‘Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle’ Interactive Movie Set for February Release

Japanese multimedia franchise “Hypnosismic” is to expand and include an interactive feature film “Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle” that will release in February next year.

The franchise was developed at King Records in 2017 and involves a world where weapons have been banned and men must fight for supremacy through rap battles. The “Hypnosismic” universe has already diversified into music, radio dramas, manga, stage productions, games and a TV animation (anime) series.

The new film is directed by Tsujimoto Takanori (“Resident Evil: Vendetta”) through Polygon Pictures. The screenplay is by Momose Yuichiro, who was previously a developer of the franchise’s story, characters and games. Character design is by Kazui.

The picture is pitched as Japan’s first interactive movie and involves a new rap battle. The story and the winner of the contest, known as the Third Division Rap Battle, can vary at each different screening, with the outcomes driven by real-time polling of the audience members using their smartphones.

The details were unveiled at the AGF2024 event on Sunday in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. Pre-booking of tickets began immediately ahead of a theatrical release through distributor Toho Next from Feb. 21, 2025.

“Since its inception in 2017, ‘Hypnosismic’ has captivated a vast global fanbase [..] 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,” the producers said in a statement.

“Interactive movies are more than an entertainment novelty. They embody a profound integration of technology and film. 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,” they said.

The previous anime series were animated by a different production house A-1 Pictures and had a different staff including director Ono Katsumi. The first anime season premiered in October 2020 with a simulcast on Funimation, the Sony-owned specialty streamer that has since been absorbed and merged with Crunchyroll. A second season aired in 2023.

Watch the trailer here