Keanu Reeves is set to lend his voice to the title role of Hidari. The project is a Japanese stop-motion action feature currently in development from director Masashi Kawamura, and was announced by the film’s producers at Cannes. The feature expands Kawamura’s viral 2023 proof-of-concept short of the same name. Since its release, the short has racked up close to 5 million views on YouTube.
The announcement was made at the Annecy Animation Showcase of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival. The pilot film screened at the event, alongside a talk with Kawamura and producer Noriko Matsumoto. They presented the current status of the feature-length adaptation, which is slated to run 90 minutes.
Inspired by
Loosely inspired by the legend of Jingoro Hidari, a near-mythic master carpenter from Japan’s Edo period. The film follows the artisan as he loses his father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm to a betrayal tied to the secret reconstruction of Edo Castle. Channeling that grief, Hidari replaces his lost arm with a variety of mechanical prosthetics and hunts down those responsible alongside his wooden Sleeping Cat companion.
People have come to call him Jingoro “Hidari,” which means “left” in Japanese. Kawamura established stop-motion as the perfect medium for this story, choosing to craft a Jidaigeki (samurai film) around the legend of this enigmatic historical figure.
Reeves called the project a standout. “From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary,” he said in a press release. He added that it has “all the makings of an exceptional film” and expressing his belief that it has the potential to bring “something very special to audiences worldwide.”
Kawamura was equally enthusiastic. “I’m super excited to be collaborating with Keanu,” the director said. “When someone with his experience and creative vision watches your proof of concept and says, ‘I want to be part of this,’ it’s an incredible feeling. He’s not just lending his voice to Hidari — he’s helping us shape and expand this world.”
More about Hidari
Hidari is produced by Matsumoto, head of Japanese animation house Dwarf Studios, which partnered with Netflix on the Rilakkuma series. Its recent short Bottle George was shortlisted for the 2025 Academy Awards. The feature is a co-production between Dwarf Studios, Tokyo creative agency Whatever, and animation house TECARAT.
Iku Ogawa, known for Pokémon Concierge, is co-directing and also handling character design alongside Takeshi Yashiro, who oversees wood carving and art design. The proof-of-concept short has received awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide.
Reeves previously voiced Duke Caboom in Pixar’s Toy Story 4 and Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Kawamura’s broader resume spans commercials, music videos, and television shows, and includes designing the largest pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025.
The film will be in English and is currently slated for completion in 2029. A release date has not yet been set.
