Keanu Reeves joins Japanese stop-motion film 'Hidari' as voice actor
The announcement was made during the Annecy Animation Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival
Keanu Reeves is officially stepping into the world of Japanese animation, joining the upcoming stop-motion action feature Hidari as a voice actor.
The announcement was made during the Annecy Animation Showcase at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where producers confirmed that the Matrix and John Wick star has signed on to the highly anticipated project directed by Masashi Kawamura.
Inspired by stories surrounding legendary Edo-era craftsman Jingoro Hidari, Hidari blends historical mythology with stylized stop-motion animation and action-driven storytelling.
Reeves expressed enthusiasm about joining the production, praising both the creative vision and the development process behind the film.
“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari,” Reeves said. “From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary.”
The Hollywood star added that he believes the project has the potential to resonate with audiences around the world.
“It has all the makings of an exceptional film,” he continued. “One I’m excited to see and eager to be part of. I believe this project has the potential to bring something very special to audiences worldwide.”
The feature is based on a short stop-motion concept video released in 2023, which attracted nearly five million views on YouTube and quickly gained international attention for its striking animation style and cinematic action sequences.
Hidari is being produced by Noriko Matsumoto under dwarf studios, alongside production companies Whatever and Tecarat.
The addition of Reeves is expected to further raise global anticipation for the project, which has already generated significant buzz among animation fans and international film audiences.