Photo Credit: King Records
Japan’s ‘Hypnosis Mic: Divisional Rap Battle’ is getting an interactive feature film to release in February next year. The franchise was developed by King Records in 2017.
The multimedia franchise “Hypnosismic,” developed in Japan by King Records in 2017, is set to expand and release an interactive feature film, “Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle,” due out in February next year.
Developed by King Records in 2017, the franchise revolves around a world where weapons have been banned and men fight for supremacy through rap battles. Currently, the franchise includes music, radio dramas, manga, stage productions, games, and an animated TV series (anime).
The new film will be directed by Tsujimoto Takanori through Polygon Pictures, with a screenplay by Momose Yuichiro, who previously developed the franchise’s story, characters, and games.
Pitched as Japan’s first interactive movie, the film involves a new rap battle, the story and winner of which can vary at each screening. The outcomes are driven by real-time polling of the audience members through their smartphones.
“Since its inception in 2017, ‘Hypnosismic’ has captivated a vast global fanbase,” said the film’s producers. “As Japan’s first interactive film, ‘Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle’ not only elevates the commercial value of the IP but also enhances the viewer experience by engaging audiences in its unique interactive format.”
“Interactive movies are more than an entertainment novelty. They embody a profound integration of technology and film,” they continue. “This format introduces new business and revenue models for the film industry, moving beyond traditional cinema big screen into a multi-platform approach that includes gaming, streaming services, and location-based entertainment.”
Details of the new film were unveiled at the AGF2024 event in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district over the weekend. Ticket pre-booking began immediately ahead of a theatrical release through Toho Next, beginning on February 21, 2025.
The first anime series premiered in October 2020, with a second season airing in 2023. These were animated by a different production house, A-1 Pictures, and featured different staff. The series ran with a simulcast on Funimation, Sony’s specialty streamer that has since merged with anime streaming platform Crunchyroll.