HIDARI - The Stop-motion Samurai Film

HIDARI is a stop-motion samurai film that tells the story of the legendary master sculptor Jingoro Hidari, an enigmatic figure whose true existence remains uncertain, yet whose many works and legends endure to this day. The film is brought to life using carved wooden puppets inspired by the very craftsmanship associated with his name.

The proof of concept film, released on YouTube, has surpassed 4.9 million views and attracted more than 120,000 subscribers, generating explosive attention around the world. It has also received awards at more than 20 international film festivals, an exceptional achievement for a proof of concept film, and continues to draw global acclaim.

Based on the success of the pilot, development is now underway for a feature-length film adaptation. To bring this next stage to life, a larger team and greater production resources are essential. We are currently seeking partners to join us in the production of the feature film, including financiers, distributors, and co-production collaborators.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact us through the contact address below.

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To pitch this project for feature-length film production, we first created a proof of concept film. Supported by our own funding, along with backing received through two crowdfunding campaigns on Motion Gallery and Kickstarter, we spent a year and a half completing a three-and-a-half-minute test film.

Released on YouTube, the proof of concept film has surpassed 4.9 million views and attracted more than 120,000 subscribers, generating explosive attention across social media and media outlets around the world. It has also received awards at more than 20 international film festivals, an exceptional achievement for a proof of concept film, and continues to draw global acclaim.

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We are currently developing HIDARI into a 90-minute feature-length film based on the proof of concept film. While the feature will retain the dynamic action sequences seen in the pilot, it will also delve deeper into the story of Jingoro himself, his journey of revenge and redemption, drawing inspiration from films such as Kill Bill and John Wick.

We are also honored to announce that globally acclaimed actor Keanu Reeves will voice the lead character, Jingoro. We believe his involvement will bring even greater emotional depth and resonance to the story.

The completed screenplay fully embraces the mystery surrounding Jingoro Hidari, whose historical existence remains uncertain, weaving folklore and historical fact into a richly imagined fiction. Historical figures such as Kora Munehiro and Tokugawa Ietsuna, who lived during the same era, are incorporated into the narrative alongside real historical events including the reconstruction of Edo Castle, the Keian Uprising, and the Great Fire of Meireki. These elements help build a layered historical fantasy world.

The film will also feature characters inspired by works traditionally attributed to Jingoro Hidari that can still be seen today, such as the Sleeping Cat and the Ravaging Tiger. Perhaps these encounters and incidents were what gave birth to those carvings. In that sense, the story offers a creative reimagining of history, inviting audiences to enjoy a new legend born from the past.

The story is set in Japan during the Edo period, where real historical figures and events intertwine with original characters to tell the tale of one man’s revenge. Jingoro, a master craftsman of his time, is drawn into a conspiracy at the reconstruction site of Edo Castle, where he loses his mentor, the woman he loves, and even his own right arm.

Barely surviving the ordeal, Jingoro transforms himself into an instrument of vengeance. In place of his lost arm, he forges a prosthetic weapon. The tools once held in his hand to carve wood are reborn as weapons made to destroy. Accompanied by his companion, the Sleeping Cat, Jingoro sets out on a journey of revenge, only to find himself entangled in an even greater conspiracy.

Power struggles swirl within the shogunate. Mechanical soldiers close in. Edo Castle itself begins to transform. As everything around him threatens to consume him, something within Jingoro also begins to quietly change.

HIDARI is a story of revenge and rebirth, following a man whose life was devoted to creation, and who, after turning to destruction, must rediscover himself and the meaning of his own existence.

Jingoro Hidari is a legendary sculptor who is said to have existed in the Edo period (17th century) of Japan. The animals that Jingoro carved were so lively and real, stories say these animals came to life at night. His name “Hidari” means “left” in Japanese, and there are various hypotheses about where it came from; some say it's because he was left handed, others say that he only had a left arm because his right arm was chopped off by his jealous rival. We used these episodes as a source of inspiration to craft an original story for this film.
Today, there are nearly 100 locations around Japan where you can find sculptures which are said to be Jingoro’s work, such as The Sleeping Cat in Nikko Toshogu Shrine. However, some say he wasn't just one person, but rather a pseudonym used by skilled craftsmen, because these sculptures' age ranges over 300 years from the Azuchi-Momoyama period (late 16th century) to the late Edo period (late 19th period,).

Japanese animation or Anime, are still highly recognized across the world. Its unique visual language, narrative, and dynamic expressions have evolved very differently compared to other types of animations, which gives it the distinct flare. We wanted to create an entertainment piece that no one has seen before, by merging this world of Japanimation and the technique of stop-motion animation. I hope you enjoy the unique visual expression that neither live action nor 2D animation can achieve.

Jingoro Hidari is known for his anecdotes, as a sculptor who can ”breathe life” into animals that he carved. So we wanted to create all the puppets out of wood, and “breathe life” into them just as Jingoro have done, but through the magic of stop-motion animation.
We also tried to invent new visual effects that make use of the wooden materials. The characters were designed to show the wooden texture and joints, which became a unique part of the overall aesthetic. We took hints from "Nou" masks, and carved the faces in a way so that the shadows will cast rich expressions. The most intriguing are the sawdust gushing out instead of blood, when the characters are being slashed apart. This allowed us to explore extreme action sequences, while being able to avoid the visual to become too gory.

For this project, we were able to assemble a team of world class stop-motion creators.

The animation is filmed by dwarf studios, one of the largest stop-motion animation studio in Japan. They've created renown stop-motion films, such as "Komaneko” and “Rilakkuma and Kaoru.”
TECARAT is in charge of creating all of our wooden puppets. They're a stop-motion animation studio that has won various awards for films such as “GON, THE LITTLE FOX” and “Norman the Snowman.”
Whatever Co. is a creative studio that our director Masashi Kawamura has co-founded. The team is in charge of the film's script, directing, art direction, and promotions.
On the financing side of the feature-length production, support has been secured from Questry, a content finance company dedicated to bringing original Japanese content to global audiences. We are currently continuing to build our network of partners and raise additional funding for the project.
Keanu Reeves will voice Jingoro, the protagonist of HIDARI, making this his first involvement in an original Japanese production.

“I’m thrilled by the vision behind HIDARI. From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary. It has all the makings of an exceptional film—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.”

Keanu Reeves

As a remarkably eclectic actor, Reeves has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment through the diverse roles he has played. He is best known for his starring roles in “The Matrix” and “John Wick” franchises. Reeves made his comic book writing debut in 2021 with BRZRKR, a sixteen-issue and graphic-novel limited series distributed through BOOM! Studios, which quickly became the highest-selling original comic book series debut in over 25 years. In 2023, he returned to the big screen in “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. His other recent projects include “Outcome,” “Good Fortune,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” “The Matrix Resurrections,” “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” “Always Be My Maybe,” “Toy Story 4,” and the video game Cyberpunk 2077. He is currently filming “Shiver,” directed by Tim Miller and has completed production on “The Entertainment System Is Down,” directed by Ruben Östlund. Reeves recently made his Broadway debut in “Waiting for Godot” playing Estragon opposite Alex Winter and directed by Jamie Lloyd. It was a very successful 16 week run from September to January 2026. This summer Reeves will reunite with his band Dogstar. They are releasing a new album, “All In Now” on May 29, 2026. The band will begin an international tour beginning at the end of May. In 2023, he co-wrote a New York Times bestselling book, “The Book of Elsewhere,” with China Miéville based on the his best selling comic book, BRZRKR Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theater productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles.

For all inquiries regarding this project, please contact us here.
We are currently seeking partners to support the feature film production, including financiers, distributors, and co-production collaborators.

info@hidari-movie.com