Real Boy Bot Club
Story, art direction, brand name, brandmark, animatic, animation, campaign
Built Different
When someone asks you to create a story about Tattooed Robots, you donât just say yesâyou say hell yeah! I crafted the narrative, name, logo, and a promotional film for this one-of-a-kind NFT collection, bringing its bold concept to life.
In 2021, as the NFT boom hit, I was given a brief I couldnât resist: create something âcoolâ featuring tattooed robots. That was all it took to spark a narrative about a post-apocalyptic Earth, where a robot becomes the first of its kind to get inkedâa bold statement of individuality. I brought the story to life in a short 2D film.
As part of the project, I was tasked with naming itâlanding on Real Boy Bot Club, a playful nod to Pinocchioâs iconic line, âIâm a real boy.â This set the tone for the logo, inspired by Michelangeloâs The Creation of Adamâa fusion of classic artistry and the rebellious spirit of reinvention.
To the Moon
The challenge was nothing short of âGod-Tierâ In a space where hype burns fast and projects rug even faster, Real Boy Bot Club (RBBC) needed to be more than just another NFT dropâit had to be a movement. It had to break through the noise, disrupt the meta and create something that truly lived beyond the blockchainâSo we built it differently. By encoding a narrative rooted in a universal truthâthat self-expression is the ultimate form of freedomâRBBC created a story that resonated with the Web3 and NFT cultureâpeople at the forefront of digital movements, shaping trends, and seeking authentic experiences beyond the ordinary.
Built Different
Given full creative control, I started where all great stories doâwith a name. Inspired by the tale of Gepetto and his wooden puppet, who refused to conform, Real Boy Bot Club was born. The wordmark? A nod to Michelangeloâs The Creation of Adamâwhat better way to represent the tension between man and machine, identity and autonomy?
From there, the world of RBBC took shapeâa neo-cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic universe brought to life through gritty, hand-drawn animation and storytelling. It is a place where a once-blank bot feels the pull to express itselfâits story unfolding across a 2D animated promo film broadcast across digital touchpoints for the world to see. Set to an eerie reimagining of Gene Wilderâs Pure Imagination, the film amplifies the brandâs raw, cyberpunk aesthetic. The brand palette? Predominantly black and whiteâclear, bold, and deliberate. RBBC didnât just live on the blockchainâit left its mark in the real world. As part of the launch, every NFT holder had the opportunity to get inked for free by one of Walesâs best tattoo artists, turning digital ownership into a permanent statement of identity. A giveaway that blurred the lines between Web3 and real-world culture.
Testimonial
âLee, totally nailed This project, He was given very little input and exceeded all expectations!â
Jamie Davies, Tattoo Artist and NFT creator