Entertainment · Film · 16 hrs ago
‘Hidari’ Seeks New Partner After U.S. Funding Talks Stall
Dwarf Studios in Japan is looking for a new partner to help finance “Hidari,” a stop-motion samurai film voiced by Keanu Reeves.
A U.S. company had offered to cover the full budget, but wanted all the rights.
Dwarf wanted to keep half the rights, and the talks stalled after the people negotiating for the U.S. company lost their jobs during upheaval in Hollywood.
The project began with a short pilot that Dwarf made at its own risk in 2023, partly using crowdfunding.
Questry has created a company to let Japanese and overseas investors fund the film together.
The search highlights a challenge in Japan, where films and anime are often financed by groups of companies seeking rights to use a title in their own businesses, while studios are usually paid a fee and receive little of the profits.
Overseas sales have grown as a share of anime industry revenue, making funding models for global projects more important.
Dwarf is now seeking a new partner, but no next partner or financing deal has been announced.
Dwarf Studios is seeking a new partner for the stop-motion samurai film “Hidari” after talks with a U.S. company stalled.
The company offered to fund the entire budget in exchange for all rights.
Dwarf wanted to retain half the rights and asked Questry CEO Ibe Tomonobu to find the Japanese share.
The talks stalled after the people Matsumoto Noriko had been negotiating with lost their jobs amid upheaval in Hollywood.
Questry has set up a special purpose company to let overseas and Japanese investors invest in the film.
- Who
- Japan’s Dwarf Studios is seeking a new partner for “Hidari.” Producer Matsumoto Noriko described the stalled talks.
- What
- Talks with a U.S. company that offered to fund the full budget in exchange for all rights stalled, and Dwarf is seeking a new partner.
- When
- Matsumoto spoke at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market on Sunday. The article was published on 2026-10-11.
- Where
- The announcement was made at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, South Korea.
- Why
- Dwarf wanted to retain half the rights, while the U.S. company’s offer required it to give up all rights; the talks also stalled after the people Matsumoto had been negotiating with lost their jobs.
Dwarf Studios
U.S. company
Rights
Dwarf Studios
Dwarf wanted to retain half the rights to “Hidari.
U.S. company
The company’s offer required it to receive all rights.
Funding
Dwarf Studios
Dwarf sought a Japanese share of the funding and asked Ibe to find it.
U.S. company
The company offered to fund the entire budget.
Even with Keanu, we cannot stop the fire.
How you raise money decides how you share it.
If the world needs a project, we want to put money into it, even if the Japanese market can’t see it yet.
Dwarf made a pilot short for “Hidari” at its own risk, partly through crowdfunding.
The “Hidari” pitch was featured at the Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes and at Annecy itself.
Matsumoto told an audience at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market that talks with a U.S. company had stalled and Dwarf was seeking a new partner.
- Project
- Hidari,” a stop-motion samurai film voiced by Keanu Reeves
- Studio
- Dwarf Studios, Japan
- U.S. offer
- Funding for the entire budget in exchange for all rights
- Dwarf’s position
- The studio wanted to hold on to half the rights
- Financing vehicle
- Questry set up a special purpose company for “Hidari
Sources
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