Japan set for first interactive anime feature ‘Hypnosis Mic - Division Rap Battle’

Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- will become Japan’s first interactive theatrical film when it premieres on February 21, allowing audiences to vote via smartphone in real time to guide the story across 48 possible routes and seven different endings. The movie extends the popular 2017 Hypnosis Mic multimedia franchise, in which rival rap teams battle using hypnotic microphones, and is animated by Polygon Pictures with distribution by Toho Next. Its interactive system was developed by Kino Industries, whose Asia CEO emphasizes that collective, in-theater decision-making creates emotional peaks unique to cinema. The film joins a broader wave of Japanese theatrical innovations—such as cheer screenings and rereleases with new footage—designed to boost repeat attendance and deepen fan engagement.