2 weeks ago
Keanu Reeves has signed up to lead nan sound formed successful Japanese animation head Masashi Kawamura’s long-awaited characteristic movie hold of his viral stop-motion short Hidari.
News of Reeve’s engagement successful nan task was announced astatine nan Annecy Animation Showcase successful Cannes connected Sunday morning.
The action-packed characteristic takes inspiration from accounts of nan life of legendary Edo era craftsman Jingoro Hidari.
“I’m thrilled by nan imagination behind Hidari. From nan impervious of conception to nan developed script, nan squad has created thing genuinely extraordinary. It has each nan makings of an exceptional film—one I’m excited to spot and eager to beryllium portion of. I judge this task has nan imaginable to bring thing very typical to audiences worldwide,” said Reeves.
The characteristic movie takes its cue from Kawamura’s viral stop-motion short of nan aforesaid name, which has garnered adjacent to 5 cardinal views connected YouTube since it was published successful 2023.
The charismatic synopsis reads: “Betrayed by those hopeless to hide nan secrets of Edo Castle’s reconstruction, Jingoro loses everything. His begetter figure, fiancée, and moreover his correct arm. On nan brink of despair, nan legendary craftsman transforms his condolences into an unyielding thrust for vengeance. Armed pinch his bonzer carpentry skills and a bid of lethal mechanical prosthetic arms, Jingoro carves his ain way to justice. With his loyal companion, nan Sleeping Cat, he faces his enemies successful a gripping communicative of revenge and self-discovery.”
The movie is produced by Noriko Matsumoto nether nan banner of dwarf studios pinch Whatever, and Tecarat production. The film’s financing partner is Questry Co.’s Tomonobu Ibe, 1 of Japan’s starring finance professionals specializing successful intermezo contented finance.
Matsumoto has positioned dwarf studios arsenic 1 of nan first successful Japan to collaborate pinch world streamers, pinch its Netflix bid Rilakkuma bid gaining wide attraction and popularity, while her latest project, nan short film Bottle George, was shortlisted astatine nan 2025 Oscars.
Kawamura’s profession spans commercials, euphony videos, and tv shows to creating clones for Lady Gaga and designing nan largest pavilion astatine Osaka Expo 2025. His projects person earned world recognition, including a Cristal astatine nan Annecy International Animation Film Festival, an International Emmy Award nomination.
“I’m ace excited to beryllium collaborating pinch Keanu. When personification pinch his acquisition and imaginative imagination watches your impervious of conception and says ‘I want to beryllium portion of this,’ it’s an unthinkable feeling. He’s not conscionable lending his sound to Hidari, he’s helping america style and grow this world, and I can’t hold to spot wherever we return it together,” he said.
