Keanu Reeves’ new voice-acting gig is set to take him to the Edo period. He will be lending his voice to Hidari Jingoro in the upcoming Japanese full-length stop-motion samurai film Hidari. For a movie coming from a successful viral proof-of-concept short, the casting certainly seems fitting.

The Good Fortune actor has previously worked as a voice actor in several major films. From voicing Duke Caboom in Pixar’s Toy Story 4 to Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Reeves is already familiar with the territory. Now, he is stepping into another unique role in a film he has already described as exceptional.

The Cannes Film Festival brought exciting news at the Annecy Animation Showcase, where the full-length stop-motion samurai film Hidari was officially announced. While the release date has not yet been confirmed, Keanu Reeves has been announced as part of the voice cast. The actor also expressed his excitement about taking on the new voice acting project.

“From the proof of concept to the developed script, the team has created something truly extraordinary,” the actor said in a statement by the production. 

He further added, “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.”

Dwarf Studios head Noriko Matsumoto is producing the film. Tokyo-based studio, Whatever, and animation studio, Tecarat, are also co-developing the project. Initially released as a proof-of-concept short on YouTube in 2023, Hidari went on to gain more than 5 million views and received much praise across several international film festivals.

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With a notable name added to the cast and major studios backing the show, what is the movie about?

The upcoming movie Hidari will follow craftsman Hidari Jingoro from the Edo period. After being betrayed during the reconstruction of Edo Castle, he loses his father, fiancée, and right arm. Using mechanical prosthetics made through his carpentry skills, Jingoro sets out on a revenge journey alongside his wooden companion, “Sleeping Cat.” The script of the movie has also been written by director Masashi Kawamura. 

As Kawamura revealed, the project will be a 90-minute feature film with Outcome actor Keanu Reeves as Hidari. The original short, released in 2023, gained major attention for its striking wood sculpture stop-motion style and intricately carved puppets. Now, finally, after three years, a full-length adaptation is in development.

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Are you excited for Keanu Reeves' new project? Let us know in the comments.