created a series of AR filters, giving the community a playful and interactive way to experience Animus in their own environment. These filters allowed people to bring elements of the Animus universe to life, bridging the digital and physical worlds while building excitement for the upcoming incubation event.
Scan the QR codes below and try them out for yourself.