Japan’s First Interactive Movie ‘Hypnosis Mic’ Turns Theater Into Rap Battle Arena: ‘It’s OK to Shout While Watching This One,’ Director Says

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Movie spectators in Japan are known for their exceptional politeness, often taking the initiative to clear away their used soda cups and popcorn boxes post-screening. Their reactions are typically subtle, limited to soft laughter for comedies or quiet sobs for emotionally stirring films.

During the February 5th debut of “Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle” animation at Toho Cinemas Hibiya, a lively audience enthusiastically cheered, clapped, and waved multi-colored glow sticks in sync with the on-screen spectacle.

A group of 300 lucky fans were already buzzing with anticipation as they gathered in the fashionable Tokyo Midtown shopping and amusement center, thanks to the presence of the film’s voice actors and director, Tsujimoto Takanori, before the screening. However, their excitement escalated even further when they realized that the source of their fervor was not just the star-studded lineup, but also the groundbreaking nature of the movie itself – the first fully interactive Japanese feature film. Before the narrative unfolded, which depicted a future Tokyo governed by women who had transformed male aggression into rap battles, spectators were instructed to download an app that allowed them to vote for their favorite rappers during each battle, with the results displayed on screen in real time.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself immersed in a thrilling competition where six three-person rap crews from various Tokyo suburbs and significant cities were participating. Each division was representing their respective subcenters. The grand finale saw the winner squaring off against a powerful trio for the nationwide championship of Japan.

The movie belongs to a cross-platform entertainment empire created by King Records, which debuted in 2017 with hip-hop tunes, then expanded into albums, live performances, video games, comic books, theater productions, and an animated television show.

Following the screening, an influx of fan comments poured into the film’s X social media account. One admirer expressed gratitude to Tsujimoto for “crafting such a magnificent piece of art.” They penned, “After viewing it, I was left speechless – all I could utter was ‘wow!'” They further declared, “I plan to rewatch it repeatedly when it hits the cinemas!

Following a screening review at Toho’s headquarters, set to distribute the movie nationwide on February 21st, director Tsujimoto expressed that the use of rap battles as the foundation for an interactive film was a fitting decision due to the immense popularity of the ‘Hypnosis Mic’ series. He clarified that if the film had been based on an unknown property, the audience might have found our innovative approach more unexpected.

Admittedly, rap remains a relatively small genre in Japan, Tsujimoto confessed. However, the Japanese population has a strong affinity for animation, not just among kids but adults too. Therefore, since ‘Hypnosis Mic’ is an anime, it diminishes any potential barriers people might have towards rap music. Furthermore, the music in ‘Hypnosis Mic’ is exceptional, so I hope audiences will appreciate it as a musical film rather than just a rap movie.

He expressed the belief that “Hypnosis Mic” would expand the horizons not just for the franchise but for cinema as a whole. He mentioned that Japanese audiences typically watch movies silently, but this film encourages audience participation through shouting. The team behind it hopes the viewers will have an unconventional theater experience that goes beyond the norms.

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2025-02-06 18:16