The Emmy Built on ETH: Emily Yang aka pplpleasr on the Future of Storytelling

Four years ago, artist Emily Yang aka pplpleasr began a creative journey that would help break new ground at the intersection of art, technology, and community. 

In this episode, we sit down with Emily — founder of Shibuya — to talk about her evolution from illustrator to Emmy-winning storyteller. 

Emily shares how Shibuya is pioneering “permissionless creativity,” using crypto rails to fund, build, and co-create original IP with global communities. Her breakout project, White Rabbit, became the first crypto-native project to win an Emmy (Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media), proving that grassroots storytelling can reach mainstream acclaim. We dive into: 

• How White Rabbit crowdfunded alternate story endings 
• What it means to turn audiences from passive viewers into active participants 
• Why efficient capital formation is a game-changer for creatives 
• Building outside traditional studio systems 
• The creative tension between community input and artistic vision 

Plus, Emily's biggest inspirations (Ghost in the Shell, Miyazaki, David Lynch, and more). 

• 00:00 Behind the Fortune Magazine Cover
• 01:46 Founding Shibuya, and “Permissionless Creativity”
• 02:13 Winning an Emmy for White Rabbit., the First Crypto Project to Win an Emmy
• 03:14 What Is White Rabbit? (Interactive + NFT Model Explained)
• 05:53 From Passive Viewing to Interactive Storytelling
• 07:19 Opportunities for Creatives
• 08:27 Creative Inspirations (Miyazaki, Black Mirror)
• 09:25 Going With Your Gut, And the Advice Should Founders Ignore 

 

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