WoW Tapes’ Vision: From Nomads to Cinematic Storytelling

This time, Mugen Links sat down with Wow Tapes, an Italian creative studio known for turning ideas into visually striking stories. Born from the experiences of four digital nomads traveling the globe, the studio has grown into a hub for film production and digital branding that blends international perspectives with the richness of Italian culture. Their work spans both local and global markets, consistently aiming to inspire awe and leave a lasting impact.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Wow Tapes and look forward to exploring creative projects together that push boundaries and spark new inspiration.

Wow Tapes started with four digital nomads traveling the world. How did that adventurous start evolve into a proper studio based in Rome?

Simone:  Wow Tapes started far from Italy, on the road, with four digital nomads filming, traveling, and experimenting with visuals around the world. Over time we found our own way of creating, and decided to turn that energy into something more structured. That’s when we became a studio.

©️ Wow Tapes

We eventually settled in Rome, where we combine our global experience with the depth of Italian culture, working across both the local and international markets.

That’s quite a journey! And the name “Wow Tapes” has such a playful, instinctive feel. How did you come up with it?

Simone:  The name came from a very casual moment. During one of our first edits - a rough one, looking back - we were experimenting with vintage film textures. Someone joked, “this tape is wow,” and it stuck. It captured exactly what we aim for: that raw, instinctive reaction you get when something hits you in the right way. “Wow Tapes” became a reminder that our mission is simple: create work that sparks awe, no matter the format.

I see, so that idea of “awe” really seems central to your philosophy. Could you describe your creative approach a bit more?

©️Wow Tapes

Simone:  We approach our creative work through the lens of awe, not as a mindset but as a mindswitch. We chase that moment where perception flips and sparks action. To get there we train ourselves by exploring, experiencing and experimenting with concepts, visuals or narratives. The outcome is work that doesn’t just communicate, but rewires how people see and feel about places, ideas or brands. Our job is what happens when wonder becomes a stance.

Japan must offer a very different kind of creative environment. Do you find it inspiring, challenging, or both?

Simone: For us, Japan is both inspiring and challenging. Its visual culture, from ultra-modern cities to deep-rooted traditions, offers endless material for storytelling. At the same time, the precision, organization, and cultural nuances expected in Japanese productions push us to grow. Navigating these aspects is making us more structured, attentive, and culturally aware. Japan elevates our work by reminding us that creativity lives not just in ideas, but in how carefully they’re executed.

Given that, how do you adapt your storytelling for Japanese audiences while keeping your style?

Simone:  Every brand, region, and demographic has its own nuances, so we always adapt our storytelling to each one. Even though we see branding and content as an art form, there’s always a strategic message behind it, and that message has to speak the audience’s cultural language. That’s why we research, listen, and shape our style accordingly.

©️Wow Tapes

But we also rely on something that travels across borders and markets: awe it’s universal, and it helps our work resonate no matter where it lands.

Flexibility seems key for you. What else sets Wow Tapes apart from other studios?

Simone:  As an independent creative studio, we stay flexible and fast without compromising the quality of our work. We build custom crews for every project and bring the client’s team into the process from day one: no layers, no detours, just direct collaboration.But what truly sets us apart is our obsession with impact. We push every project further than the brief demands, not only for our clients but for the love of our work itself. The extra mile isn’t optional for us, it’s our baseline.

And your Italian roots—how do they influence your work?

Simone:  As Italians, we’ve grown up surrounded by wonders: from architecture to imperfections, from chaos to beauty. That environment shapes how we see, think, and create. Our multidisciplinary approach comes from that mix: strong aesthetics, instinctive storytelling, and a culture that turns everyday moments into something cinematic.

Our work wouldn’t exist without where we come from, whether it’s gelato on a hot day, a coastline at golden hour, or the way people move through a piazza. It all feeds the way we build images, brands, and experiences.

Are there particular projects that capture Wow Tapes’ essence?

Simone:  In our journey as a creative studio, we can clearly identify two major milestones.The first is our personal love letter to our home country, “Italia: Where WOW Belongs” a short film that went viral in 2018 and is still remembered for offering a fresh, emotional perspective on one of the most filmed countries in the world.The second is “The boy with the book under his arm”, our first feature documentary. It tells the untold story of Italian soldiers imprisoned by the Nazis during the Second World War, through the words of Nildo Menin, who survived captivity and documented everything in his diary. The project took on an even deeper meaning, because the director and co-founder of Wow Tapes is Nildo’s grandnephew. In the end, both works connect our craft, our history, and our roots in a way no other project has.

When it comes to measuring success, what matters most to you?

©️ Wow Tapes

©️ Wow Tapes

Simone: We're deeply involved in the conception and production of a campaign, but we're not the ones running it on the broadcast or distribution side, so we don’t pretend to own metrics we don’t control. What we do measure is the impact on our clients: the trust they place in us, the challenges they bring back, and the fact that they choose to collaborate with us again. For us, repeat partnerships are the clearest sign that our work is doing exactly what it should.

Can you share a story behind one of your most visually memorable projects?

Simone: One project above all felt like the adventure of a lifetime.It took us into the jungle of Costa Rica, on board an old school bus converted into an office on wheels. We spent a month crossing the greenest, wildest country we’ve ever seen, experiencing a nostalgia for a world that isn’t ours and never will be. Because it doesn’t belong to anyone, yet somehow we all belong to it.The project is called The Nameless Call, watch it to feel what we felt.

Looking forward, what kinds of projects or partnerships excite you most with Mugen Links’ support?

Simone: We’re excited to collaborate with brands, companies, and institutions across a wide range of sectors: from space economy to sports, videogames, and tourism. With Mugen Links’ support, we want to help them shape standout hero campaigns and impactful branded content.

And in the next few years, how do you see Wow Tapes evolving in the global and Japanese creative markets?

Wow Tapes Team

Simone: Beyond reaching our full potential as a creative agency, we see Wow Tapes expanding its cinematic side, producing feature films, documentaries, and series for both the international and Japanese markets. We’re currently experiencing steady, sustainable growth, consolidating our presence in Europe with studios in Rome and London. And who knows, maybe the next one will be Tokyo.