'Replica' leads Next Interactive Studio's Bucheon showcase
Next Interactive Studio put interactive cinema front and center at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, with 'Replica' leading its slate as more than 100 attendees gathered to play a film live on site during the company's self-developed ecosystem presentation. As 'Replica' leads Next Interactive Studio's Bucheon push, the Chinese-language animated feature anchors the interactive cinema ecosystem the company unveiled at the festival.
The Bucheon showcase matters because it pairs a commercial track record in playable films with new titles aimed at theaters, schools, and social matchmaking. For coverage of similar format shifts, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- 'Replica' headlined Next Interactive Studio's Bucheon presentation as one of the first Chinese-language interactive animated features.
- The film was co-produced with Kinlea Culture and targets content, immersive, and social emotional engagement.
- The studio also showcased Monster Princess, The Run, Psyche's Chamber: Vibe Match, and Xiaoyu's Choice.
- Founder Ronan Wong previously advised on Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle, which grossed about $16.5 million in Japan.
- The company frames interactive cinema as a way to restore human connection through technology.
What Is 'Replica' and Why Did It Lead the Showcase?
'Replica' is a Chinese-language interactive animated feature co-produced with Kinlea Culture, which has focused its recent slate on audience demand for emotional engagement. Next Interactive Studio positions the project across three dimensions the partners describe as content emotion, immersive emotion, and social emotion.
By leading the Bucheon lineup, 'Replica' serves as the studio's flagship example of tech-entertainment convergence and a potential new avenue for cultural export. The film was presented alongside the company's broader interactive cinema ecosystem rather than as a standalone experiment.
What Else Did Next Interactive Studio Present at Bucheon?
Beyond 'Replica,' the studio highlighted Monster Princess, a first-person Japanese romantic fantasy released as both a film and a game, and The Run, a third-person English-language interactive thriller whose companion game is already available.
It also demoed experiences built for cinema spaces. Psyche's Chamber: Vibe Match is an interactive dating experience that matches theater audiences in real time based on shared narrative choices. Xiaoyu's Choice is an interactive mini-movie now running in primary schools across China as a psychology education tool.
Who Is Behind the Push for Interactive Cinema?
Next Interactive Studio founder Ronan Wong has a commercial background in the format. He served as interactive advisor on Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle, which grossed roughly $16.5 million across fewer than 100 theaters and ran continuously for a year in Japan.
Wong said the company's goal is to use technology to restore genuine human connection in a digital era, turning screenings into shared collective experiences. Variety reported the Bucheon presentation drew more than 100 audience members to play a film live during the festival.
Why Does the Bucheon Showcase Matter for Interactive Film?
Next Interactive Studio used the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to demo its full interactive cinema ecosystem in person, with more than 100 audience members participating in a single live-play screening.
By presenting 'Replica' alongside titles spanning animation, thriller, dating, and education formats, the studio pitched interactive film as a theatrical draw built on shared collective experiences rather than passive viewing alone.