CLOKI: The New Genre of Interactive Microdramas with Controllable Timing and Pre-View Options
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This literature review examines the convergence of interactive film technologies and the microdrama phenomenon to establish the theoretical foundations for CLOKI, a novel genre of preliminary interactive microdramas with controllable timing. Through a systematic analysis of over 80 peer-reviewed studies and industry reports, we investigate the challenges of interactive storytelling, particularly the tension between viewer agency and narrative coherence, alongside the explosive growth of Chinese microdramas as a dominant force in mobile entertainment. Our synthesis reveals that traditional interactive films suffer from narrative fragmentation and cognitive overload during real-time decision-making, while microdramas demonstrate commercial viability through ultra-short formats (1-5 minutes) optimized for mobile consumption but lack meaningful personalization. CLOKI addresses these fundamental limitations by implementing pre-viewing control of plot parameters and duration, enabling viewers to configure narrative elements before consumption begins. This preliminary control mechanism resolves the agency-coherence paradox while maintaining the engagement advantages of short-form content. This review establishes CLOKI as a significant innovation in digital storytelling, synthesizing proven elements from successful microdrama platforms with solutions to interactive narrative challenges through temporal and plot customization.