Five million views. That was the threshold Masashi Kawamura needed to cross to prove his concept. He didn’t have a studio budget or a star-studded cast. He had a wooden puppet, a camera, and a story about a legendary Edo-era craftsman seeking vengeance. It worked.

Today, that five-minute proof-of-concept short has evolved into a full-length feature film. And it has landed Keanu Reeves to voice the lead character, Jingoro. For a first-time feature director, it is a massive leap. But for Kawamura, it was the only way to break through the noise of an industry that rarely bets on original, unproven IP.

“Nobody really knows me as a director,” Kawamura says. “We couldn’t pitch the concept with just a script or boards. We really had to have something that gets people excited.”

The John Wick of the Edo Era

The film follows the historical figure Jingoro Hidari, a sculptor whose work remains a mystery. Some historians doubt he even existed. Kawamura leaned into that ambiguity. He transformed the craftsman into an action hero who loses his father figure, his fiancée, and his right arm to a conspiracy within Edo Castle.

It is a classic revenge arc. Kawamura isn't shy about the comparison. “The story has a John Wick feel to it,” he admits. “It centers around a lead character who turns grief into vengeance.”

That tonal alignment made Reeves an obvious target for the lead role. Kawamura and producer Noriko Matsumoto of dwarf studios didn't go through a labyrinth of agents to start. They reached out directly. To their surprise, Reeves was intrigued. He signed on to voice the broken, vengeful protagonist, giving the project the immediate global weight it needed to secure financing.

Why Wood Matters

Kawamura’s background is in music videos and commercials, not stop-motion. He spent his career in live-action and CG. Yet, he insisted on the tactile, punishing process of stop-motion for Hidari. He tested materials like water, fire, and metal before settling on wood.

It was a deliberate choice. Wood carries the weight of Japanese history. It offers a unique aesthetic that CG simply cannot replicate.

“The magic is that you’re shooting real objects,” Kawamura explains. “You’re not replicating them through programming. It’s really these inanimate objects using cinema magic.”

A Complex Production Pipeline

The production is a collaborative effort between dwarf studios, Whatever, and TECARAT, with financing from Questry Co.’s Tomonobu Ibe. Matsumoto, who previously helped position dwarf studios for global success with Netflix’s Rilakkuma, is the architect of the film's business strategy. She knows that to survive in the current market, the film must appeal to international distributors and streamers alike.

Despite the complex visuals—chainsaws, wooden robots, and fantasy elements—Kawamura is keeping the narrative lean. He knows the animation is the star. He isn't trying to overcomplicate the plot. He is trying to deliver a visceral, action-heavy experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Proof of Concept: Kawamura used a five-minute YouTube short to bypass traditional pitch hurdles, proving the visual style before seeking major funding.
  • Strategic Casting: By targeting Keanu Reeves for the lead role, the team secured the star power necessary to attract international distribution for a non-IP project.
  • Tactile Authenticity: The choice to use wooden puppets was a conscious aesthetic decision to ground the film in Japanese history while creating a unique visual identity.

What Comes Next

The project is currently in the thick of production. The team is balancing the intricate, frame-by-frame labor of stop-motion with the demands of a feature-length action script. The next major hurdle isn't just finishing the film; it is the upcoming festival circuit. By the time the first trailer drops, the industry will see if the John Wick energy translates to a wooden puppet. If it does, Kawamura won't be an unknown director for much longer.