A storytelling lesson from Japanese anime

The most overlooked storytelling teacher I’ve had

Author

Stephen Stanberry
December 21st, 2025

In partnership with

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Let me tell you about a quiet realization that took a full week to land.

It started on Instagram.

About a week ago, I watched a short video breaking down how Japanese anime handles story.

I remember thinking,
“Hmm… that’s interesting.”

Then I kept scrolling.

Fast forward to Friday.

I’m on LinkedIn and I come across a post from Keron Rose.
He teaches people how to build a digital presence and turn it into income.

And he was talking about the same thing.

Different platform.
Different voice.
Same idea.

That’s usually a sign I’m supposed to pay attention.

Most of us don’t look at anime through a storytelling lens.
We treat it like entertainment.
Something you either grew up with… or skipped entirely.

For me, it was Naruto.

Not because of the action.
Not because of the animation.

But because of how slow it was willing to be.

Characters struggled for long stretches.
They trained without applause.
They made mistakes that followed them for years.
And the story never rushed to clean it up.

At the time, I didn’t realize why it stuck with me.

Now I do.

Those stories weren’t trying to impress you.
They were trying to build trust.

They let you live with the characters.
Sit in their doubt.
Watch them grow inch by inch.

And over time, something happens.

You stop watching.
You start belonging.

That’s the part that keeps circling back for me.

When you zoom out, the most enduring work doesn’t chase attention.
It earns loyalty.

It doesn’t rely on moments.
It compounds through meaning.

So here’s the question I’ve been sitting with since Friday:

Are you creating something people can visit once…
or something they want to return to?

You don’t need to answer it publicly.
You don’t need to change anything today.

Just notice what comes up.

Till TOMORROW,
Stephen

P.S. Sometimes insight needs repetition before it turns into understanding.

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