Last Saturday, my wife and I sat down in Fort Worth, Texas with Dylan and Kate, the creators behind BizarreBeasts. There were chips. There were drinks. And somewhere in between, there was a story that perfectly captures why BizarreBeasts was the right selection for the Arts3 Web3 Startup Award #2.

Matt: Before we get into the award—take us back. How did BizarreBeasts actually begin?

Dylan: It really started in 2018. Kate and I were both unemployed, and instead of chasing the next job, we decided to build something meaningful. We started painting and illustrating—no roadmap, just creating. Over time, it grew into sketchbooks full of characters, canvases, story ideas… this whole bizarre universe.

Matt: At what point did you realize this could be more?

Dylan: In 2021. Kate looked at everything I’d made and said, “You should really pursue this.” With her background in fashion, merchandising, and music, it clicked. We launched BizarreBeasts straight out of my sketchbook—art, games, media—and now moving into animation.

Matt: How did you discover Decentralized Pictures?

Dylan: I found DCP through the Base Creators Award. At first, I thought it was just a funding opportunity. But once I dug in, I realized it was about validation, mentorship, and building onchain with intention. That felt like exactly what we were doing.

Matt: Let’s talk about "The Moment". What was going through your head before, during, and after the award announcement?

Dylan: Honestly? I thought we lost even though we knew the top 3 finalists went to a committee for final decision. The leaderboard said we were in second place. But during those two weeks, the community support already felt like a win. Then we got the call—and everything changed. It wasn’t just about the money. It was about realizing this project had real momentum.

Kate: Ten minutes later, we were crying, hugging, calling family. And it was really good for my mom, because she's just been dealing with a lot of health issues over the last couple years. And this really, in a way just kind of overtook all that. Our kids were there. His parents were there. Everyone was yelling “Boom!” It was pure joy.

Matt: So… what’s next?

Dylan: We’re getting to work. Over the next few months, we’re producing 5–10 animated shorts for DCP+, each introducing characters, stories, and original music.

Beyond that, we’re building a full transmedia world—games, learning content for kids, merchandise, and onchain creative experiences.

Matt: Incredible! Final thoughts for other creators reading this?

Dylan: Building onchain gave our work community, culture, and continuity. It turned creating into something shared. That’s everything for a creator.

And that’s why we’re here.

Last Saturday, my wife and I sat down in Fort Worth, Texas with Dylan and Kate, the creators behind BizarreBeasts. There were chips. There were drinks. And somewhere in between, there was a story that perfectly captures why BizarreBeasts was the right selection for the Arts3 Web3 Startup Award #2.

Matt: Before we get into the award—take us back. How did BizarreBeasts actually begin?

Dylan: It really started in 2018. Kate and I were both unemployed, and instead of chasing the next job, we decided to build something meaningful. We started painting and illustrating—no roadmap, just creating. Over time, it grew into sketchbooks full of characters, canvases, story ideas… this whole bizarre universe.

Matt: At what point did you realize this could be more?

Dylan: In 2021. Kate looked at everything I’d made and said, “You should really pursue this.” With her background in fashion, merchandising, and music, it clicked. We launched BizarreBeasts straight out of my sketchbook—art, games, media—and now moving into animation.

Matt: How did you discover Decentralized Pictures?

Dylan: I found DCP through the Base Creators Award. At first, I thought it was just a funding opportunity. But once I dug in, I realized it was about validation, mentorship, and building onchain with intention. That felt like exactly what we were doing.

Matt: Let’s talk about "The Moment". What was going through your head before, during, and after the award announcement?

Dylan: Honestly? I thought we lost even though we knew the top 3 finalists went to a committee for final decision. The leaderboard said we were in second place. But during those two weeks, the community support already felt like a win. Then we got the call—and everything changed. It wasn’t just about the money. It was about realizing this project had real momentum.

Kate: Ten minutes later, we were crying, hugging, calling family. And it was really good for my mom, because she's just been dealing with a lot of health issues over the last couple years. And this really, in a way just kind of overtook all that. Our kids were there. His parents were there. Everyone was yelling “Boom!” It was pure joy.

Matt: So… what’s next?

Dylan: We’re getting to work. Over the next few months, we’re producing 5–10 animated shorts for DCP+, each introducing characters, stories, and original music.

Beyond that, we’re building a full transmedia world—games, learning content for kids, merchandise, and onchain creative experiences.

Matt: Incredible! Final thoughts for other creators reading this?

Dylan: Building onchain gave our work community, culture, and continuity. It turned creating into something shared. That’s everything for a creator.

And that’s why we’re here.