Rakuten Group Inc.

30/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 30/10/2024 11:18

Rakuten Content Central and Toei Debut Original Ninja Characters, 'NinNin'

October 30, 2024
  • Rakuten Group, Inc.

Rakuten Content Central and Toei Debut Original Ninja Characters, "NinNin"

- Launching "NINNIN WARIFU" NFTs, video content and mini apps featuring the ninja-inspired characters.

Tokyo, October 30, 2024 - Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced the launch of its first original ninja-inspired characters, "NinNin," co-developed by Rakuten Content Central, a company specializing in intellectual property (IP) and media franchising, and Toei Company, Ltd.

Credit: © NINNIN Project

As joint owners of NinNin's IP, Rakuten Content Central and Toei, are gearing up to launch several initiatives featuring the new characters. The first of these is the "NINNIN WARIFU," NFTs created in collaboration with Tangle Inc., which will be available via NinNin's exclusive sales website from October 31, 2024, and for secondary trading on NFT marketplaces such as Magic Eden and OpenSea. This unique NFT series features period drama costumes designed by Japanese painter Tadaoto Kainosho and crafted by specialists at Toei Kyoto Studio.

On top of the NFT launch, short anime videos and video content featuring NinNin will be released on official YouTube and TikTok channels. NinNin will also serve as the PR characters for Toei Kyoto Studio Park, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, with a series of special collaborations planned. Further expansion into video productions and mini apps are also in the pipeline, with detailed updates to be provided on the official NinNin website.

Since its establishment in 2022, Rakuten Content Central has been proactively developing content businesses leveraging IP. NinNin marks the first time Rakuten has developed original characters inspired by ninjas, one of Japan's iconic cultural figures. By utilizing this IP, Rakuten aims to bring a wide range of entertainment experiences to the global market.

Rakuten Content Central will continue to develop a variety of original IP content, leveraging its expertise in IP and media franchising to provide diverse entertainment experiences to customers.

Overview of NinNin
Storyline: In the alternate world of "Shinobi," ninjas called NinNin, have been battling demons for 400 years. Just as humans gain the upper hand, the demons escape to another world. The elite ninjas follow them to modern-day Earth, reuniting at Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Kyoto. The NinNin team is determined to thwart the demons' evil deeds on Earth, but they find themselves more fascinated by our world and Toei Kyoto Studio Park's entertainment than their mission! Despite their quirks and occasional clumsiness, they are ready to take down demons with flair... or so they hope. Enjoy the charming and bumbling adventures of NinNin!

Official website: https://ninnin.xyz/
NFT sales website: https://warifu.ninnin.org/
Official X: https://x.com/Project_NINNIN
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQLTOh-KBprfSZhoUSVMjww
Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninnin_pjt_official

Characters:

  • Shunin is extremely earnest and hardworking, though he can sometimes be overzealous. Inspired by Japanese period dramas, he dreams of making his own film one day.
  • Koganenin is a laid-back individual with a highly developed sense of style. Passionate about beauty and fashion, she dreams of beautifying the world with her own designs and can bewilder enemies with her lightning-style jutsu.
  • Tokiwanin is a kind-hearted woman who loves nature. She is fascinated by Earth's flora and fauna, which is vastly different from those on Shinobi.
  • Soranin is a confident and muscular powerhouse. Despite his strong-will, he cares deeply for his comrades and is a huge fan of Earth's street culture.
  • Fujinin is a passionate and cheerful mood-maker. She fell in love with Latin dance on Earth and incorporated its graceful moves into her fighting style.
  • Kohakunin is a young man who loves romance and adventure. He dreams of finding a legendary treasure hidden in the desert that he heard about on Earth.
  • Momonin is a martial artist with honed physical skills. He is cheerful and lively but loose with his time. Fascinated by Earth's martial arts, he dreams of winning a championship belt.
  • Nyan & Meow are commanders leading the NinNin team. They have a strong sense of duty and justice and are strict with themselves and the team. Mysteriously, they were transformed into cats upon arriving on Earth.

Overview of "NINNIN WARIFU"

Launch date: Saturday, October 31, 2024, 11 p.m. (JST)
Official sales site: https://warifu.ninnin.org/
Product overview: The NFTs feature NinNin characters with period drama costumes designed by Japanese painter Tadaoto Kainosho and crafted by specialists at Toei Kyoto Studio.

Example of costume used in the design: from The Bored Samurai ("Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko").

Credit: ©︎TOEI

Overview of Rakuten Content Central
Established in September 2022, Rakuten Content Central is a content production company that handles everything from IP development to comprehensive content production. The company connects Rakuten's more than 70 services and 100 million members in Japan to provide users with a variety of entertainment experiences, through planning, production, distribution and sales of intellectual property in manga, movies, dramas and sports.