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, was announced during a showcase of projects from the company 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.
The 100-minute film gives audiences more than 40 choices to influence the outcome of the story. Audiences use an app to choose from up to five choices at any one time, with the majority vote guiding where the story goes next. Between 200-240 minutes of footage is available.
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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