The digital collectibles space has seen few projects captivate NFT enthusiasts quite like Azuki.
But when Azuki Elementals launched in June 2023, it proved that even a thriving ecosystem could be pushed further.
This guide explores everything you need to know about Azuki Elementals—from their origin and artistic direction to their market performance and role in the broader Azuki universe.
Azuki Elementals is a collection of 20,000 digital collectibles (NFTs) that broaden the Azuki universe. Each represents a unique character inspired by one of four classical elements: Earth, Fire, Lightning, and Water.
These digital assets live on the Ethereum blockchain, where they can be owned, traded, and sold.
This is the third major release in the Azuki ecosystem, following the original Azuki collection (10,000 NFTs) and the companion Beanz series.
Like their predecessors, the Elementals are designed in Azuki’s signature anime-inspired style—but with distinctive elemental themes that set them apart.
The Azuki team unveiled the Elementals collection on June 23, 2023, during their high-profile Follow the Rabbit event in Las Vegas. It marked the first major character expansion since Beanz, igniting excitement across the NFT space.
Four days later, on June 27, minting went live through a tiered system prioritising the existing community:
Minting used a Dutch auction format, requiring a 2 ETH deposit. If the final auction price settled lower, participants were refunded the difference.
The surprise? They sold out in just 15 minutes during presale—generating an estimated $38 million USD. The entire supply was claimed by Azuki and Beanz holders, leaving no NFTs for public sale.
Azuki Elementals was developed by Chiru Labs, the same team behind the original Azuki project.
While individual artists and developers remain largely anonymous, the project reflects Chiru Labs’ ongoing vision of building “Anime 2.0”—a decentralised, community-owned anime brand.
By blending anime art, blockchain technology, and strong community-building, the team continues to grow the Azuki universe in visually compelling and technically innovative ways.
Azuki Elementals retain the same anime-inspired style that made the original collection iconic—but with a new elemental twist:
The collection also features a variety of character types:
Each NFT carries a unique combination of traits—covering backgrounds, clothing, accessories, and element-specific features.
On marketplaces and analytics platforms, Elementals are ranked by trait rarity, which often influences their market value.
Azuki Elementals were developed with several key goals in mind:
The collection adds depth to the Azuki universe with new characters and elemental lore, enriching the digital world of Hilumia and The Garden.
By prioritising existing Azuki and Beanz holders, the project rewarded loyal supporters and helped grow the core community.
With roughly $38 million raised through minting, Elementals provided a major capital boost to fund Chiru Labs’ broader goals—spanning animation, gaming, and merchandise under the “Anime 2.0” vision.
Azuki Elementals are Ethereum-based NFTs, tradable on platforms like OpenSea, where users can browse traits and rarity rankings.
The official Azuki website also hosts a dedicated gallery that lets fans filter by element type. This gallery includes details on gachapon earnings for Elemental Beanz—hinting at future features or integrations.
Beyond marketplaces, the Elementals are actively shared and discussed in:
Reception to Azuki Elementals was mixed.
Whilst the mint sold out within minutes, the secondary market floor price quickly dipped below the 2 ETH mint price. By April 2025, it had dropped to around 0.24 ETH—a significant decline.
The broader Azuki ecosystem also saw fallout, with floor prices for the original Azuki and Beanz collections slipping after the Elementals launch.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the community response to Azuki Elementals has been split down the middle:
Positive reactions included:
…but on the other side:
In response, the Azuki team acknowledged the concerns and promised improvements—including potential artwork updates and prioritised rewards for original Azuki holders.
Elementals come with a range of perks and access within the broader Azuki ecosystem.
Elemental holders gain entry to The Garden, Azuki’s exclusive community space. Perks include:
All holders received a Soulbound Token (SBT) known as an Elemental Chip, commemorating the Follow the Rabbit event. These tokens may unlock future benefits.
Azuki’s Collector Status program rewards loyalty and long-term engagement—potentially influencing future airdrops, perks, and exclusive opportunities for committed holders.
Azuki continues to build on its ambitious vision, with Elementals playing a key role in its evolving roadmap.
In January 2025, the long-awaited $ANIME token launched, designed to give governance and utility to anime fans. While initial reception was mixed, it marks a major milestone.
The accompanying AnimeChain—a Layer 3 blockchain developed with Arbitrum—aims to power fast, low-cost transactions across the anime ecosystem, which could benefit Elemental holders.
Azuki’s acquisition of Anime.com represents another big step. The platform aims to serve as a central hub for anime content, potentially integrating with the Azuki ecosystem and digital assets like Animecoin.
The upcoming anthology series, Enter the Garden, will feature collaborations with top anime studios. It may include Elementals-inspired characters—boosting their cultural visibility.
Expected by late 2025, the Azuki Trading Card Game could give Elementals new utility within interactive web3 experiences—joining a growing trend of NFT-integrated gameplay.
Azuki is continuing to explore Physical Backed Tokens (PBTs) and exclusive merchandise drops, bridging the gap between digital ownership and real-world products—another avenue of value for Elemental holders.
Azuki Elementals represent a clearly defined chapter in the Azuki project’s growth.
Though the launch faced some backlash and challenges, the collection remains central to Azuki’s long-term strategy and creative expansion.
For collectors and enthusiasts, understanding the context, design, market performance, and potential of Elementals remains essential. As Azuki pursues its “Anime 2.0” vision, the role of Elementals within that ecosystem is likely to evolve in exciting and meaningful ways.
Whether you’re a seasoned Azuki holder, a new collector exploring Elementals, or someone studying the NFT space, this collection offers a prime example of how digital assets can expand across multiple dimensions—both online and off.
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