EXCLUSIVE: Masashi Kawamura, the creator behind the celebrated stop-motion short Hidari which debuted in 2023, expressed his surprise at the opportunity to collaborate with Keanu Reeves on turning the project into a full-scale movie.
“Securing Keanu was a stroke of luck,” Kawamura, who primarily has a background in directing music videos and commercials, confessed. “After completing our proof of concept with the five-minute film, I began dreaming up a list of ideal voice actors, and Keanu was at the top.”
Kawamura mentions that the narrative of the story shares similarities with John Wick in terms of its focus on a protagonist who channels his sorrow into revenge. He and his producer, Noriko Matsumoto from dwarf studios, reached out to Reeves and his team, who were captivated by the storyline and agreed for Reeves to voice the main character, Jingoro.
“The decision to create that proof of concept turned out to be crucial,” Kawamura reflected on the success of the YouTube short, which quickly gathered five million views. “As an unknown director making my first feature film from an original script without any pre-existing intellectual property, there were numerous hurdles to overcome. We couldn’t just rely on scripts or storyboards; we needed something compelling to show.”
The feature film, deeply influenced by the life of Edo era craftsman Jingoro Hidari, portrays Jingoro who has lost his mentor, his fiancée, and his right arm due to betrayal by those wanting to hide the secrets behind the reconstruction of Edo Castle. At his lowest, the renowned craftsman turns his grief into a relentless quest for revenge. Armed with his exceptional carpentry skills and equipped with deadly mechanical prosthetic arms, Jingoro seeks justice. Accompanied by his faithful companion, the “Sleeping Cat,” he confronts his adversaries in an enthralling journey of vengeance and self-discovery.
“The film includes fantastical elements like chainsaws and bizarre wooden robots, resembling a fictional period drama,” Kawamura explained. “However, we aimed to keep the storyline straightforward to balance the intricate visuals, leaning heavily into the action genre.”
Hidari is produced by Matsumoto, who has been instrumental in establishing dwarf studios as a pioneer in collaborating with global streaming services, following the international success of their Netflix series Rilakkuma. Her recent work, the short film Bottle George, received an Oscar nomination in 2025. The film is also co-produced by Whatever and TECARAT, with financing from Questry Co. via Tomonobu Ibe.
Kawamura’s career includes a wide range of work from commercials and music videos to innovative projects like creating clones for Lady Gaga and designing the largest pavilion at the Osaka Expo 2025. His work has been recognized globally, earning him awards such as a Cristal at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and a nomination for an International Emmy Award.
Though new to the realm of stop-motion, Kawamura was eager to explore this medium. “I’ve always been involved with live-action and CG, but when Noriko proposed a project that could appeal to international markets, we saw it as a chance to develop an ambitious stop-motion feature,” he shared.
He added, “I grew up fascinated by stop-motion, loving the tangible magic of animating real objects rather than digital creations. The texture and physicality bring a unique magic to cinema, which is what I wanted to capture in this story.”
Kawamura explored various materials like water, fire, metal, leather, and wood, ultimately choosing wood due to its deep cultural significance in Japan. “I thought using wooden puppets could offer a visually striking and culturally resonant aesthetic,” he explained.
Inspired by the legendary yet possibly mythical sculptor Jingoro Hidari, whose works are believed to exist in about 500 locations and span 200 years, Kawamura found the perfect protagonist for his film. “The enigma surrounding Jingoro, who was reputed for sculptures that seemed to come to life, made him an ideal subject for a film featuring a wooden puppet protagonist that mirrored his creations,” he noted.
The film also features one of Hidari’s most renowned works, the “Sleeping Cat,” currently housed at the Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikkō, Japan.
With Reeves’ involvement, Kawamura and Matsumoto are now engaging with various international partners to move Hidari into production. “Keanu’s dedication has been invaluable, offering numerous ideas to enhance the project. Working with him has been an incredible learning experience,” Kawamura concluded.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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