New BAYC short film reveals the next expansion of the Apes universe
When it comes to NFT project popularity, there’s no contest: Bored Ape Yacht Club takes the cake every time. Having established near dominance over the PFP NFT market, Yuga Labs and its expansive BAYC ecosystem have continued to maintain their grip on Web3, even when announcements and project updates were few and far between.
But now the next chapter of BAYC has been started, sending the NFT community into a frenzy. Launched via a short film titled The trial of Jimmy the monkey, the upcoming phase of BAYC’s history has created excitement, skepticism and speculation. So to clear the air before Yuga’s impending coin event arrives, we’ve put together this short guide containing everything you need to know about this expansion of the BAYC universe.
The trial of Jimmy the monkey
It all starts with the new BAYC short film The trial of Jimmy the monkey. Clocking in at nearly two minutes, the animated offering centers on a character named Jimmy, who sets the stage for a new chapter in Bored Apes’ history. Packed with action and humor (albeit low-brow at times, but who can blame them), the film features a mysterious box and key presented to a group of partying BAYC members in the form of a time-traveling toilet knight.
Led by BAYC mascot Curtis, throughout the film the obvious significance of this box is satirised, and eventually the key ends up in Jimmy’s stomach, with disgruntled BAYC members eager to retrieve it, no matter the cost. But beyond the absurdity and poop jokes, the NFT community, especially the Twitter user Ryder333has already begun dissect the video to reveal its underlying meaning. And with good reason, considering myself official BAYC Twitter accounting urged community members to “pay attention to the signs,” which says that details may become important afterwards.
Still, beyond the discoveries made regarding time travel and how it might affect the BAYC story, collectors and enthusiasts can further benefit from MDvMM.xyz – a new website created by Yuga to chronicle Ape’s ongoing expansion. Because while an official Yuga news release states that “all questions will be answered in due course,” the aforementioned site lays out, in no uncertain terms, exactly what to expect.
The BAYC chapters are coming
According to the MDvMM site, there will be a total of six chapters in this current BAYC lore expansion, with “The Trial of Jimmy the Monkey” as a prologue. Next on the roadmap is a stop on December 28 titled “Mysteries Revealed.” Could this be another short film? Maybe a blog post? For now, it’s anyone’s guess. But what we can assume is that things will really start to heat up in the new year.
On January 11th, details of the upcoming BAYC coin will be revealed. On this day, Yuga will release a guide for BAYC community members to study to “strategize” for the upcoming coin. Then, on January 18, the multi-week interactive coin event begins, bringing with it a set of unique mechanics. See the graphic below for more on important dates.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there, because via MDvMM the story “continues” from chapter six onwards. As for what this might entail, BAYC’s Twitter provided a little more insightwhich says, “the trial [of Jimmy] is the prologue to a series of activations to come over the next year.” Considering the tenacious nature of Yuga Labs, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that BAYC members should expect more than six chapters in this evolving ecosystem expansion.
How to prepare the coin
Whatever comes in 2023, it’s clear that things will really kick off during the interactive coin event on January 18th. Although details have yet to be released, Yuga gave a hint to collectors via Twitter by posting a layered chart showing the different levels of BAYC ownership that should be considered before the mint. “We don’t want to spoil everything, but here’s a tip: When it comes to mint, Monkeys (BAYC or MAYC) that also hold BAKC will be in their own tiers,” Yuga added via blog post. “There will also be an optional $APE usage mechanic, for those looking to improve the embossing experience.”
Pro tip: When it comes to mint, Monkeys (BAYC or MAYC) who also have a BAKC will be in their own right. There will also be an optional $APE spend mechanic, for those who want to improve the embossing experience. pic.twitter.com/suAMva2Pfi
— Bored Ape Yacht Club (@BoredApeYC) 20 December 2022
Those looking to sell their BAYC, MAYC or Kennel Club dogs may reconsider after learning about the potential benefits of NFT mating going into the coin. The same can also be said for those hoping to trade their $APE, considering Yuga’s line about an optional token usage mechanism. But as if the chart wasn’t enough already, enthusiasts should also assume that the BAYC and Otherside gaming ecosystems are likely to see a major upgrade in the future as Activision Blizzard president and COO Daniel Alegre has come aboard Yuga Labs as the company’s new CEO. .
It should be noted that those who wish to participate in the upcoming release must exercise caution when obtaining information about the activation. To echo a tweet from BAYC: Yuga’s news page, as well as the official BAYC Discord and Twitter account should always be considered primary sources of information.
