Five years ago, ‘Karmachakra‘, India’s first anime pilot, premiered on YouTube. Now, Pakistan’s first anime-inspired movie, ‘The Glassworker‘, has emerged on the radar.
The Glassworker is screening at Cinemasia
‘The Glassworker’ follows Vincent Oliver and his love story with Aliz. The story unfolds through flashbacks as present-day Vincent reads a letter from Aliz. These flashbacks reveal how they first met during a war and how their relationship evolved through it.
Vincent, the son of Tomas, a skilled glassworker in Waterfront Town, was homeschooled by his father while apprenticing under him. His mother, also a talented glassworker, passed down her gift to him. Vincent longed to attend school and play with the other boys of town, but his father dismissed these desires as distractions from his future as a glassworker.
Meanwhile, war erupted in the country, and Colonel Amano arrived in the city with his troops. Despite his stern military background, he nurtured his daughter Aliz’s love for arts and music. Aliz soon befriended Vincent and became fascinated by his craftsmanship as a glassworker. As the war escalated, the townspeople ostracized Vincent because of his father’s pacifist beliefs and him, not joining the army. Struggling to gain their recognition—and, more importantly, Aliz’s—he sunk into self-doubt and loneliness.
At its core, ‘The Glassworker’ explores Vincent and Aliz’s love story against the backdrop of war. The theme echoes the 2011 Bollywood film ‘Mausam‘, where political turmoil similarly disrupts the protagonists’ romance. Such narratives often convey anti-war messages, and ‘The Glassworker’ does the same, though in a somewhat conventional manner. However, its love track is far more compelling with its heightened emotions between the characters. Despite the promising set-up, it doesn’t flesh out in its full potential due to some heavy handed writing and handling of themes.
The filmmakers use hand-drawn 2D animation reminiscent of Studio Ghibli‘s character and environment designs. This influence is clear, as Mano Animation Studio developed the film under the mentorship of Geoffrey Wexler, a former producer at Studio Ghibli. Vibrant colors enhance the romance, adding a poetic quality to the storytelling. Meanwhile, the war sequences unfold with mesmerizing intensity, depicting both brutality and hope.
Although “The Glassworker” has flaws—such as underdeveloped character dynamics and a rushed ending—it remains a commendable experiment in animation. This ambitious project will help elevate an often-underestimated art form.
