Thread by @real_alethea

1/ We’ve been spending some time diving into the world of character IP and its intersection with Web3…. thinking of sharing our thoughts and research with our growing community here. We’ll start exploring the @SouthPark franchise in this monster thread 👇🧵👇

2/ What would happen if Matt Stone and @Trey_Parker, creators of @SouthPark, were Crypto Natives who built the show from the ground up with Web3 principles?

3/ We begin by analyzing @SouthPark, arguably some of the most valuable IP in entertainment. This show often stirs controversy, as it satirizes everyone, leaving little room for political correctness. For many, it is quintessentially American.

4/ In 2019, Stone and Parker sold the cost to license South Park in the U.S. for $500 million. Each of the creators are worth at least half a billion dollars. How did the show become such a 🔥 success? And what direction will this entertainment universe go in a Web 3 scenario?

5/ Set in a small Colorado town, the show is entering its 25th season. It revolves around four boys - Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and the legendary Eric Cartman. Cartman can be described in many ways … evil, angry, destructive, deranged, and for many fans … lovable.

6/ Cartman is voiced by @Trey_Parker today. Trey is often cited saying these are the scenes he most enjoys. Parker voices other characters on the show as well, but makes sure not to include any “underlying sweetness” while playing Cartman.

7/ Why are fans so attracted to this deviant kid? You can find Youtube clips and Reddit threads dedicated to defending the complexity and importance of Cartman’s character. Even his aggressive nature can be seen as a feature, not a bug - all part of the Cartman charm.

8/ What if Cartman existed on-chain, natively as a Web 3 asset, much like a Meebit or a Cryptopunk? What if Cartman’s character and narrative could be governed by a DAO? What if his story and character arc could be determined democratically?

9/ Would this be a chaotic experience in the writer’s room, or a novel way of creating character IP that would be beloved by all? We believe that fans will have an opportunity to steer the narrative in Web3 like never before. #DAO

10/ Why does a revolution in character IP matter? We have access to stories and characters aplenty through the current entertainment world. There are clear and distinct differences between Studio Created IP versus DAO/Decentralized IP, to be expanded in a later post.

11/ Characters are now transmedia. They’re no longer just confined to the single medium they were birthed on eg. Cartman on TV. With AI-generated content, Cartman can be on @tiktok_us, @instagram, TV, Print, and now with @real_alethea he can be interactive in real time.

12/ Thanks to @real_alethea, and virtual worlds like @decentraland, and @sandbox there are spaces for interactive, 24/7 characters, just like our recently sold piece of Alice on @Sothebys.

13/ Our bet is that Cartman will become multifaceted. What other contexts can Cartman's character live in?Imagine Cartman as an autonomous AI agent or an AI artist, or as an art collector. The seminal work of Jean Baudrillard, 'Simulacra and Simulation' offers us some clues.

14/ Would Cartman try to discover new artists through @opensea or @withFND? Would he get in a bidding war, tweeting out provocative dares at the same time? #NFTart

15/ Our CEO @ArKhan wrote about some possible permutations for how character IP might evolve with iNFTs in @zima_red, with @AndrewSteinwold

16/ Interoperable, composable characters that can move from one metaverse to another are the future of character IP. Imagine what becomes possible when you establish a shared goal across thousands of DAO members. Cartman to the power of his community = 🔥🔥🔥

17/ As an iNFT, Cartman’s personality would be immortalized in the metaverse, offering a place for fans to engage with the character on a deeper level than if he were stuck inside his own @SouthPark universe. #interoperability

18/ There’s no doubt Cartman’s mean streak would make him a competitive member of any arena he entered in Web3. Cartman could participate in Zed Run @zed_run races, lose, then lament over his loss in a @tiktok_us video where he recorded a voiceover and insulted the other players.

19/ There is no end to imagining Cartman's adventures in the metaverse. Now, when you think of Cartman, what comes to mind? Is it the chubby kid in his trademark hat and smirk - or is it perhaps iNFT Cartman, an interactive, creative entity that can grow, learn, and evolve?

20/ What if Cartman’s voice could be replaced by an AI-generated voice built by @real_alethea? This is already happening with @real_alethea and other platforms covered by the formidable @_KarenHao in the MIT @techreview

21/ Today most Avatar projects are static images, but they are leading the frontier. Collections such as @BoredApeYC and @coolcatsnft. @hollyherndon of @1nterdependence recently created Holly+, her digital twin.

22/ These projects are advancing our conceptions of community and creativity in Web3. Make no mistake, this is going to be a huge market.

23/ Early experiments are underway today with the @punkscomic and the space is just about to blow up as Major studios and IP owners enter the fray.

24/ In a Web 3 world, Cartman and crew will no longer need to be directed solely by @ComedyCentral, but by the fans that made him who he is today, with visions of tomorrow. #AIAvatars #metaverse #communitybuilding

25/ If you’d like to learn more about this work, listen to this podcast with @AndrewSteinwold - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ari… - and join our community! t.me/alethea_ai