Collectible Corner: The Boring Ape Chronicles
Collectible Corner: The Boring Ape Chronicles
The pixel art and BAYC crossover that made history.
A novel collection was curated in July that incorporated vibrant pixel art and some of the most excitable Ape names from the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Timpers quickly captured the hearts of the NFT community, providing collectors with the opportunity to witness their very own prized possessions in an impressive and animated landscape, displaying an intriguing narrative with each episode released. Timpers is worldbuilding and paving the way for community-driven collections, illustrating an intricate roadmap that rewards holders at every step of the way. To find out more about the historical collection that is TBAC, continue reading below!
The Beginnings
Since starting his art career in 2015, pixel art has become the staple brand. Renowned for his vibrant style, he has inspired many in the art scene to practice this retro aesthetic, bringing pixel art to the forefront of the design community. He quickly brought the attention of pixel art to the NFT scene when he first listed his art on Foundation back in February. Here he sold his genesis piece ‘Planet Ethereum’ to @Linkedin, which was formerly Loopify’s social experiment profile. Since then, Timpers has curated 6 more 1/1 NFTs that individually capture the vivid and immersive environments that he is known for. Given his background in Pixel art and experience in supporting collections such as Kolectiv and Nouns, it was no surprise that he eventually turned his efforts into curating his own collection.
The BAYC story
Launching in late April, the Bored Ape Yacht Club has excelled to unprecedented heights within the NFT space. Initially minting for $200 each, the primates have surged in popularity, with a volume amassing more than 170,000 ETH ($644m) in August alone. The collection swiftly established itself as a Bluechip in the NFT scene resulting in membership becoming exclusive, and many craving to be a part of the club. The current bid at Sothebys auction has reached $19 million, with auctioneers initially predicting $12-18 million. The BAYC are proving to the world that they are the powerhouse NFT with just 3 days to go.
Reflecting back to the launch day in April, Timpers was able to snag three Apes at the mint price. Unaware of their value at the time, he had just joined the most important collection in NFT history. Later, Timpers went on to secure the tweed suit, dagger mouth Ape for a jaw-dropping 15 ETH which has since become his digital identity. With a track record of support for the Apes and a passion for NFT’s, Timpers had an epiphany, a thought which would soon transform into a piece of history.
The Boring Ape Chronicles
Timpers has always incorporated storytelling into his designs, therefore it came as no surprise that his collection presented an interesting and telling narrative. The collection is comprised of a linked together series that features a team of Apes who each play a unique role in their quest to collect the sought-after and sacred artifact, the Diamond Fleece.
The tranquillity expressed in episode one quickly transitioned to a storm of panic and excitement whereby the second episode illustrated the Apes traveling on their way to the next checkpoint, the old monkey woods. Upon arrival, the mystical woods echoed a loud silence, here the Apes were met by fallen Pudgy Penguins, Meebits and Cool Cats, all of whom had burned out in their race to reach the Diamond Fleece. The Apes tended to their friends, resurrecting their hopes of continuing with the journey. With the final episode set to release in the coming weeks, we are expected to find the Apes in a face off with a mega mutant boss who is gatekeeping the sacred artifact. The apes will have to experience one last electrifying ride before the door opens for the diamond fleece!
Since the release of the first episode ‘Ape Wakening’, Timpers has amassed support from some of the biggest names in the BAYC community including Josh ONG, Crypto 888, Kevin Wu, and Dragonseller to name a few. The community has relished at the opportunity to be featured with a huge demand for involvement in the episodes. Subsequently, Timpers has established a strong, and loyal set of supporters. This community drive was extended further where fellow ape @Mikemadazamo mirrored his own quest for the diamond fleece, embarking on a pilgrimage to the top of Mount Fuji where he showcased TBAC Ape awakening in all of its glory!
The Community
With only 100 editions of each episode of the diamond fleece series, demand has been extremely high. As of today, 76 collectors are holding all episodes and therefore demonstrating the extent to which TBAC collectors value this journey and story, holding tightly to their episodes to ensure the safe pass over of the diamond fleece!
Throughout the journey of TBAC, Timpers has fulfilled one of the most fundamental aspects to ensuring success, and that is listening to the community. Preceding the first episode, collectors of the 100 editions called for reserves to be implemented, a feature that would ensure that gas wars were avoided for future drops. Furthermore, where Apes were selected to be featured via Twitter, this was then changed to collectors who held the episodes, thus providing holders with the opportunity to feature in future episodes.
With these changes considered, it is clear that Timpers has the community at the forefront of his mind, further exemplified through the mint price of 0.25 which enables fair access into the collection. With a total volume of 241 ETH the collection has skyrocketed and continues to expand. Finally, Timpers has put forward 10% of the primary sales of each episode into a pool, which is then dedicated to a selected charity with Orangutan Outreach and Autism Speaks being the two charities for the first 3 episodes. From the first 3 episodes, $28,000 has been transferred to these charities, contributing to a brighter future for everyone involved.
Future Plans
With the series one finale edging closer, Timpers has no plans of stopping anytime soon. With a burning desire to take TBAC to the top of the NFT scene, he has a number of exciting rewards, opportunities, and plans for the collection.
Just recently, Timpers teased a proposition that could bring TBAC to life. He is currently in the works with lead animators from established studios to create a fully animated production of TBAC which will include sound, special effects, and more!
To find out more about what Timpers plans for TBAC, the rewards, and opportunities for collectors, check out this exclusive interview below!
Where did your idea for a collection come from and who inspires you?
I love creating Pixel art environments and building stories that immerse the viewer, taking them on a journey of vibrance and colour in retro game themes. The BAYC community is the best and since the launch I always wanted to create a project inspired by these characters and bring the Bored Apes to Life. In July I had a eureka moment and started to visualise an interconnected series of bored ape adventures which led to TBAC.
Tell us about The Diamond Fleece and its significance.
The Diamond Fleece is the sacred artifact that is prized above all else by the bored apes, it is the ultimate source of all power and wisdom. The series tells the story of the bored apes as they join together and embark on a sequence of mini adventures in search of the fleece. With TBAC, bored ape profile pictures are brought to life as they enter a fascinating world, with each ape contributing in their own unique way to the story.
What are the collectors rewards?
I am truly thankful that people want to invest in my art and the TBAC project and at the forefront of our thinking is to reward our loyal collectors. In TBAC series 1 rewards include:
Your bored ape featured in an episode
Reservation of episodes to avoid gas wars
Two variants of episode 5 free of charge
A merch ticket for an exclusive TBAC baseball cap
Diamond Fleece NFT free of charge
Secure a reserve of series 2 episode 1
Revenue share in a TBAC generative art piece
What is next for The Bored Ape Chronicles after series 1?
We’re currently in talks with high quality and experienced animators to create a fully animated production of series 1 that will include narration, visual effects, sounds and more. We want to step up our game with each new idea, we feel as though an animated story will do precisely that.
You will be glad to hear that we are not resting. After series 1 concludes, we will be straight onto series 2 which will bring a whole new adventure, new worlds, more apes and awesome rewards.
This collection has attracted some of the biggest names around, with more traction adding each day and the exciting plans in store for holders, we can expect to see big things for The Boring Ape Chronicles! Make sure to subscribe and let me know who you would like to hear from next!