Mar 08, 2023
HIDARI (Pilot Film) The Stop-motion Samurai Film
A never-before-seen visual experience where the style of Japanimation meets stop-motion animation

“Jingoro Hidari” was a legendary sculptor from the Edo era who left behind a wealth of works and anecdotes.

While the existence of this iconic craftsman remains uncertain, we have boldly reimagined his story, weaving historical facts from Edo into our tale. This “stop-motion jidaigeki” depicts Hidari’s journey through puppets carved from wood, the same medium he used for his own works. We have partnered with Dwarf Studio & TECARAT to produce a 5-minute pilot film with the goal of creating a full-length feature. We hope you enjoy our vision for this project and consider supporting us through our Kickstarter campaign.

After being betrayed by his peers and lost both his father and his right arm, legendary craftsman “Jingoro Hidari” is on a journey of revenge with his partner “Sleeping Cat” and his mechanical prosthetic arm. Finally, Jingoro faces one of his adversaries “Inumaru” in a fight to the death…

This is a pilot version of our “stop-motion jidaigeki,” which tells the story of Hidari, a legendary craftsman from the Edo era. All of the characters are hand-crafted from wood and animated frame by frame, brought to life just like Hidari’s wooden sculptures in the many anecdotes surrounding him. Experience a thrilling blend of dynamic action inspired by Japanimation and the rich, analog world view of stop-motion animation that you’ve never seen before.

Our intention is to use this pilot film as a starting point to create a full length feature film. We’re currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to gain support for our activities to find the necessary partners to go into production of the feature-length version. If you liked this video and would want to see more of it, we would be very grateful if you can support us on Kickstarter!

http://bit.ly/hidari-kickstarter

Credit
Original Plot & Screenplay by
Co-director
Iku Ogawa (dwarf)
Producer
Noriko Matsumoto (dwarf)
Producer
Masaaki Oikawa (TECARAT)
Producer
Masami Ouchi (TECARAT)
Key Animator / Action Director
Kimimasa Inazumi
Animator
Shigeru Okada
Character Design
Iku Ogawa (dwarf)
Sculptor / 3D Character Design
Takeshi Yashiro (TECARAT)
Voice Actors: Jingoro Hidari
Kazuma Mori
Voice Actors: Inumaru
Kenichi Ogata
Puppet Manager
Shuhei Harada (dwarf)
Puppet Production / Armature / Props
Keita Ueno (TECARAT)
Puppet Production / Wardrobe
Nozomi Sakimura (TECARAT)
Puppet Production / Wardrobe
Midoriko Nemoto (TECARAT)
Puppet Production Assistant
Choi Sae Won (dwarf)
Puppet Production Assistant
Honami Konishi (dwarf)
Puppet Production Assistant
Hiroto Murayama (dwarf)
Puppet Production Support
Ikeda Akua (dwarf)
Puppet Production Support
Yagi Tsumugi (dwarf)
Puppet Production Support
Monami Yabe (dwarf)
Original Wardrobe Design (Henchmen)
Maquette 3D Scanner
Masataka Kanematsu (K's DESIGN LAB)
Maquette 3D Printer
Satoru Yoshida
Concept Art
Takeshi Yashiro (TECARAT)
Set Design / Set Production / Props Production
Yoshihiro Nose (TECARAT)
Set Production / Props Production
Izumi Nakane (TECARAT)
Puppet / Set Design: Production Management
Yoshimi Kakurai (TECARAT)
Special Effects
Isao Takeuchi (Bugsonic Design)
Supporting Animator
Shota Ogawa
Animator Assistant + Props for Animation Effect
Gen Kobayashi
Animator Assistant + Junior Animator
Asuka Kato
Animator Assistant + Junior Animator
Misaki Yamanaka
Animator Assistant + Junior Animator
Rikuto Konagaya (Qualia)
DOP + Motion Controller
Kan Sugiki (dwarf)
Lighting Director
Yuichi Kato
Camera Assistant
Hidehiko Kato (dwarf)
Lighting Assistant
Hiroto Suzuki
Sawdust Manipulation Advisor
Ayumi Ishikawa
Sawdust Manipulation Assistant
Yusuke Miyazaki
Studio Assistant
Yoshino Kosaka (dwarf)
Studio Assistant
Mayu Tanada (dwarf)
Editor
Makoto Hoashi
Retoucher
Kazunari Kodaira
Retoucher
Sound Effects
Sakura Katsumata (FOOTPRINTS)
Foley
Nijiho Hara (FOOTPRINTS)
Foley Operator
Kozue Matsuzawa (FOOTPRINTS)
Foley Operator
Liu I Yun (FOOTPRINTS)
Mixer
Akari Tatsumi (TAIYO KIKAKU)
Mixer Assistant
Nanami Kubo (TAIYO KIKAKU)
Music
SPIN MASTER A-1
Soundtrack
Zero / 是路 SPIN MASTER A-1
Soundtrack
Japache feat. Taichi Hikida(from RASHINBAN) SPIN MASTER A-1
Soundtrack
Low High / 狼徘 (from 246911) Shing02 & SPIN MASTER A-1
Production Manager
Ayame Uchida (dwarf)
Production Assistant
Emi Satomura (dwarf)
Production Support
Takana Goda (dwarf)
Production Support
Daisuke Horikawa (dwarf)
Production Support
Junko Negishi (dwarf)
Production Support
Haruhiko Shinkai
Catering
Misuzu Kamiya
Catering
Takayo Imahashi
Art Director / Logo Design
Avant-title Calligrapher
Nagashima Kyouka
Translator
Behind the Scenes
Satoshi Oda
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion
Ayano Kinashi (dwarf)
Promotion
Kanako Nishiyama (dwarf)
Promotion
Yoshimi Kakurai (TECARAT)
Website Production
Eri Matsutake (DRIVESHAFT)
Website Production
Project Manager
Noriko Matsumoto (dwarf)
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
Masaaki Oikawa (TECARAT)