Keanu Reeves to Voice Lead in Stop-Motion Samurai Movie ‘Hidari’

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Coverage of this announcement varies, with left-leaning outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter emphasizing the film's cultural roots and the success of the proof-of-concept short, while IGN adopts a more neutral tone, focusing on…

Alex Ritman· May 17, 2026 · 9:30 AM UTC ·3 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 35 views

Keanu Reeves to Voice Lead in Stop-Motion Samurai Movie ‘Hidari’

#film #animation #keanu reeves #japan #stop-motion

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Keanu Reeves will voice the lead character in 'Hidari,' a stop-motion samurai film directed by Masashi Kawamura. The movie expands on Kawamura's viral short film and follows the story of Jingoro Hidari, a legendary Edo-era craftsman seeking vengeance. Reeves expressed enthusiasm for the project's vision, while Kawamura praised Reeves' creative involvement in shaping the film.

Key facts

▪Keanu Reeves will voice Jingoro Hidari, a legendary Edo-era craftsman in the stop-motion film 'Hidari.'
▪The film is based on a viral proof-of-concept short by director Masashi Kawamura that has garnered nearly 5 million YouTube views.
▪Jingoro Hidari, betrayed and mutilated, seeks revenge using lethal mechanical prosthetic arms and is accompanied by a character called the 'Sleeping Cat.'
▪Noriko Matsumoto, producer of 'Hidari,' previously worked on the Netflix series 'Rilakkuma' and had her short film 'Bottle George' shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars.
▪Masashi Kawamura has directed commercials, music videos, and major installations, earning accolades including a Cristal at Annecy and an International Emmy nomination.

How this story was covered

5 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 11 hours. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 3 lean left, 1 centre.

Lean left · 3Centre · 1

▪ Wake Up Samurai — Keanu Reeves Carves Out Lead Role in Japanese Stop-Motion 'Wood Sculpture' Film Hidari — IGN — Top
▪ Keanu Reeves Gets His Samurai On with Stop-Motion ‘Hidari’ Film — Gizmodo
▪ Keanu Reeves to Lead Voice Cast of ‘Hidari,’ Japanese Stop-Motion Samurai Epic From Director Masashi Kawamura — The Hollywood Reporter
▪ Keanu Reeves To Lead Voice Cast Of Masashi Kawamura’s Edo Era-Set Animation ‘Hidari’ — Deadline

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Original publisher	Variety
Canonical URL	https://variety.com/2026/film/global/keanu-reeves-voice-lead-stop-motion-samurai-film-hidari-1236751402/
Publication time	Sun, 17 May 2026 09:30:00 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-05-17T09:52:13.040Z
Last seen	2026-05-17T09:52:13.040Z
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.

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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Home Film Global May 17, 2026 2:30am PT Keanu Reeves to Voice Lead in Stop-Motion Samurai Movie ‘Hidari’ By Alex Ritman Plus Icon Alex Ritman @alexritman Latest ‘Slow Horses’ Banner See-Saw Signs $50 Million Multi-Year Film Financing Deal With Entourage Ventures (EXCLUSIVE) 11 hours ago Javier Bardem Gets Cannes Love for ‘The Beloved,’ Landing 7-Minute Ovation 14 hours ago Jaime King and Natasha Lyonne Team for ‘Pet Sematary’ Director Mary Lambert’s Dark Comedy Thriller ‘Darlene’ (EXCLUSIVE) 20 hours ago See All John Nacion/Variety Keanu Reeves is getting into samurai mode. The actor is set to voice the lead in “Hidari,” the stop-motion feature from Masashi Kawamura that he’s expanded from his viral proof-of-concept short film.

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