How Keanu Reeves Landed in Stop-Motion Samurai Epic ‘Hidari’ – and Why S.S. Rajamouli Wanted to Know How It Was Made
Japanese filmmaker Kawamura Masashi says Keanu Reeves agreed to discuss voicing the lead in stop-motion samurai film “Hidari” after watching its pilot. The project has also drawn interest from “RRR” director S.S. Rajamouli, while its team seeks funding and international partners for a costly production.
The proof-of-concept short, made with crowdfunding about three years ago, has gained around 5.3 million YouTube views and 120,000 followers, many overseas. The filmmakers have taken a hand-carved puppet to industry events, pitching “Hidari” as an action film as well as stop-motion; an earlier offer from a US company to cover the full budget in return for all rights stalled.
In short
- Keanu Reeves joined “Hidari” after seeing its pilot.
- The short has about 5.3 million YouTube views.
- The team is still seeking funding and overseas partners.
Explained simply
Stop-motion is a form of animation in which physical models are moved a little at a time and photographed frame by frame to create the illusion of movement. Samurai stories draw on the history and popular culture of Japan’s warrior class, often featuring sword fights and period settings.
“Hidari” is a Japanese project centred on a hand-carved puppet and developed by filmmaker Kawamura Masashi and his team. Its short pilot was made with crowdfunding, and its online audience includes many viewers outside Japan. The team has presented the work to film-industry figures as both an action story and an example of stop-motion filmmaking.
A full-length stop-motion film can take years to make because each movement must be created and filmed in small increments. The project therefore needs substantial funding and production partners; agreements over financing and rights can shape who controls a film and how it reaches audiences.
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