HIDARI, a stop-motion samurai film currently in development by dwarf studios, AOI Pro. Inc. in collaboration with Whatever and TECARAT, has announced Keanu Reeves as the lead voice of the film. The announcement was made during a presentation at the Annecy Animation Showcase, held as part of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where creator, writer, and director Masashi Kawamura and producer Noriko Matsumoto took the stage to present the project's vision for the feature film.

The Annecy Animation Showcase is a dedicated animation program within the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, offering five carefully selected projects from around the world an opportunity to present to international distributors, investors, and industry professionals.
　　

Keanu Reeves stars as the lead voice of Hidari Jingoro, the protagonist of HIDARI, marking his first role in a Japanese original production. Known for a wide range of films including Speed, The Matrix, and John Wick, Reeves has earned acclaim both in Japan and internationally for his quiet yet commanding screen presence. He has also lent his voice to animated works such as Sonic × Shadow: Tokyo Mission and Toy Story 4. In HIDARI, he brings to life the inner conflict of Jingoro, a man consumed by revenge yet unable to abandon his instinct to create.
　　

Keanu Reeves as Hidari Jingoro

As a remarkably eclectic actor, Reeves has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment through the diverse roles he has played. He is best known for his starring roles in "The Matrix" and "John Wick" franchises.
Reeves made his comic book writing debut in 2021 with BRZRKR, a sixteen-issue and graphic-novel limited series distributed through BOOM! Studios, which quickly became the highest-selling original comic book series debut in over 25 years. In 2023, he returned to the big screen in "John Wick: Chapter 4," which became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. His other recent projects include "Outcome," "Good Fortune," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "The Matrix Resurrections," "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum," "Always Be My Maybe," "Toy Story 4," and the video game Cyberpunk 2077.
He is currently filming "Shiver," directed by Tim Miller and has completed production on "The Entertainment System Is Down," directed by Ruben Östlund.
Reeves recently made his Broadway debut in "Waiting for Godot" playing Estragon opposite Alex Winter and directed by Jamie Lloyd. It was a very successful 16 week run from September to January 2026.
This summer Reeves will reunite with his band Dogstar. They are releasing a new album, "All In Now" on May 29, 2016. The band will begin an international tour beginning at the end of May. In 2023, he co-wrote a New York Times bestselling book, "The Book of Elsewhere," with China Miéville based on the his best selling comic book, BRZRKR
Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theater productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles.
　　

HIDARI is a stop-motion period film inspired by the legendary sculptor Hidari Jingoro, a mysterious figure whose very existence remains uncertain, yet who left behind countless works and tales. Brought to life through intricately carved wooden puppets that mirror his craft, HIDARI is produced by dwarf and co-developed by three companies: Whatever, the creative studio led by director Masashi Kawamura, alongside dwarf and TECARAT—two studios internationally recognized in the field of stop-motion.
The proof-of-concept film, released on YouTube, has surpassed 4.9 million views with over 120,000 subscribers, sparking widespread attention across social media and international press. It has also received awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide, an exceptional achievement for a proof-of-concept work.

Synopsis

Set in Edo-period Japan, HIDARI weaves together real historical events and figures with original characters to tell a story of revenge.

Jingoro, a master craftsman of his time, is caught in a conspiracy during the reconstruction of Edo Castle, losing his mentor, the woman he loves, and even his right arm.

Barely surviving, Jingoro is transformed into an agent of vengeance. Replacing his lost arm with a weaponized prosthetic, the tools he once used to carve wood are reborn as instruments of destruction. Accompanied by his partner, the “Sleeping Cat,” he sets out on a journey of revenge—only to find himself drawn into an even greater conspiracy.

Power struggles within the shogunate, advancing mechanical soldiers, and a transforming Edo Castle all threaten to consume him. As everything closes in, something within him begins to change.

HIDARI is a story of revenge and rebirth—of a man who once lived to create, only to lose himself in destruction, and ultimately rediscover both himself and the meaning of his life.

Project Overview

HIDARI (Stop-Motion Samurai Film)
Genre: Action / Drama
Format / Length: Stop-motion / 90 minutes

Director & Writer: Masashi Kawamura
Co-Director & Character Design: Iku Ogawa
Character & Wood Sculpture / Production Design: Takeshi Yashiro
Producers: Noriko Matsumoto / Yusuke Tominaga / Masami Ouchi and others

Production: dwarf studios / Whatever Co. / TECARAT
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Please see AOI Pro.'s news release for more details.

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