Web3 Storytelling And NFT Storytelling Guide (Updated 2023)

Most authors would agree that the existing publishing system has many flaws that put authors in a very disadvantageous position. To make matters worse, the publishers themselves may not be in a very comfortable spot either. For instance, authors often have to give up IP or control over their products, or face immense pressure from publishers that may alter their original content. Well, web3 storytelling may just be the knight in shining armour for this industry. Read on to find out why!

nft storytelling

Table of Contents

What Is Web3 Storytelling?

Web3 storytelling or NFT storytelling is where the NFT community plays an integral part in the project itself, establishing an environment of collaborative content. While there are several ways to go about this, NFT holders typically fund the project from the get go and participate in the direction and narrative of the story itself. With the availability of NFTs, authors can now have direct access to their audiences, co-creating meaningful value through storytelling.

What Are The Benefits Web3 Storytelling?

There are many reasons to introduce NFTs into this billion dollar industry which includes movies, podcasts, books, and other types of content. Content creators can use NFTs to organise exclusive ‘meet the author’ events or grant early access to certain materials. Whereas the NFT holders now have the right to vote and participate in future stories, with the possibility of monetising their contributions as well.

Similar to NFT marketplaces today, publishing stories on web3 platforms like Readl can guarantee lifetime royalties, eliminate expensive middlemen, and source for funds directly from the community. This effectively eliminates predatory intermediaries and reserves more value for the active participants, which are the creators themselves and their audiences.

Several celebrities have been involved in this space throughout the past year. For instance, Mila Kunis’ successful web animated series Stoner Cats allows NFT holders to vote on the storyline of the next episode. Whereas Gary Vee’s VeeFriends NFT collection is an IP empire in itself, allowing them to produce TV series, storybooks, and others to further expand the ecosystem.

Best Web3 Storytelling Content Types

1) Collaborative Storytelling

There are several projects that have started their web3 storytelling initiatives and are receiving very favourable responses from the community. DC’s Bat Cowl NFT collection features 200k NFTs that each play a role in the storytelling process. Holders get to shape their own Super Hero and vote on key aspects of the comic, including its storyline, characters, and art.

nft storytelling
DC makes good use of collaborative storytelling. Credit: DC

2) Web3 Comics

Similarly, the Kumite NFT project features 9.6k custom NFTs that have unique aesthetics and identities. The Kumite team envisions being able to define storytelling in web3, combining ContentFi and GameFi. Among the many big plans that HeroMaker Studios has for the Kumite NFT collection, NFT holders will be able to pave their own journey within the ecosystem, which will soon include film, gaming, avatar generation, and other franchises. You can also check out other web3 comics like Ernest in Disguised, Unity, Mankind Withering, Runner, and 2142.

kumite nft

3) Creating Awareness Via Storytelling

Founder and artist of Magic Mind NFT, Kira Bursky, is currently on a mission to spread mental health awareness using her vast experience in storytelling, film, and art. This collection celebrates mental health and self-care, with each NFT uniquely layered with mental and emotional meaning. Kira has provided a collector’s guide to interpret the symbology of each NFT. This only acts as a starting point as each collector will ultimately resonate differently with their NFTs. In addition, part of the proceeds will go to mental health charities and reinvesting them into this community.

Explore the different mental aspects that you didn't know you didn't know. Credit: Magic Mind NFT

What Notable Companies Have Used Web3 Storytelling?

Louis Vuitton’s ‘Louis The Game’ and Gucci’s Aria collection are great examples of how businesses can leverage web3 storytelling. These luxury brands have utilised NFTs to describe hundreds of years of history and heritage, while rewarding the audiences with both physical and digital memorabilia. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to sit the younger generation down for a history lesson.

On the other hand, Microsoft’s Azure Heroes is an NFT game that tells the story of famous female scientists, in conjunction with the 6th International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Campbell has also launched their own NFT collection to celebrate changes to its iconic soup can labels. The company worked with world renowned artist Sophia Chang, which uses a creative storytelling approach to design an NFT that highlights both the beloved nostalgia and a modern interpretation of the brand.