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More than three years ago, the internet collectively fell in love with a pilot film for Hidari from dwarf studios. The stylized action of the stop-motion animated movie was intricate and so beautifully unique that it has been watched nearly 5 million times since then. With a feature-length film in the works, the studio has announced that none other than Keanu Reeves is playing the lead in the Hidari animated film.

At the Annecy Animation Showcase in Cannes, it was revealed that Keanu Reeves will play Jingoro Hidari in the upcoming full-length Hidari film. Inspired by a legendary Edo-era craftsman from Japanese folktales, Hidari became a massive YouTube hit when the five-minute pilot film was first posted in 2023. It was violent and visceral in a way that stop motion animation rarely manages, yet had beautifully expressive characters. Buzz of a feature-length version immediately began, especially after the studio’s successful Kickstarter just a month after the short film was posted. However, it wasn’t until May 2026 that the biggest update to the film’s journey was made.

“I’m thrilled by the vision behind Hidari,” Keanu Reeves said upon the announcement of his casting in the film. “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.”

No release date for Hidari has been announced, though the director, Masashi Kawamura, posted an update on their Kickstarter campaign in April 2025 that it would take around four years to complete the movie once it is greenlit, so we shouldn’t expect it before 2029 at this rate. However, attaching a name like Keanu Reeves as the lead actor in Hidari is sure to get it more attention from audiences around the world.

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included... 

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