Netflix's Interactive Shows Let You Drive the Plot

Netflix's Interactive Shows Let You Drive the Plot

Photo Credit: Netflix/YouTube

An example of the interactive screen in Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale

Highlights
  • The new Puss in Boots episode will last between 18-39 minutes
  • It's available on some TVs, game consoles, and iOS devices
  • An episode of Buddy Thunderstruck coming July 14
Advertisement

Netflix's first attempt at interactive storytelling hit the service on Tuesday, starting with a new standalone animated episode called Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale. During the episode, viewers – kids, predictably – will be asked to make a decision about a dozen times, which will affect the story and length of the show.

For example, viewers will have the option to choose whether the bears faced by Puss in Boots will be friends or foes, and whether it should kiss a queen or just go for a simple handshake. Depending on the choices made, the new episode – Puss in Book – will last anywhere between 18 to 39 minutes, with prompts coming in every two to four minutes.

The new experiment, as Netflix is calling it, is only available on modern smart TVs, streaming media players, game consoles, and iOS devices for now. With a TV, you'll need a remote control, while a finger tap is enough on a phone. It won't work on the Netflix website, Android, Chromecast, and Apple TV, where the episode will play as a linear 23-minute version.

"The children’s programming space was a natural place for us to start since kids are eager to 'play' with their favourite characters and already inclined to tap, touch and swipe at screens," Netflix's director of product innovation, Carla Engelbrecht Fisher, said in a blog. "They also talk to their screens, as though the characters can hear them. Now, that conversation can be two-way."

Not only does it put viewers in control of the experience, it also gives kids a reason to rewatch the same episode to find out the different storylines if they so desire. For Netflix, as always, the data will be illuminating and all-important, as to what choices surface to the top, and how popular the format is with its over 100 million members.

Of course, creating interactive storytelling is much more cumbersome and expensive on a live-action original, though Netflix hasn't ruled it out yet. Meanwhile, the experiment will be rolled out for two more animated kids shows: Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile on July 14, and Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout next year.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Netflix
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Resigns Under Investor Pressure
OnePlus 5 vs Xiaomi Mi 6 vs iPhone 7 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S8: Price, Specifications, Features Compared
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News
 
 

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »