When Masashi Kawamura first launched his viral stop-motion short Hidari in 2023, the Japanese filmmaker admits he never imagined he would soon be collaborating with Keanu Reeves on a feature-length version. The project, which began as a five-minute proof-of-concept, has since amassed over five million views on YouTube and caught the attention of one of Hollywood's most iconic action stars.

"There was a lot of luck getting Keanu," Kawamura explains, reflecting on the journey from a small independent short to a major international production. His background lies primarily in music videos and commercials, making this his first foray into feature filmmaking. After completing the proof-of-concept, Kawamura compiled a dream list of voice actors, with Reeves at the top. The story's thematic resonance with Reeves' John Wick franchise—centering on a protagonist who channels grief into vengeance—made the connection feel serendipitous.

Kawamura and his producer, Noriko Matsumoto of dwarf studios, reached out directly to Reeves and his team. To their delight, the actor was intrigued by the narrative and agreed to voice the lead character, Jingoro. "I was so happy we did the proof of concept because that was the reason we made it," Kawamura says. "Nobody really knows me as a director, and this is my first-time feature film. It’s an original script and doesn’t have any IP attached to it, so I knew there were going to be a lot of challenges. We couldn’t pitch the concept with the script or concept boards – we really had to have something that gets people excited."

From Myth to Motion Picture: The Story of Hidari

The feature-length Hidari draws inspiration from the enigmatic Edo-era craftsman Jingoro Hidari, a legendary sculptor whose existence remains shrouded in mystery. Historical records suggest he left behind sculptures in approximately 500 locations across Japan, though the works span two centuries, fueling debates about his true identity. Kawamura found this ambiguity compelling. "I felt like there was a lot of intrigue behind this mysterious, somewhat historical character, and it felt perfect because he was a sculptor and his work was said to come alive because it looked so real. That’s the kind of myth around him," he says.

The film follows Jingoro after he loses everything—his father figure, fiancée, and even his right arm—following a betrayal by those desperate to conceal the secrets of Edo Castle's reconstruction. On the brink of despair, the craftsman transforms his grief into a relentless quest for vengeance. Armed with extraordinary carpentry skills and a series of lethal mechanical prosthetic arms, he carves his own path to justice alongside his loyal companion, the "Sleeping Cat."

One of Hidari's most famous sculptures, the Sleeping Cat, is currently housed at the Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikkō, Japan, and plays a significant role in the film's narrative. Kawamura emphasizes that while the story is set in a fictional period drama, the visual spectacle includes fantasies, chainsaws, and elaborate wooden robots. "We wanted to keep the narrative quite simple because the visual is so complex. So, we are definitely going more down the action path with this," he notes.

The Art of Stop-Motion and Wooden Puppetry

For Kawamura, Hidari represents his first venture into stop-motion animation, a medium he had long admired. "I loved watching stop-motion in my youth, and I felt the magic is the fact that you’re shooting real objects and you’re not replicating them through programming. It’s really these inanimate objects using cinema magic. The texture, the material, that kind of tactile presence is what I really wanted to make as part of the story," he explains.

His expertise lies primarily in live-action and CG work, but when Matsumoto approached him about developing a project that could resonate with international distributors, they saw an opportunity to create an ambitious stop-motion feature. Kawamura began by considering various materials—water, fire, metal, leather, and wood—ultimately choosing wood for its deep roots in Japanese culture and history. "It was a very conscious decision, and I thought if we could do some wooden puppet work, it would be something visually and aesthetically unique and interesting," he says.

This material choice also ties directly into the story of a sculptor whose creations were said to be so lifelike they appeared to breathe. By depicting the protagonist as a wooden puppet that resembles one of his own sculptures, Kawamura adds an extra layer of meta-narrative to the film.

Keanu Reeves: From Fan to Collaborator

Reeves' involvement has been instrumental in pushing Hidari into active development. Kawamura and Matsumoto are currently in conversations with several potential international partners to move the project into production. The actor has contributed numerous ideas, demonstrating a deep engagement with the material. "He’s super focused," Kawamura says. "I was just a fanboy but now I’m almost working as a partner with him. I’ve learned so much from him and continue to learn from him as we go."

Reeves' voice work will bring the character of Jingoro to life, adding emotional weight to a film that balances action and pathos. Kawamura believes that having a Hollywood star attached has opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed, given his relative obscurity as a first-time feature director.

Production Details and Creative Team

Hidari is produced by Noriko Matsumoto of dwarf studios, which has gained acclaim for its Netflix series Rilakkuma and the Oscar-shortlisted short film Bottle George (2025). The film is also produced by Whatever and TECARAT, with financing from Questry Co.'s Tomonobu Ibe. Kawamura’s own career spans commercials, music videos, and television, including creating clones for Lady Gaga and designing the largest pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025. His projects have earned global recognition, including a Cristal at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and an International Emmy Award nomination.

The stop-motion production presents unique challenges, but Kawamura remains optimistic. "After we finished proof of concept with the five-minute film, I just started making this dream list," he recalls. The response to the short—both from audiences and industry peers—validated his approach and gave him the confidence to pursue a feature.

As conversations with potential partners continue, the team is focused on securing the resources needed to realize their ambitious vision. The combination of a culturally rich story, innovative animation technique, and a leading voice actor with global appeal positions Hidari as one of the most anticipated stop-motion projects in development.

Source: Deadline News