GKIDS and Regal Are Turning Anime Fans Into the Directors With an Interactive HYPNOSISMIC Movie Event
Anime movie releases are already a big deal, but GKIDS is about to crank that experience into something way more hands-on.
The distributor is teaming up with Regal Theatres to bring a truly interactive anime film to theaters, and this one puts the power directly in the audience’s hands. Instead of just watching the story unfold, fans will actively decide how it plays out in real time.
GKIDS has built a reputation as the go-to company for bringing major anime films to audiences outside Japan, especially projects many fans assumed would never leave their home market.
That track record continues with the upcoming release of HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie, which is landing in Regal locations across the United States and select international markets on February 27. What makes this release special is that every screening can play out differently depending on how the audience votes during the movie.
The film is powered by CtrlMovie’s interactive polling technology, which allows viewers to make decisions throughout the screening using their phones. Those votes shape everything from which songs are performed to which characters advance in the story.
While the core runtime clocks in at about 106 minutes, the movie actually contains a massive 328 minutes of possible footage. With 16 songs, 48 possible paths, and seven different endings, no two screenings are guaranteed to be the same.
HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie first debuted in Japanese theaters last year, where it made history as Japan’s first fully interactive anime film. Now, thanks to GKIDS and Regal, that same experience is coming stateside. For fans who’ve followed the franchise for years, this is a rare chance to see something that feels closer to a live event than a traditional movie screening.
Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, the film is set in a world where warfare has been replaced by music-fueled rap battles. Instead of weapons, performers wield the Hypnosis Mic, a device that turns lyrics into a force that directly affects the human spirit.
The story centers on six rival groups competing in the Final Division Rap Battle, and the audience gets to decide who rises and who falls.
GKIDS describes the experience like this: “HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie is an immersive cinematic experience where the outcome lies in your hands. Vote with or against your fellow movie-goers to determine how each battle unfolds in Japan’s first interactive anime film, where each film screening is uniquely shaped by its audience.”
“Disputes are now settled through rap battles instead of violence using a special microphone known as the Hypnosis Mic. Lyrics delivered through the mic directly affect the human spirit, thereby eliminating the need for armed conflict.
Six groups (Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, Matenro, DOTSUITARE-HOMPO, and Bad Ass Temple) from regions throughout Japan now compete to prove their strength in the Final Division Rap Battle, hosted by KOTONOHATOH. In a world where words have replaced weapons, the ultimate rap battle that will decide the future of the nation is about to begin.”
This collaboration between GKIDS and Regal Theatres turns a night at the movies into something closer to a competitive group experience. Add in the tech from CtrlMovie, and it’s easy to see why this release stands out from the usual anime theatrical run.
For anime fans who want more than just a seat and a screen, HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie looks like an awesome excuse to grab friends, pick sides, and literally argue over the ending while it’s happening.
