Keanu Reeves to Voice Lead in Stop-Motion Film Hidari

Keanu Reeves will voice the lead role in an upcoming stop-motion animated feature film titled "Hidari," an expansion of a viral short film by Japanese director Masashi Kawamura. The project was announced Sunday at the Annecy Animation Showcase in Cannes.

Reeves will voice the legendary Edo-era craftsman Jingoro Hidari. The film’s official synopsis describes a story of betrayal and revenge, in which Jingoro loses his father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm to figures attempting to conceal secrets surrounding the reconstruction of Edo Castle. The craftsman then embarks on a violent quest for vengeance, using mechanical prosthetic arms of his own design, aided by a loyal wooden companion known as the Sleeping Cat.

The feature is based on Kawamura’s proof-of-concept short film, also titled "Hidari," which was released online in 2023 and has garnered nearly five million views on YouTube. The short film gained international attention for its stylized action sequences and handcrafted visuals, which draw inspiration from traditional Japanese carpentry and samurai cinema.

In a statement, Reeves expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying he was thrilled by the vision behind it...