Next Interactive Studio has unveiled Chinese-language interactive animated feature Replica as part of its upcoming slate at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan).
The feature, co-produced with Kinlea Culture, invited an audience to influence the film during a showcase at the festival in South Korea.
Next Interactive Studio founder Ronan Wong is known for his work as an advisor on Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-, a Japanese interactive anime that grossed more than $15.5m (¥2.5bn) after remaining on theatrical release for a year. Audiences used a smartphone app to influence the story toward seven different endings.
Based on an original concept by Renee Yang and billed as one of the first Chinese-language interactive animated features, Replica tells the story of a man who must erase his past to reclaim his soul.
Further titles on Next Interactive Studio’s slate included Kaiju Princess, a first-person Japanese romantic fantasy title released as both a film and game; and The Run, third-person English-language interactive thriller that sits alongside a companion game that has already gone live.
Speaking at Bifan, Wong said: “Our technology completely redefines the audience dynamic, transforming the cinema into a unique, unrepeatable social arena. We are turning passive spaces into shared collective experiences.”
Next Interactive Studio is also proposing alternative uses for cinema spaces. Psyche’s Chamber: Vibe Match is an interactive dating experience that matches theatre audiences in real-time based on their shared narrative choices.
The studio has also produced interactive mini-movie Xiaoyu’s Choice, which is being run as part of psychology education programmes in Chinese primary schools.
The 30th Bifan runs July 2-12.
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