Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film ‘The Glassworker’ to hit theaters this summer

Mano Animation Studios and Mandviwalla Entertainment are teaming up to release ‘The Glassworker’, Pakistan’s inaugural hand-drawn animated film, in cinemas this summer.

“We are extremely honored to be partnering with the prestigious Madviwalla Entertainment as the official Pakistani theatrical distributor for our film. The Glassworker is finally set for release in theatres across Pakistan this summer,” read a statement by Mano Animation Studios on Instagram.

Directed by Usman Riaz and produced by Mano Animation Studios, ‘The Glassworker’ will be showcased in both Urdu and English.

“The film is a landmark title for Pakistani cinema; never before has the country produced a hand-drawn animated film of this quality,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, the head of Mandviwalla Entertainment, in his statement.

‘The Glassworker’ follows the journey of two young individuals, Vincent the glassworker and Alliz, a talented violinist who often visits his shop. The story explores how life’s complexities impact their relationship as they come of age.

The film gained international recognition in 2022 when it was selected for the Work In Progress category at France’s prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival.

Usman Riaz, inspired by the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, founded Mano Animation Studios in Karachi with Khizer Riaz and Mariam Riaz Paracha. The film adopts Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s revered hand-drawn animation style.

The ‘The Glassworker’ project showcases a team of young, talented artists with an average age of 27, of which 52% are women. Described as a project that promotes diversity in animation, it promises to be full of surprises for the audience.

The Glassworker sneak peek at 2023 Cannes Film Festival

“The Glassworker” has already gained international acclaim, being featured at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2023 during a special screening.

“A sneak peek of The Glassworker was showcased at Cannes in 2023 and we were lucky enough to have an 80-minute presentation for the ‘Work in progress at Annecy’ at the Annecy International Animation festival in 2022. Our work has been receiving a positive reception and I could not be more grateful,” Usman Riaz told The News.

Riaz said he was excited to present his work to the Pakistani audience, mentioning that he and his team worked hard for many years.

Story of Pakistan’s first Miyazaki-Style animated film

Set in a place on the edge of conflict, the film revolves around a father and son who run the finest glass workshop in the country but find their lives upended by an approaching war. The arrival of a colonel and his talented violinist daughter, Alliz, in their lives, challenge their beliefs and test familial bonds.

Amidst the chaos, Vincent and Alliz find love but face constant opposition from their fathers, whose conflicting values mirror the societal upheaval. “It is a time when patriotism and social standing are considered more important than free thought and artistic pursuits. It is a time when love is not relevant,” according to Mano Animation Studios.