Fans of anime, manga, games and cosplay from all over the world had the opportunity to attend a special double screening from King Records of "HYPNOSIS MIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie" and "Uta no☆ Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX" at Anime Expo, the largest anime event in North America.
Here’s my report of the screening held at The Novo on Saturday afternoon.
"HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle-"
I arrive at my second-floor front-row seat 15 minutes before showtime. While it doesn't seem too crowded, I look to the first floor front-row seats to see several groups of what appear to be fans in cosplay, checking their penlights. Looking at the screen, I see a QR code to download the app that will be used to determine each battle's winner, as well as how to vote during the screening. This won't be your typical theater experience — it's something entirely new, where the outcome of the movie lies in the hands of the audience.
"Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-", or "HypMic" for short, is a story set in a world where armed conflict is illegal, and territory is instead gained via rap battles using Hypnosis Mics, special microphones that interfere with human psyche. Teams representing each division compete in the "Division Rap Battles", led by the all-female team Party of Words..
Battles are fought in teams of 3, with 6 teams total:
- Buster Bros!!!: Ikebukuro Division
- MAD TRIGGER CREW: Yokohama Division
- Fling Posse: Shibuya Division
- Matenro: Shinjuku Division
- Bad Ass Temple: Nagoya Division
- DOTSUITARE-HOMPO: Osaka Division
The team that wins the first and second stages will proceed to the final stage where they can challenge Party of Words in battle. The full movie covers events up until the final stage, but for this specially-edited AX closing screening, only up until the second stage is shown.
But what sets this movie experience apart is the mid-movie voting, done via a mobile app called CtrlMovie. After each battle's conclusion, a 10-second countdown begins on the app where viewers vote for the best-performing team by tapping the division's logo. After a few seconds, the winning team is displayed and the story continues.
As the fate of each team is decided by the audience, even for those who might not call themselves fans, the tension in the room as the countdown begins is electric. As the result flashes on the screen, the audience erupts—united in a chorus of both joy and heartbreak that reverberates through the theater.
The characters' reactions and comments differ depending on the results, which makes every viewing a unique thrill. In total there are a whole 48 different ways the story can play out. Fans will watch them all, no doubt.
I realize it's almost time for the movie to start and take a last look around behind me to see that the seats are now filled to overflowing, with even more people standing behind the last row. The first floor is of course also packed. Seeing this spectacle, I feel the excitement building as the MC stirs up the crowd. Then, the screening finally starts.
Over the roars of the crowd, the first thing we see are clips introducing each division. Every team is met with screams of excitement, with the waving penlights changing color each time. I now realize that the pre-screening penlight checking was for this all-important color-changing operation. The introductions perfectly capture each team member's characteristics and their relationships with each other. Next is the opening video, where we get to hear everyone’s singing voices, and includes every character. The battleground is set. The cheers were so loud for every single division that I could not even guess which one might win.
And now for the rap battles to begin!
First stage, first battle:
Buster Bros!!! vs Bad Ass Temple
The battle between Ichiro (Buster Bros!!! leader) and Kuko (Bad Ass Temple leader), who are former teammates, is a must-see.
Time for the vote of destiny. After a short silence, Buster Bros!!!’s logo appears on the screen, followed by loud cheering and crying.
Up on the screen, Kuko approaches Ichiro and they congratulate one another. Fans cheer out warmly.
First stage, second battle:
MAD TRIGGER CREW vs DOTSUITARE-HOMPO
Samatoki (leader of MAD TRIGGER CREW) and Sasara (DOTSUITARE-HOMPO leader) were also once partners on the same team. They know each other inside out — every strength and every weakness. But today isn't a duel. It's a team battle, where the team that unites their strengths to the fullest seizes victory.
Voting time again. A few seconds pass in silence before DOTSUITARE-HOMPO's logo flashes onto the screen. The crowd erupts.
In the face of his loss, Samatoki speaks gracefully and the crowd’s comforting words left an impression.
First stage, third battle:
Fling Posse vs Matenro
Ramuda (leader of Fling Posse) and Jakurai (Matenro's leader) say they hate one-another, but what is the truth...?
During the battle their faces were so close they almost touched, which resulted in cheering and screaming throughout the venue every time.
Once again it is time to vote, and after a short silence, Matenro's logo appears and is met with loud cheering and screaming.
The resentment between the two leaders fades and Jakurai approaches Ramuda amicably, but Ramuda's irritation at Jakurai's unintentionally condescending remarks makes for an amusing conclusion.
The second stage is a tournament between the three teams that won the first stage.
Buster Bros!!! vs DOTSUITARE-HOMPO vs Matenro
Fate once again is in our hands, and this time the choice is between three teams. Cheers for each team echo across the venue, but it's DOTSUITARE-HOMPO who claim victory.
The cheering and the screaming reach their climax.
At long last, it's time for the final battle with Party of Words. The MC reappears and the screening comes to an end.
While the winning division was not my first choice, the result made me very interested to see what a battle between the Kansai team DOTSUITARE-HOMPO and the all-female team Party of Words would look like.
You can check out the results via the link below:
https://hypnosismic-movie.com/voting-status/ax2025/
You can also check out the results for all the screenings held in Japan here:
https://hypnosismic-movie.com/voting-status/results/
"Uta no☆Prince-sama TABOO NIGHT XXXX"
After a (small) switch up in the audience between HypMic and Uta☆Pri fans, the MC introduces the next feature and turns the fans' excitement all the way up! This movie is the third theatrical release for Uta☆Pri and contains a full-length live concert as well as a brand-new animation featuring QUARTET NIGHT.
The "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love" series is a part of the larger Uta☆Pri multimedia franchise, originally a romance visual novel aimed at women. The movie features four members who form the idol unit QUARTET NIGHT:
- Reiji Kotobuki
- Ranmaru Kurosaki
- Ai Mikaze
- Camus
Setlist:
- Jewelful XXXX
- Seize me if you can (Reiji)
- Force & Faith (Ranmaru)
- Wandering in a maze (Ai)
- Do you know who I’m (Camus)
- Ice Pierrot (Camus)
- Zero (Reiji)
- Black Panther (Ranmaru)
- Am I a fairy or...? (Ai)
- The RUN to the RAY (Reiji & Ranmaru)
- God Love (Ai & Camus)
- TABOO NIGHT XXXX (all members)
- JINN-Ω-RAY (all members)
The audience cheered and changed the color of their penlights for each idol, and joined in every single idol call. And in perfect Japanese, of course.
It was just like being at an idol concert in Japan.
After seeing both movies, I was reminded that the love and enthusiasm of fans here rivals — or perhaps even surpasses — that of fans in Japan. From the happy faces of the fans after the screening, there is no doubt that this passion and love will continue to grow.
Event outline
Anime Expo 2025
"HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie” & “Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX" Screening
July 5, 12:30 – 2:30 PM | The Novo
Screening information
"HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie”
https://hypnosismic-movie.com/
“Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX"
https://taboonightxxxx.utapri-movie.com/
