Keanu Reeves Voices Hidari’s Lead Samurai in Upcoming Animated Feature

The majority of Keanu Reeves’ career is based on his live-action hits like The Matrix (1999) and John Wick (2014-). His recent projects portray a notable shift towards the animation side, which includes a film adaptation of his own written comic, BRZRKR, and giving voice over to the main John Wick lead in the John Wick animated prequel.  

According to Den of Geek, Keanu Reeves voices Hidari’s main lead, which is based on Masashi Kawamura’s stop-motion feature. The film would be based on his viral proof-of-concept short film on YouTube. 

The film would be produced by Noriko Matsumoto, who has helped dwarf studios collaborate with global streamers, being one of the first to do so. The Netflix series Rilakkuma (2019) is already gaining widespread recognition, and Japanese animation is being noticed. Bottle Gorge (2024) was her short film, which got shortlisted for the Oscars in 2025. 

Masashi Kawamura, aka Masa, is the chief creative officer of Whatever and has worked on a wide range of projects, including brand campaigns, TV program development, and music video direction. His works shine with having earned more than 100 awards all over the world, as well as Cannes Lions, and being named in Creativity magazine’s “Creative 50.”

Plot details of Hidari

The story centers on the accounts of the life of legendary Edo-era craftsman Jingoro Hidari, the exact protagonist to be voiced by Reeves. On the way to defeating those who want to bury the secrets of Edo Castle’s reconstruction, Hidari loses everything, including his father figure, fiancée, and his own right arm. 

His grief takes the form of ultimate vengeance, and he uses his extraordinary carpentry skills as a lethal weapon against the enemy. He crafts a series of ruthless mechanical prosthetic arms that help him win on the path of justice. His “Sleeping Cat” helps him through his adventures. 

Watch the YouTube short film here: 

Keanu Reeves voices Hidari—Is animation becoming his next big frontier? 

Reeves admitted that he was excited to be a part of this project, as he truly thinks the project is genuinely exceptional. He said, 

“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.” [Source]

Equally thrilled is the director Kawamura with his collaboration with Reeves. He admired Reeve’s creative vision and willingness to be a part of the project. The director added that having Reeves voice the main character would help them expand his world, and they cannot wait to see where this lands. 

Reeves has always been a fan of animation, and his stepping into the world of stop-motion would open new doors for him. The legendary warrior looks like Samurai Jack, a Cartoon Network series in which a prince from feudal Japan confronts a shape-shifting demon, Aku, responsible for destroying his kingdom. 

With Hidari, Reeves’ involvement in yet another animation project indicates that he does not want to limit himself to a single franchise or aesthetic but rather span multiple styles and cultures. He is gradually attempting to expand his horizons in learning different forms of animation, crafting a creative lane with some of his most beloved and iconic archetypes, including assassins, warriors, and mythic figures. 

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This creative vision also adds to the recent surge in popularity of animation, which is no longer a niche or secondary medium. It has become a global platform for mature storytelling and opens new dimensions that offer a natural extension of his strengths. He is quietly but assertively turning into a cross-medium action star, where characters like John Wick and Hidari can exist in different worlds but still carry core identities.   

Hidari is currently in development with no set release date or trailer yet. Further details could be obtained from its official website.