Keanu Reeves Carves Out Lead Role in Masashi Kawamura’s Stop-Motion Samurai Epic ‘Hidari’
The intersection of classic Japanese history and high-octane action cinema just found its perfect anchor. Hollywood icon Keanu Reeves (John Wick, The Matrix) has signed on to voice the titular protagonist in Hidari, an upcoming feature-length stop-motion samurai film directed and written by Masashi Kawamura.
The major casting coup was announced at the Cannes Market during the Annecy Animation Showcase, cementing the project’s transition from a viral internet sensation to a major global cinematic event.
From Viral Proof-of-Concept to Cannes Center Stage
The journey of Hidari began in 2023 when Kawamura and his team launched a jaw-dropping five-minute proof-of-concept short on YouTube. Showcasing hyper-kinetic action choreography executed entirely through intricately carved wooden puppets, the pilot went massively viral, racking up nearly 5 million views and capturing the imaginations of animation fans worldwide.
Now, with backing from top-tier stop-motion entities—including dwarf studios (the team behind Netflix’s Rilakkuma) and TECARAT, alongside financing partner Questry Co.—the independent passion project is scaling up into a full-length feature.
A Tale of Revenge, Craftsmanship, and Mechanical Might
Loosely inspired by the historical legend of Jingorō Hidari—a mysterious, brilliant craftsman of Japan’s Edo era whose actual historical existence remains a subject of debate—the film weaves a gripping, dark fantasy narrative around the sculptor’s life.
The story finds Jingorō betrayed by a shadowy cabal desperate to bury the dark secrets surrounding the reconstruction of Edo Castle. In the wake of the conspiracy, Jingorō loses everything: his father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm. Barely escaping with his life, the master carpenter channels his grief into lethal engineering. Using his immaculate carpentry skills, he replaces his severed limb with a series of weaponized, mechanical prosthetic arms.
Accompanied by his loyal wooden companion, the “Sleeping Cat” (a nod to the real-world Nemuri-neko sculpture attributed to the historical Hidari), the wooden-cyborg samurai sets out on a bloody path of vengeance and self-discovery.
A Match Made in Action Heaven
For director Masashi Kawamura, landing the John Wick star was nothing short of a dream scenario.
“One of the films we referenced while creating the Hidari pilot film and developing the screenplay was John Wick,” Kawamura shared. “And when I made my own personal dream list of actors I hoped could someday be part of the feature adaptation, the very first name I wrote down was Keanu Reeves. I never imagined that he would actually join the project. Even now, it still feels surreal.”
Kawamura noted that Reeves isn’t merely lending his signature gravelly baritone to the project; he is actively collaborating with the creative team to help expand and shape the lore of the world.
Reeves, an avowed fan of animation and comic books who recently lent his vocal talents to projects like Secret Level (“Armored Core”), Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and his own upcoming BRZRKR anime series, expressed equal parts enthusiasm for the film’s distinct aesthetic.
“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari,” Reeves said in an official statement. “From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary. It has all the makings of an exceptional film—one I’m excited to see and eager to be part of. I believe this project has the potential to bring something very special to audiences worldwide.”
Pushing the Limits of Stop-Motion Artistry
What sets Hidari apart from traditional stop-motion is its stunning, medium-reflective visual design. The puppets are meticulously fashioned out of raw wood, meaning that as characters trade sword strikes, the damage is quite literally chipped, splintered, and carved away right on screen. The pilot also famously teased towering wooden mechs and shifting, mechanical architecture inside Edo Castle, promising a scale rarely seen in physical puppet animation.
With producer Noriko Matsumoto (whose recent short film Bottle George was shortlisted for the 2025 Academy Awards) guiding production, Hidari stands as one of the most creatively ambitious international animated features on the horizon. By pairing Hollywood star-power with uncompromising Japanese craftsmanship, Kawamura’s “wood sculpture” epic is well on its way to carving out a permanent place in animation history.
